BSU Library’s Interlibrary Loan service obtains materials from other libraries for use by currently affiliated BSU students, faculty, and staff.

CONTENTS

 

Accessing Your Account

Your interlibrary loan materials and requests can be managed through the Renew/Review My Checkouts service. This service provides information on the status of your request(s) and allows you to request a renewal from the lending library of your interlibrary loan material. See below for more details on renewing your interlibrary loan material.

Submitting Requests

  • In the Library’s online databases

    When viewing a citation in any of the Library’s online databases, click on BSU LINKS TO FULL TEXT to check for full text availability. If not available in other databases or the BSU Library Catalog, you can request the material through interlibrary loan. To submit a request, sign into the catalog using your StarID and password and click “Resource Sharing” under “How to get it”. The citation will be transferred to an interlibrary loan form; after verifying the citation information click “Send Request”. On the following page agree to the copyright compliance terms to send the request to the BSU Interlibrary Loan office.

  • In the combined catalog of the MnPALS libraries

    When searching the consortial-wide combined catalog of all the MnPALS libraries, you can submit an interlibrary loan request. To submit a request, sign into the catalog using your StarID and password and click “Resource Sharing” under “How to get it”. The citation will be transferred to an interlibrary loan form; after verifying the citation information click “Send Request”. On the following page agree to the copyright compliance terms to send the request to the BSU Interlibrary Loan office.

  • In MnLink

    When viewing a citation in MnLink, use the Request Item button to order any materials not owned by Bemidji State University. You will be prompted to log in with your BSU ID barcode. Note: Leave the Pin/Password blank. The “Pickup Location” can be left as the default value of “1. My Library.” Once logged in, your request information will display. Choose “Managed By MnPALS” under “Pickup Location,” review your request information, and click on “Request.” Requests made in MnLink are managed through your “Library Card.”

  • Blank Request Form

    A blank form is available for requesting items found in a source (e. g. bibliography, database, website) other than the BSU Library Catalog or the Library’s online databases:  ILL Blank Form.

 

Loan Periods / Renewals / Overdues / Fines

Digital copies received are yours to keep. For returnable materials (books, videos, etc.), the loan period  is set by the lending library and can vary from 4 weeks up to 3 months.

Materials are due on or before the dates listed on the bookmark attached to your item. A maximum of one renewal only per item may be requested, if done so before the item is overdue. To request a renewal,  sign in to “Renew/Review My Checkouts” on the top right of the page. Under “Loans” click “Renew” next to each item you would like to renew. Renewals are not automatic, so check back in a few days on the status of your request to see if you have been given a new due date.

When your item is one week overdue, you will be blocked from any future BSU Library transactions until your item is returned. An $80.00 charge per item will automatically be added to your account when your item reaches fifteen days overdue. This fee may be refundable when the item is returned. All charges are billed against your BSU account, and payment is made in the Cashiers Office in Deputy Hall. Please return your interlibrary loan materials on time, or request a renewal before the item is due, to avoid unnecessary charges.

If the library will be closed, either for semester break or between sessions, when your materials are due,  either request a renewal for your materials before their due date (see directions above) or return them by the date specified. The outside book return on the south wall of the library near the entrance doors is available for 24/7 return.

 

Status of Request / Notification / Pickup / Delivery

Check the status of your requests online anytime by logging in to your “Library Card” and selecting “My Requests.” Articles provided electronically are usually delivered within 1 to 2 days. Books and other returnable materials usually arrive within 2 to 7 working days. Materials not widely available can take up to 2 to 3 weeks to arrive, so please plan ahead when ordering.

E-mail notices are sent when books or loaned materials arrive. Pick up your materials at the BSU Library Circulation Desk during any hours the library is open. (Your valid BSU user identification card is required to check out these materials.)

If you have requested electronic delivery of your articles, you will receive an e-mail which includes directions for retrieving your article online. Any paper photocopies can be picked up at the Library Circulation Desk.

 

Cost

Cost for Requesting:  There is no cost for undergraduate and graduate students. Faculty and staff must agree to charges set by the lending library (ranging between $5.00 and $45.00 per request) before any requests are referred beyond the MINITEX/MnPALS service. All payments are made in the Interlibrary Loan Office by personal or cashier’s check.

Cost per overdue/lost materials:  When your item is one week overdue, you will be blocked from any future BSU Library transactions until your item is returned. An $80.00 charge for each item will automatically be added to your account when your item reaches fifteen days overdue. This may be refundable when the item is returned. All charges are billed against your BSU account, and payment is made in the Cashiers Office in Deputy Hall.

 

Materials that Cannot be Ordered

Materials Available in BSU Library collections: items owned which are currently available (not checked out by another patron), on course reserve, or in the Reference Collection.

High-demand materials:  new releases, best sellers, and books on which movies or television shows are based. Also, feature films in Blu Ray or DVD format, as well as music CDs released within the past year may be requested but are often more difficult for the Interlibrary Loan office to get.

 

Special Service: The Bemidji Pioneer

As a special service to individuals, the staff of the BSU Interlibrary Loan Office fulfill requests for copies from The Bemidji Pioneer. The full-text of the Bemidji Daily Pioneer (1904-1922) is searchable and browseable via Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers, a website hosted by the Library of Congress. The Bemidji Pioneer (1896-1903 inclusive) and the Daily Pioneer (1903-1904 inclusive) are also available through the Chronicling America website.  All other dates are owned in microfilm format by Bemidji State University and are available for this special service.  BSU Interlibrary Loan staff do not provide extensive research, but will search in up to ten issues for an item when given a particular or approximate date of publication. After a request is placed, it may take up to one week for it to be filled. Individuals may contact the BSU Interlibrary Loan staff directly at interlibraryloan@bemidjistate.edu or 218-755-2968 to request this service.

 

Need Help

The librarians at the Reference Desk can provide assistance in placing an interlibrary loan request, checking the status of a request, and requesting a renewal. If you would like to speak with Interlibrary Loan staff in person, please ask at the Reference Desk.