Q. Interlibrary Loans through Sarasota County Libraries

What is Interlibrary Loan?

Interlibrary loan (ILL) is the process by which a library requests material from, or supplies material to, another library. This allows you to borrow items from other library systems in Florida when Sarasota County Libraries do not own the material. 

Does the library offer Interlibrary Loan?

Yes. The library participates in the Florida Library Information Network (FLIN) (Division of Library and Information Services, Florida Department of State) which allows us to borrow materials from other participating Florida libraries through our SHAREit service.  ILL items are delivered to Sarasota County during regular weekdays. 

Who can use ILL? 

Sarasota County residents with a library card in good standing can request interlibrary loans. Individuals who purchase a visitor card (aka "non-resident card") will also have access to ILL if their cards are in good standing. Library accounts must have fines below $10 and the card cannot be expired. (Need to renew your card?  You can do this in person or on the phone at 941-861-1110.)

If you have reciprocal borrowing privileges from a Florida county other than Sarasota, you will need to request ILLs through your home library system.

Do patrons and staff need an account to use SHAREit, and how do they get ILL accounts? 

Yes, patrons must have an ILL account in order to use SHAREit. 

Select "Patron" and log in using your library card number with no spaces or dashes. Your account will automatically be made after clicking "Submit." No PIN is required for our public library patrons.

How do I request an item?

After creating an account, you can request items yourself. Just use the 'search' or 'Advanced search' option at the top of the SHAREit page. Both patrons and staff can log in to SHAREit using this link.

Note that if you are not a Sarasota County resident but have reciprocal borrowing privileges, you must request ILLs from your home library systems.

What kind of items can I ask for?

Items available for request are physical print materials (regular and large print books) or digital journal articles. 

What kind of items cannot be borrowed? 

Items that cannot be borrowed are current books/best sellers, Audio/Visual materials (DVDs, Audiobooks, CDs, Playaways, etc.), newspapers, e-books, and items already owned by Sarasota County Libraries.

How much does it cost?

There are no charges for requesting or borrowing. Overdue and replacement/damaged costs still apply. 

How many ILL requests can I make?

There can be 5 active ILL requests at one time.

How long does it take?

Although ILL items do not have an exact arrival window, the 'need by' date you provide is important for lending libraries to know. An item may arrive in a week, or may take up to 2-3 weeks. FLIN SHAREit has a consortium of over 200 Florida academic and public libraries as of September 2021.  Delivery service is contracted by FedEx.

Where do I pick up the item?

The item will be held behind the library's main info/circulation desk. ILL loans must be checked out by a staff member at the service desk since this is considered a special item. Note that items will likely have information from the lending library; please keep this with the items when you return them to the library.  It's essential to return ILL items to a staff member, too - do not return them through the book drop.

How long do I have to pick up the item?​

ILL items will be held for 7 days. 

How long may I keep the item?​

The lending library sets the loan period - it's usually 3-4 weeks. 

Can I renew my Interlibrary Loan item?​

Usually, not always and only one renewal request is allowed. Please request your renewal at least 3 days before the due date. The lending library determines if an item can be renewed. You can request a renewal through your ILL account or ask library staff to make that request. 

What is the library's Interlibrary Loan policy?

Here is a link detailing the ILL policy for Sarasota County Libraries (opens in a new webpage).

Who do I contact if I have problems with or questions about Interlibrary Loan?​

For additional assistance, call 941-861-1110 or email us through Ask Us!