LibAnswers

No library (not even the OSU Stillwater library) can own or anticipate every research item needed by our research community. Through formalized reciprocal agreements, libraries world-wide participate in lending and borrowing research materials for their patrons.   

Curious as to how it really works? 

Sets of rules, responsibilities and guidelines for interlibrary lending and borrowing determine what and from who we can borrow, any charges incurred and the length of time allowed to borrow. There are protocols with which libraries can request materials by utilizing first and last resort libraries trying whenever possible not to overburden a single library. Agreements of this type are made at the local, state, regional,  national and international level. Because of the cooperative nature of this enterprise, all agreements must be mutually followed to ensure the future availability of resources.

OSU-Tulsa makes its requests in  a geographic pattern: We will try OSU Stillwater and OSU branch libraries first. After that we request from Oklahoma academic and public libraries if available. We belong to a consortia group called AMIGOS that includes academic and public libraries in the surrounding 5 state area. If the material isn't available from there we search a broader area through our agreement with WorldShare Interlibrary Loan, MALA (Mid-America Library Alliance), BCRC (an association of Rocky Mountain research libraries) and LVIS (a large consortium of libraries mostly in the Midwest). From there we can search the rest of the country and the rest of the world for the item if needed. Keep in mind the further away we get the item from your home library, the more likely the university will incur a charge for the item and delivery will take extra time. Although the university absorbs the cost it is prudent business practice to try and obtain the item closer to Tulsa if possible.

There are costs associated to the entire life cycle of borrowing an item from another library that are covered by our library. Some libraries charge for their loans or copies. The library pays copyright royalties on some journal articles that we borrow. There are fees for courier services, postage and shipping materials. There are annual dues for associations and consortia. There is also the cost of using the international computer network that makes Interlibrary Loan all possible.  The library does not charge users for this service, except when a book is lost or overdue.