Borrowing from Other Libraries

In addition to material owned by Cole Library, cardholders may borrow materials from other libraries.

Interlibrary Loan

If the Cole Library does not own material you need, we may be able to borrow from another library.  Books and photocopies of magazine/journal articles are the materials most commonly borrowed through interlibrary loan, but some libraries will also lend videos (VHSs, DVDs), sound recordings (CDs, cassettes), government documents, and material on microfilm or microfiche.

Requests for interlibrary loan are sent throughout the day, usually on the day that the request is received.  Although we have little control over how soon the material will arrive, most libraries will send photocopies of articles via the Internet, resulting in receipt within a few days.  Books and other material may take slightly longer, but are often received within a week to ten days.

Some material (such as recent best sellers, some reference books, and multiple copies of an individual title) are usually not available through interlibrary loan.  In addition, material owned by Cole Library is generally not borrowed from another library unless our copy is missing or lost.  Cole Library abides by copyright guidelines governing interlibrary loan.

To request interlibrary loan, please fill out the appropriate form via Tipasa or come to the library to discuss your request with a reference librarian. You may also make direct request via the EBSCHOhost databases and FirstSearch's WorldCat.

One hundred interlibrary loan requests per fiscal year (i.e., July 1 to June 30) are offered free of charge to each Cole Library cardholder (Cornell College students, faculty, and staff, as well as Mt. Vernon and rural Linn County residents). Interlibrary loan requests beyond one hundred will be processed with a $15 transaction fee per item, although individual exceptions may be made at the discretion of the supervising librarian. Please contact the interlibrary loan supervisor if you have questions.

Requesting Course Texts

Since October 2002, the library's policy has been to restrict borrowing of course texts via interlibrary loan. We appreciate our patrons' respecting this policy. For more information, please refer to our rationale for this policy.

ILL and Course Reserves

The National Interlibrary Loan Code for the United States disallows the use of interlibrary-loaned material for course reserves out of concern for the wear and tear on another library's materials that may result from the heavy use in reserve collections. Given adequate notice, the library will attempt to acquire a copy of a requested item.

Overdue Fines/Replacement Fees Policy

• Overdue items: $0.50/day from third overdue notification; patron will be blocked from interlibrary loan services until overdue items have been returned and fines have been paid.
• Recalled items: $1.00/day from third day after recall notification.
• Replacement Fees: If an interlibrary loan item is lost or not returned by the patron, any replacement fees that the lending library assesses will be charged to the library patron.

Borrowing from the University of Iowa

Although not intended to take the place of the Cole Library, Cornell faculty, staff, and students may borrow materials from the University of Iowa libraries.

Iowa's Open Access Program

Since January of 1990, the library has participated in the open access program sponsored by the State Library of Iowa, funded by a special appropriation from the legislature.  Open Access is a reciprocal borrowing program that makes it possible for users from participating libraries to directly borrow materials and use reference services of other participating libraries.  It gives the people of Iowa the option and convenience of using a library wherever they happen to be.  It is also a way of equalizing access to information and materials.

In order to borrow books from other participating libraries (e.g.,  the Cedar Rapids Public Library, the Iowa City Public Library, Coe College, Mt. Mercy College), patrons must have a valid Cole Library card (available at the 3rd Floor Circulation Desk).  All Cornell College faculty, staff, and students as well as Mount Vernon residents are eligible to participate in the Open Access Program.

For more details on the open access program please contact us.