Interlibrary Loan Policy

The University of Louisville Libraries' Interlibrary Loan policies are based on the Interlibrary Loan Code of the American Library Association (ALA) and the most current copyright law. These policies apply to all University Libraries except the Law Library. Interlibrary Loan is a courtesy provided by the lending library, and any conditions of use imposed by that library must be strictly observed. The lending library may stipulate that use of an item be restricted to the library, and it may prohibit all photocopying of the item. The lending library also stipulates the due date of the item. All items are subject to immediate recall by the lending library.

• Copyright and Resource Sharing
• Eligibility
• Submission of Requests
• Rush Requests
• Renewals
• Returning Materials
• Penalties for Misuse
• Unclaimed Items
• Damaged and Lost Items
• Overdue Items
• Fees
  • Interlibrary Loan
  • Rush Requests
  • Photocopy Service

Copyright and Resource Sharing

The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted materials. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specified conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be “used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.” If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of “fair use,” (as defined by the U.S. Copyright Office) that user may be liable for copyright infringement. Therefore, the University of Louisville Libraries reserve the right to refuse a request if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the request would violate copyright law.

Eligibility

The University of Louisville Libraries provide interlibrary loan services to all faculty, staff, and students of the University of Louisville, as well as members of the Kentucky State Legislature or their designees. A patron's library account must be in good standing to initiate an interlibrary loan.

Individuals and institutions not affiliated with the University of Louisville may be eligible for borrowing privileges by agreement through the University of Louisville Libraries. A fee may be charged for this service. Individuals and institutions not affiliated with the University of Louisville may submit an interlibrary loan requests to the Louisville Free Public Library

Law School Faculty and Students may use either Ekstrom Library or Law Library interlibrary loan services. Review Law Library policies.

Submission of Requests

Requests for interlibrary loan service for the University of Louisville Libraries, except the Law Library, must be submitted electronically through the University Libraries' ILLiad system. Requests for interlibrary loan service by the Law Library must be completed at the Law Library circulation desk.

In accordance to copyright law a separate request must be submitted for each item. Accurate and complete information about the item and the patron making the request are essential to processing requests. Any request may be cancelled and returned if it lacks sufficient information to be processed. By submitting a request patrons acknowledge their acceptance of Interlibrary Loan policies, fees, and copyright laws.

Patrons must determine accessibility before submitting requests by searching the Libraries Catalog, Find It @ UofL, or by consulting the library staff. Note that some of the Libraries’ collections are not cataloged in Minerva (such as the ERIC microfiche collection). Patrons may request items to be transferred between Belknap Campus and Health Sciences Campus via ILLiad. Belknap campus patrons (not eligible for document delivery) must retrieve items from libraries located on Belknap Campus.

Requests for known textbooks will not be processed.

Requests are processed in the order in which they are received. Five requests are processed per patron per day. Additional requests per patron will be processed as the workload permits.

Rush Requests

Rush options for interlibrary loan will be left to the discretion of each library. Costs for rush charges are fixed. A full explanation may be found under the “Fees” section.

Renewals

Renewals are granted at the discretion of the lending library. The University of Louisville Libraries will honor the stipulations of the lending library. Only one renewal per item can be made using the ILLiad system. Subsequent requests must be made to the interlibrary loan staff. All requests for a renewal should be made at least three days before the original due date. If the lending library does not grant the renewal, the item must be returned immediately.

Returning Materials

Materials obtained through Belknap Campus Libraries Interlibrary Loan should NOT be placed in book drops. Interlibrary loan materials should be returned directly to the circulation desk of the library where the request originated.

Materials obtained through Kornhauser Interlibrary Loan may be placed in book drops or returned to the circulation desk.

Penalties for Misuse

University of Louisville Libraries Interlibrary Loan Departments reserve the right to deny interlibrary loan privileges to any patron who abuses the service.

Unclaimed Items

Unclaimed items will be sent back to the lending library on the due date of the item. Chronic abusers may have their interlibrary loan privileges suspended or revoked.

Damaged and Lost Items

Patrons are responsible for all fees incurred for lost or damaged items.

Overdue Items

Please return the item by the due date. Users with overdue interlibrary loan items may have their library borrowing privileges suspended until the overdue item is returned. Patrons are responsible for all fees incurred for overdue items.

Ekstrom Library reserves the right to block a patron’s account for a number of days equal to the number of days the last returned item was overdue. At the end of this time the patron’s interlibrary loan account will be reactivated. This process is at the discretion of the interlibrary loan staff.

Fees

Interlibrary Loan

The University of Louisville Libraries pays the first $20.00 of the cost toward obtaining any interlibrary loan. If cost exceeds the $20.00 paid by the University Libraries, patrons will be notified before an order is placed to determine willingness to pay the difference.

Rush Requests

Not all libraries will offer rush services at all times. Cost for rush services, when available, are listed below. All rush requests submitted after 2:00pm will be processed the following business day.

Rush costs are independent of other fees. Rush delivery can never be guaranteed. If material cannot be obtained within the specified time frame, rush fees will not be charged.

Photocopy Service

Please see Document Delivery Policies

Abuse of these policies may result in the suspension or revocation of interlibrary loan privileges.

Revised 11/7/2005