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Interlibrary Loan Request Form
What is it?
Interlibrary loan is a cooperative service offered to registered patrons of the
St. Clair County Library that allows you to borrow materials from other library
systems. If you are not a registered patron, you may call or visit the Main
Library or any of our branches for information on how to register. You may
submit interlibrary loan requests at any branch of the St. Clair County Library.
You can also submit interlibrary loan requests online via our online
interlibrary loan request form.
Note: Before requesting materials via Interlibrary Loan please check our
Online
Catalog many requests can fulfilled within the St. Clair County Library
System. If you do not find the item that you are looking for in our catalog then
please continue with the Interlibrary Loan process.
What can I borrow?
Interlibrary loan facilitates access to book titles that we do not have in our
system. You can also request specific articles from magazines or journals if we
don't subscribe to that particular periodical. Information on microfilm is also
available. It is not possible, however, to borrow audiovisual materials (sound
recordings, DVDs, videocassettes, CD-ROMs, etc.) through interlibrary loan because of
the sensitivity and cost of magnetic media.
Where do the materials come from?
We fill the majority of interlibrary loan requests through MelCat, a library
cooperative encompassing dozens of libraries throughout the state of Michigan.
If an item is not owned by a participating MelCat library, we can extend the
search to library systems throughout the country, using our “Peabody” interloan
system.
How long does it take to receive the materials?
On average it takes one to two weeks to receive MelCat materials, and two to
four weeks to receive materials from out of state through the “Peabody” system.
How will I know when the material arrives?
You have your choice of being notified via a telephone call, email, or postcard.
Items should be picked up within 10 days of their arrival at the library.
Is there any cost?
There is no cost to borrow items through MelCat. If we are only able to locate
the material at an out-of-state library, there may be a borrowing fee and/or
postage cost for returning the item to the lending library. Please tell the
librarian who takes your request the maximum amount you would be willing to pay
to obtain the material.
How long can I keep the material(s)?
In general the MelCat loan period is three to four weeks, and items may be
renewed once. The loan period and renewal policy for an out-of-state item is up
to the discretion of the lending library.