Interlibrary loaning broadens our access

The New Orleans Public Library is continuing to add services, and we recently reinstated the interlibrary loan, or ILL, service, which allows users of one library system to borrow from another. And it's free!

The NOPL has joined the state's 71-member public library ILL network, called Loanshark, and the 41 colleges and universities in the state via the online computer library center, OCLC, network. When ILL was last offered by the library system in 2004, New Orleanians borrowed 255 items and 921 items were loaned outside the city.

Some things don't circulate through interlibrary loans, such as original documents and genealogical records, but the NOPL Louisiana Division and other archives offer long-distance copying and help for researchers.

The next time you want a book that the NOPL doesn't have, and it was published during or before 2008, you can make a free ILL request at any local library location with a blue interlibrary request card.

On the card, list information about the book you want and your contact information. If you have e-mail, you will be notified by e-mail when your book is available to check out. If you prefer, give a day-time phone number for phone notification.

The ILL borrowing period for patrons is three weeks. Overdue fines are $1 a day, and you also will be charged if the book is lost or damaged. There is no charge for the book if you return it on time in good condition. There is a limit of five active ILL requests at a time.

You can get journal or magazine articles through ILL as well. Journals will be photocopied and you may be charged for the copies, which you get to keep.

Because ILL service deals with libraries across the state, it can take up to two weeks for a book to come in from another library and be ready to check out. Jan Ezkovich Barnes is the recently appointed ILL librarian for the NOPL, and she is ready to provide you with books and articles from near and far....