The Alexander Mack Memorial Library's Interlibrary Loan service enables patrons to gain access to materials from other libraries throughout the world. Requested items are mailed, emailed, or faxed to the library, and can be checked out by patrons. To be eligible, patrons require a valid Alexander Mack Memorial Library card or Bridgewater College ID.

I. Principles

Interlibrary Loan is a service that supports the mission of the library by providing patrons with access to other library's materials. Prior to submitting requests for materials, patrons are asked to check the ALEX catalog and the Periodical Locator to verify that the library does not already own or provide access to the requested items. Items in frequent or recurring demand will be considered for purchase, and added to the collection.

The Alexander Mack Memorial Library endorses the tenets relating to interlibrary loan included in the VIVA Resource Sharing Committee Interlibrary Loan Guidelines, the ALA Interlibrary Loan Code, the U.S. Copyright Law, and the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.

The library will review its interlibrary loan policy biennially and make it available to patrons and other libraries upon request.

II. Interlibrary Loan Borrowing

1. Types of Materials Borrowed

   Patrons may request books, journal articles and other media. Most lending libraries do not lend items from special collections, bound volumes of periodicals, microfiche/microfilm, or audio-visual materials. Theses and/or dissertations may be borrowed by faculty members and students working on honors projects.

   Interlibrary loan remains an important contributor to collection development. The interlibrary loan staff will evaluate requests as a means of identifying gaps in the library's collection.

2. Borrowing Restrictions

   The library will not request materials that are available electronically from an online database or Internet resource to which the library has access. Nor does the library request loans of textbooks or materials to be placed on reserve in the library.

   Copyright laws restrict libraries from:

   1. requesting more than five articles, dated within the past five years, from any one journal in any one given year or
   2. requesting more than one article from any single issue of a journal title for the same patron

   In such instances where the above restrictions prohibit the library from ordering items copyright permission may be obtained on behalf of faculty, staff, students and alumni only. The receipt of such items may be delayed due to the process of obtaining copyright clearance.

3. How To Submit a Request

A patron may place a request via email, online, or via the interlibrary loan form available at the library's reference desk.

4. Turnaround Time

Turnaround time varies depending upon the lending library and the materials requested. While most materials arrive within two to three days, some books or items requiring special handling take up to two weeks to receive. Patrons will be notified by email or telephone when the item is available at the library's circulation desk. Items not picked up within two weeks will be returned to the lending library.

5. Conditions of Use

The library will convey any conditions for use of loaned materials that have been requested by the lending library.

6. Charges

The library does not charge faculty, staff, students or faculty emeriti for interlibrary loan services. The library charges community patrons $3.50 per item requested. Occasionally a lending library will charge an amount that exceeds the standard service rate. Upon receiving such information a library staff member will notify the patron to convey the charges and determine, if appropriate, a payment method. Such arrangements will precede the ordering of materials.

7. Circulation Period

   Patrons are expected to discard copies of articles upon completion of the research project in order to comply with copyright regulations. The borrower is responsible for honoring the due date of each item and for paying any charges associated with overdue materials, loss or damage. All items should be returned to the Circulation Desk.

   Failure to return interlibrary loan items on time may result in the suspension of borrowing services for the delinquent patron.

III. Interlibrary Loan Lending

1. Types of Materials Loaned

   This service is offered to other libraries that abide by the conditions set forth in Section III of this policy. The library loans primarily books and articles. As a rule, the library does not loan the following:

   1. Materials limited by licensing agreements
   2. Materials designated as non-circulating (Reference, Special Collections, etc.)
   3. Bound periodicals
   4. New books, as indicated by the location of "NEW"� in the ALEX location field
   5. Audiovisual materials, microfiche or microform
   6. Equipment, including but not limited to laptops, VCRs, and projectors

   The library adheres to VIVA Guidelines regarding "Special Loans"�. For this reason, some materials listed above may be loaned to participating VIVA institutions with permission from the Library Director.

2. Format for Requests

Requests to borrow materials from the library are accepted via OCLC, fax, email or mail. Rush requests are accommodated as time and staffing permit.

3. Turnaround Time

The library will process most requests within business two days. Items are shipped via standard delivery by the United States Postal Service. Periodical articles are transmitted electronically or photocopied and mailed to borrowing libraries.

4. Circulation Period

The circulation period for items loaned is sixty days. Because of occasional delays resulting from shipping and processing, items will not be considered overdue until one week after the due date. Items on interlibrary loan may not be renewed.

5. Charges

   The library will not charge for lending materials, except for insurance or special mailing costs. The library will charge for materials that are overdue, damaged, or lost. For overdue costs and related fines please refer to the library's circulation policy.