Frequently asked questions about the Interlibrary Loan (ILLO) Service

Service alert: Holiday Suspension of Interlibrary Loan (ILLO) Service

Please note that Oakville Public Library’s Interlibrary Loan (ILLO) service will be temporarily suspended from December 23, 2024, to January 1, 2025, as libraries across Ontario pause their services for the holiday season.

Customers can still place ILLO requests during this period; however, these will only be processed when service resumes on January 2, 2025, subject to the availability of Canada Post delivery services.

We thank you for your understanding and wish you a wonderful holiday season!
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Please note that materials from other libraries are supplied at the discretion of the lending library and are subject to their collection policies. The lending library may impose borrowing restrictions at any time, on any item in their collection, based on their local policies.

Additionally, the bibliographic information in library catalogues is for reference purposes only and may not reflect availability or match the specific edition requested.

For further assistance, please reach out to our staff at oplreference@oakville.ca.

What materials cannot be borrowed through the ILLO service?

  • Newly published/acquired materials

  • Current bestsellers

  • Reference materials (directories, encyclopedias, etc.)

  • Audio-visual formats such as Music CDs, Games, restricted audiobooks or certain DVD collections, new materials (published in the last 2 years) etc.

  • Electronic and online resources 

  • Materials that are part of streaming service offerings

  • Materials that have copyright restrictions

  • Textbooks, articles and other course materials which are part of school/college/university library collections

  • Genealogical or local history books

  • Technical information books

  • Any titles that are deemed as non-circulating material by the owning library

I made an ILLO request, how can I view the status of my loan or cancel my request?

  1. Sign in to your account on the D2D ILLO platform.
  2. Enter your OPL library card number (barcode) and password.
  3. Select “My Account.”
  4. Find your chosen item to view the status of your request.

Only requests with the status “Submitted” can be cancelled. If you are unable to cancel a request or no longer require an item, please inform library staff at your library, or email them at oplreference@oakville.ca with the request details.

Can I renew my ILLO request?

No. ILLO materials are borrowed from other library collections, which establish their own lending policies and limits. Therefore, we are not able to renew ILLO requests.

Can I suspend my ILLO requests?

ILLO requests cannot be managed like hold requests made for Oakville Public Library material. Please contact library staff or email them at oplreference@oakville.ca if you are unable to pick up a requested ILLO item for any length of time. A new request will need to be submitted if the user still wishes to borrow the item.

How long will it take for my ILLO request to arrive?

The average time for an ILLO request to be filled ranges between 3-6 weeks, with some exceptions.

How many materials can I request through the interlibrary loan service?  

Each customer is entitled to a maximum limit of 15 active requests. An active request includes anything you have requested from another library that is in progress, or that you have received. Items that you have returned and ​that have been received back by the lending library, and requests that ​you have cancelled are not counted as active.

Additional requests will not be processed until borrowed ILLO materials are returned and received by the lending library.

What is the loan period for ILLO materials?

The loan period varies depending on the item and any restrictions set by the lending library. Please check the assigned due date for your borrowed materials.

What lost or damaged fees will apply to ILLO materials?

Oakville Public Library informs the lending library of any borrowed ILLO materials that are lost or damaged. A non-refundable lost fee, assessed by the lending library, will be applied to the user’s account.

Can I borrow microfilm from the Archives of Ontario through Interlibrary Loans?

Customers can borrow microfilm from the Archives of Ontario through interlibrary loan system conditional to the following:

  • The customer agrees to assume responsibility for compliance with the Copyright Act. Reproduction of the loaned item(s) by client(s) by any means, including, but not restricted to, photocopying, digitization, or photography is prohibited.

  • The customer may only use/view the material at Oakville Public Library's Central Branch. The borrowed item(s) must be held in custody and returned in the same condition in which they were received by the institution.

  • The customer will be held financially responsible should damage or loss occur, resulting from negligence (or gross negligence) of the customer(s).

  • The duration of the loan is fifteen (15) business days with no option to renew.

INTERLIBRARY LOANS