What is Interlibrary Loan (ILL)? - Interlibrary loan (ILL) is a service by which items not owned by the San Antonio College Library can be borrowed from another library. The SAC Library also loans items to libraries across the United States.
Who may use ILL? - Current SAC students, faculty and staff with no overdue items or fines may request items through ILL.
What may be requested through ILL? - Books, articles from magazines, journals, or newspapers, and audiovisual items such as DVDs, videotapes, CDs, and audiobooks not owned by the SAC Library may be requested through ILL.
How much does ILL cost? Generally, there is no charge for ILL service. Some libraries do charge a fee to loan an item or copy an article. You will be asked in WorldCat Discovery if you are willing to pay a fee to receive an item through ILL. Fees must be paid when an item is picked up.
How do I request ILL services? Check WorldCat Discovery to ensure that the SAC Library does NOT have the item or provide online access to it. WorldCat Discovery includes a link to request an item through Interlibrary Loan. Please note: The ILL office does not accept telephone requests.
When will my requested item arrive? Items available at other Alamo Colleges (NLC, NVC, PAC, or SPC) arrive usually in 2 to 3 working days. Items available at other San Antonio libraries arrive usually in 3 to 5 working days. Items available at libraries outside San Antonio may arrive in 7 to 21 working days. You will be notified if your request cannot be filled.
How will I be notified when my item arrives? You will be notified by telephone or e-mail when your item is ready for pickup.
Where do I pick up and return ILL items? ILL items must be picked up and returned at the Reserve Counter in the Moody Learning Center. All borrowing charges will be paid at time of pickup. Do not put ILL items in the return book drops.
Are borrowers charged for overdue and lost items? The fine for an overdue ILL item is $.10 per day per item. The charge for a lost ILL item is set by the lending library and charged to the borrower.
Are there any restrictions concerning ILL? ILL borrowers must abide by the terms set by the lending library. Loaned items must be returned promptly to avoid jeopardizing our relations with lending libraries.
Libraries generally do not loan the following items and they will not be requested.
We also do not request items from libraries outside the United States.
NOTE: The Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S. Code) governs the making of photocopies of copyrighted material. Libraries are authorized to furnish a photocopy if it is not to be "used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research." If an ILL borrower uses a photocopy for purposes in excess of "fair use," he/she may be liable for copyright infringement. The SAC Library reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying request if, in our judgment, fulfillment of the request would violate Copyright Law.