InterLibrary Loan Policy

I. Interlibrary Loan

The Homestead Cybrarium is committed to serving the public by providing materials to meet our patrons’ needs. The mission of the Cybrarium is to enrich lives, build community, and foster success by bringing people, information, and ideas together. The Interlibrary Loan (ILL) service offers patrons access to collections beyond what is held in Homestead, allowing patrons to request items to be sent to the Cybrarium. Conversely, ILL also allows patrons outside of Homestead to request materials from the Cybrarium.

  • ILL services are available to cardholders in good standing.
  • ILL is not available to Cybrarium temporary card holders.
  • Up to five (5) ILL requests may be pending or ILL items checked out at one time.
  • ILL items must be returned to the Service Desk inside the Library, and not placed in book drops. The ILL’s attached paperwork should not be removed.

II. Materials Not Available Through ILL

The Cybrarium lends books, audiobooks and DVDs through the ILL service. New materials, those published within the past year, are reserved for local patrons.

The lending library can dictate the conditions under which it will lend materials. Some of the materials may be designated by the lending library as restricted. This means that this material must be used in the Homestead Cybrarium and cannot leave the building. Cybrarium staff will notify the patron that the material is available but restricted to in-library use only.

III. Photocopies

Patrons may order photocopies of certain materials not available through ILL, such as magazine articles and reference materials. When providing photocopying or printing requests in excess of 25 pages the Cybrarium will charge a fee based on current policy: $0.10 per page in black/white and $0.50 per page in color. Patrons wanting photocopies or loans from fee-charging libraries must submit a check or money order made payable to the lending library (it is not payable to the Cybrarium or the City of Homestead) before the loan request can be submitted. If the item is not filled by the lending library, the check or money order will be returned to the patron.

IV. Loan Period

The Cybrarium lends materials through ILL requests according to its established circulation policy. The Cybrarium prioritizes the borrowing needs of local patrons and therefore limits renewals of ILL materials to a single instance per item borrowed.

When borrowing, the length of the loan is set by the lending library, not the Cybrarium, and will vary accordingly.  The due date is noted on each item. If the item can be checked out and is not picked up by the due date listed on the sticker, it will be returned to the lending library. Items not picked up by the due date will be returned to the lending library and photocopies that are not picked up within 4 weeks will be discarded.

Renewal of ILL materials is dependent upon the restrictions set by the lending library. Patrons must call the lending library to request a renewal three business (Monday-Friday) days before the due date included on the lending label. Patrons can also request renewals through the patron ILL interface: the Florida Library Information Network’s (FLIN) SHAREit. Overdue ILL materials cannot be renewed.

The lending library may exercise the option to recall material needed by its local patrons. If the material is recalled before the due date, the patron must, upon notification, return the material immediately.

V. Fines and Fees

Any item received via ILL service is subject to the same fees placed on similar items owned by the Cybrarium. In addition, libraries which loan material(s) to the Cybrarium may place additional fines/fees on loaned items.

The patron is responsible for any damage to and/or loss of the material which results after they have picked up the Interlibrary Loan requested material. Patrons will not be billed for item(s) noted as damaged prior to their checking out the item(s).

Requests filled by FLIN libraries, including the Cybrarium, are supplied without charge with the following exception: if the photocopied material supplied by another FLIN library exceeds 25 pages, the supplying library is permitted to charge a recovery fee for the additional photocopying or printing. This cost recovery charge will be passed on to the patron.  If material is supplied by a non-FLIN library, and that library charges for the lending of the material, the cost may be passed on to the patron.

Adopted: May 10, 2021

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