Harper College

Interlibrary Loan

Interlibrary Loan is a free service that provides Harper students and staff with access to materials from other libraries that are also members of the North Suburban Library System.

You MUST have a Harper College ID to pick up ALL Interlibrary Loan requests.

Interlibrary Loan Guidelines

There is no limit to the number of requests that a patron may submit.

The following materials are NOT generally available through Interlibrary Loan:

  • Reference Books
  • Periodicals (photocopies of specific articles may be requested)
  • Textbooks
  • Computer Software

Some physical item requests are designated only for in-library use. As these are conditions set by the loaning library, we must comply by their policies. You will be notified of this designation upon receiving your item arrival notification. 

Turnaround Time and Notification

Interlibrary Loan requests are processed within one working day of submission. Materials can usually be obtained within ten working days of submission. Requests for materials held only by out-of-state libraries may take longer. Patrons will be notified by phone as soon as possible after the requested item arrives at the library. Patrons may also check on the status of their requested materials by phone or in person. Patrons will NOT be notified if requested materials cannot be obtained. Requested materials will be held at the Circulation desk for three weeks after patron notification.

Fines

Harper patrons who lose their interlibrary materials will be charged a fee decided upon by the owning library. This often includes the cost of the book plus a "lost book" fee. Harper students who have lost their Interlibrary Loan materials may have their grades blocked until restitution is made. This excludes journal articles that may be kept by the patron free of charge.

Copyright Restrictions

The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, US Code) governs the making of photocopies from copyrighted materials. One of the conditions of the law states that the photocopy cannot be "used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship or research." Any patron who requests photocopies for purposes other than the "fair use conditions" may be liable for prosecution for copyright infringement laws. This institution reserves the right to refuse any copying request if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would be in violation of copyright law.

Electronic Request Form

The Interlibrary Loan Request Form can be used for online requests.

Last Updated: 12/14/23