Middletown Public Library West Chester Public Library Trenton Public Library  
         
 
 
Interlibrary Loan

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

You need to have a valid Middletown Public Library card.

Interlibrary Loan materials are sent through the U.S. Mail. Because of this, it is usually two weeks or longer before we receive it.

When the materials are borrowed from another library, it is the lending library that sets the due date. Often you can keep the books for three weeks, but not always. The due date is clearly marked on the book wrapper.

In some cases, books may come in but are only to be used in the library. We try to avoid getting books with this restriction, but in cases of old or rare books it is sometimes unavoidable.

In some cases, photocopies or microfiche of a book or magazine article are sent. In this case, the photcopy charges apply. You may keep these copies.

You do not need to have your fines paid to under $10.00 to request Interlibrary Loan materials, but you will need them to be paid down to check the material out. The $1.00 charge is for delivery of the material from the borrowing library to this library. If there are fines on your card in excess of $10.00 you may still use the book in the library, and you will still be charged $1.00.

You request, pick up, and return Interlibrary Loan books to the Middletown Public Library, or to the West Chester or Trenton Library. You are not expected to return books to the lending library directly.

We have a limit of ten requests per customer.

INTERLIBRARY LOAN POLICIES

Charges
Books: $1.00 per request. If the book is in multiple volumes, you will only be charged $1.00. But if you want several books by the same author, for example, you will be charged $1.00 for every book that comes in.

If the library is unable to acquire the book, you will not be charged. However, once the book is shipped by the other library we are charged, so you will be charged when the book comes in, even if you decide you don't want it.

Magazine articles and photocopies: There is a $1.00 minimum charge for photocopies, which covers up to 4 pages. Additional pages are $0.25 each.

Overdues: Because the books do not belong to us, and overdue books jeopardize our good relations with the lending library, we charge $1.00 per day for overdue Interlibrary Loan books, up to a maximum of $10.00.

You are responsible for any lost or damaged Interlibrary Loan books. If a book is lost or damaged, please notify the Middletown Public Library right away. We will contact the lending library and notify you of their charges.

Census Microfilm
$3.00 per roll, prepaid. We get our Census microfilm from a company that requires payment in advance, so this is the only Interlibrary Loan item that requires prepayment.

Renewals
You need to request a renewal at least two days prior to the due date. Some libraries will not renew Interlibrary Loan books; if this is true, we write "no renewals" on the renewal line of the book wrapper. Renewals and renewal dates are up to the lending library, and in some cases they may be unable to renew. You may keep the book while the renewal request is pending.

Please call the Middletown Public Library at 424-1251 to request a renewal.

Since the computer we use for Interlibrary Loan is completely different from our online catalog, you will not be able to renew either through the Dial PAC or through our automated telephone renewal system. Make sure you call the above number to request a renewal.

To Request an Interlibrary Loan
  • First, check our catalog to see if we own the item. We will not request items that we own, even if they are Reference or have multiple holds. If our only copy is lost, we will go ahead and request the book through Interlibrary Loan.
  • If we do not own the item, ask for an Interlibrary Loan form at the Reference Desk.
  • To locate and borrow Interlibrary Loan material we need the following information.
    • For Books:
      • The exact title
      • The author's name
      • The edition or date of publication if this is important.
    • For Magazines:
      • The magazine title
      • The date of the magazine (month/year or month/day/year, depending on the magazine)
      • The page numbers
      • The article title
      • The author of the article is helpful but not necessary
    For subject searches, ask the Reference Librarian about our FirstSearch service.
  • Fill out the form as completely as possible. Include your name, phone number and library card number.
  • Present your completed form to the Information/Reference Desk.
If you have any questions, please ask at the Information/Reference Desk for assistance.