Interlibrary Loan
Media from all over the country
An Interlibrary Loan (ILL) is a resource-sharing service that allows libraries across the United States to borrow and lend materials not available through the Amarillo Public Library. Patrons can access unique resources like out-of-print books, specialized materials, or journal articles.
Loaned items can be a physical item, a copied item, or a digital scan that can be emailed. Items that are very rare or fragile, along with microfilm/microfiche, will need to remain at the library location and may require staff supervision to view. Additionally, copyright laws apply to ILL copy requests, and a request may be canceled if it is deemed out of compliance with copyright law.
Patrons are eligible to make a request if they are an Amarillo Public Library cardholder in good standing or a Harrington Library Consortium cardholder with APL as their home library.
How it works
Using this service is simple, but our team is always here to help guide you through the process.
- Submit a request online or by speaking to a Reference team member
- We'll process your request, find a lending library, and confirm availability
- Once it arrives, you can pick up or view the item at your specified location
- Return the borrowed item by the due date to avoid overdue fees
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to pay to make a request?
Yes, a $3 fee applies for each ILL item you request to cover postage. The fee is billed once the item arrives as it helps cover the cost of mailing. This fee does not apply to items that are delivered electronically.
Can I pay for my request with a credit card?
Due to extra surcharges, we only allow payment with a debit/credit card if their total is over $5.
What items can I make a request for?
Patrons can request various materials, but there’s no guarantee another library will agree to lend them. Some formats are harder to get than others, especially those that are vintage, brand new, or in high demand. Here is a list of items you can make a request for:
- Books: Hardback, Paperback, Textbooks, Plays, Poetry, Foreign Languages, and Braille
- Audiobooks: CDs, MP3 Discs, and Cassettes
- Music: CDs, Cassettes, LPs/Records/Vinyl, Musical Scores
- Video: DVD, Blu-ray, VHS
- Requests for DVDs are processed as Region 1 (North America) by default, but if it’s available and the patron agrees, APL will also request DVDs in other region codes.
- Specialized: Microfilm/Microfiche, Genealogy Records, Theses, Manuscripts, Maps, Newspapers/ Periodicals.
- Specialized items are unlikely to be sent out as loans and are generally processed as copy requests.
Here is a list of items that are unavailable for requests:
- Toys & Games: Board Games, Computer Games or Console Games, Puppets, or other toys
- Technology: Computers, Tablets, Playaways, Hotspots, Game Systems, etc.
- Art & Music: Paintings, Prints, Sculptures, Instruments
- E-resources: E-books, E-audiobooks, E-text, E-serials
- Library of Things: Kits created by the owning library intended for their patrons to use for a specific activity, such as baking, gardening, automotive repair, exercise, etc.
- Other: Globes, Reel-to-Reel, Tools, Seeds
How many requests can I make?
There is a limit of 15 Interlibrary Loan requests at a time.
Can I cancel a request?
Requests can be canceled before the item is shipped from the lending library. Once shipped, the $3.00 fee applies, even if the item is refused.
How long does it take to receive an item?
The average wait time is two weeks, though it may vary depending on the lending library and shipping method.
Amarillo Public Library has no control over request fulfillment, delivery time, or due dates.
Why was I told that my item can't leave the building?
Very rare or fragile items are often lent with the condition that patrons may view them only under staff supervision. These items are processed as In Library Use Only and are kept at a designated staff desk for the duration of its loan period.
Requests on microfilm/microfiche are also processed as In Library Use Only, as they are often one-of-a-kind copies and require special equipment to read. Normally, these types of requests require the borrowing library to agree to the conditions before the item is sent, giving staff the opportunity to consult the patron first.
The $3 loan fee still applies to these items to cover postage. These items can be viewed as many times as they wish until the item’s due date.
Can I renew ILL items?
Renewals depend on the lending library’s policies. Patrons should request renewals 2–3 days before the due date by contacting library staff.
Are there overdue fees with ILL items?
Yes, overdue Interlibrary Loan items incur a fine of 50¢ per day, up to a maximum of $5. There is a one-day grace period before fees accrue.
What happens if an item is lost or damaged?
Patrons are responsible for lost or damaged items while in their care. Costs are determined by the lending library.