Sunday May 10th, 2009 Interlibrary Loan

Money, or lack of it, is a hot topic these days. Even libraries feel the pinch. Budget restraints force us to try and purchase as wide a range of materials as possible, but unfortunately we cannot hold every title. Space is an issue as well, therefore we are not able to keep all of our resources forever, and must pick and choose which ones to keep and which ones will go to our Friends of the Library used bookstore. However, if there is a title that you have been searching for and the Thunder Bay Public Library does not carry a copy it is possible that we can bring this item in from another library within Canada. This free service is called Interlibrary Loan and is available to anyone with a valid Thunder Bay Public Library Card.

What kinds of materials can be ordered through interlibrary loan you might ask? We will try to borrow any print items that are not considered rare or reference material, photocopies of journal articles, and microfilm reels from the provincial and national archives, including newspapers. We do not however, borrow any audio visual materials such as CDs and DVDs, and any books which are newer than 6 months old. Let's take a closer look at what is available.

The Provincial Archives holds such items as birth, marriage and death registration information on microfilm. They also have estate information, church records, and land records. Keep in mind that these are old registrations and information that are now a matter of public record. For a detailed look at the types of information and the years
covered, check out their website.

Library and Archives Canada carries a wide range of newspapers on microfilm from across Canada, which are available for borrowing through interlibrary loan. Maybe you are looking for an obituary, or an article that contains a photo of a family member. If you know the date of a particular event, we can order in that reel of microfilm for use in the Brodie Reference Department. The microfilm machines are equipped with printers so you can print yourself a copy.

Also available through interlibrary loan from Library and Archives Canada are census returns on microfilm dating as far back as the 1600s, and immigration information including passenger lists back to 1865. Check out their website for more info.

Doing some research? If you need a specific journal article that the library does not carry in either print or electronic format, we can try to help you obtain a copy. Books can accumulate a considerable amount of wear and tear. Books that are beyond repair are often removed from the collection. It may be that some of those titles are no
longer in print and cannot be reordered for the collection. This is when interlibrary loan is particularly handy. If we do not have an older title from one of your favourite authors we will try to borrow a copy. If it is part of a series and we are missing one from the set, don't despair, try interlibrary loan.

You may be wondering how interlibrary loan items arrive here. All items are shipped through Canada Post. Libraries across Canada are eligible for a reduced postage rate , called Library Book Rate. The lending library pays to ship the item out and included in the shipping rate is a free return mailing label. This reduced postage rate covers books only, not tapes, CDs or DVDs. Generally you can expect to wait from three to six weeks for an item.

In 2008, the Thunder Bay Public Library received a total of 4,255 requests from both our patrons and other public libraries. From those requests, we were able to supply 1,844 books to other libraries. If you would like more information regarding interlibrary loans, or to request an item, contact the Brodie or Waverley Reference departments at 345-8275.

Michelle Paziuk, Library Technician