What Is Interlibrary Loan?
- What is interlibrary loan (ILL)?
- What types of materials may/may not be requested through ILL?
- Can I borrow theses or dissertations?
- How many materials can I request?
- How long does it take for materials to arrive?
- What do I need in order to be able to request ILL materials?
- How do I request ILL materials? Are there quicker alternatives to Interlibrary Loan?
- How can I check on the status of my ILL requests after submitting them?
- How do I get my materials once they have arrived?
- How long may I keep the loaned materials?
- What if I need the materials longer than the due dates given?
- How do I return ILL material?
- Is there a charge for ILL?
- What is the copyright agreement for supplied photocopied materials?
- Where is the Interlibrary Loan Department office?
Other ILL Policies
- Recalls
- Overdues
- Lost ILL materials
- Damaged ILL materials
- Penalty fines
- Loss of borrowing privileges
Q. What is interlibrary loan?
Interlibrary loan (ILL) is a borrowing and lending service of the Long Beach City College Library. When a book or periodical article you desire is not in the Long Beach City College Library collection, you may request it through Interlibrary Loan (ILL), a free library service provided to Long Beach City College students, faculty, and staff. ILL will request the book or obtain a copy of the periodical article from other libraries worldwide. Before requesting ILL services, you should check the Library's online catalog—Voyager to be sure Long Beach City College Library does not own the item. You may phone the ILL staff at 562-938-4809 or 938-4576 for additional assistance.
Q. What types of materials may/may not be requested through ILL?
Materials that can be requested include books, periodical articles, government publications, theses/dissertations, media (CDs, videos, etc.), pamphlets, etc. You are restricted to materials that support classroom learning and research. This means no recreational materials may be ordered. Ordering of textbooks and whole journal issues is also not allowed.
Q. Can I borrow theses or dissertations?
Many libraries do not lend them. If a thesis or dissertation is not available through ILL, it may be possible for you to purchase copies directly from University Microfilms, Inc. (UMI). UMI order forms are available at the ILL Office or the Reference Desk. You can request to have UMI order forms mailed to you, by calling the ILL Office at 562-938-4576 or sending an email to ill@lbcc.edu. If you send an email, please be sure to include the full mailing address and the phone number of where the forms are to be sent.
Q. How many materials can I request?
Undergraduate students may submit 5 interlibrary loan requests per week. The limit for faculty and staff is 10 per week.
Q. How long does it take for materials to arrive?
Most requests are filled within 7 to 14 days after they are submitted. Sometimes, it can take up to 6 weeks. The ILL staff will determine where the material is available and will request it from the library that can provide the quickest service free of charge.
Q. What do I need in order to be able to request ILL materials?
To be able to order ILL materials, you must have a Long Beach City College identification card with a current validation sticker. If you request ILL materials electronically via the Web, your identification or library card must have a barcode on it. Long Beach City College identification cards can obtained from the Student Center in Building E.
Q. How do I request ILL materials? Are there quicker alternatives to interlibrary loan?
- Before submitting a request, check the Long Beach City College Library collection (by searching the Long Beach City College online catalog—Voyager) to see if the Library carries the item you need. If the item you need is a book, also check the catalogs at California State University Long Beach and the Long Beach Public Library, then go to that library to check out the available book. Borrowing books with these libraries will be much quicker than going through interlibrary loan, since it can take anywhere from 1 to 6 weeks to receive requested interlibrary loan materials.
- If the item is not available in either the Long Beach City College Library or with CSU Long Beach or the Long Beach Public Library, you may fill out and submit an ILL request form at the Library's Reference Desk, Circulation Desk, OR use the ILL form that is available on the Web.
- Be sure the bibliographic information you supplied on the ILL form is accurate and complete. 4. If possible, please attach a copy of your citation to the form. In case there are errors in the bibliographic information you supplied, the citation you attached will provide the necessary information, and the processing of your ILL request will not be delayed.
- Check your form to make sure all information is correct and complete. The more completely you fill out the form, the more quickly we can process your ILL request.
- If you are submitting an ILL request in person, please turn it in at the Reference Desk. You must show your validated college identification card to a librarian or library staff member when submitting requests in person.
Q. How can I check on the status of my ILL requests after submitting them?
If it has been several days after you've submitted your ILL requests and you are concerned about not having yet received any ILL materials, you may check on the status of your requests during normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM) by contacting the following staff:
- ILL Assistant: (562) 938-4809 or email Camtu Cao (ccao@LBCC.edu)
- ILL Access Services Librarian: (562) 938-4576 or email Nenita B. Buenaventura (nbuena@LBCC.edu)
Q. How do I get my materials once they have arrived?
You must pick up loaned materials in person at the Library Circulation Desk. You will be notified when they arrive.
Q. How long may I keep the loaned materials?
Loaned books may be kept for a period of three weeks. Some materials (e.g. videos, microforms, etc.) may have limited use restrictions requiring only one-week use or to be used in the Library only. The due date will be written on the blue band attached to the front of the ILL item. Please note that returning materials past their due dates jeopardizes the future ability of the Library to borrow materials from lending institutions. You may retain photocopies; they do not have to be returned.
Q. What if I need the materials longer than the due dates given?
Most books can be renewed for an additional two weeks. Other formats, such as media and microform, cannot be renewed. To renew an ILL item, please call 562-938-4508 or stop by the Library's Circulation Desk to renew in person. Renewals must be requested 3-to-7 days before the due date. Only one renewal is allowed. If "NO RENEWALS" is stamped on the band attached to the front of your ILL item, you may not renew the item. If renewals are not allowed, then it is recommended that you submit another request for the item at least seven days prior to its due date. The ILL staff will attempt to borrow another copy of the item from another library. The newly requested item should arrive by the time the item in your possession is due.
Q. How do I return ILL material?
As stated above, photocopied materials do not have to be returned. Loaned materials (e.g. books, dissertations, media, etc.) may be placed in any of the Library's book drops or handed to a staff member at the Library Circulation Desk. You may phone the ILL staff at 562-938-4809 or 938-4576. ILL items may also be returned by mail. Please mail the materials First Class, packaged in padded envelopes or boxes, to the address below:
Long Beach City College Library
Attention: Interlibrary Loan
Liberal Arts Campus
4901 East Carson Street
Long Beach, CA 90808
To avoid overdue fines, please make sure the materials are postmarked before their due date.
There is currently no charge for this service.
Q. What is the copyright agreement for supplied photocopied materials?
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Photocopies or other reproductions can be furnished only under certain conditions, if they will be used solely for private study, scholarship, or research. Use of the reproduction for other purposes may make the user liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.
Q. Where is the Interlibrary Loan Department office?
Interlibrary Loan is located on the first Floor of the Liberal Arts Campus Library in Building L, Room L151. For more information, please check at the Reference Desk or Circulation Desk. You may phone the ILL staff at 562-938-4809 or 938-4576.
Recalls
The lending institution reserves the right to recall ILL materials, regardless of the length of the original loan period. This means you may be asked to return your book before its due date. Recalled material must be returned immediately to the Library Circulation Desk.
Overdues
There is a $0.25 day fine for overdue ILL books. The following are the penalties for having one or more overdue ILL items:
7 days overdue - All library privileges are suspended.
14 days overdue - Registration privileges are suspended.
30 days overdue - You will be billed $71.71+ for each item.
When the overdue items are returned and/or paid for, your ILL, library, and registration privileges will be restored.
Lost ILL materials
If you claim to have returned an ILL item that the Library has not located, the ILL staff will fully investigate the matter, conducting a thorough search for the item. If the item cannot be found, you will be held accountable for the lost item. If you know you have lost an ILL item, please notify an ILL staff person immediately by phone (562-938-4576) or in person (at the Library Circulation Desk). The replacement charge for a lost ILL item is usually $71.71. However, sometimes the replacement charges are less or more than this amount, depending on what the lending library normally charges. The replacement charges for lost media materials are usually over $100.00.
Damaged ILL materials
It is the patron's responsibility to return ILL materials in the condition they were in when received. You will be charged for any damages done to the materials while in your possession. If the damages are excessive, you will be billed the replacement cost of the item.
If the paper band attached to the front of your ILL item is removed, you will be fined $0.50.
If a patron has a pattern of returning ILL items late (3 or more), or a pattern of claiming to have returned ILL items that cannot be found (3 or more), all ILL items requested will be for "library use only." Should a patron repeatedly disregard the ILL guidelines, his/her ILL privileges will be temporarily or permanently suspended.
Get ILL book request form
Get ILL article request form
View ILL main page
Questions or comments about Interlibrary Loan?
Contact Nenita B. Buenaventura (nbuena@LBCC.edu)
