Interlibrary Loan

Interlibrary Loan Request Form

You may download the Interlibrary Loan Request Form (PDF), complete and sign the form, and mail it or deliver it in person to the Rowlett Public Library's Service Desk.

Interlibrary Loan Policy

From the Rowlett Public Library Policy Manual created by the Rowlett Public Library Advisory Board:

The Rowlett Public Library Advisory Board endorses active participation in the nationwide “interlibrary loan” program as a basis for expanding the information and resources available to Rowlett residents. Therefore, the Board encourages both borrowing through the system and being an active loaning library. User fees imposed by loaning institutions will be the responsibility of the requesting patron.

Rowlett Public Library cardholders in good standing may request that the library borrow materials not owned by the library from participating public and academic libraries. However, other libraries are under no obligation to lend any of their materials. ILL request forms are available at the Service desk.

Typically, libraries will not lend rare or fragile items, audio-visual materials, or high-demand items. Most libraries will also not lend genealogy materials, microfilm, or items designated as reference materials in their collections.

There is a limit of ten open requests at one time per customer. An item may be borrowed one time within a three-month period and may not be renewed. The lending period is at the discretion of the lending library and may not correspond to the Rowlett Public Library’s own lending policies. The average time required to fill a request is two to three weeks. When a request is filled, the customer will be notified, and the item will be available for pickup from the circulation desk.

The library cannot request materials published within the past six months but will consider purchasing these items for the library’s collection on a title-by-title basis with the requesting customer given first priority to borrow the item if it is purchased. If the item is not purchased, the customer may initiate a new Interlibrary Loan request for the item six months or more after the publication date.

Although most lending libraries do not charge for Interlibrary Loan materials, borrowers are responsible for any fees imposed. If there is a cost, a Rowlett Public Library staff member will contact the borrower and apprise him or her of the fees involved before the item is shipped from the lending library.

Interlibrary Loan materials that are returned late with be assessed 20 cents per day plus any fees imposed by the lending library. Customers who fail to return materials borrowed on their behalf will be charged the replacement cost of the item (as determined by the lending library), plus a processing fee (also determined by the lending library). Customers may be assessed return postage costs for requested items that are not picked up.

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