ILL Lending Your Items (ILL Holds)
(Also called IFLS-Placed Interlibrary Loan Holds)
IFLS Interlibrary Loan Staff refer ILL lending requests to MORE libraries for non-MORE (in system and out of system) libraries by placing holds directly in Sierra. For these IFLS placed holds, Please check out these items directly to the ILL library patron and ship directly to the ILL patron.
- NEW! ILL Lending Training Tutorial: Available to all library staff via Niche Academy: https://my.nicheacademy.com/iflslib-staff/course/69803
- To access and enroll in the full module, simply log into your Niche Academy account, or sign up for a free account before logging in. You will be prompted to log in/create an account before obtaining full access to this module.
- After viewing this 9-minute training module, including a video and short quiz, you will learn:
- An overview of the IFLS ILL lending workflow
- How to correctly review and process ILL paging slips to ensure your library’s items are properly prepared before sending them out
Recognizing IFLS-Placed ILL Holds
Paging Slips
- Please refer to this EXAMPLE of a typical ILL paging slip and exceptions to watch for
- “IFLS Library System” listed as the home library (address in the upper left corner)
- A non-MORE library listed in the patron field
- “CHECKOUT TO ILL – staff use only” listed as the pickup location
- Check the NOTE field for information specific to the request including mailing or due date instructions
NOTE: Any Check In that brings up “Checkout to ILL” as the pickup location is an IFLS placed ILL hold.
Filling IFLS-Placed ILL Holds
From a paging slip
- In Sierra, go to Check Out (Circulation Desk)
- Search for and open the ILL library patron record listed on the paging slip (“ILL” will be last name for these patrons)
- Check out the material to the ILL library patron. Make sure the barcode on the item matches the barcode listed on the paging slip.
- Do not place the item in transit
- Please refer to the Guidelines for Sending ILL Items via Courier. Ship directly to the borrowing library with the appropriate shipping label or flag (“PLEASE MAIL” will be in NOTE field with request number if the library is not on Wisconsin courier routes.)
ILL items should not be routinely placed in transit, but if a check-in happens to place items in transit to “Checkout to ILL”
- Go to Search Holds
- Pull up item by title or barcode
- Note the borrowing library’s patron info found in the hold note
- Go to Circ Desk
- Pull up the ILL library patron record
- Check out the item to the ILL borrowing library patron
- Ship directly to the borrowing library
In either scenario, the borrowing library needs to have the following information included with the outgoing item – Due Date; their patron information found in the hold note; and where to return the book. All of this information can be noted on the paging slip which should be sent out with the material.
NOTE: Staff can ignore the phrase “staff use only” part of the Checkout to ILL location – this phrase is included because this pickup location appears in the Web OPAC pickup list and patrons should not use it.
NOTE: Any holds that have IFLS as the pickup location can be routed to the system office with IFLS transit slip. These requests are usually for materials wanted by the IFLS staff.
Unable to fill an IFLS-Placed Hold?
If you cannot fill a hold placed by IFLS, please contact the IFLS ILL office via email or phone. You don’t have to worry about transferring or cancelling an IFLS placed ILL hold. Please respond within 24 hours of printing the item paging slip.
If you have any concerns or questions or problems with any of these procedures, please call the IFLS Interloan office at 715-839-5082 or tollfree 800-321-5427.
MORE ILL Patron Records
IFLS ILL staff maintains the MORE interlibrary loan patron records. All of these records should begin with ILL, as the last name of the patron with the city name of the public library or school name as the first name. The Address2 field was used to include the courier system if the library is on the Wisconsin statewide courier routes; that info has also been added as a Note field.
If you have any problems or questions about these ILL patron records, please contact Katie Shay, IFLS ILL Consultant, or Cecelia Cole, IFLS Resource Sharing and Collection Consultant.