How Interlibrary Loan Works

What is interlibrary loan?

Interlibrary loan is a service in which participating libraries nationwide share their collections with one another. If an item you need is not available at the Carmel Clay Public Library, we can request it for you from another library.

Who can use this service?

This service is available to CCPL resident cardholders who are in good standing. Holders of Public Library Access Cards or cardholders whose home libraries are elsewhere in Hamilton County are asked to make their requests through their home libraries.

What types of materials may I borrow?

You may request books that were published more than two years ago*, copies of magazine or journal articles, or newspaper or genealogy microfilm.

* If the item you want has been published within the last two years, please make a suggestion for purchase instead through your online account. Click the Log In/My CCPL link at the top of this page and log in. In the My Library Dashboard screen that appears, click on Submit a Suggestion. If the item does not fall within our collection guidelines for purchase,we will notify you.

What types of materials may not be borrowed?

We will not request new books that have been published within the past six months, audiovisual materials (CDs, DVDs, audiobooks, etc.), items that we already own, entire magazines, or downloadable books or media.

Is there a fee for this service?

We request items from libraries that will lend for free when possible. If there is no library that will lend the item for free, we will contact you.

How long will it take for my item to arrive?

Items usually arrive within 2–3 weeks. There are several contributing factors, including distance from the lending library, staffing in other libraries, and delivery method. We cannot guarantee a delivery date.

What is the loan period?

The lending library sets the due date for your item. This could be from two weeks to more than a month. Many libraries are willing to grant renewals, but some are not.

How many interlibrary loan items may I borrow?

You may borrow up to 5 interlibrary loan items at a time. This includes books in your possession and those in process, and articles requested. You may make additional requests as your items are returned, or, in the case of articles, once the article has been made available to you.

You may request one copy of an item. If you require multiples copies of the same title (for instance, for a book group), please visit our Books in a Bag webpage for the Indiana Humanities Novel Conversations webpage.

You may not request additional interlibrary loan items if your current interlibrary loan items are overdue or if you have unpaid interlibrary loan charges. Repeated late returns of interlibrary loan checkouts may impact your eligibility to participate in the interlibrary loan service. Your CCPL account will be charged the replacement cost of books that are not returned, as determined by the lending library.

How will I know when my requested item has arrived?

When your item is ready for pickup, you will be notified by email or by phone. You can pick up your item at the Ask Here desk in the Main Library's first-floor lobby or at the West Branch staff desk if you requested West Branch pickup when you made the request. Interlibrary loan books are not kept on the regular Holds shelf. When a fee is charged for the loan, the item will be held at the desk in the Main Library's Adult Services Department on the second floor.

How can I make an interlibrary loan request?

• Check that the item is not available at CCPL by searching our catalog. If your item is found in the catalog, you don’t need to make an interlibrary loan request.
• If the item is not in our catalog, read through the information about interlibrary loans above. If your request fits the guidelines, click the Submit an Interlibrary Loan Request button below.
• Type in your 14-digit library card barcode with no spaces. Click Continue. (If you are making the request from a CCPL location, you may not need to enter your library card number.)
• Enter the title of the book you would like to borrow or the title of the article you'd like to have copied and click the Search button. Alternatively, you can click the "Advanced Search" link to specify additional search criteria.
  • If you prefer the more traditional interlibrary loan request process, FirstSearch is still available.
• Click the title of the item you’d like to request from the list of available options. If requesting a book, be sure to choose a Print Book, not an eBook, Audiobook, DVD, or other electronic media.
• Click the button to Request Item via Interlibrary Loan. Fill in the requested information and submit your request. If you don’t see the button, the item is not currently available or is not eligible to borrow from another library.