Interlibrary Loan Policy
Interlibrary Loan Policy
West Florida Public Libraries’ (WFPL) Interlibrary Loan Service (ILL) offers eligible library cardholders in good standing the ability to request over 2 billion items available through 72,000 ILL partner libraries around the state and across the continental U.S. ILL is not available to any minor (a patron not yet 18 years old), unless the minor’s parent or legal guardian has agreed to be responsible for all charges associated with the minor’s use of the service (such as processing fees and replacement costs for damaged or lost items). WFPL adheres to the Interlibrary Loan Code for the United States With Explanatory Text.
Requesting Items
- WFPL staff will first review all ILL requests to determine whether the requested item meets the criteria in WFPL’s Collection Development Policy and may be considered for purchase. If selected for purchase, the item will be added to WFPL’s permanent collection, and the ILL request will not be fulfilled. WFPL will notify patrons when the purchased item is available for checkout.
- ILL requests may be made electronically from home, here or at any WFPL location using the ILL interface on the library’s website. Requests may also be submitted on a paper form available at each library location.
- Patrons may submit a total of five new requests during a 60-day period. Special circumstances may require a change in the number of new requests allowed.
- Some materials may not be available for checkout and will be designated as “In Library Use Only,” such as difficult-to-replace materials (including those the Library deems expensive or rare), materials received for in-house use only, and microfilm. Microfilm may be viewed only at Pensacola Library and is designated “In Library Use Only.
- Any item not currently owned by WFPL may be requested, but the following may be difficult for our partner libraries:
- Movies / Videos (DVD, Blu-ray)
- Textbooks and study guides (if available, these will be in “Library Use Only”)
- Please note that WFPL cannot request materials published in the last two years.
- Each lending library determines if a borrower’s fee will be assessed for an item or request. The ILL Department will notify patrons if such a fee is required. The fee must be paid before the request is processed.
Patron Loan Periods and Overdue Fines
- WFPL is unable to guarantee if and/or when an ILL request will be delivered. Patrons can contact the ILL Department for updates on the status of their request.
- Materials are loaned for a period of 21 days and cannot be renewed or extended.
- Patrons will be notified when their requested items are ready for pickup at their selected library. Received ILL items will be held for five (5) days from the date of notification.
- ILL items not returned by their assigned due date will incur overdue fines in accordance with the lending library’s policies.
- ILL items may be returned to staff at any WFPL location, regardless of where the items were initially checked out. To ensure the library has received ILL materials, items should not be placed in a book drop, nor should the attached paperwork be removed. If paperwork is removed from the ILL item, WFPL will not be able to match the item to the patron’s account.
ILL Borrower Responsibilities
An ILL is a courtesy provided to libraries by other libraries. This service is based on protocols and goodwill. Patrons are responsible for the damage, replacement cost, and processing fee of any ILL items that are lost, damaged, or stolen in accordance with WFPL’s policies and as determined by the lending library. Repeated loss, damage, or failure to follow ILL protocols (such disregarding due dates or failure to pick up requested items) may result in suspension of borrowing privileges.
Lending Policy to Other Libraries
- Other libraries may request materials from WFPL for their patrons through Florida Library Navigator, an OCLC WorldCat Navigator affiliate.
- WFPL does not lend e-books, e-audiobooks, local history and genealogy materials, microforms, periodicals, reference books, textbooks, study guides, or materials added to its collections in the last 6 months.
- Materials are loaned for a period of 21 days and cannot be renewed.
- To comply with Section 108 of the Copyright Act of 1976 the following limits are made on photocopies: book sections (1 per book) and periodical articles (5 per periodical). Per page and processing fee are defined in WFPL’s Florida Library/ OCLC WorldCat Navigator policies profile.
- WFPL assumes the responsibility for the borrowed material from the time it leaves WFPL until the time the requesting library receives it. The requesting library then assumes responsibility for the item until it is sent back and received by WFPL.
- The confidentiality of a cardholder’s request and ILL transaction will be maintained in accordance with the WFPL policy for all cardholder transactions.
- WFPL may suspend service to requested library if it fails to comply with the provisions of this code.
Reviewed and approved on September 22, 2025, by the West Florida Public Libraries Board of Governance.
