Home

FAQs

Who can make an interlibrary loan request?

Any person with a current Greenville County Library Card and PIN is eligible to borrow materials.

What can be requested?

  • Books
  • Audiobooks: cassette or CD
  • Videos: VHS or DVD
  • Sound recordings: cassette or CD
  • Dissertations
  • Microfilms
  • Articles from periodicals and newspapers

Items published within the past year cannot be borrowed from another library.

Copyright restrictions

The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material.

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 purposes 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 violation of copyright law.

How many requests can I make?

You may make 10 requests at a time.

How much will it cost?

The Greenville County Library System charges $1.00 postage for each item obtained from another library. This charge is added to your borrowing record when the item is received from the lending library. Postage and lending fees must be paid before any Interlibrary Loan materials can be checked out of the library. There is no charge if we are unable to obtain your request through Interlibrary Loan.

Some libraries charge for lending their materials on Interlibrary Loan, generally $5-$10 per item. Your request may be filled more rapidly if you are willing to pay for the service, since more libraries may be willing to lend the title. Sometimes the only available lender charges for this service.  Please indicate the maximum you are willing to pay in the "Lending Library Fee" section of the request form.  Charges made by the lending library are added to your Library card at the time the item is received.  Leave Lending Library Fee box blank if not willing to pay anything.

Interlibrary Loan borrower's responsibilities

You are responsible for

  • Reimbursing the Library for all Interlibrary Loan fees
  • Cost of replacing items lost or damaged while in your possession
  • Returning items on time

Fines for overdue Interlibrary Loan materials are $1.00 per day, up to a maximum cost of $10.00 per item. There is no "grace period" for overdue Interlibrary Loan materials.

Placing a request

Check our Online Catalog to make sure we do not already own a copy of the material that you want. If you already have an Interlibrary Loan account, logon to request materials. If you do not have an Interlibrary Loan account, create your account.

If you prefer to request the Library purchase a copy for its collection, select "I Need Material" in our Online Catalog.

Notification when materials arrive

Patrons are notified by telephone or e-mail when the requested materials have arrived at the Greenville County Library.

Pickup location

Within your Personal Interlibrary Loan Account, indicate the library branch where you wish to pick up your materials. Interlibrary loan items may be picked up and returned to the Circulation Desk at each location.

Photocopies obtained through Interlibrary Loan

Photocopied materials are mailed to the patron's address.  If there is a photocopy fee, it is added your record when the item is mailed.

Renewal requests

Renewals of Interlibrary Loan items cannot be guaranteed. Interlibrary Loan materials can be renewed from within your Personal Interlibrary Loan Account or by phone. Overdue Interlibrary Loan materials are NOT renewable.

To speak with staff concerning requests

Call the Reference Department 864-242-5000, x. 2258.