{About}

Inter-Library Loan Policy

The Stowe Free Library recognizes the importance of Inter-Library Loan (ILL) to provide materials of specialized interest to supplement the local collection, and upholds the National Inter-Library Loan Code (http://www.nmrls.org/ill/illcode.shtml).

You must be a patron in good standing to place an Inter-Library Loan request through the Stowe Free Library. There is no charge for in-state ILL service, although donations for postage are always welcome.

The Stowe Free Library will attempt to Inter-Library Loan materials in many formats, including new releases and non-print materials (for example, books on tape or cd, VHS tapes, and DVDs), and makes all materials, with few exceptions, from our own collection available for other libraries to borrow. The exceptions are as follows:

  • magazine issues

  • oversize books

  • Discovery Packs and Mother Goose kits in the Children's Collection


The Library also reserves the right to refuse a request from another library for a reference-only item from our Vermont & Reference Collection. In the event of a request for this type of material, the Stowe Free Library will attempt to provide a copy of the article, a portion of the book, or the Table of Contents and Index, providing it meets the guidelines of Title 17 of the US Code governing copyright.

Patrons requesting new materials, whether in print or non-print form, should recognize that the age or popularity of the item may make it difficult to obtain. Similarly, libraries looking to borrow new print or non-print items from our collection should be aware that the item is likely to be in circulation, and therefore unavailable, or that the item may be lent with a shortened lending period.

Renewals are decided by the lending library. Patrons who would like to renew an ILL should let the Library know in advance of the due date, to give the lending library time to respond.

Borrowing from outside Vermont

The Stowe Free Library will make every effort to borrow material from other Vermont libraries or from Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH. In some cases, the Library may have to go out-of-state to fill a request.

In most cases, there is an expense for such a request. Patrons will be contacted for approval prior to the Library's attempting to obtain a loan from out-of-state. The patron will pay any expenses incurred for an out-of-state ILL, except return postage, which will be paid by the Stowe Free Library.

Expense may be as follows:

  1. Book charges: some out-of-state libraries charge $5.00 to $10.00 for ILL books, otherwise they will not lend items out-of-state. (There is no book charge on in-state books.)

  2. Copying expenses

  3. Postage: if the borrowing library must pay postage both ways.

  4. Overdue costs: the patron will be assessed these costs.

  5. Special handling costs: some libraries request that their materials be returned in special ways and these costs will be passed on to the patron.

  6. Any other charges: the patron will be asked to pay other charges such as damage to materials.


Patron responsibility for lost or damaged items

Replacement costs: items not returned shall be billed to the patron as billed by the lending library. This may include processing costs as well as the replacement cost of the item.

Payment must be made for materials lost or damaged while checked out to the patron. No refunds will be made for lost and paid interlibrary loan materials that are subsequently found.

Approved by the Library Board of Trustees in June 2008.