Interlibrary Loan Policy

Interlibrary Loan Mission Statement

The Interlibrary Loan department exists to supplement the Miller Library collection by providing materials patrons need from other libraries in a timely manner and to reciprocate by lending material to other libraries.

Authorized Users of Interlibrary Loan

Interlibrary Loan is offered to faculty, staff & students of Cornerstone University. Materials borrowed through interlibrary loan by patrons who do not regularly come to Grand Rapids campus will be mailed to them (see the Distance Education Policy). ILL privileges may be suspended for those who misuse them. Methods of Interlibrary Loan Offered by Cornerstone University

  • Miller Library participates in MeLCat, a union catalog of libraries in Michigan that cooperate to share materials within the state. Patrons should try to use MelCat first since the process is faster and less expensive than the traditional interlibrary loan service. MelCat is also the only choice for patrons who wish to borrow material of an entertainment versus educational nature or items that are checked out from Miller Library.
  • For material not available through MeLCat, traditional interlibrary loan through ILLiad will be used to process and record requests. Patrons are asked to register for an account and to abide by the lending library's regulations. Material That Can Be Borrowed Through Interlibrary Loan Miller Library participates in free reciprocal interlibrary loan. This service is free to the Cornerstone University community as long as the other library does not charge. Any request sent to another library is subject to the policies and decisions of the lending library.
Material that may be requested:
  • Items not owned by Miller Library
  • Items owned by Miller Library, but missing from the collection
  • Photocopies of missing pages
  • Photocopies of periodical articles
Materials that will not be requested include:
  • Materials for class reserve or group use
  • Textbooks
Most libraries will not ordinarily lend the following types of materials:
  • Rare or valuable materials including manuscripts
  • Bulky or fragile items that are difficult or expensive to mail
  • Material that is in high demand at the lending library
  • Material with local circulation restrictions
  • Unique material that would be difficult or impossible to replace
Responsibilities of the Borrower
  • An Interlibrary loan borrowing request must be submitted online through ILLiad or MelCat with reasonable effort made to provide complete bibliographical information
  • If a charge is listed by the other library, the patron will be notified and given the option to pay this charge and receive the material or to cancel the request. If the request is submitted, then payment is expected upon receipt of material.
  • Patrons are responsible for the safety of the borrowed material after it has been received. If material is lost or damaged while it is in the care of the patron, all costs of replacement or repair in accordance with the instructions of the lending library are the responsibility of the patron.
  • If a patron needs the material longer than the assigned due date, then a renewal must be requested through either ILLiad or MelCat.
  • Generally, a limit of five items per week can be requested through ILLiad. If a patron requests more than that, five per week will be chosen at random until all have been filled.
  • Miller Library staff will only request the same item for the same patron through ILLiad up to three times.
Responsibilities of Miller Library
  • Miller Library will provide excellent customer service to its patrons and other libraries by maintaining an organized borrowing and lending system.
  • Miller Library assumes responsibility for borrowed material during the time it is in transport.
  • Statistics will be kept according to internal and copyright requirements.