ILL Textbook Policy Change

As of Fall Semester 2011, the Twin Cities Campus Library is implementing a change to our interlibrary loan textbook-ordering policy. The policy is below. You can also read it here.

Though we understand that textbook prices are high, Twin Cities Campus Library will not order any edition of a book that is required in a course syllabus (in other words, textbook) through Interlibrary Loan for the following reasons:

• Interlibrary loan services are not intended for ordering textbooks.

Interlibrary loan services were established to assist students and faculty with borrowing supplementary materials for class related research.

• Purchasing textbooks is the responsibility of the student.

Similar to paying tuition and fees, acquiring textbooks and other required course materials is the responsibility of the student.

• Interlibrary loan services do not meet student needs for ordering textbooks.
  • Most libraries do not purchase textbooks.
    Most libraries do not purchase textbooks for their collections, including Saint Mary's. If a library does purchase a textbook for its collection, the textbook is often placed on restricted course reserve for use by their students.
  • Interlibrary loan books take 1-2 weeks to arrive.
    Because so few libraries own textbooks, we often have to request textbooks from out-of-state libraries. The process of requesting, shipping, and receiving the textbooks takes 1-2 weeks.
  • Students can only keep interlibrary loan textbooks for three weeks.
    Loan periods set by lending libraries do not allow students to keep a textbook for an entire course.

We welcome feedback and comments.