Interlibrary Loan
Connect to the Interlibrary Loan System
Interlibrary Loan is a cooperative resource sharing service which provides Bowdoin College students, faculty and staff with published material not owned by the Library. The service accepts electronic requests for books, book chapters, government documents and periodical articles through the Library Gateway. Library staff verify bibliographic citations, and locate potential suppliers through union catalogs and document delivery services.
Before You Submit an Interlibrary Loan Request
- Please be sure to have a complete bibliographic citation.
- For books, check the Library catalog to see if the item is available at Bowdoin. Check the MaineCat Statewide Catalog and the NExpress Catalog for books you can request directly from Bates and Colby, or other New England Libraries. Books in use at Bowdoin may be recalled, or requested through MaineCat or NExpress. Library Circulation staff will help you locate items not on the shelf. Please inquire.
- For periodical articles, search for Journals
the Library Catalog to determine if the Library subscribes to the journal
in print or electronic format. Circulation staff will help you locate items
not on the shelf. Please inquire.
New titles may be recommended for purchase through Technical Services. - Items unavailable through Interlibrary Loan include audiocassettes, computer software, current newspapers, current periodicals, pre-1820 original imprints, sound recordings, and videocassettes.
- Please prioritize your requests if you plan to submit many. Consult a Reference Librarian to help you evaluate them. Due to circulation policies and item availability at other institutions, acquisition is not guaranteed.
Standard Service
Most material is received within 7-9 business days. However, some requests may require several weeks to fill, with additional delays likely during holiday periods. You may assume that your request is "in process" until you are notified. Interlibrary Loan will notify you by e-mail when loan material arrives. The loan period is 3-4 weeks, with one renewal possible.
Priority Periodical Copying (available to faculty, staff only)
This service provides priority processing for requests for periodical articles needed within five (5) days. Priority requests are processed promptly, using the fastest suppliers, the internet and fax.
Unusual Requests
Requests for patents, unpublished papers, conference reports, or articles published in obscure newsletters or foreign language periodicals receive careful and comprehensive consideration. In addition to our national online database, Interlibrary Loan frequently accesses individual library catalogs and appropriate commercial services. If an item cannot be identified or located, you will be notified with specific reasons and possible alternatives.
Interlibrary Loan Pick-up Locations
Most journal articles can be delivered electronically, at your request. Other Interlibrary Loans are placed on hold at the Main Library Circulation Desk, and may be taken from the library without additional processing. You may pick up and return your material during library hours. Some items, including microform and delicate books, may be restricted to use in the building. Identification bands accompany each item, indicating your name, item due date and conditions of usage. Please sign for your material upon receipt.
Renewal Requests
A renewal may be requested on or before the item due date. You may request a renewal directly, online. Requests are subject to the policies and discretion of the lending library. Only one, four week renewal is allowed.
Recall Notices and Conditions
Items borrowed through the courtesy of other libraries are governed by their loan rules. The lending institution may set conditions of usage, or recall an item at any time. Conditions, such as "no renewal," are indicated on the identification band which accompanies each item.
Overdue Notices and Fines
If Interlibrary Loan material is kept beyond the due date, you will receive a courtesy overdue notice. There is a $1.00 charge for each business day an is kept beyond the due date. A short grace period is allowed, beyond which charges are retroactive. Student fines are charged to College accounts at the end of the semester during which they accrued. Patrons are ultimately responsible for the care and prompt return of an Interlibrary Loan item.
Charges
Interlibrary Loan absorbs all charges for of loans and copies. Most material is received from libraries with whom we reciprocate freely. However, students should exercise careful judgment when requesting excessive photoduplication, scarce research material, or special handling, such as FedEx.
Return Shipment of Items Borrowed Personally
As a courtesy to our borrowers, Interlibrary Loan will return ship (fourth class) any items borrowed personally from Maine libraries. Colby/Bates items may be returned routinely. Interlibrary Loan will return ship (UPS) items borrowed personally from out-of-state libraries for $2.00 per item. The Library does not assume responsibility for loss or delay of items in shipment.
Copyright Compliance
Photoduplication of books or periodicals may be protected by copyright (Title 17, U.S.C). The copyright law of the United States governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material.
Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specific conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be "used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research." If a patron makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of "fair use," that patron may be liable for copyright infringement.
This institution reserves the right to decline a copying request if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the request would violate copyright law.
This page created and maintained by Guy Saldanha. Last update: April 6, 2006.