Who may use Interlibrary Loan services at Bethel?
ILL is available to all students, faculty, and staff at Bethel College and to community patrons as a means of obtaining books or articles not currently available in the Bethel College Library collection. All users must have a library account in good standing to utilize interlibrary loan services.
Will I be charged for ILL services?
Interlibrary Loan is often a reciprocal service between libraries, so we are able to process most requests without charging our patrons a fee. Certain materials may be held only by libraries that charge a fee for service. In those cases, we will contact you to see if you are willing to pay a fee to borrow the material you requested.
What kinds of materials are available through ILL?
We are very successful at obtaining books published after 1900, non-commercial videos/DVDs, and journal articles, although occasionally there may be a lending fee if the item is not widely owned. If you are unsure if we can request an item for you, submit your request and we will let you know if we cannot obtain it for you.
- Items that may be difficult to get on ILL include:
- Theses and dissertations (there is often a lending fee for these)
- Very old publications (pre-1900), if they are not available in reprint or digital format
- Very new books, especially popular titles
- Archival materials or manuscripts
- Items owned only by libraries outside the U.S.
- The following materials are not available for interlibrary requesting:
- Music CDs
- Textbooks required for a current BC course
- Items borrowed through ILL may not be placed on course reserve.
How long does it take to receive ILL materials?
Delivery time for ILL materials varies. Many articles arrive within a few days. Loaned items typically arrive in 1-2 weeks, though some can take longer depending on the availability of the material and the location of the lending library. Whenever possible, request items at least 2 weeks before you need them.
How can I check on the status of my request?
E-mail interlib@bethelks.edu or call 316-284-5303 to ask about your ILL request. If you requested an item through the Kansas Library Catalog, the Guest Tracking feature allows you to follow the progress of your request online.
How many requests can I make?
We do not limit the number of requests a patron can make. However, please remember that while there are usually no costs to you for using ILL, each request costs the library an average of $10. Physical items are typically loaned for 3-5 weeks. Please request only what you think you will be able to use in a given time period. Copyright laws and guidelines place certain restrictions on article requests. We will contact you if these laws and guidelines prevent us from processing your article request.
Where do I pick up ILL materials?
Articles will be delivered electronically by e-mail, unless you request a different form of delivery. You may pick up other ILL materials at the interlibrary loan desk. Please ask library staff for assistance locating items available for pick up.
How long may I keep a book?
Lending periods vary based on the lending policies of the lending library. A due date will be written on the paper strap attached to ILL material. The strap also indicates whether the lending library will allow renewal requests. Fines of $5 per week are charged for overdue ILL materials. There is a grace period of one week before fines start accruing.
How do I request a renewal?
E-mail interlib@bethelks.edu or call 316-284-5303 to request an extension of the borrowing period of an ILL item. It may take several days for us to get a response from the lending library, after which we will notify you of the new due date. The lending library has the final decision on whether to grant a renewal. If a renewal is not granted, you will be asked to return the material by the original due date.