Interlibrary Loans: Home
Interlibrary Loans
As defined by the Interlibrary Loan Code for the United States (see sidebar), "Interlibrary loan is the process by which a library requests material from, or supplies material to, another library. ... The purpose of interlibrary loan as defined by this code is to obtain, upon request of a library user, material not available in the user's local library."
This resource guide contains information on the Interlibrary Loan Code of the United States, and further information on best practices.
Quick Links
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Interlibrary Loan Code for the United StatesInterlibrary Loan Code, as approved by the RUSA Board of Directors, January 2016.
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Explanatory SupplementSupplement to the U.S. ILL Code, intended to amplify specific sections.
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ALA Interlibrary Loan Request FormA fillable PDF of the approved form.
Librarian
Interlibrary Loan in the United States
As defined by the Interlibrary Loan Code for the United States (see sidebar), "Interlibrary loan is the process by which a library requests material from, or supplies material to, another library. ... The purpose of interlibrary loan as defined by this code is to obtain, upon request of a library user, material not available in the user's local library."
Libraries should follow the Interlibrary Loan Code for the United States, originally approved in 1917 and most recently revised in 2015 by the Codes, Guidelines, and Technical Standards Committee of the Sharing and Transforming Access to Resources Section (STARS) of the Reference and User Services Association (RUSA), a division of the American Library Association. Revisions were approved by the RUSA Board of Directors on January 11, 2016. The ILL Code was also published in the Summer 2016 issue of the official RUSA journal, Reference & User Services Quarterly (v.55 no. 4, pp.306-307). The Explanatory Supplement accompanies the U.S. ILL Code and is intended to amplify specific sections, providing fuller explanation and specific examples.
The U.S. ILL Code is intended to provide guidelines for exchanges between libraries in the United States when no other agreement applies. The Code does not override individual, consortial, state, or regional agreements which may be more liberal or more prescriptive.
Interlibrary Loan Form
Libraries normally transmit requests electronically through OCLC, DOCLINE, or other networks. When an electronic means of making a request is unavailable, the ALA Interlibrary Loan Request Form (a fillable PDF -- see sidebar) may be used.
International Interlibrary Loan
All libraries are encouraged to participate in international interlibrary loan activities. When seeking a loan from a library outside the United States, follow the guidelines set forth by the International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA) in International Resource Sharing and Document Delivery: Principles and Guidelines for Procedure.See also Guidelines for Best Practice in Interlibrary Loan and Document Delivery.
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International Resource Sharing and Document Delivery: Principles and Guidelines for ProcedurePrepared by the IFLA Document Delivery and Resource Sharing Section in 2009.
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Guidelines for Best Practice in Interlibrary Loan and Document DeliveryLeaflet based on discussions held among members of the Document Delivery and Resource Sharing Section of IFLA.
Interlibrary Loan Information Resources
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Interlibrary Loan Practices Handbook, 3rd Edition by ISBN: 9780838910818Publication Date: 2011-04-01Update of the classic Interlibrary Loan Practices Handbook, presenting a complete view of the interlibrary loan (ILL) process; guidance on how to do ILL efficiently and effectively; best practices for staffing and management; copyright issues, and the logistics of lending internationally. -
Resource Sharing Today by ISBN: 9780810893160Publication Date: 2014-07-22A practical guide to resource sharing starting with the library across town and ending with libraries on the other side of the globe. -
Document Delivery and Interlibrary Loan on a Shoestring by ISBN: 9781555706784Publication Date: 2009-10-01Written specifically for libraries facing budgetary constraints, limited resources and inadequate training, this guide outlines the time-management skills and technical ingenuity that will help transform Interlibrary Loan (ILL) and document delivery service into an efficient and organized operation.
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ACRL/RBMS Guidelines for Interlibrary and Exhibition Loan of Special Collections MaterialsGuidelines prepared by the Rare Books and Manuscripts Section (RBMS) of the Association of College and Research Libraries, a division of the American Library Association; approved 2012.
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Guidelines for Interlibrary Loan Operations ManagementPDF document prepared by a task force of the Sharing and Transforming Access to Resources Section (STARS) of the Reference and User Services Association (RUSA), a division of the American Library Association; approved in 2012.
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Guidelines for Resource-Sharing Response to Natural and Man-made DisastersPDF document prepared by a committee of the Sharing and Transforming Access to Resources Section (STARS) of the Reference and User Services Association (RUSA), a division of the American Library Association; approved in 2010.
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Rethinking Resource Sharing InitiativeThe Rethinking Resource Sharing Initiative is an ad hoc group that advocates for a complete rethink of the way libraries conduct resource sharing in the context of the global internet revolution and all of the developments that have arisen from that.
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ShareILLAn online international interlibrary loan and document delivery information center