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Interlibrary Loan Policies & Procedures: Return, Renew, & Recalls

This is a guide to the requirements and policies for using InterLibrary Loan through the New Mexico State Library.

 

How do you handle returns, renewals, and recalled items?

New Mexico Libraries' Returns

The return date displayed in ILLiad and indicated on the item’s paperwork is the date by which the item must be received by the lending library.  (It is a good idea for borrower’s to require their patrons to return the item to the borrowing library a few days in advance of the due date to allow for mailing.)

When returning an item to the lending library you will need to contact NMSL at nmslinterlibraryloan@dca.nm.gov and let us know the transaction being returned. Please send us an email with the transaction number (TN#) as listed on your ILLiad account, or the ILL number - the 9-digit number on the paperwork sent by the lending library. Title your email "Returns."

NMSL must mark the item "returned" when you send it as this allows the lender to mark it as received when it arrives back at their library. Notifying us promptly helps us maintain better relationships with our lenders and it keeps your account up-to-date. 


(Please note: the lending library's paperwork may have their own TN on it. This TN was generated by their system and will not match with your TN. The ILL number is the unique identifying number that shared between NMSL and the lending library.)

 

State Employees' & Independent Researcher's Returns

Please bring all borrowed items back to the NMSL reference desk on or before the due date.

Renewals

Most lenders will renew books at least one time, if the request is made through ILLiad 4-5 days before the due date

  • Renewals can be requested through the ILLiad website if the items currently have a "Checked out to Customer" status on the request. The “Renew Request” button will appear at the top of the transaction.
  • If you are not able to access the renew request button you can ask for a renewal via email at nmslinterlibraryloan@dca.nm.gov and we will attempt to manually submit the request. Please title your email "Renewal Request."

**You may only request a renewal one time per each item. **


 

Behind the Scenes:  When a renewal request is submitted a suggested new due date is generated and emailed to the lending library. The lending library will then either accept the date given, accept the renewal but provide a different due date, or reject the renewal; the lender’s response will then be emailed to you. (If the lending library fails to send a reply, you are free to assume that the suggested due date is the new due date.) The decision of the lending library is final.

Recalls

Items can be recalled by the lending library at any time. When an item is recalled, the borrower will receive notification via email informing them of this action. At that point the item must be sent back to the lender immediately. If you are a library, this means you need to inform your patron of what is going on and tell them to return the item at once.