There are two types of Interlibrary loans: NOBLE loans and OCLC loans

• Any registered library user may place requests for NOBLE loans.

• Only current Merrimack College students, faculty, and staff may place requests for OCLC loans.

Availability of Items

• The lending library determines what materials are or are not to be loaned. When you request an item, McQuade staff will make an effort to locate a library that is willing to lend.  If no library is willing to lend the requested item, you will be notified

Textbooks

• Regrettably, the library cannot facilitate interlibrary loan requests for textbooks, because (1) few libraries own the latest edition of textbooks, (2) even fewer of those libraries are willing to lend textbooks, and (3) none of those libraries allow items they lend to be checked out for the entire semester.  

Processing Time

• Borrowing Materials: Library process most requests the same day and almost always within 24 hours with the exception of holidays. While most requests arrive within a 3-5 business days, ILL users are asked to allow up to two weeks for borrowed materials to arrive. Most materials are received via U.S. mail, regional delivery, or email however, keep in mind that McQuade Library has no control over when materials arrive.

Notification of Arrival of Materials

• ILL users will be contacted by email when their materials have arrived. Books must be picked up at the library because they must be checked out on the circulation system. Books will be held at the Circulation Desk for one week, and if they are not checked out they are returned to the lending library. Members of the Merrimack College community who live or work on campus may have their article requests sent to them via campus mail if preferred. A delivery preference may be indicated on the ILL request form.

Returning Materials and Renewal Requests

• All borrowed materials should be returned to the Library Services Desk on the first floor of McQuade. The ILL user should leave the ILL bookstrap or identification band and/or sticker on the book.
• If a renewal is necessary the ILL user should notify McQuade Access Services staff before the original due date. Renewals are not guaranteed as they are given at the discretion of the lending library. Repeated disregard of lending library due dates by ILL users will result in the loss of ILL service until all materials have been returned or paid for.

Please email circ@merrimack.edu with any questions concerning this policy