Interlibrary Loan

If there is a book you need, please don't hesitate to ask library circulation staff.  If neither library has the book in the collection, we can request it from another library through interlibrary loan (ILL).  ILL is for employees and students only. There may be fees (postage) and it could take several weeks for the lending library to send the items to us.

  • Limit of two interlibrary books at a time per patron.
  • ILLs cannot be renewed.
  • The overdue fine for ILL books is $1.00 per day per book.
  • ILLs are not guaranteed; an owning library has the right to refuse a request.
  • When an owning library fills a request, the time it takes for us to receive the book through the mail and the loan period (i.e. due date) can vary widely depending on a particular library's location and policies.

Most of the requests we receive are filled; they usually arrive within a few weeks of the date the request is placed (often much sooner); and the loan periods tend to be reasonable and allow time for the book to be mailed back and forth.

Requests may be placed through either Calhoun Library—Decatur or Huntsville. Simply fill out an Interlibrary Loan Request Form and bring it (or email it in an attachment to circ@calhoun.edu) to the circulation department at the library.

We don't require that every blank be filled, but please provide as much information about the desired book as possible in order to ensure we request the exact title you need.

If there are any questions, please contact the circulation staff at 256-306-2774 (Decatur campus) or 256-890-4774 (Huntsville campus).

Last Updated:  February 28, 2024