Do you know what Interlibrary Loan is, and if so, do you use it?

ILL is just an agreement between libraries (usually a large network of libraries) to allow cross-lending either in person or by mail. If a library in NY has a book that’s not in the local library of a guy in LA, he can request that it be mailed to his local library where he picks it up. I’ve used it for research papers to get books from other libraries when my school didn’t have it. It’s a great service, but just slow due to mail/shipment logistics.

My alma mater had Interlibrary Loan and I used it periodically. What it is is that different libraries, in this case different university libraries, have an agreement between them. If someone in one university needs a book or journal from another university, they can fill out a request form, submit it to their home university and the second university will ship the book or journal to the person’s university library. Usually there’s a shorter loan time on ILL’s, but it’s a great way to get research information without having to drive and fly all over the country. When you’re finished with the material, you return it to your own library that then ships it back to where it belongs.

Yes, our library system participates in it. I’ve only used it once, and I used it for an out-of-print book that I’d read many years ago that our library system didn’t have a copy of.