Frequently asked questions about the Interlibrary Loan (ILLO) Service

Please note that while we aim to borrow materials from other library systems, we are subject to borrowing materials at the discretion of their local collections policy. 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, certain audiobooks, certain DVD collections, Newer titles etc.

  • Electronic and online resources 

  • Materials that have other copyright restrictions

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

  • Genealogical or local history books

  • Technical information books

  • Course materials 

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

What is the loan period for ILLO materials?

The loan period varies based on the item, and on any restrictions of loan period, imposed by lending source. Please check the assigned due date for your borrowed materials.

All ILLO items which are not returned after 7 days past the assigned due date will be set to lost automatically. A non-refundable lost fee will be applied to the user’s account (as assessed by the lending library). Once applied, these fees/charges are permanent and cannot be reversed.

I made my request through branch staff or on the OPL website, how can I view the status of my loan or cancel my request?

  1. Contact your local branch.

  2. Provide staff with your Interlibrary Loan Number and title, along with your name and library card number.

Rest assured our staff are working on your loan. You will be updated once your item is ready to be picked up.

I made my request through the Information Network for Ontario, how can I view the status of my loan or cancel my request?

  1. Sign in to your account on the Information Network for Ontario

  2. Select “My Requests” under your account

  3. Find your chosen item to view the status or cancel

You can view the status of your requests at any time by selecting “My Requests” under your account on the Information Network for Ontario website.

Can I renew my interlibrary loan request?

ILLO materials are borrowed from other library collections, which establish their own lending policies and limits. Consequently, we are not able to renew interlibrary loan requests.

How long will it take for my interlibrary loan request to arrive?

The average time for an interlibrary loan request to be filled ranges between 2-4 weeks with some exceptions.

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

Each customer is entitled to order five interlibrary loans per week, with a maximum limit of 15 pending requests.

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 the Archives of Ontario's Central Library location. 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