Interlibrary Loan

Request for a loan of material from a UCLS library.

    An Internet-linked catalog system allows patrons to search not only the materials collection of the Herr Memorial Library but also the collections of the other two libraries in the Union County Library System -- the West End Library in Laurelton and the Public Library for Union County in Lewisburg.  

    Patrons may request materials from the other two Union County libraries simply by completing the electronic “Request for loan from a UCLS library” at the bottom of this page or by completing a form at the library.  If available, the materials will be sent to the Herr Memorial Library for patrons to check out there.

    Additionally, the Interlibrary Loan Service, which is free for all Union County Library System cardholders, provides patrons with materials not found in the collections of the Herr Memorial Library or the other two Union County libraries.   (The service is not available for Temporary cardholders or College Student cardholders.)

    Requests for books not available in Union County are placed electronically by library staff members through the Access Pennsylvania Database, a union catalog that includes the holdings of over 2,000 Pennsylvania school, public, academic and special libraries.  This database contains approximately 11.7 million titles and over 50 million items.

        The Access Pennsylvania Database www.accesspa.state.pa.us, is searchable by anyone with a web browser and an internet connection.  Most material found in the Access Pennsylvania Database may be requested, with the exceptions of reference material or material from special collections, material published within the last 12 months, and other media such as videotapes, DVDs, compact discs, audiocassettes and computer software.

    There is a limit of 5 requests that may be outstanding for any patron.

    It can take from 2 to 4 weeks for interlibrary loan material to arrive at the Herr Memorial Library.  The rules of the lending library must be followed if special restrictions apply to the loan period, but in general the loan period of interlibrary loan material is 2 weeks, renewable for an additional 2 weeks.

    Requests for material not found in either the Access Pennsylvania Database or the library’s catalog will be forwarded to The James V. Brown Library in Williamsport for searching on additional databases. This will extend the wait period to 4 – 8 weeks.

    Requests for these materials may be made online through the form below or by contacting the Interlibrary Loan Department by telephone at 966-0831.