ILL FAQs

  • General Questions

    Email illserv@lawrencepubliclibrary.org or call (785) 843-3833 to inquire. 

    Please reference:

    - Your library card number 
    - Your Interlibrary Loan request confirmation number (not required for magazine or microfilm requests)

    Interlibrary Loan service is available to any patron with a library card who is in good standing with the library and who has verified his or her current residential address. Patrons with temporary cards (current address has not been verified) will not be able to check out interlibrary loan items until they have come to the library with proof of current address for the Northeast Kansas area.

    We will try to borrow an item from a library that does not charge fees.

    If an Interlibrary Loan item is not returned, returned very late, or returned in damaged condition, the patron will be responsible for the cost of the item plus any processing fees charged by the lending library. Please note that because of the high replacement cost that some lending libraries charge, the default replacement price for all Interlibrary Loan items we borrow is $150. The actual cost of the replacement may differ. Contact our Accounts department for the actual cost of the replacement: 785-843-3833 x.145 or email accounts@lawrence.lib.ks.us

    Interlibrary Loan items may be returned in the same places as the library’s materials. The remote boxes at both Hy-Vee locations and Checkers are acceptable drop-offs, as well as the drive-through return on the west side of the library. The safest method for returning Interlibrary Loan materials is to bring them to the return slot located in the library.

    Items may be checked out for 4 weeks unless otherwise specified on the item. Interlibrary Loans may not be renewed.

    Allow for a minimum of two weeks. It will take more time if the item is unusual or difficult to locate. Also if we decide that we will buy the item for the library’s collection instead of borrowing it, it will take at least three weeks.

    If your deadline is urgent, click here to search other nearby libraries’ collections to see if your title is available and you are eligible to apply for an account at the library that owns the item. 

    When your Interlibrary Loan item arrives, a notice will be sent by phone or email according to the method you selected when you set up your library card account.

    We will use the same method to let you know if we are unable to fill your request.

    It is your responsibility to keep your contact information in your library card account current. You can update your email address in our catalog.  Call the library at (785) 843-3833 to update your other contact information.

    There is a limit of 10 active requests per patron. Requests are active from the time we place a request to borrow until we mail it back to the lending library or until the request is cancelled.

    • Books
    • Audiobooks
    • Music CDs
    • DVDs/VHS
    • Magazine articles
    • Microfilm
    • Video games
    • Newly published items (published less than 1 year ago)

    The following materials are not available to request through interlibrary loan

    • Items we own or have ordered
    • Digital works, such as ebooks, digital audiobooks, digital magazines
    • Textbooks
    • Complete issues of magazines or newspapers