In order to support the study and research of SRJC students, faculty and staff, the Library's interlibrary loan service borrows books and obtains photocopies or digital copies of journal articles from other libraries when these items are not part of the Library's collections.

Interlibrary loan services are meant to supplement the Library's own collections. If you haven't been able to find what you need in the Library, be sure to check with one of the reference librarians who might be able to help you find it.

You may request an interlibrary loan if you are a currently enrolled SRJC student, staff or faculty member or an SRJC retiree.

Interlibrary Loan policies are based on the Interlibrary Loan Code of the American Library Association and on current U.S. copyright laws.

What Can (and Can't) Be Borrowed

You may request books, articles, conference papers, proceedings, musical scores and recordings, items on microfilm, dissertations and videos through the interlibrary loan process.

Materials which cannot be requested through the interlibrary loan process include textbooks, materials that are very old (published before the late 1800s), whole issues of recent journals, newly published items, and items that are owned by SRJC libraries, unless they have been declared missing or lost or are currently checked out.

Before you begin your request, please be sure to check the library catalog to determine whether one of the SRJC libraries already owns the book you need. Interlibrary Loan requests will not be processed for books or periodicals which are already in the Library's collections unless they have been declared missing or lost or they are currently checked out. (If a book you need is not checked out but is not on the shelf, please talk to the staff at the Circulation Desk who can put a "search" on the book for you.)

To place your interlibrary loan request, get an interlibrary loan request form at the Reference Desk in either the Doyle Library (Santa Rosa campus) or the Mahoney Library (Petaluma campus).

U.S. copyright law limits the number of times photocopies of articles may be requested from a single periodical title for interlibrary loan.

The Library will notify you by e-mail or by phone when the materials you requested have arrived. You may pick them up at the Circulation Desk in either the Doyle or Mahoney Library (whichever library you indicated on your request form). Please note that if you repeatedly fail to pick up interlibrary loan items which you requested, you will lose your interlibrary loan privileges.

How long will it take?
This process might take two weeks or longer depending, on the location of the lending library.

How long can I keep the book?
The lending library determines this; the loan is usually from two to three weeks. Most libraries do not permit renewals. Note: To avoid losing your interlibrary loan privileges, it is very important that you return the borrowed books on time.

When the book you requested arrives, a paper band with your name and the due date is placed around it. Please do not remove this band.

When you request a periodical article, the article is photocopied from the actual periodical or e-mailed from a digital copy of it. You may keep the photocopy. Occasionally, newspaper or journal sources are sent on microform; these must be viewed and photocopied inside the library.

For questions, further assistance, and to offer suggestions for improving interlibrary loan service, please contact Carol Idler in the Library's Interlibrary Loan Department. Phone: (707) 527-4554

The Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted materials. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specified conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be "used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research." If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposed in excess of "fair use" that user may be liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve a violation of copyright law.

For other information about the U.S. copyright laws, see Copyright Issues.