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Resource Sharing
Lost or Overdue ILL Items

Communication between the borrowing and lending libraries is very important in identifying situations in which there is doubt about a patron’s ability or willingness to return an item in a timely manner, or at all.

All libraries encounter lost and overdue items. We recommend asking the lender to renew the item while the issue is being checked on, or requesting an additional shelf check to be sure the item was not returned without getting checked in.

Borrowing libraries can also check with the patron/user about the item. They may also ask the lending library to generate an invoice to be presented to the patron. Borrowing libraries should not wait for payment from their patron to reimburse the lending library.

The borrowing library (not the patron) is responsible for missing or damaged interlibrary loan materials from the time they leave the lender's library until they are safely returned to the lender.

Borrowers must comply with the rules specified by the lender. If a patron shows a track record of overdues or lost items, the library may consider restricting the patron’s use of interlibrary loan materials.

Borrowing libraries should pay invoices promptly when received. It is the borrowing library’s responsibility to collect from the patron if the loss or damage is attributed to the patron.

Requests may be updated to Overdue or overdue notices may be issued by lenders to alert borrowing libraries that items have not been returned by the due date. At that time the borrower should verify that the item has not been lost.

Lending libraries decide how long they wait to bill a borrowing library for an item that was not returned. However, some libraries will not honor bills that are delivered long after an item was due.

What are some recommendations for dealing with Overdue items?

Please see The Wisconsin Interlibrary Loan Guidelines 2012 (the most recent edition) for detailed policies on overdues.

RL&LL can provide assistance in resolving questions about lost and overdue items as needed.