What is an Interlibrary loan?

Interlibrary Loan (ILL) is a cooperative resource sharing service that allows customers in good standing to borrow materials from other library systems within the United States. This service is used to borrow materials that are not owned by the Newport Beach Public Library. Please check our catalog to make sure we do not own an item before requesting it through ILL.

PLEASE NOTE: All loans are a courtesy of the lending institutions. These institutions determine the availability, due date, lending period, renewal possibility, restrictions on use and replacement costs for all material. Loans may take up to six weeks to arrive.

Interlibrary Loan FAQ

• What items are available through ILL? 
  Books, articles and microfilm that are at least 12 months old. Audio/visual and digital materials, such as eBooks, are NOT available through this service. To request items newer than 12 months, please submit a request to add the title to our Library’s collection on our Suggest a Title Page.
   

• What is the cost of submitting an ILL?

  The fee to request an interlibrary loan is $5.00 per item. This fee must be paid before the borrowed materials are accessed. There are no refunds for submitting requests that cannot be filled.  If the request is for a multi-volume set, the charge applies to each volume. Please note that until the fee is paid this will impact your ability to renew or check out other materials.
  
  

• How do I Submit an ILL Request?

  There are two ways to submit your ILL request:

  1. The request can be submitted in person at the Reference Desk at any library location. There a Librarian will submit your request and collect the corresponding fee.

  2. The request can also be submitted over the phone by calling the Reference Desk at 949-717-3800 and selecting option 2. The fee will be charged to your account. You can pay this fee in person or online through the library website.

      

• What information do I need when submitting an ILL Request?

  It is helpful to have the title, author, publisher, and the ISBN of the book when you place an ILL request.  The journal title, article title, volume number, and the year of publication are required for article requests.  If you are requesting a specific edition of a title, please alert staff when making the request.
  
  

• How many ILLs may I request at one time?

  You may have up to five (5) active ILLs at any given time. Active means from the time a request is submitted until the item is checked back in at NBPL.
  
  

• How long can I keep my ILL Item?

  Loan periods and due dates are set by the lending institution. The due date is noted on the slip on the front of the book and on your library account. The sooner you pick up your item when notified, the longer you will have to use it. Overdue fines for ILL materials are $0.25 per day/per item. In rare instances, lenders will recall an item. If that should occur, we will ask for the book to be returned immediately.
  
  

• Where should I go to pick up and check out my ILL?

  All ILLs are available for check out at the Customer Service Desk. 
  
  

• What happens if I miss my ILL hold pickup date?

  Your ILL will be on hold for 7 days. If you miss the hold pick up window, ILL staff will attempt to contact you by email. If staff is unable to reach you in an additional 7 days, the ILL will be sent back to the lending library. Please note that the borrowing period of your ILL will not be extended if you miss your first pickup date. 
  
  

• What happens if I lose or damage an ILL item?

  Replacement fees and costs are determined by lending institution. Patrons are responsible for any and all fees. Please note that if you are requesting rare, antique, or otherwise valuable books that the cost of replacement or repair may be significant. 
  
  

• How do I know when my item arrives?

  Items may take up to six weeks to arrive.  You will be notified by your preferred hold notification method, typically email or text, when the item is ready for pickup or if we are not able to fulfill your request.
  
  

• How do I return ILL Items?

  Return ILLs as you would any other item you’ve borrowed at any NBPL location. When possible, please return ILL items to the Customer Service Desks.
  
  

• How do I renew ILL Items?
  ILL renewals are considered on a case-by-case basis by the lending institution. There is no guarantee that the lender will grant a renewal. Renewal requests should be submitted to NBPL at least seven days, but not earlier than 14 days, before your ILL’s due date. You may submit your request for renewal either in person, over the phone at 949-717-3800 (select option 2), or by email at ill@newportbeachca.gov. You will be informed of the lending institution’s response as soon as possible. Please note that if the renewal is denied, you may have to return the item immediately to avoid fines.