Your library extends beyond these walls.

Can't find a book? Need an article from a periodical we don't have?

Try our Interlibrary Loan Service.

Just because a book is not in our library's collection &/or it is out-of-print, does not mean it is unavailable for your reading pleasure.

Our library offers a service called "Interlibrary Loan" or ILL. Books can be acquired on loan from thousands of libraries in the southeastern United States, both public & university or college libraries.

Obscure subjects,  Magazine articles,  Old books, Technical manuals,  Out-of-print books, Special interest handbooks and Books missing from our collection are some examples of items that can be ordered via this service.

Books of all types, fiction and non-fiction, adult, young adult or children's books can all be borrowed through the Interlibrary Loan Service.

Photocopies of articles from magazines, newspapers, or microfiche can be ordered provided that a copy of it is owned by a participating library. An exact citation, complete with author, title, periodical name and page number for the article or microfiche in question is needed to order photocopies.

New Books Usually Cannot Be Ordered
Please note that new books are generally not available through ILL due to the fact that most libraries will NOT loan materials newer than six months to a year. If you want a new book that we do not own, please place a "Request Purchase" with us.

Items That Cannot Be Borrowed Via ILL
Items that the library already owns, audiobooks, videos, CDs, DVDs, complete issues of periodicals, and microfilm/microfiche cannot be ordered via this service. No audio/visual materials may be ordered via this service. Most libraries do not loan items of this type. If you would like to view audiovisual material that the library does not currently own, please fill out a "Purchase Request" card. These cards are available at the Reference and Circulation desks.

Exceptions To The Above
Genealogical microfilm/microfiche can sometimes be ordered. Please check with the Genealogy department staff in the Carolina Room upstairs in the Reference section to see if these may be ordered.

Audiovisual materials can sometimes be ordered from the State Library Of North Carolina. These materials are generally for the visually impaired or are educational in nature. Check with the ILL staff upstairs in Reference to see if any desired materials may be ordered from the State Library.

Eligible Borrowers
Anyone who has a Hickory Public Library card or a Catawba County Library card registered in the library's system may use the Interlibrary Loan Service as long as they have no lost or overdue materials or unpaid fines or fees on their record.

Interlibrary loan services are available without charge to patrons in most cases. Some libraries do charge for photocopies of articles.

Any cost above normal postage is the responsibility of the requesting patron. If there are extra fees, such as insurance fees, copy fees, or loan fees, the ILL librarian will contact the requesting patron before allowing the material to be shipped to our library (if at all possible).

There is a $3.00 fee charged if a patron requests an item and then does not pick it up when it comes in and did not cancel the order by phone or in person before it arrived at our library.

Delivery Times

Please remember that Interlibrary Loan is not a rush service. All requests are handled as quickly as possible, but patrons should allow at least seven working days (Monday-Friday), preferably longer, for receiving books or photocopies through this service. Interlibrary loan can take up to a month or longer in some cases. The average waiting time for an item ordered via this service is 10-14 days.

Item Loan Periods

Loan periods for Interlibrary Loan materials vary. The lending library determines the date the item is due back at the lender's library. The item is due back at our library three to four days before this due date to ensure it arrives on time at the lending library. The borrowing patron should always return the books by the due date on the ILL slip on the book, not by the due date on their check-out receipt. To avoid confusion, the ILL slip on the item should be returned with the item.

Renewals

Renewals can only be granted by the lending library. If you wish to renew an item, please make the request to us by phone or in person at least five days before the due date.

Fines, Etc

Overdue fines for Interlibrary Loan items are .50 per day with a $7.00 limit. Lost or damaged books must be paid for by the borrowing patron. The lending library determines the amount to be charged.

To order photocopies or books through ILL, simply pick up a form at the Reference Desk on the 2nd floor at Patrick Beaver Memorial, call the Reference Desk at 304-0500 ext. 231, or fill out and print the form here. (This form requires Adobe Acrobat [available here], and can be completed on-line. However, you will not be able to save the completed form - you must print it when completed.) Then return the form to the Reference Desk at Patrick Beaver Memorial Library. ILL items must be returned to the Reference Desk. If you return ILL items in a library drop box or at other library service desks, you are still responsible for the item(s). Any overdue fines, lost book fines, or any other resultant charges are the responsibility of the patron if the ILL item is not returned to the Reference Desk as required.

ILL policies and procedures are in place to protect materials provided by other libraries for use by Hickory Public Library patrons. Library staff reserve the right to suspend ILL borrowing privileges to patrons who violate these guidelines

One request per Interlibrary Loan form please!