Who is Eligible for Interlibrary Loan?
Any person who is eligible for a library card at any NWLS library is eligible for Interlibrary Loan services.NWLS Resource Sharing Policy
The goal of NWLS resource sharing, in following the guidelines of the State of Wisconsin, is that all NWLS libraries will lend all types of materials to all Wisconsin libraries of any type on an equal basis and will expect equal reciprocity. Libraries must be willing to lend if they wish to borrow. Any materials purchased with LSTA grant funds, NWLS Collection Development funds or other NWLS funds must be available for ILL. NWLS libraries agree to comply with this policy when agreeing to the Annual Member Library Agreement.
Catalogs
Merlin Online Library Catalog – Shared catalog of Northern Waters Library Service.
WISCAT ILL - Request creation software for participating WISCAT ILL libraries.
WISCAT ILL - patron access – Searchable WISCAT catalog for patrons.
WorldCat - OCLC records verification database for NWLS libraries.
WISCAT ILL Links
ILL Guidelines
All NWLS libraries receive a hard copy of the current Wisconsin Interlibrary Loan Guidelines.
Interlibrary Loan Code for the United States
The Reference and User Services Association, acting for the American Library Association in its adoption of the Interlibrary Loan Code for the United States recognizes that the sharing of material between libraries is an integral element in the provision of library service and believes it to be in the public interest to encourage such an exchange.
Charging for Interlibrary Loan Services
The Division for Libraries, Technology, & Community Learning has taken the position that public libraries cannot charge customers for interlibrary loan services and also has offered advice and counsel on the appropriateness of various kinds of charges. For information on the statutory provisions, go to http://dpi.wi.gov/rll/ill_gd_pay.html
Sending ILL Requests to NWLS
NWLS will accept ILL requests from NWLS libraries by:
- Email: lbailen@nwls.lib.wi.us
- WISCAT ILL
- Fax: 715-685-2704
- Telephone 715-682-2365 or 800-228-5684
- Delivery service
Unverified Requests
If you cannot verify an item in Merlin, WISCAT or in other sources, the request can be sent to NWLS using one of the forms of delivery above. WISCAT ILL libraries can use the blank ILL form to send the request to NWLS.
ILL and Reference Contacts
- General ILL questions: Linda Bailen
If Linda is out, contact Reference and Loan Library: 888-542-5543 (Select option 1) or send a message to Terry Wilcox - WISCAT ILL procedures: Linda Bailen
If Linda is out, contact Reference and Loan Library: 888-542-5543 (Select option 1) or send a message to Terry Wilcox - WISCAT ILL technical problems: Linda Bailen
If Linda is out, contact Reference and Loan with technical problems: 888-542-5543 (Select option 4) or send a message by email to Vickie Long - Reference request assistance: Linda Bailen
If Linda is out, contact Janet Jennings at Superior Public Library, 715-394-8876 or call Martha Berninger at Reference and Loan Library 888-542-5543 (Select option 5)
Materials in High Demand
Requesting libraries should screen requests to determine if a title is too popular to request outside of their library system. Using various bestseller lists can help identify popular titles in all formats. The 2005 ILL Guidelines - Best Practices section offers information on bestseller lists.
ILL requests should not be submitted for items that have not been published yet, except that Merlin members may place “Copy Returned Soonest” holds in Merlin for on-order items. If the item is popular or your patrons have more than 1 hold on an item, your library should consider purchasing a copy.
Requesting Materials Owned and in Use Locally
Merlin libraries: NWLS libraries that are part of Merlin should place holds in Merlin instead of sending requests downstate, unless the item is needed for a book discussion group.
Other NWLS libraries: If your library is not part of Merlin and you own a copy of the item, you should place a hold on your own item instead of sending the request to another library, unless you need extra copies for a book discussion.
NOTE: Book discussion group kits of multiple copies are available from libraries.
Genealogy Requests
Genealogical materials seldom circulate, so the patron must supply information that can be copied from the item requested. Ancestry Library Edition is available at all NWLS libraries for patrons to use in the library. Local historical societies or groups are other sources for information for patrons. Libraries can find information on how to submit genealogy requests in the 2005 ILL Guidelines in the “Best Practices” section.
Another option is for the patron to travel to the Wisconsin Historical Society or one of their Area Research Centers before using interlibrary loan. There are two research centers in our library system area:
- At Superior Public Library (Many items have been added to the Merlin catalog.)
- At the Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center in Ashland.
For information on any of the Wisconsin Historical Society’s Area Research Centers, go to the research center map on the Historical Society’s Web page and choose the county of interest.
Periodical or Serial Requests
Requests for entire issues: NWLS libraries can order entire issues of magazines when they are owned within the library system. Many libraries have added serial records to the Merlin catalog. Be sure to check Merlin for issues of specific periodicals. If the periodical issue is not owned within NWLS, ask the patron for articles or information to photocopy. If they do not have specific information or articles to copy, one of the following options are available:
- An address and/or phone number of the publisher can be found so the patron can obtain a sample issue or buy a specific issue.
- An ILL request can be sent to owning libraries to obtain a copy of the table of contents of the specific issue. Then the patron could determine which article(s) to order through ILL.
- Names of nearby libraries that own issues of the periodical can be provided to the patron. Then issues could be viewed at one of the owning libraries.
BadgerLink should be searched for all periodical requests. MasterFILE Premier and Business Source Elite together contain a large majority of the periodical titles. If the article you need is health related, go to Health and Medical Databases in EBSCOhost under the heading “Magazines and Journals on EBSCOhost.”
Periodical requests can be submitted to NWLS using a blank request in WISCAT or by email, fax or delivery. Since most libraries outside of NWLS will not loan periodicals, be sure to include as much of the following information as possible:
- Complete title of the periodical (do not abbreviate).
- Full name of the author of the article (last name first).
- Complete title of the article. If exact title is not known, give the subject of the article.
- Volume number and issue number, if known.
- Date: (month, day and year) or (season and year) of the issue.
- Page numbers of the article, if known.
For libraries using WISCAT ILL software to transmit requests, be sure to include one of the copyright codes below:
CCL - Conforms to Copyright Law: The code is used when the material is in the public domain and was published earlier than 5 years prior to the date of the patron’s request.
CCG - Conforms to Copyright Guidelines: The code is used when the periodical article issue was published within 5 years of the patron’s request. Within one calendar year, a requesting library may receive no more than five copies of an article or articles published in any given periodical. This includes all issues of the periodical published in the last five years. The ILL Guidelines on the DPI Web site provide a complete description of the Copyright Act.
Reference Requests
Determine as closely as possible the type, amount and technical level of the information the patron needs as well as the format (magazine articles, audiovisual materials, books). If the patron is a student, determine the appropriate grade level. Send this information along with the request to Northern Waters Library Service on WISCAT ILL, email or fax.
Patrons and libraries can also use the AskAway virtual reference service, which provides a 24-hour-a-day chat form and also an email request form. Chat form requests are handled by a librarian on duty. NWLS staff handles email form requests.