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Interlibrary Loans

While the SAILS system will usually have the materials you are looking for, sometimes you may want to borrow a material from outside the system. This service is called Interlibrary Loan. We can borrow through traditional ILL channels or the new Virtual Catalog.

Virtual Catalog is software that allows us to search the catalogs of Boston Public, MetroWest, CLAMS, Minuteman and several other Massachusetts groups at the same time.  The usual ILL restrictions apply so read the General Information below. Access is through the iBistro Catalog so that you will search our system first.

General Information

• Costs may vary due to the tight budgets of the lending libraries. Borrowing on rare occasions might cost up to $20. You are responsible for overdue charges and damages just as you are with other items you borrow. Doesn't apply to Virtual Catalog.

• The time it takes depends on the availability and location of the materials. Allow at least 2 weeks, but it can take longer.

• Photocopy requests of articles generally take a week, but can take longer.

• Videos and sound recordings are more difficult to borrow than books.

• Copyright laws apply for magazine articles which will limit the number of articles from any particular journal.

• Some materials can only be used in the library (such as microfilm or rare books.)

• New books, multiple copies of a title, textbooks, tests, entire issues of magazines, and materials owned by our system are usually not available for interlibrary loan.

• There is a limit of 5 active requests any one patron may have at a time. Active includes pending, shipped and received.

• Check here to find out about Virtual Catalog and unfulfillable requests.

How to order:

Before you place a request, please check the SAILS catalog to see if it is in the system. Check Infotrac (or request that we do) before asking for a periodical article.

We need to know the following information in order to help you:

• Your name, phone number and library card number

• The title of the book or journal [or you can request a subject search of up to 5 books on the subject]

• If an article: title of article and volume/issue information

• Author 

• Source of information (newspaper, tv, radio, bibliography) so we can check spelling

• Date no longer needed (so we can cancel if it doesn't come in right away.)

• The maximum amount you would be willing to pay if the only lending libraries are ones that charge.

You may fill out the form at the Circulation Desk or e-mail us the information.

Your Responsibilities

• Return materials on time. You may have the materials for 2 weeks (longer for Virtual Catalog.) If you need it for longer, you must tell us before it is actually due so we can request an extension. Overdue materials cannot be renewed. Only the lending library can authorize extensions.
• If you fail to return materials on time, you will be jeopardizing your chances of using this service in the future.
• Materials need to be returned to the SAILS library from which you borrowed the material.

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