Interlibrary Loan (ILL) | Atlantic County Library System

Using Interlibrary Loan is Easy

The Atlantic County Library System is part of a cooperative lending program called Interlibrary Loan, or "I-L-L" for short. The program allows our patrons access to millions of items nationwide not already owned by our System.

How to make an ILL Request:

Try Us First
The Atlantic County Library System might already own the item you want. If you don't find an item in our catalog, you can request the item through your branch library or through your home computer using the links below.

Search with JerseyCat
After looking for the item in our catalog, try JerseyCat, a statewide virtual catalog and Inter-library lending consortium. NOTE: JerseyCat recommends using Chrome browser for best results.

Request Form for Interlibrary Loan Materials
If you still can't find the item then please fill out an Interlibrary Loan request form and our staff will search for it. We only ask that the item ordered be picked up when it arrives and that it be returned when due. NOTE: ILL items can not be renewed.

FAQs

Q. What types of materials can I request?
A. You can request books, sound recordings, audiovisual materials, and photocopies of articles. Please be aware that many libraries will not loan recently published or high-demand items, textbooks, rare or fragile materials, and electronic resources.

Use the follow guidelines when requesting:

Books and Audiobooks – 6 months from date of publication.
Music CDs and DVDs – 1 year from release date of the cd or dvd.
Electronic format items, software & games cannot be borrowed.

Q. How long does it take to get something through ILL?
A. Usually, it takes from 2 weeks up to 2 months to get an item, depending upon where the item is coming from. Items coming from out of state generally take longer to arrive.

Q. How many ILLs can I have?
A. You can have up to 6 at a time - which includes items you are requesting, items currently checked out to you, and items in the process of being returned to the library that owns them.

Q. Is there a fee?
A. ILL requests are generally free to fill. Occasionally however, the item may only be available from a library that does charge a loan fee. If you are willing to pay for this fee, please indicate the maximum amount when you make your request.

**A $6.00 "No pick-up" fee will charged to patron if an item request is filled but not checked out.

Q. How long can I keep the materials?
A. Loan periods may vary. Items on interlibrary loan can not be renewed.

Q. Where do I return ILL materials?
A. ILL materials may be returned at any Atlantic County Library System branch.

Q. What if I lose or damage my ILL item?
A. If you should lose or damage your ILL item, you are responsible for the replacement fee assessed by the lending library plus a $2.00 processing fee. The Inter-library Loan Office will contact the lending library, receive a bill and inform you of the charges. Failure to pay these charges will result in your being unable to continue to use your library card until the obligation is satisfied.