BMCC Library: Interlibrary Loan Policy

Home Services InterLibrary Loan Policy
	Interlibrary Loan Policy


The BMCC Library provides interlibrary loan services through which faculty and staff may obtain materials not owned by the Library for purposes relating to research or academic studies. Our interlibrary loan policies are based on the National Interlibrary Loan Code for the United States, 1993.

Material owned by the BMCC Library, including items on reserve. Textbooks, books that are required reading for classes, and mass market books that are easily and cheaply obtainable from local bookstores. Magazines, journals and newspapers. You may have photocopies of individual articles. Reference books.

Check CUNYPlus to be sure the Library does not own the material you are looking for. If you ask for material the Library owns, the request will be returned to you. Items owned by other CUNY libraries can take from 1 to 3 weeks to obtain on interlibrary loan. We encourage you to go directly to other CUNY libraries to obtain items owned by them. Faculty and staff must submit their requests to the library staff at the Circulation Desk. Requests can also be sent online through the Interlibrary Loan request form. Print request forms are available at the Circulation and Reference Desks. An online Web form is available as well as a printable PDF form. Please note that the free Adobe Acrobat Reader is needed to view this form.

All Interlibrary loan materials must be picked up at the Circulation Desk in the library. Please fill out a separate request form for each item Do not submit multiple requests on one request form. Fill out borrower information completely on every form that you submit.

The library from which the BMCC Library borrows the item determines the loan period and the renewal policy for the items it lends. The loan period is normally from 2 to 4 weeks. If you wish to renew an item, you must submit a renewal request form before the item is due (preferably one week prior to the due date). We will not accept requests for renewal of items that are already overdue. You may renew an item only once and may not borrow it again on interlibrary loan during the same semester. The lending library also sets the conditions under which an item may be used. Libraries can restrict the use of their materials to on-site use within the library only. Photocopying of materials may be prohibited. If you have questions about the restricted use of materials contact the Library Technical Services Department.

The student must pay any overdue fines up to and including the day the item is reported as being damaged, plus an amount to be determined by the extent of damage. It is not to exceed the current price of the item, plus a processing charge of $10.

Faculty and staff who fail to return an item recalled by the lending library on time, will have to pay a $1.00 per day fine per item. Faculty and staff with overdue interlibrary loan items will be blocked from borrowing from CUNY libraries and from the use of interlibrary loan services. Interlibrary loan services depend upon the good will and reciprocity of other libraries. Items lent to us have been purchased by the lending library for its own patrons, just as those that we lend have been purchased for use by our faculty and students. Failure to return items on time jeopardizes our reciprocal relationship with the lending library.

Return interlibrary loan items directly to a staff person at the Circulation Desk in the library. You are responsible for their safe return. Photocopies of requested articles do not have to be returned.

According to Title 17 of the U.S. Code (Copyright), the library that sends out a photocopy is responsible for placing a copyright compliance statement on the material. This statement normally says: NOTICE: THIS MATERIAL MAY BE PROTECTED BY COPYRIGHT LAW (TITLE 17 U.S. CODE). The borrowing library is responsible for insuring compliance with copyright law; the Library will refuse the request and discuss options with the borrower.