Columbia County Public Library

Interlibrary Loan Policies

I.   Columbia County Public Library complies with the following General Policies of the Florida Library Information Network as stated in the FLIN Manual, 1997 revision :

     There is free exchange of materials consistent both with the policies and responsibilities prescribed in this manual and with the library's customary lending policies. This includes, but is not limited to, making available through interlibrary loan or photocopy those materials that are normally available to local patrons regardless of format. This service is provided to (1) FLIN online participants; and (2) requests from FLIN mail user libraries that are referred through the State Library.

      Materials borrowed on interlibrary loan are the responsibility of the borrowing library until received again by the lending library. Fees or costs associated with damages or loss are the responsibility of the borrowing library regardless of whether or not the cost/fee can be recovered from patrons. All communication concerning lost materials should be between the borrowing and lending libraries.

      The library will make every effort to provide material and services that are sufficient to meet the minimum needs of its own clientele. The library should not be considered simply as a switching point for referring requests to other agencies. Interlibrary loan should not be used for these purposes:

1.   To fill heavy local demand for popular titles such as those currently on bestseller lists or materials currently checked out to other patrons.

                    2.   To borrow a book that the requesting library owns but will not circulate.

3.   To borrow materials that the requesting library owns in electronic format. Exceptions can be made to this policy when the electronic format is not comprehensive, e.g. lacking charts or other pertinent illustrations.

      Borrowing libraries must accept the responsibility to abide by restrictions on "use in library only" and "no photocopy, no renewals, etc." materials. Otherwise, rare or expensive material may be lost and interlibrary loan privileges jeopardized. If the material is sent for "use in library only," the lending library expects to find it at the borrowing library at all times, and may contact the borrowing library for information contained in the material.

      Requests filled by FLIN online libraries and the State Library will normally be supplied without charge. The following are the only exceptions:

a.   If the material supplied by other FLIN libraries exceeds 25 exposures, the supplying library is permitted to charge for the additional exposures. Charges vary as well as the method of invoicing. Payments should be submitted directly to the supplying library. The cost of the material may be passed on to the patron.

b.   If material is supplied by a library that is not part of FLIN, and that library charges for the material, the cost of the material may be passed on to the patron.

       Requesting libraries will obtain as much information as possible from the library patron. This is extremely important since the staff of FLIN supplying libraries do not have an opportunity to communicate directly with the library patron.

       Borrowing libraries will observe the date due and return the material so the lending library receives it by the date due.

       Borrowing libraries will respond promptly to recall notices.

       Borrowing libraries accept all charges incurred for interlibrary loan requests referred by the State Library. This is primarily for those FLIN selective user libraries for which the State Library refers requests to libraries outside the network. The State Library does not refer requests for materials to libraries that charge for interlibrary loan without first obtaining the approval of the borrowing library unless the charge is less than indicated as acceptable. The State Library cannot anticipate all charges such as postage or insurance. The requesting library is responsible for such charges incurred.

        Borrowing libraries will return materials via library rate unless requested otherwise by the lending library. Insure materials as requested.

        Borrowing libraries will deal directly with the lending library when requesting renewals, responding to overdue notices, or paying for lost material.

II.    In addition, the Columbia County Public Library will follow these further guidelines:

        Registered patrons in good standing with the Library may have three items on request at a time.  Patrons will be held financially responsible for overdue, damaged, or lost materials.

        An overdue fine of 50 cents per day will be assessed on Interlibrary Loan materials returned late. 

        Interlibrary Loan material may not be renewed without prior approval of the Interlibrary Loan Coordinator.

The following materials are not available for Interlibrary Loan:

1. Music recordings and audio-visual materials
2. Rare materials
3. Microfilm
4. Reference material
5. Textbooks for classroom use
6. Pamphlets, newspapers, and magazines
7. Maps
8. Electronic media

III.   Columbia County Public Library complies with the following guidelines of the Statewide Audiovisual Service:

Policy Statement

       Registered borrowers in good standing with the Library may request up to three (3) items at a time through the Statewide Audiovisual Service.  Borrowers will be held financially responsible for overdue, damaged, or lost materials.

       The audiovisual materials in Statewide collection are loaned only to public libraries, state institution libraries, and state agencies in Florida.  All audiovisual materials in the collection are selected in accordance with the Selection Policy of the State Library of Florida.  They are purchased with public performance rights.

Requesting Materials

       Borrowers are encouraged to request materials as far in advance as possible; if desired, they may do so up to two calendar years in advance.  Early booking of materials increases the chance of receiving first choices on the requested date.

       Selections for audiovisual material are listed in the current State Library of Florida Audiovisual Catalog.

Period of Loan

       The loan period for audiovisual materials is normally one day, but longer loan periods or extensions may be approved in advance on a case-by-case basis.

       Audiovisual material must be returned on the first working day after scheduled use date to insure its arrival at its next booking on time.

Cost

       There is no fee to borrow audiovisual materials. However an overdue fine of 50 cents per day per item will be assessed on audiovisual materials returned late.

Restrictions

1. Materials from the Statewide AV Service collection are prohibited from being loaned to elementary and secondary schools and academic institutions.
2. Films and other audiovisual materials may not be shown where an admission fee is charged or for fund raising purposes.
3. Materials may not be televised, videotaped or duplicated in whole or in part (except designated for non-copyrighted materials).
4. Announcements of screenings for Walt Disney Productions may not appear in newspapers nor any other type of medium inviting the general public of the community.

Approved by the Board of County Commissioners on 06/04/1998