Home > ACADEMICS > Resources > Mabee Library > Services and Policies

InterLibrary Loan Policy

library interior

Library Home > Services and Policies

The Sterling College Mabee Library participates in interlibrary loan as both a lender and a borrower. Sterling College Library users may request books, selected audio-visual materials, and photocopied periodical articles from other libraries. Our library also loans items to patrons at participating libraries.

Kansas Interlibrary loan
The Kansas Library Catalog is an online catalog containing the books, magazines, videos, audiocassettes, microforms in hundreds of public, school and academic libraries across Kansas. Most of these items can be borrowed by any library through interlibrary loan. KICNET (Kansas Information Circuit) is the medium used for Kansas interlibrary loan.

Worldwide Interlibrary loan
The Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) WorldCat system is a global electronic interlibrary loan service. OCLC is the world’s largest bibliographic network. The OCLC master catalog contains over 60 million items held in more than 18,000 libraries worldwide.

While many requests are filled promptly, the Library suggests that the user allow at least 2 weeks turnaround time for ILL transactions. Timely access to requested materials is not guaranteed. Sterling College staff cannot control the activity or lending efficiency of any lending institution.

FAQs about interlibrary loan services:

  • Interlibrary loan requests are processed by Library staff after receiving the appropriate electronic form from the user.
  • Costs to process and ship the interlibrary loan transaction are covered by the Library.
  • The circulation period varies with each interlibrary loan item as it is set by the lending library, not the Sterling College Library.
  • User may request an item be renewed but that renewal must be approved by the lending library.
  • Overdue interlibrary loan items incur a fine of $1.00/day for each.
  • Failure to return materials and/or pay outstanding fines will result in a hold being placed on the user’s account.
  • The user is liable for replacement costs of lost items plus a $25.00 handling fee.
  • Many interlibrary loan journal articles come to the Sterling College Library via an electronic delivery system (email, etc.) and can be emailed to the user.


Please contact Susan Patterson (620.278.4209) or (spatterson@sterling.edu) for additional information concerning Interlibrary Loan services.

Mabee Library Sterling College
125 W. Cooper Sterling, KS 67579
620.278.4234
620.278.4414 FAX
library@sterling.edu