Dear Del ILLa,
I think I am in good standing with Minitex. I always return my ILL items on time. Recently, my friend and I both requested the same book. Can you explain why she got a 13-week loan period and my loan period was only three weeks?
Dear Reader,
It sounds confusing, but there is a simple explanation. The book used to fill your friend's request was probably from the collections at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities Libraries, which provides a very generous loan period of thirteen weeks. Your request was processed after the copy from the U Libraries Twin Cities campus was checked out. That request was referred to a library that only grants a 3-week loan period. When we submit an interlibrary loan request on your behalf to one of our participating libraries, the lender always sets the loan period. In most instances, it will be between three to five weeks.
If you need the book beyond the original due date, request a renewal. Wait until at least a week before the original due date before requesting a renewal, and we will contact the lender for permission. (In most online library systems, the new renewal date will be timed from the date it is requested, not from the original due date so let some time pass on the current loan time before you request the renewal.) Most libraries will grant a renewal, provided the item isn't already overdue. I hope this helps!
