Interlibrary Loans

You are able to request books not held by Sunshine Coast Libraries from other library services.

Before we request items from other libraries on your behalf:
Have you checked our catalogue to make sure we don't own a copy of the item?

If the item is not available at any of the Sunshine Coast Libraries, check Trove, the Australia-wide one-stop search for all public and academic library books and resources. If you locate the item, and you wish to place an interlibrary loan request for it, then please copy the details onto our interlibrary loan form available from the Catalogue Search Menu. We will endeavour to obtain the material you request, but availability is subject to the lending policies of the library which owns the item. Limits and charges may apply.

Items may take over four weeks to arrive and you will be notified when they are ready for you to pick up. If you do not receive your ILL request after 30 days, please check with our Reference Desk Staff.

Please note that we cannot request books that have been published within the last twelve months, however you can recommend recently published items by using our Item Request form. When material is not available in the Sunshine Coast Libraries collection, the Library may purchase it if this is in accordance with the Collection Development Policy.

Your guide to interlibrary loans

Eligibility

Members of the Sunshine Coast Libraries are eligible to use this service to obtain material required with the exception of those members who are registered as No Fixed Address. Visitor members are able to request an ILL as long as there is a local or mobile phone number by which they can be contacted. Patrons who have overdue or lost interlibrary loans on their record, or who have failed to collect previously ordered material, are not permitted to request other interlibrary loans until the matter is resolved.

Students

While students are most welcome to use Sunshine Coast Libraries' resources and online databases, we encourage them to contact their own academic institution library for textbooks and required reading.

Charges

The library service endeavours, in the first instance, to borrow items from a library that will not charge.

A fee of up to $16.50 (GST inclusive) will apply for any items that incur a direct charge, usually those requested from the National Library of Australia, universities and special libraries.

You need to indicate either to the Reference Desk Staff or in the Item Request form if you are willing to proceed if a charge applies.

Once the responding library has agreed to supply the item charges will apply even if the item is cancelled or not picked up.

Loan period

The loan period for interlibrary loans is three weeks.

Return of material

Interlibrary loans need to be returned to any of the Sunshine Coast Libraries by the date that appears on the due date receipt. Please ensure that you return the item with the plastic slip cover. Charges for lost /damaged books will apply with replacement costs beginning at $120.00.

Renewals

Renewal of your interlibrary loan is not automatic. Please ask staff to check whether the renewal can been granted.