Interlibrary Loan

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Interlibrary Loans (ILL) are special requests to borrow materials that are not owned within the Library's regular lending network. All current Bozeman Public Library patrons who owe less than $10.00 in fees are welcome to submit an ILL request.

Materials owned by libraries in Gallatin County or published less than a year before the current date are not eligible for borrowing through ILL. Please Suggest A Title instead. Questions? Please contact the ILL Coordinator at (406)582-2421 or by email.

Submit an ILL Request

Renewal Request

Renewal requests MUST be submitted three (3) days before the due date. Materials can only be renewed once. You can keep the item until you receive a phone call or email from Interlibrary Loan with your new due date. Fines will not accrue while you are waiting to hear back from us. Renewals are determined by the lending library. Overdue items are not eligible for renewal.

Request renewals through your CLIO account or use the renewal form.

ILL Policy

ILL items are NOT FINE FREE. Overdue items will be charged $1.00 per day up to $10.00.

Patrons are limited to five (5) free requests per month, including unfilled and/or cancelled requests. All subsequent requests are subject to a $5 per item postage fee.

Loan period is determined by the lending library and may vary between 1-6 weeks.

Renewal requests must be submitted three (3) days before the due date. Patrons will not be charged an overdue fine while waiting for the lending library's response.

If two (2) or more items are not picked up, ILL borrowing privileges will be suspended for one (1) year.

View the full ILL policy (PDF)

FAQ

What is CLIO?

A CLIO account will be automatically created with your first request made by our staff using First Search. You can also create a new CLIO account using your Bozeman Library card.

With your CLIO account, you can make requests, track requests, create renewal requests, and receive emails when your items arrive or about upcoming due dates.

What does it cost to request an item from outside of the Gallatin County libraries?

BPL does not charge for Interlibrary Loans. However, about 5% of libraries do charge up to $20.00 to cover postage. You will never be charged without your permission.

How many ILL requests can I make?

You can make five (5) free requests per month. This does include items that could not be filled, so please ask for help if you aren’t sure your item will arrive. If you need more than five, please note on your request that you are willing to pay the $5.00 postage charge per request.

I thought Bozeman was Fine Free. Why did I get a late fee for my ILL?

Since ILL items don’t belong to the Bozeman Public Library, fines still apply.

What happens if I don't pick up my ILL?

Unlike holds, Interlibrary Loans require a significant amount of staff time per item. An item that isn’t picked up results in unnecessary costs for the library. Therefore, if two items are not picked up, your Interlibrary Loan privileges will be suspended for one year.

Why can ILL requests take up to a month to arrive?

Requests are placed throughout the United States. If the first library accepts the request, they must mail the item, which can take up to a week. More often, a second or third library fulfills the request after about a week, followed by another week for mailing and an additional day to process the item for patron pickup.

I need more time! How can I renew my ILL?

Request renewals three (3) days before the due date through your CLIO account or use the renewal form for an extension. Renewal lengths vary from 1-6 weeks and are decided by the lending library. Not all items can be renewed.

Why do checkout times vary so much?

Checkout dates are set by the lending library, not BPL. Please request a renewal if you need more time.

Why can't Interlibrary Loan find the item I requested?

The item is too new to be purchased or requested.
Items self-published or published out of country, have not been bought by US libraries.
Extremely rare or old items are often non-circulating.
AV is often not circulating due to damage it receives in the mail.
A fee may be associated with the item.