Interlibrary Loan Policy

Interlibrary Loan (ILL), also known as Resource Sharing, is a service where the library borrows items that we do not own from other institutions throughout the country.

General Information

• Only current students, staff, and faculty can access this service
• Retired faculty members may send ILL requests with permission from their former university department
• UTPB does not charge for ILL requests. The library will absorb borrowing fees up to $50
• All communication between the library and the patron is via email provided at the time of the ILL request
• A daily fine of $1 is charged for overdue ILL items. Lost or damaged ILL items will incur replacement costs as determined by the lender
• Rare books and textbooks may be requested by faculty and adjuncts for research purposes only
• Items NOT loanable or borrowed through ILL include audiovisual media, complete eBooks, CDs, DVDs, and software or digital licenses. More details on the Interlibrary Loan Request Form

Procedures

Requesting and Picking ILL Resources

• Requests must be submitted online through the library catalog
• Physical books take at least two weeks to arrive, and articles or digital copies of book chapters come within one week
• ILL material can be picked up at the Access Services Desk or sent to offices by Campus Mail or by mail for Distance Education Students
• Limited selection of book collections and serials may be requested as digital copies within copyright limitations
• Physical loan requests are not allowed three weeks before the end of the semester due to delivery time

Returning and Renewing ILL Items

• Loan periods are set by the lending institution, and renewal requests must be submitted at least three days before the due date. Overdue items cannot be renewed
• Notification of acceptance for renewal will be sent to the patron's email account. If the renewal is denied, the original due date will remain in effect
• Habitual loss, damage, or disregard of due dates to ILL items can result in the loss of interlibrary loan privileges

Distance Education Students

• Distance education students whose current address is more than 50 miles away from the UTPB Main Campus may request ILL items to be delivered to them
• They may also request technology equipment available through the library: Laptops and hotspots
• Students are required to complete the Equipment Lending User Agreement Form to request library technology. Read the Technology Lending Policy to learn more about the borrowing policy
• Submit ILL requests as early as possible because shipping times vary and may delay the delivery of print requests

UTPB ILL Lending Policies to Other Libraries

• The library does not charge for copies or loans within the USA. Packages are shipped through USPS Library Mail, UPS, or Trans Amigos Express courier service. We do not ship packages or receive shipments on weekends. Rush shipping is not available.
• UTPB dissertations (by the university) are available for In-Library Use Only and only if the library owns a verified second copy in its Archives collection. Dissertations should be returned and packed securely in a box and shipped via a delivery method with package tracking.
• The library does not lend these items through interlibrary loan: Full eBooks; Archives or Special Collections materials, audiovisual media, microfilm or microfiche; and print serials. ILL copies made from these items may be available within copyright limits.
• Borrowing libraries may submit requests to the library through WorldShare ILL to OCLC symbol TXO or through e-mail to libraryill@utpb.edu 

NOTICE WARNING CONCERNING COPYRIGHT RESTRICTIONS

The copyright law of the United States (title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specific conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be “used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.” If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of “fair use,” that user may be 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 a violation of copyright law.