Interlibrary Loan Policy

Definition:

Interlibrary Loan is the process by which a library requests material from, or supplies material to, another library. Interlibrary Loan encompasses transactions among libraries not under the same administration system or school district.

Purpose:

The purpose of Interlibrary Loan is to obtain materials not available in the Wyomissing Public Library’s collection consistent with the Pennsylvania Interlibrary Loan Guidelines 2011.

Borrowing Privileges:

Any adult patron who possess a Wyomissing Public Library card and is in good standing with this library may make a request for an Interlibrary Loan item. Patrons with E-cards are not eligible for Interlibrary Loan. Requests must be made in person at the library main desk and the appropriate form completed.

Limitations:

The following items will not be requested through Interlibrary Loan:

Best Sellers and newly published titles (within 12 months)
Dissertations from the granting institution
Titles owned by the Wyomissing Public Library
Issues/Volumes of periodicals and journals
Reference materials
Audiobooks, videos, compact discs
Rare books, special collection materials and archival materials
School/Course materials
Licensed computer software data files
Electronic books
Mass market paperbacks

Please note: Large/oversized volumes or multiple volume sets should not be requested through Interlibrary Loan, if it can be avoided. This type of material is difficult to obtain and expensive to ship.

Fees:

A $5 Administrative fee will be charged for ILL items not picked up by the date specified. Patrons returning Interlibrary Loan items after the due date will incur a fine of 50 cents a day. Patrons will be charged all fees assigned by the lending library for lost or damaged materials.

Lending and Borrowing:

Wyomissing Public Library generally allows 2 – 4 weeks to receive an item if the requested Interlibrary Loan item is found and is available for shipping by the lending library. Most libraries will lend an item for 2 to 4 weeks. It should be noted that only one (1) renewal can be given on an Interlibrary Loan book if applicable. Interlibrary loan materials must be returned to the Wyomissing Public Library. Interlibrary Loan materials may not be returned in the book drop slot.

Confidentiality:

As with the circulation records of libraries, Interlibrary Loan requests are confidential.

Policy reviewed & approved by the Board of Directors on June 12, 2023