Interlibrary Loan: What Is It and Why Does It Rock?

In Arkansas, a statewide system known as Mockingbird connects catalogs of many participating libraries, bridging access to materials for patrons across the state despite different technologies and library processes. Arkansas is the 15th state to use SHAREit as its statewide resource sharing
platform.

What is interlibrary loan (or ILL, as those of us in the know call it)? ILL-ing a book is the act of requesting a book your library does not have from another library. Your library checks other libraries in your city, county, or state (sometimes out of state) for your book. They make the request to a library that has the item and then accept (or deny) the request. If they accept the request, the book will be shipped to your library, and you’ll be notified when it arrives.

Arkansas’s ILL system is called the Mockingbird Statewide Virtual Union Catalog, or just Mockingbird for short, and it connects libraries (public, academic, and specialty) across the state. The patron can either log in to Mockingbird’s website and make the request for themselves, or they can have their local library do it for them.

Now the question is, why does ILL rock?

Can you imagine a world where 99 percent of the books you wanted to read were available to get even if your library does not have them? Because not all the things are online! (Shocking, I know, but true!) You want a 1925 book by Anita Loos (which I just ILL’d)? Done. It’ll be here in a week. A copy of the Beetlejuice Beetlejuice DVD because it’s checked out at your library? Done. You’ll be watching Michael Keaton in no time.

Any topic is at your fingertips. The best part? It’s all free! (Don’t exactly quote me on this, as the libraries I’ve used for ILL have been free, although I have heard of, but did not find, libraries that charge.)

One thing to keep in mind is that electronic resources such as ebooks, audiobooks, magazines, and databases are typically not available for ILL. Why? The cost of electronic items is typically calculated based on the number of patrons a library has. If that library opened its electronic resources to the public at large, it would need to recalculate its patron usage, which would drive up the price. Electronic resources can be very expensive.

Another reason why ILLs rock is that you’re supporting your local library (and the requesting library) by your use. You are more than likely also going to check out items from your library in addition to your ILL. The requesting library can gauge keeping that particular item in their catalog by how often it gets checked out. It also shows the community at large that there are additional reasons (and resources) why they keep the library in that community.

Sometimes, libraries don’t advertise on their website if they do ILLs, even if they offer it. Find out if your library has this service by searching for “interlibrary loan” on their website. Even if it is not listed on your library’s website, ask your librarian if it is available, as not all libraries list this service on their website.

So, whether you’re looking for a Criterion movie that is not streaming, a copy of a Colleen Hoover book, or even a German translation of Kafka, ILL is where you need to go!

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