Interlibrary Loan (ILL)

On this page: Overview of Interlibrary Loan | FAQs

If we don't have a book you need, we'll try to get it for you from another library.

WHAT IF I CAN'T WAIT FOR INTERLIBRARY LOAN?
You can go directly to one of over 35 academic libraries in the area and borrow the item. Before you go, read about the following and check with any OCC Library if you have questions:
Reciprocal Borrowing Infopass

OVERVIEW OF INTERLIBRARY LOAN (ILL) PROCESS:

Search library catalogs in the following order:
1. OCC's library catalog
2. A nother library's catalog
3. WorldCat (First Search) On-campus | Off-campus
  lets you search library catalogs around the world.
If the book or other item is not in your OCC library and you wish to initiate ILL, save or print the catalog record so that you have identifying information. (In the case of periodicals, this includes author and title of article; title of periodical; and volume, date, and starting and ending pages of the article.)
Submit a request for ILL at the circulation desk of the OCC library where you wish the item to be transferred.

When you receive notification (by phone, mail, or email), pick up the item at the circulation desk of the OCC library you have designated.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Interlibrary Loans expand access to resources beyond those available at OCC libraries.

OCC depends on other academic and public libraries for loans of materials. The conditions of ILL service are set by the National Interlibrary Loan Code of the American Library Association and by the regulations of individual lending libraries. There may be a limit to the number of items that can be requested.

Who can use ILL?

Currently enrolled students, faculty, and staff of Oakland Community College are eligible to use all OCC ILL services. ( Special online request forms are available to OCC students in online courses.)
Community residents (18 years of age or older), OCC alumni (current members of the OCC Alumni Association), and guests are encouraged to use the library materials, but will be restricted to ILL from other OCC libraries only.
An OCC Library Card is required to check out materials. Proper identification (class registration receipt, driver's license, etc.) is required to obtain a library card.

Is there a charge?

There is usually no charge on OCC's part for ILL. However, the lending library may charge for its services. These charges may be passed on to the borrower. In addition to possible financial charges, making and fulfilling ILL requests carries a substantial staff burden. Borrowers are asked to keep this in mind and request only necessary materials which can be obtained in no other way.

The borrower is responsible for damaged or lost materials and will be charged for the materials plus a processing fee of $10.00 per item. The fine for overdue books is $.25 per day per book. Fines for audiovisual materials may be higher.

Are there restrictions?

OCC Libraries are bound by any restrictions on use imposed by the lending library. Some libraries require that the materials they lend be used in the borrowing library. Additionally, the following materials may not be requested:

Reference books
Rare books
Books that have been reserved for the lending library's in-house use
Periodical volumes and issues (only limited photocopies can be supplied)
Dissertations which are available for purchase
Some audiovisual materials

What else do I need to know?

Requests from another OCC library may take three days.
Requests from a non-OCC library may take up to two weeks.
Average loan period for books is three weeks.
Renewal is at the discretion of the lending library and is not guaranteed.
Materials are checked out from, and should be returned to, the circulation desk of the OCC library where they were picked up.
- Books may be returned to an outside drop box where available.
- Audio-visual materials must always be returned inside the library to the circulation desk.