Interlibrary
Loan
Portland Public Library
5 Monument Square, Portland Maine 04101
Interlibrary Loan: (207)
871-1700 x735
Reference Desk: (207) 871-1700 x725
Any library in the Southern
Maine Library District may request books, audiovisual materials and periodical articles
from the Portland Public Library. But it doesn't end there! If we
don't have what you need, we'll search libraries nationwide to find it.
REQUESTS
Portland Public Library provides
standardized forms for author /title requests, subject requests and
photocopy requests. Please fill out a separate form for each item
being requested - only one title, article or subject request per form,
please.
The fastest and most efficient way to
request is via the online
SMLD request form.
| You may
also mail
requests to: |
Interlibrary
Loan
5 Monument Square
Portland, ME 04101 |
If the material you need is on the shelf at
Portland Public Library, it will be mailed to you via the delivery
system or the U.S. Mail.
If the book is currently checked out, we will
reserve it for you. The reserve is automatically cancelled after 3
months. If your request is cancelled and your patron still wants the
item, please send in a new request.
PPL materials checked out to or
reserved for your library may be monitored via your online
account. Enter your library name and your 14-digit bar code to
access your account 24/7. We encourage you to use this tool to keep
track of your PPL loans.
If Portland Public does not own the
material and you request a "search", we will try to locate
the material via the OCLC system and have it sent directly to your
library. A
"search" can take from a few days to several weeks, so
patrons should be advised there may be a wait for materials.
MAILING COSTS
Outgoing mailing costs are paid by the
supplying library. The borrowing library pays for return postage and,
when necessary, insurance.
SUBJECT REQUESTS
Our Reference Librarians are pleased to
provide resources on a particular topic for you and your patrons.
Please be as specific as possible when making a subject request.
PHOTOCOPIES
Portland Public Library supplies up to
10 pages of photocopy at no cost. We charge 10 cents for each page
over the initial 10. If Portland Public Library does not own the item
and you request a "search", your library may be billed by
the supplying library. Libraries have varying rates. Please indicate
the maximum cost your patron is willing to pay. We do not search
unless you indicate a "maxcost" of at least $5.00 because
that is a realistic minimum for libraries that charge.
It is the responsibility of the
requesting library to be aware of, and to abide by, the copyright
laws.
LABELS
We will send you a supply of PPL
mailing labels for return of our books. Write or call when you need
more. Please send us a supply of 3x5 mailing labels with your
library's name and address in the "ship to" section, or a
stamp imprinted with that information.
SEARCH
"Search" checked on your
request form means that you want Portland Public Library to try to
locate an item elsewhere if we do not have it in our collection. We
use the OCLC database for searching. A search can
take from a few days to several weeks and can only be done for a
specific title.
RENEWALS
Books from the Portland Public library
collection are signed out for a 4 week loan period. You may renew
these by phone for a 3 week term. Materials reserved for another
patron may not be renewed. You may return
such items and place another request for them.
Books borrowed for your library from
libraries other than Portland Public via the OCLC system may be
renewed at the discretion of the lending institution. Please call the
PPL Interlibrary Loan Office with the interlibrary loan transaction
number. We will place your request for renewal over the OCLC terminal.
Most libraries respond within 1 or 2 days. Please call back to verify
the status of the renewal.
BILLING
The borrowing library is responsible
for the item borrowed, and will be billed for its replacement if it is
not returned or if it is damaged during the lending period.
Return to SMLD Request Forms
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