Summary

This policy describes the scope and limitations of Interlibrary loan and document delivery services, as well as relevant copyright implications.

Definitions

1. Resource sharing: A broad terminology referring to various library services dedicated to sharing library resources among participating libraries and providing access to resources as requested by patrons.
2. Interlibrary loan: A reciprocal service that provides UNT library patrons access to library resources not owned by UNT Libraries and loans materials owned by UNT Libraries to other libraries.
3. Document Delivery: A service that provides UNT library patrons access to materials owned by UNT Libraries.
4. Distance learning services: A library service in which print books are shipped to eligible students. More information about distance learning services and eligibility is available on the distance learning service page.
5. ILLiad: A resource sharing request management system utilized by the UNT Libraries
6. Library patron: An individual who is eligible to use the UNT Libraries
7. Lending library: A library which lent or supplied library materials to the UNT Libraries for patron use.

Purpose

The purpose of resource sharing is providing access to information resources requested by library patrons. As defined by the Interlibrary Loan Code for the United States, the purpose of interlibrary loan is to obtain, upon request of a library patron, materials not available in their local library.

Guiding Principles

The Resource Sharing and Access Unit of UNT Libraries adheres to:

1. American Library Association (ALA) Interlibrary Loan Code for the United States.
2. Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) Texas Statewide Interlibrary Loan Procedures.
3. TexShare Interlibrary Loan Protocol.
4. Amigos Resource Sharing Agreement.
5. Section 108(g) (2) of the United States Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S. Code).
6. Guidelines for the Proviso of Subsection 108(g) (2) prepared by the National Commission on New Technological Uses of Copyrighted Works (the CONTU Guidelines).
7. OCLC Resource Sharing Technology, Protocol and Participating Institutions.

Eligibility

Current UNT faculty/staff, retired UNT faculty, and currently enrolled graduate and undergraduate students are eligible to use resource sharing services. Library patrons not affiliated with UNT and UNT alumni that do not also hold one of the additional statuses listed above are not eligible for using resource sharing services. Patrons with library blocks are not eligible for using resource sharing services until the block has been removed.

General Resource Sharing Guidelines

1. Interlibrary loan, document delivery, and distance learning requests must be submitted through the ILLiad Interlibrary Loan System. Submitting an ILL request does not guarantee procurement of the material. The Resource Sharing team makes every effort to fulfill requests within available borrowing options.
2. Resource Sharing requests for journal articles and book chapters are fulfilled electronically following copyright law guidelines and restrictions.
3. The library patron who is the ILLiad account holder is responsible for the item. Borrowed items are non-transferable to other individuals.
4. Borrowed items must be used in adherence to the lending library stipulations or restrictions.
5. Physical items must be returned to the library in the same condition that they were borrowed on or before the established due date.
6. The library patron is responsible for damage/repair or replacement fees as determined by lending library.
7. Electronically delivered materials are available for 30 days from the fulfillment date and will be automatically removed after that.

Use Restrictions

1. The lending institution decides whether or not to provide a particular item, the conditions of use, the due date, and if an item can be renewed. Items may be restricted to library use only, prohibition of photocopying, non-renewability, etc.
2. Physical materials are subject to recall by the lending library.
3. Required textbooks, sound recordings, and audiovisuals are not borrowed through Interlibrary Loan. Audiovisual materials are borrowed for faculty only.

Misuse

Library patrons are responsible for the replacement fee or billed charges as determined by the lending library for damaged or unreturned interlibrary loan items. Patrons who owe interlibrary loan fees or charges are blocked with the university, which prevents them from receiving an official transcript.

Abuse of resource sharing service which may include repeated instances of non-returned items, damaged items, lack of adherence to lending stipulations, accumulated and/or unpaid ILL fees will lead to suspension of Interlibrary Loan privileges.

Copying And Copyright Implications

Section 108(d) of the Copyright Law authorizes the making of a single copy of a single article or a copy of a small part of a copyrighted work for purposes of interlibrary loan provided the following conditions are met:

1. The copy becomes the property of the user,
2. The library has no notice that the copy would be used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship or research,

3. The library both displays prominently at the place where copying requests are accepted and on its order form the following warning of copyright:

   NOTICE: WARNING CONCERNING COPYRIGHT RESTRICTIONS

   The Copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies and other reproductions of copyrighted material.

   Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specified conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be “used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.” If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of “fair use”, that user may be liable for copyright infringement.

   This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.

Section 108(g)(2) further provides that requests must not be in such aggregate quantities as to substitute for purchase or subscriptions.

Dates

• Approved: 06/19/12
• Revised: 01/12/17, 6/6/24
• Reviewed: 07/08/24

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