Interlibrary Loan: Training and Documentation

ILL Code for the United States [ALA/RUSA] -Updated June 2023

Interlibrary Loan

• Mediated ILL via MLS
• Document Delivery via BPL
• Worldcat

State-wide eContent via MLS & MBLC

• Commonwealth eBook Collections
• Statewide Databases

Library for the Commonwealth (BPL)

• BPL online resources
• BPL eCard registration
• ILLiad Document Delivery

Delivery Services

• MA state-wide delivery via MLS
• Interstate Delivery with RI

Related Services and Partners

• Massachusetts Libraries
• Commonwealth Catalog
• Automated Networks in MA

Announcement Lists

Subscribe to our MLS-ILL list for important announcements and messages about mediated interlibrary loan services. The archive of previous announcements are available to view in case you've missed them at http://mblc.state.ma.us/sympa/lists/regional.

Libraries in the the former Central, Southeastern, and Western Regions (formerly served by Thomas Crane/Quincy) can subscribe here. 

Libraries in the former Boston, Metrowest, Northeast Regions (formerly served by Wellesley Free Library) can subscribe here.

Laura Bogart and the rest of the Resource Sharing Team staff host Interlibrary Loan Community Chats whenever a new topic of interest comes up. Each one is recorded, and you can find the recordings below. To join future Community Chats, please register at the ILL/Delivery section of our calendar. To find other exciting events hosted by MLS, go to https://calendar.masslibsystem.org/. To find recordings of webinars, please continue scrolling down.

• What would you like to learn about next? Email ill@masslibsystem.libanswers.com !
• Upcoming events:
  • Wednesday, Nov 8, 2023 01:00 PM: Finding details to submit an ILL request
• 2023 recordings:
  • Incentivizing patrons to respond to ILL overdue notices including PDF of our brainstorming results
  • Who to ask: ILL or Delivery?
  • First kick-off ILL Q&A session of 2023!
• 2022 recordings:
  • Let's discuss the USA ILL Code
  • Finding AV encoding on OCLC
  • Tracking numbers, homebound patron, and renewing *Please note: USPS has discontinued the free tracking label stickers since this recording was made.
  • MLS ILL: behind the scenes! Searching in Clio.
  • (outdated) tracking label stickers, listserv, Clio notes, long pending requests, holiday closings, renewals.
• 2021 recordings: 
  • December 8, 2021 Key topic: Using tracking #s and getting free tracking label stickers
  • December 1, 2021. Key topics: holiday closing and postal delays; homebound patrons.
  • November 3, 2021. Key topics: Contacting ComCat help; Interstate Delivery.
  • October 20, 2021. One on one with Boston Public Library!
  • September 22, 2021. Key topics: WorldCat.org countries; FirstSearch vs WorldCat.org.
  • September 8, 2021. Key topic: WorldShare behind the scenes.
  • August 25, 2021. Key topic: Free mailing for Matter-for-theBlind.
  • August 11, 2021. Key topic: point-to-point requests through MLS ILL.
  • July 28, 2021. Key topic: MLS ILL or Boston? (Also, I learned fortweekly means every 14 weeks, not every 14 days, lol)
• Chats co-hosted with Delivery or eResources:
  • September 12, 2023
  • November 17, 2021
  • July 14, 2021 

Resource Sharing Team

ill@masslibsystem.libanswers.com (best method for email)
866-627-7228 select option #4

Laura Bogart, Resource Sharing Assistant
laura@masslibsystem.org x318

Kathryn Bowen, Resource Sharing Assistant
kathryn@masslibsystem.org x321

Heidi Flynn, Resource Sharing Assistant
heidi@masslibsystem.org, x303

Vincent Nguyen, Resource Sharing Assistant
vincent@masslibsystem.org x316

Alison DeMers, Resource Sharing Librarian
alison@masslibsystem.org x317

Scott Kehoe, Library Resources Director
scott@masslibsystem.org x308

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