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Interlibrary Loan - Description and How to Use Policy Statement The Hingham Public Library provides interlibrary loan service in order to enhance and extend the resources available to its users. Because the Library cannot purchase or subscribe to every useful resource, Interlibrary Loan is an essential part of its mission to meet the informational needs of the community. By establishing reciprocal borrowing agreements with other libraries of all types, both within Massachusetts and beyond, the Library supplements its own resources and expands its ability to achieve its mission. References The Library's Interlibrary Loan service is provided in accordance with the SouthEastern Massachusetts Library System Interlibrary Loan Protocols and the Interlibrary Loan Code for the United States. Definitions Interlibrary Loan is the process by which the Library requests material from, or supplies material to, another library. Interlibrary Loan transactions as defined by this Policy do not include material shared using the Old Colony Library Network (OCLN) or the Massachusetts Virtual Catalog automated resource sharing systems. Material includes books, audiovisual materials, and other returnable items as well as copies of journal articles, book chapters, excerpts, and other non-returnable items. Regulations Borrowing Materials from Other Libraries Interlibrary Loan service is offered to Hingham Public Library borrowers in good standing of the Old Colony Library Network (OCLN). Residents of other cities or towns should place their requests through their municipal public library. Library users may submit Interlibrary Loan requests in person at the Hingham Public Library or online using the Interlibrary Loan Request Form on the Library's Web site. The Library reserves the right to limit the number of items requested or borrowed by a single user at one time. Materials which may be requested include books, including foreign language and large print books, out-of-print fiction and non-fiction, and government documents, as well as sound recordings, audiobooks, VHS videos and DVDs. Photocopies of magazine and newspaper articles may be requested in accordance with U.S. copyright law (Title 17, U.S. Code) and its accompanying guidelines. Materials which may not be requested include material owned by the Hingham Public Library or OCLN but temporarily in use; titles on current local or national bestseller lists; multiple copies of a title for class or other group use; and titles not yet published. When material cannot be borrowed, locations will be identified for on-site use. A loan or a copy of any material may be requested from another library, but the owning library will decide in each case whether or not a particular item can be provided. All materials must be picked up and returned to the Hingham Library. When a requested item is available for pickup, borrowers will be notified by mail, e-mail, or phone. The loan period for Interlibrary Loan materials is 14 days. Materials must be returned by the due date. Overdue materials will incur a .20/day fine, with a maximum fine of $20.00. Borrowers must request renewals before materials are due. Renewals are provided at the owning library's discretion and cannot be guaranteed. Borrowers must honor any use restrictions specified by the owning library, such as no photocopying or in-library use only. All borrowed material is subject to recall by the owning library. Borrowers must respond immediately if the owning library recalls an item. Interlibrary Loan service may be limited or suspended for borrowers who repeatedly fail to pick up requested Interlibrary Loan materials, keep materials overdue, or damage or deface materials. Charges Except for a small per page photocopying charge and a first class postage charge for mail notification, no charges will be levied without prior authorization from the borrower. If a borrower authorizes the Library to obtain materials from a supplying library that charges a fee, the borrower is responsible for paying the fee. Borrowers are responsible for any charges levied by a supplying library for materials lost or damaged while charged out to the borrower. No refunds will be made for lost and paid Interlibrary Loan materials that are subsequently found. Confidentiality As with other library users' records, the confidentiality of Interlibrary Loan records is protected by Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 78, Section 7. The Library will not disclose such records except for the purposes of interlibrary cooperation and coordination, or upon request or consent of the user. Interlibrary Loan records will not be made available to any agency of state, federal, or local government except pursuant to such process, order, or subpoena as may be authorized by federal, state or local law relating to civil, criminal, or administrative discovery procedures or legislative investigatory power. Interlibrary Loan transactions may generate both paper and electronic records that include personally identifiable user information. Once an item has been borrowed and returned and all fines and/or fees are paid, all local Library electronic and paper records are deleted or destroyed within 30days. The OCLN automated circulation system retains Interlibrary Loan transaction information for up to two months (60 days) after an item is returned and all fines and/or fees are paid. Lending Materials to Other Libraries The Library lends to other libraries from its own collection. Interlibrary Loan policies. Borrowing libraries should submit requests in standard formats as prescribed by the SEMLS Interlibrary Loan Protocols and Guidelines or the Interlibrary Loan Code for the United States. Requests will be accepted via mail, e-mail or fax. All materials which ordinarily circulate to the Library's own users, including books, CDs, audiocassettes, videocassettes, and DVDs, may be sent out on Interlibrary Loan, except for entire issues of periodicals. Non-circulating materials such as reference and genealogy books and microforms will not be interlibrary loaned, but photocopies or emailed images of selected pages may be supplied. The Library reserves the right to determine what material will be supplied on a request by request basis. Returnable materials will be shipped via Massachusetts regional delivery whenever possible, or via USPS Library Mail; material may be shipped via other means if the borrowing library pays the shipping charge. Nonreturnable materials will be sent via fax, email or mail or within Massachusetts and via USPS First Class Mail or email outside of Massachusetts. The loan period for Interlibrary Loan materials is 28 days. Renewals may be provided at the Library's discretion. A small per page fee for photocopying will be charged when the requested pages number 21 or more. Other costs for ordinary service, other than postage, will not be charged except for reciprocal charges to borrowing libraries that charge the Hingham Public Library for Interlibrary Loan service. Charges for lost or damaged materials will be based on the current replacement cost of the lost or damaged item. Lending policies for materials owned by other OCLN libraries are set by the owning libraries and may differ from the Library's own lending policies. Interlibrary Loan service may be limited or suspended for borrowing libraries that repeatedly keep materials overdue or fail to properly package returning items, or that lose, damage or deface materials. Click here to complete an Interlibrary Loan Request on-line. Interlibrary Loan Hingham Public Library Last Modified: June 15, 2005
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