One day, it happens: you search for a book in Normal PL's catalog or bookshelves, but it's NOT THERE. What to do?!? Like countless seekers before you, you approach a NPL staffer or email us or phone us. In each case, the question is the same: "Can you get this item for me?" Then we might say in return: "We can get this book / CD / DVD / item for you from another library."
In library lingo, that's often called 'interlibrary loan.' The gist: If the item exists in another library in our network, or even within the state of Illinois, we can ask them to lend it to us. And if they do, we can pass this item along to you for a loan period, even if we don't own it.
To find something in our shared, local network (sometimes referred to as our 'consortium'), just search our catalog and change from 'Normal PL' and 'all items' to 'All RSA Libraries (No ebooks)' at the far left of the search box. Then enter the title or author if you know it, or search via keyword if you don't. Once you see an item you want, click the grey 'Place Hold' button at the far right of the item listing. Once you do so, you'll be asked for your library card number and pin / password. Your library card number starts with D0 (that's a D zero by the way), and you can find it on the back of the card itself. The default pin: 1234
You can put MANY many items on hold at one time. But beware: it's Murphy's Law that every single item will come in at the same time. Bring a bag or better yet, a wheelbarrow (or a horse-drawn cart. Don't park the horse on College Avenue).
But what if an item isn't in our local catalog / system? No problem. Just use our handy-dandy form to request it:
https://www.normalpl.org/form/request-an-item-for-loan-or-purc
If the item is available somewhere in the state of Illinois, and the library that owns it is willing to lend it to us, you can get it. However, if the item is too new, we might buy it for our collection (as long as it fits our Materials Selection Policy). If there's only one owning library, or none, we might not be able to get the item for you. Luckily that doesn't happen super often.
Some Frequently Asked Questions (you know you've got 'em!):
Q: Will this cost me a fee / extra money?
A: Nope!
Q: I'm a Bloomington patron who has registered their card at Normal. Can you get items for me?
A: Sadly, no -- it's actually state law that your 'home library' (in this case, Bloomington) has to do this for you. But they follow similar procedures and can get the same stuff we can in most cases.
Q: Can I ask for the loan of something besides a book?
A: Yes, in most cases. Most libraries lend books. Some libraries lend things like DVDs or CDs or Playaways. A few libraries lend video games. When in doubt, use the form above to ask (or call us at 309-452-1757 or email us at ask@normalpl.org)
Q: What about digital books or digital audiobooks?
A: Due to a bummer called DRM (digital rights management), you can only check out digital items from the library that issued your card. For NPL patrons, that's only NPL. For Bloomington patrons, that's only BPL. <Cue sad trombone noise>. And no, it's not because we're mean. The publishers of the content set those rules, and boy howdy, they are NOT flexible.
Q: How long does the process take to get something?
A: The length of time varies by where the item is coming from, how many other people have requested that item, and whether the item is checked in or checked out when you ask for it. If you want a book that lots of libraries in our direct network own that's sitting on the shelf, you can expect it in less than a week in most cases. If you're asking for a book that's only held by a few libraries in Chicago, it might take a few weeks.
Q: OH BOY. CAN I GET A LIVE RABBIT? WHAT ABOUT A T-REX SKULL? HOW ABOUT THE KEYS TO AREA 51?
A: Settle down there, cowpoke. We can only get what other libraries will lend. And also, that would be kind of scary for the rabbit, wouldn't you say?
Upshot: Whether you call this 'borrowing a book from another library,' 'getting an item from somewhere,' or 'requesting something from interlibrary loan,' you have access to LOTS AND LOTS of items that aren't physically on NPL's shelves. So hit up the catalog, call us at 309-452-1757, or email us at ask@normalpl.org with your most-wished-for items. And let us say, "We can get that for you!"
(Except for the rabbit. Try an animal shelter to find one to adopt -- but only if you want to keep it happy and spoiled for the rest of its bunny life. And don't forget to request a rabbit care book from us so EVERYBODY gets a happy ending to that story!)