Interlibrary Loan Policy
Interlibrary loan is a primary service that supports the mission of the
library by providing enhanced access to library materials and information. The
purpose of interlibrary loan is to obtain materials not available in the
library and to provide material from the collection to other libraries.
The library affirms that
interlibrary loan is an adjunct to, not a substitute for, the library's
collection. In meeting customer needs, the library will exhaust local
resources before requesting items on interlibrary loan. Items in frequent or
recurring demand will be considered for purchase. The library will not seek
loans of materials that have been published within the last six (6) months.
The library will keep its
interlibrary loan policy up to date and make it available to users and other
libraries upon request.
Definition
Interlibrary loan is a transaction in which the Hopkinton Town Library borrows
materials directly from another library on behalf of a customer, or another
library borrows materials from the Hopkinton Town Library on behalf of its
customer.
Conditions of Service
The
Hopkinton Town Library endorses the principles relating to interlibrary loan
included in the New Hampshire Automated Information System (NHAIS), the ALA
Interlibrary Loan Code, the U.S. Copyright Law and U.S. Commission on New
Technological Uses of Copyrighted Works (CONTU) Guidelines, and federal and
state laws governing confidentiality of records.
I. Interlibrary Borrowing
Users
This
service is offered to all customers holding a valid library card from the
Hopkinton Town Library. The interlibrary loan borrowing privileges of severely
delinquent patrons are suspended until any overdue materials have been
returned by them and payment for lost materials has been received.
Types of Materials Borrowed
Interlibrary loan is an integral element in collection development. Staff will
request materials not owned by the library or missing from the library's
collection, or materials owned by the library that are in the process of being
repaired and are temporarily unavailable. Materials that will not be requested
include items owned by the library and temporarily in use or on reserve in the
library and electronic full-text information available to the library via the
Internet, or other means. Multiple copies of a title may be requested by the
library to support the library's monthly book discussion groups.
How to Submit a Request
A
request may be placed at any public service desk in the Library as well as by
email, fax, or over the telephone. Requests for photocopies must include
indication of compliance with the U.S. Copyright Law.
Turnaround Time
Service
will be provided as quickly as possible. Turnaround time varies depending upon
the lending library and the materials requested. After the item is received
and the requestor notified by telephone of its arrival, it will be held at the
library for up to one week.
Conditions of Use
Materials from other libraries will be loaned for three (3) weeks and renewed if
possible. The library will strictly observe any conditions for use of loaned
materials that are imposed by the lending library.
Charges
The
library will not charge for borrowing via interlibrary loan. If the lending
library charges for photocopies or mailing a particular requested material,
customers will be consulted about their willingness to pay before materials
are borrowed.
Responsibility
Lost or
damaged items are the responsibility of the customer and replacement cost will
be determined by the lending library. The library will, however, be
responsible for materials borrowed on behalf of its patrons, from the time the
material leaves the lending library until it is returned there. The library
agrees to pay for overdue charges, damage, or loss of materials borrowed on
interlibrary loan.
Statistics
The
library will maintain records of transactions in order to inform customers of
the status of their requests and will annually report activity as required to
the New Hampshire State Library.
II.
Interlibrary Lending
Users
This
service is offered to other libraries that abide by the conditions set forth
in this policy.
Materials Available
The
library endeavors to make available the broadest range of materials for
interlibrary loan, with the following exceptions:
-
Materials limited by
licensing agreements
-
Materials designated as
non-circulating (reference)
The library also reserves
the right to refuse to lend other materials or to ask a borrowing library to
restrict use of materials lent.
Format for Requests
Requests
to borrow materials from the library are accepted via fax, email, telephone,
mail, and NHAIS.
Turnaround
The
library will send any requested item to the borrowing library on the next
NHAIS van whenever possible. Van delivery and pick up at the Hopkinton Town
Library is on Tuesday and Friday except holidays observed by the New Hampshire
State Library.
Circulation Period
The loan
period will be six weeks unless otherwise specified.
Renewals will be granted unless the
material is needed by another patron of the library.
Charges
Borrowing libraries shall assume responsibility for returning materials in the
same condition as received or compensating the Hopkinton Town Library for
damages as requested. Items not delivered by the New Hampshire State Library
van service may be mailed by U.S. Postal Service. The Hopkinton Town Library
will assume outbound postage on materials requested and the borrowing library
will assume return postage.
Adopted by the Trustees of
the Hopkinton Town Library on November 16, 2004.
