Interlibrary Loan: Frequently Asked Questions

Please be sure you have first checked our library catalog for the item you are seeking. Interlibrary Loan requests cannot be made for items that we have in our catalog.

Please note these important interlibrary loan policies:

• Items will be held for seven days on the holds shelf at the pickup location.
• Items are checked out for three weeks with one possible renewal for a total of six weeks.
• You may return items inside any branch. Do not use the book drop.
• Overdue fines are $1.00 per day.
• $100.00 Lost Item Fee- The default price is $100.00. Please speak with ILL staff about lost items as we will need to discuss the matter. Many times the cost will be lower, however it may be higher.
• Max Cost is required on the request form- 95% of items received are free, however if the lending library charges us, we must pass that to you. You should fill in the maximum you are willing to pay.

How to Request Interlibrary Loans View step-by-step instructions

• To make a request:
  You must have a current library card with borrowing privileges to request an ILL. You cannot have fines over $10 on your library account. Please be aware it usually takes between 2 to 6 weeks for a requested item to arrive, and you can have no more than 10 active requests at a time. A request is considered active from the time it is submitted to the time it is returned to the lending library. We always strive to provide this service for free. 95% of the items we receive are loaned to us free of charge; however, some libraries will charge us without notification for filling a request. This happens rarely and we must pass these charges on to you. Please indicate the maximum cost you are willing to pay in the request form. The average charges range from $15-$25.



• To request a book:
  Please provide the book’s correct title and author, plus any other information you have such as ISBN, OCLC accession number, publication date or edition.



• To request microfilm:
  Please provide the specific reel number and/or time period you need (for example: The New York Times; Jan-Mar 1920).



• To request a journal article:
  Please provide the correct journal name & volume, pages numbers, article title & author.



• How do I check on the progress of my request?
  Login to your Illiad account and click "Requests" in the View menu.
  Learn more about ILL status

Please keep in mind certain materials may be difficult to obtain:

• Genealogical material
• Material not published in the U.S.
• Very old or rare books
• Very expensive books
• Reference material

• Reference materials
• North Carolina Room materials
• High demand items with a waiting list

• Audio books
• Videotapes
• DVD’s
• Compact Discs

When Your ILL arrives

Items usually arrive within 2 to 6 weeks and you will be contacted by email, phone or U.S. mail. Items will be held for one week at the branch you designate.

What happens if we can’t get the item you want?
You will be notified by email or U.S. mail if we are unable to borrow the item you requested. Our Interlibrary Loan Service cannot guarantee the procurement of any item you request. We always have to rely on other libraries’ willingness to loan material.

Checking Out Your ILL item
Visit your branch’s hold shelf to pick up your item. Please do not remove the label on the item’s cover. ILL items are checked out for three weeks.

Renewing Your ILL item
Loan periods are three weeks with a possible renewal of an additional three weeks. Be aware that some lenders do not allow renewal.

Returning your ILL item
Interlibrary loan items may be returned to any branch during operating hours. Please return ILL materials by the due date. There is a charge of one dollar per day for overdue materials. When returning ILL materials, please be sure the label is still attached, bring them inside the library and give it to a staff person instead of dropping them off in a return bin. If an item is lost, the patron is expected to pay the lender's charges for replacement.

Contact Information

Phone: (704) 416-0105
Email Us
Website: http://www.plcmc.org/ill

Mailing Address:
Interlibrary Loan
Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County
310 North Tryon Street
Charlotte, NC 28202

What if I forget or lose my Library Card Number or PIN?
In the event that you forget your library card number or PIN, please contact the Interlibrary Loan office at (704) 416-0105. We can then reset your information allowing you access to interlibrary loan.

Who do I contact if I have problems with or questions about interlibrary loan?
System Problems or Interlibrary Loan Questions: Interlibrary Loan office 704-416-0105 or email us

Why does my browser say that you’re sending a cookie? What’s in it?
The technology that we use sends a Session ID to be stored on your machine. You can refuse this cookie and still be able to use Interlibrary Loan without any problems.