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MLS Delivery: Interlibrary Loan Information

This guide introduces delivery at the Massachusetts Library System and provides all the necessary information about delivery, routes, scheduling, claim forms, etc.

Want to join the Delivery List-Serv?

To be added to the delivery email list and receive updates and announcements regarding delivery, please email delivery@masslibsystem.org.

Please make sure at least one person from your library receives emails. We periodically put out important policy information and pertinent changes. 

Delivery Vs. Interlibrary Loan

Interlibrary Loan and Delivery are two separate yet dependent services provided by the Massachusetts Library System.

Delivery is the physical service used to get an item from one destination to the other.  For the delivery service MLS has a contract with Optima Shipping.  MLS provides delivery in Massachusetts and Rhode Island (in cooperation with OLIS) in order to support resource sharing amongst libraries of the two states. 

Interlibrary Loan is the process by which a library requests material from, or supplies material to, another library.  The purpose of interlibrary loan is to obtain, upon request of a library user, material that would otherwise be unavailable in the user’s local library.  The MLS Resource Sharing team offers mediated interlibrary loan for any member library that would like to use the service.  For more information about ILL, please visit the ILL Guide.

MLS also contracts with the Boston Public Library to provide Journal Document delivery for all libraries in Massachusetts.  The document delivery is the supply of journal articles and other document copies on a personalized basis.  You can find their contact information here: http://guides.masslibsystem.org/ill/requests/document_delivery

Contact Information

Have a delivery question or concern? Contact Us!

Optima Customer Service:

customerservice@shipoptima.com

781-569-0201 

MLS Delivery:

delivery@masslibsystem.org

(508) 357-2121 option 1
(866) 627-7228