Interlibrary Lending Policy
The University of Massachusetts Amherst Interlibrary Loan unit accepts interlibrary loan requests from other libraries via OCLC, Rapid, ComCat, Web Form, email, or by U.S. Mail using an ALA Interlibrary Loan Request form on institutional letterhead stationery. We are happy to share most materials internationally.
Our OCLC symbol is: AUM
Our NUC symbol is: MU
If you do not use OCLC, Rapid, or ComCat, you can create an institutional account to submit requests through our web form.
If your request for an item is deflected or canceled, and it seems like we should be able to share it or that no other library can share it, please contact us directly at ill@library.umass.edu.
Fees for Interlibrary Loan
Loans: $15.00 per loan request (up to 5 volumes or 6 reels of microfilm)
Scans: $15.00 per scan request (typically limited to 50 pages)
We do not charge fees to: Five College members, Boston Library Consortium (BLC) Members, Massachusetts public libraries, NELINET reciprocal code signers, NECOP (public New England Land-Grant Universities) members, RAPID reciprocal members, IDS Project members, EAST program members, and Libraries Very Interested in Sharing (LVIS) members.
We prefer fees be sent via OCLC IFM. We can also accept IFLA vouchers, or checks in US dollars made out to ATTN: Interlibrary Loan, University of Massachusetts Amherst Libraries.
Books
Books are lent for 16 weeks use, no renewal. Up to 5 volumes per order.
We ship most books via USPS Library Rate. We ship books internationally via UPS, and request that materials are returned via a trackable method.
Periodicals
Periodicals do not circulate on Interlibrary Loan. Some exceptions are made for older, little used material in good condition. If your request is deflected and you cannot find another library to share, please contact us directly at ill@library.umass.edu.
Articles and Chapters
Articles, chapters, or other portions of larger works are supplied as PDF files primarily via Odyssey or Article Exchange transmission software. We can supply articles via email if necessary.
Media
DVDs, CDs, LP records, and VHS tapes are lent for 8 weeks use, no renewal.
Media is sent via UPS, and we ask that they are returned in a box, with tracking. We ship media to Canada via UPS, but do not otherwise share media internationally.
Microfilm
Microfilm and microfiche are lent for 16 weeks, no renewal. Up to 6 reels per order.
Microforms are sent via UPS, and we ask that they are returned in a box, with tracking. We ship microforms internationally via UPS, and request that materials are returned in a box with tracking.
Theses and Dissertations
Digital copies of UMass Amherst theses and dissertations may be available in our institutional repository. We will lend the print copy of our dissertations if a digital copy is not available. If neither a digital copy nor a print copy is available, we will consider sending the microfilm copy.
Physical theses and dissertations are lent for 16 weeks use, no renewal. Up to 5 volumes per order. Print theses are sent Library Rate; microforms are sent via UPS. We ship theses and dissertations internationally via UPS, and ask that they are returned with tracking.
Lost or Damaged Materials
As per the Interlibrary Loan Code for the United States, it is our responsibility to “Bill any service, replacement, or damage fees promptly,”(section 5.3) and it is the borrowing library’s responsibility to “Assume responsibility for borrowed material from the time it leaves the supplying library until it has been returned to and received by the supplying library. This includes all material shipped directly to and/or returned by the user. If damage or loss occurs, provide compensation or replacement, in accordance with the preference of the supplying library.” (section 4.9)
We automatically send overdue notices on the due date, two weeks after the due date, and 30 days after the due date. When an item reaches 45 days overdue, we search our shelves in case the item was returned but did not go through the Interlibrary Loan unit. If the item is not found, we send a replacement bill.
We are usually able to extend loan times if a patron has extenuating circumstances. Please reach out to us at ill@library.umass.edu if your patron is in communication but unable to return the item on time.
If an item is lost or irrecoverably damaged, we are happy to accept either a replacement copy (must be an identical edition in like-new condition), or a replacement fee of $85 per lost volume provided by check made out to Interlibrary Loan – University of Massachusetts Amherst Libraries, with our transaction number (also used as the invoice number on the replacement bill) in the “for” field. Please reach out to us at ill@library.umass.edu if you have any questions or need an W9 or an invoice on institutional letterhead.