Interlibrary Loans
Services
If the Vancouver Public Library does not own an item that you need, our Interlibrary Loans Department will try to get a copy sent from another library system. Interlibrary Loans are the way library materials are made available from one library system to another. Vancouver Public Library will search for the book you need in other libraries in the Lower Mainland, BC, Canada and the United States.
Go to the ILL Online Request Form Menu.
How do I get an Interlibrary Loan?
You must have a VPL card that is in good standing. The material you request can only be checked out on your library card. Adults may not borrow material for their own use on a child's library card.
NOTE: A borrower who has more than 10 items overdue, fines over $10.00, owes more than $10.00 in lost or damaged material, or has 5 or more claims returned items will lose all borrowing privileges until brought below these limits.
Complete an ILL online form. When your Interlibrary Loan arrives, you will be notified by our automated telephone system unless you have email notification on file. For reference materials, we will telephone you.
How long does an Interlibrary Loan take?
The length of time varies. Material readily available to be requested from Lower Mainland libraries may arrive within two weeks. Requests that must be sent out to Lower Mainland libraries may take 4 or more weeks for material to arrive. The time depends upon several factors such as the availability of the materials, shipping and transit time. Materials sent from other provinces or from outside Canada will take longer. Please be sure to submit your request with accurate information. If you are not sure of the title, please discuss it with our information staff before submitting the ILL form.
If the requested material is time sensitive or you require fast delivery of documents, please visit our fee-based InfoAction service.
Do I have to pay?
- Our service is free. The Library tries to locate materials without charge. However, the lending fees are set by the lending library and may be as much as $15.00 - $35.00 and up. You must indicate the maximum amount you are willing to pay in order to obtain the materials. If the charge is over $25.00, you will be notified first.
- There is a $1.00 charge for non-pickup of Interlibrary Loans from within BC and a $5.00 charge for non-pick up of out-of-province items, in addition to lending fees incurred.
- Circulating ILL items are part of the request process. You receive 50 free requests (VPL and ILL items) in a calendar year. Any additional requests will cost 50 cents each.
- Fines are charged for materials returned late. See Loan Periods & Fines for details.
- You are responsible for replacement of lost or damaged materials.
What is available through Interlibrary Loan?
- Books (not published during the current year)
- Photocopies of newspaper, magazine and journal articles
- microfilms
- Government documents
- Conference proceedings
What material may not be requested?
- Circulating material owned by VPL
- Books published and/or copyrighted in the current year
- Audiovisual materials
- Audio cassettes
- DVDs
- Video cassettes
- Compact discs
- CD-ROMs
- Computer software and games
- Individual or bound issues of magazines
- Graphic novels
- Zines
What materials may not be available?
Owning Libraries may choose not to send us the following materials:
- Non-circulating / reference materials.
- Best-sellers, popular paperbacks, and other high-demand titles.
- Magazines, except photocopies of specific articles.
- Pamphlets and other in-print materials priced under $10.00.
- Textbooks for academic courses.
- Genealogical material.
- Rare books.
- Oversized materials such as large maps.
- Unpublished dissertations and theses.
- Books published in multi-volume sets.
- Books with an audiovisual component
- Children's material
Is there a limit on Interlibrary Loan requests?
You can have 10 active Interlibrary Loan requests at one time except for the following:
- National Archives (Archives Canada): limited to 6 reels at one time
- Other institutional microfilm lending limits may also apply
How can I check the status of my ILL request?
You can find out the status of your ILL request online. Your request will remain pending till the requested item is available for pickup at your chosen library branch. Please allow 4 - 8 weeks or longer to complete your request.
Go to Check the Status of the ILL Requests now.
How long may I keep the Interlibrary Loan item?
The loan period is usually 3 weeks, although this period may be shortened by the owning/lending library. The owning/lending library may restrict the material to in-library use only.
Interlibrary Loans cannot be renewed, nor can they be re-requested for a 3 month period.
How do I cancel my ILL online requests?
Please contact the ILL Department.
Please note that if you have agreed to pay any fees in order to obtain an item, these fees may still be owing if the item is already on its way to VPL when we receive your cancellation request. VPL will not charge any further cancellation fees.
Contact Us
- Hours: Monday - Friday; 10am-5pm
- Phone: 604-331-3603
- Fax: 604-331-3800
- Email for patrons: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
- Requesting Libraries should refer to: Library and Archives Canada ILL policy page for Vancouver Public Library's ILL policies and contact information.
