The Interlibrary Loan Service will Return to Woodstock Library This Summer

Friday, 14 June 2019 10:38

The Woodstock Public Library will resume the interlibrary loan service on July 2nd with new restrictions.

WOODSTOCK - The Woodstock Public Library will resume the interlibrary loan service on July 2nd with new restrictions.

All interlibrary loan deliveries will now rely on Canada Post, in the absence of the Southern Ontario Library Service (SOLS) Courier Van Service, which was eliminated due to provincial funding cuts. In order to exercise control over extra shipping costs which were not budgeted for in 2019, the Library will implement restrictions and limits on the service. WPL patrons may only have a maximum of five ILLO requests active at a time.

The Library will not request mass market paperbacks, children's easy reader and board books, books on CD, or items from colleges and university libraries that charge a shipping and handling cost. If the Library’s collection has a title in an alternative format, such as Large Print or digital, the Library may refuse to request the item in the requested format. However, the Library will always remain sensitive to issues of accessibility, and will consider each request with care.

The Library expects that book club sets will become increasingly difficult to borrow from other libraries given the shipping costs. While some patrons have indicated that they would be willing to pay for ILLO items, the Public Libraries Act prohibits libraries from charging the public for library services. Library CEO David Harvie says they exploring all of their options.

"We are currently exploring opportunities to work collaboratively with neighbouring library systems, in order to reduce direct costs incurred through the loss of the SOLS courier service."

In 2017, the Woodstock Public Library borrowed 978 items and lent 3,906 items to other libraries using the Southern Ontario Library Service Courier for its patrons.