Interlibrary Loans

The Blue Mountains Library is part of a resource-sharing network that allows us to borrow materials that are more than 1 year old from across the province and beyond.

Check out our new Patron-Initiated Interlibrary Loan service

Our Policy

Where items or information are not available in the Library's collection every reasonable attempt will be made to secure them through inter-library loan and information sharing networks with other libraries.

The Library Board does not endorse interlibrary loan as a replacement for proper collection development.

Interlibrary loan material is free to patrons unless the loaning library charges for the material in which case the cost will be passed on to the patron requesting the material. Charges for late, lost or damaged materials will be passed on to the patron who borrowed the material.

The Library will also strive to satisfy lending requests from other libraries. We will loan materials for the standard 3- week period. Borrowing libraries will be charged for late, lost or damaged materials. The Library will not interlibrary loan any materials which are deemed non-circulating.

The Library will abide by the loan regulations set by lending institutions and provincial resource sharing agreements.

The Library reserves the right to limit the number of Interlibrary loan requests processed for a patron at one time.

Eligibility

The Library provides interlibrary loan service to all current library members who do not have fines exceeding $10.00.

Cost

Interlibrary loan material is free to patrons unless the loaning library charges for the material in which case the cost will be passed on to the patron requesting the material.

Borrowing limitations

Materials not available through interlibrary loan include reference materials and computer software. Requests for DVDs and electronic media including audiobooks should be submitted directly to our interlibrary loan department. If you are a Reciprocal Borrowers from Meaford or Grey Highlands, you must use the interlibrary loan service at your home library.

Submitting requests

There are two ways to request materials from other libraries: (1) Fill out request form (click here for form) and bring to library or (2) Use our patron-intitiated interlibrary loan service.

Turn around time

It can take as little as one day to as much as 4 weeks or longer to obtain some materials, depending on the availability or type of material requested. Patrons will be notified by phone when the requested item arrives.

Returns and renewals

Materials must be returned with the original date due slip attached around the front cover of the book. Renewals are not available for interlibrary loan materials. Failure to return borrowed materials on time may jeopardize future borrowing privileges for you and this library.