pproved 1-20-2026

INF-1: Reference Services

Library reference services are available in-person, over the phone, and online. Staff will provideinformation from and access to authoritative reference sources, and will not offer personal opinions,advice or other interpretation.Any reference request involving complicated searches or work requiring more than ten minutes of stafftime may deferred until staff have time to adequately respond to the inquiry. Reference questions willbe answered within two business days.

INF-2: Interlibrary Loan (ILL)

Interlibrary Loan (ILL) is a method by which libraries make materials or copies available to other libraries.The libraries borrow materials directly from one another on behalf of a patron.Interlibrary loans allow libraries to make available to their patrons materials beyond those in thelibrary’s collection. This service supports the mission of the Library by providing enhanced access tomaterials for cardholders.

The Library will lend the following types of materials to other libraries according to the followingguidelines:

The Library will lend materials in the following formats:

  • Books, audio books, music CDs, videos, DVDs, videogames.

It will NOT lend the following types of materials:

  • Rare, fragile, or valuable material
  • Material in high demand at the library
  • Non-circulating materials, including the local history collection
  • Periodicals*

*May supply copies of articles of reasonable length to satisfy ILL requests

The Library recognizes that interlibrary loan is an adjunct to the Library’s collection. The Library willexhaust local resources first, including its own collection and those of neighboring libraries. Itemsrequested frequently will be considered for purchase.

The Library generally will NOT request from other libraries items which it owns. An exception will bemade for multiple copies of books for book clubs.

The Library will generally not engage in interstate transactions. In the event a patron requests a loanonly available from another state, the patron must agree to accept round-trip shipping charges incurred.

The Library will only lend to an out-of-state library if our copy is unique on FirstSearch/OCLC.Interlibrary loans are available to current cardholders in good standing with the Library. Interlibrary loanprivileges of cardholders with blocked accounts are suspended until the account is in good standing.

At the current time there is no fee for borrowing via interlibrary loan. The Library will endeavor tocollect from the borrower any charges for lost or damaged materials.

DRAFT 10-15-2025

Approved by the Lake Bluff Library Board of Trustees.