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Resource Sharing Services

Resources for Libraries and Lifelong Learning provides leadership to Wisconsin libraries on resource sharing practices and procedures and guidance on current and future policies.

We coordinate interlibrary loan service for Wisconsin libraries, act as a clearinghouse for requests created on the WISCAT resource sharing system, refer requests to the OCLC resource sharing network on behalf of WISCAT libraries, and troubleshoot individual requests from WISCAT libraries.

Click here to access the most recent Wisconsin Interlibrary Loan guidelines (2012). They cover the agreed upon organizational structure, general patterns of activity and best practices for interlibrary loan. Librarians new to interlibrary loan work are strongly encouraged to review these guidelines.

Detailed information about the following key interlibrary loan subjects are covered in the WISCAT Frequently Asked Questions section.

Book club requests - These require special handling. Please note that we strongly discourage libraries from requesting newer and more popular titles for book clubs. These titles are often very difficult to borrow through interlibrary loan, and attempting to borrow multiple copies compounds those difficulties.

Items In Constant Demand: Items on this list are in high demand at their local libraries and are unlikely to be available through interlibrary loan.

RL&LL compiles the list using the NY Times Best Seller list, Amazon Bestsellers, Audible Audio Books Bestsellers and Amazon's Bestsellers in Movies and TV. These are often the newer titles published within the last 12 -18 months.

This list is updated periodically and is intended as a guideline for ILL staff when determining the appropriateness of submitting a request.

Electronic Resources are not available through interlibrary loan. Please use the Wisconsin Digital Library for digital materials, or check Open Access Resources for ILL.