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Resource Sharing
Requesting Materials from Out-of-State Locations

If a requested item cannot be found in Wisconsin, requests are routinely referred to libraries in other states that manage resource sharing using either the Agent resource sharing service or OCLC.

If you, as the borrowing library, do not want a request referred to out-of-state locations, please specify that in the Special Instructions field on the request form, by including OS:N or Out of State: No. If this note is not included in the request, your request will be referred to out of state libraries as necessary to fill the request.

There is no charge to the borrowing library to have a request refer to another state. The borrowing library must, however, pay the postage to return the material to the lending library.

Please note that Resources for Libraries and Lifelong Learning (RL&LL) is not able to pay fees to borrow materials from out-of-state libraries, even if your patron is willing to pay the fees. Public libraries within Wisconsin cannot charge their patrons for any part of the costs related to interlibrary loan (including return postage), since interlibrary loan is considered a basic library service.

Minitex

RL&LL has a reciprocal borrowing arrangement with MINITEX, a Minnesota clearinghouse that also refers requests to libraries in North Dakota and South Dakota. These referrals occur automatically for libraries using WISCAT ILL as their ILL management software. MINITEX uses WISCAT ILL with many of the Wisconsin libraries. They also use OCLC with Wisconsin public library systems if they have a reciprocal agreement with them.

Requests are sent to MINITEX libraries before they are sent to out-of-state OCLC libraries. Many MINITEX locations are willing to lend audiovisual materials.

In return for the excellent service MINITEX provides, Wisconsin libraries are asked to loan materials to MINITEX for their member libraries.

Any titles received from or loaned to MINITEX libraries can be shipped through statewide delivery (mark the item clearly for MINITEX) or the mail.

All items received from MINITEX libraries must be returned to the MINITEX office so their records can be cleared. Libraries should not return MINITEX materials directly to the owning Minnesota, North Dakota or South Dakota library unless the item has been borrowed directly from that library (not through MINITEX). Failure to return materials to MINITEX will result in overdues and bills being issued, since the item appears not to have been returned.

Out-of-State Libraries using AGent

RL&LL refers requests to select libraries in other states using the Autographics, Inc. Agent resource sharing system. Those states currently include Connecticut, Kansas and New Jersey.

Out-of-State Libraries using OCLC

When requests cannot be filled in Wisconsin or borrowed through MINITEX, RL&LL routinely refers requests to libraries in other states using OCLC. This process can add additional referral time to the request, as each OCLC location has four days to respond to a request.

Not all out-of-state libraries honor requests for all types of materials. We will attempt to borrow all formats, but library staff should caution patrons that the following types of materials may not be available from out-of-state libraries: