An interlibrary loan is a transaction in which library materials or copies of the material, or resources are made available by one library to another library.

II.   Purpose

         The purpose of interlibrary loan, as defined herein, is to provide access to library resources not available in the user's library. Materials may be borrowed for student research, professional research, recreational use or as an aid in the selection of materials for member libraries.

III.  Scope

         A.  A print or non-print resource, or a copy of a print resource may be requested from another library through the Orleans/Niagara BOCES School Library System in accordance with the lending policy established by the owning library.

         B.  The following types of materials will ordinarily not be loaned: but could be available for on-site access providing arrangements have been made in advance:

              1.   Rare, unique or valuable materials which would be difficult or impossible to replace; 

              2.   Bulky or fragile items which would create shipping problems;

              3.   Resources in demand at the lending library;

              4.   Reference books and other resources that ordinarily do not circulate;

              5.   Computer software will not be available for loan;

              6.   Videotape loans must comply with Section 110.1 of the Copyright Law;

              7.   16mm films, videotapes, laser disks, laser players, and some multiple copy books will continue to be made available through Orleans/Niagara BOCES Instructional Services, provided the requesting district participates in the BOCES Service.

         C.  Multiple Copy Requests are permitted with the following conditions:

               1.   Subsequent interlibrary loan requests for multiple copies, of a specific title will not be honored;

               2.   Multiple copy requests will not be sent outside of this SLS:

               3.   Requests for titles held by Orleans/Niagara BOCES Instructional Services should be sent directly to Ed Comm, providing the requesting district participates in the BOCES service.

          D.  It is the discretion of the individual library media specialist as to whether or not an item(s) will be loaned.

          E.  The loaning library media center may request that certain loaned materials be used only in the borrower's library media center under staff supervision.

          F.  Interlibrary loan requests originating from schools should first be submitted through the School Library System.  Any requests submitted to the Nioga Library System should be sent through a local member public library.

               1.   No more than five copies of any one title can be interloaned through Nioga Library System headquarters.

IV.  Copyright Compliance
          The Copyright Law shall be adhered to at all times.

V.  Responsibility of the Borrowing Library

          A.  The borrowing library and its users must comply with the conditions established by the lending library.

          B.  Financial Responsibility

                a.   The borrower will cover the cost of any damages to borrowed materials:  with cost being determined by the loaning library.

                b.   All materials lost will be paid for or replaced by the borrower; whichever the loaning library desires.

                c.   The borrowing library will be responsible if the borrower neglects his/her financial responsibilities as specified in V.B. a & b.

VI.  Responsibility of the Lending Library

            A.  The lending library should respond to all requests as soon as possible.

            B.  The lending library will have its distributed material(s) clearly marked as to its ownership.

            C.  The lending library will assess replacement or damage charges.

VII.  Responsibility of the Orleans/Niagara BOCES School Library System

            A.  The Orleans/Niagara BOCES existing delivery system will be used to transport interlibrary loan materials.     

            B.  Financial responsibility will be assumed for any item(s) lost or damaged in transit.

            C.  Financial responsibility will be assumed to cover the charges that any participant incur for damage or loss of borrowed material(s) if and only if the participant is unable to pay.

            D.  Assist in the resolution of any conflict that arises between participants involved in the interlibrary loan of materials.

            E.  Avoid concentrating the burden of requests on a few libraries.

VIII.  Photocopying

            A.  The Copyright Law will be honored at all times.

            B.  No lending library will duplicate any item longer than ten pages, due to the cost of duplication and time involved.

IX.   Duration of Loan

            A.  The length of the loan will be one month.

            B.  An attempt should be made to return periodicals within two weeks.

            C.  The lending library reserves the right to recall or renew any loaned materials at any time.

X.   Violation and Policy Review

            Continued disregard of any provisions of this policy is sufficient reason for the suspension of a school's interlibrary borrowing privileges. Due process will be followed.

            This policy will be reviewed and revised annually by the Orleans/Niagara BOCES School Library System.

Revised: 11/29/94 and 02/25/99