Interlibrary Loan Services

Anyone with a valid Broward County Library card and account in good standing may place an ILL request. You must present your Library card when picking up your ILL item. Homebound customers may apply for Books-By-Mail​ to obtain their ILL item.

Material that can be borrowed include books (in various languages), large print books, DVDs, CDs, theses and dissertations, microform and photocopies/scans from periodicals and newspapers. Genealogy books are not generally available through ILL, but copies can be obtained when specific names are submitted in the Notes field on the ILL request form.

The ILL service is free for any Broward County Library card holder with an account in good standing.

You may request up to FIVE items or copies per week.

Material that is ineligible includes computer hardware, fiction eBooks, kits, and items already owned by Broward County Library.​ Books published prior to the 20th century should not be requested; however, a later version, edition, or reprint can often be located in WorldCat, as can full-text links to older books that are in the public domain.

You may request movies and video games on DVD and music and audiobooks on CD. Newly-released popular films and episodic television shows may be requested, but are difficult to obtain because they are usually checked out all over the country.

When you pick up your ILL item you will be asked to sign a form; when you return the item the form will be returned to you, serving as your receipt.

You will also be asked to present your Library card so we may confirm that your account is in good standing and that your card number and name match the information on your ILL request.

You must return the ILL item to the same branch's Circulation Desk (do not return in the drop box) where you picked it up.

To monitor the progress of your request, log into your ILL account and select "History" from the top menu. You may also call 954-357-7442 to find out if a request is Pending, In Process, In Transit, Received or Unfilled.

ILL requests take up to six weeks to process, depending upon the availability and geographical location of the materials. You will receive a notice if we are unable to fulfill your request.

If you provide us with a valid email address when placing your request, you will get an email informing you when the material has been received at the Main Library's ILL office. You will then receive a call or email from the library branch you selected to have the material delivered. Please pick up your ILL item promptly.

If Broward County Library already owns the item, we are not able to borrow it via ILL. The National Interlibrary Loan Code, published by the American Library Association, does not allow libraries to request materials that they already own. If the status of our item is lost, withdrawn, or traced, we will be glad to request it as an ILL for you.

The lending library sets the item's due date, since the item belongs to them - rather than to Broward County Library. Libraries around the country allow from two weeks to two months as their check-out period. 

You can request more time by visiting your ILL account, selecting "History" from the top menu and submitting the "Request Renewal" button. Or you may call the ILL office at 954-357-7442. The lending library determines whether or not to extend their due date. After several days from your renewal request please check your ILL account or call us to find out if, and for how long, a renewal has been granted.

Some lending libraries require that their material be used only in our library buildings; these materials may not go home with you. We can borrow books from the Library of Congress, but they must be read inside your branch.

The ILL service cannot guarantee the procurement of every item you request. Rare materials are difficult to borrow, as are items owned only by Ivy League universities. We cannot borrow materials from libraries outside of the US. Successfully obtaining ILL material depends upon the willingness of other library systems to loan us their material.

Yes, you may access WorldCat and place ILL requests from a computer outside of the Library. It is preferable to request ILL materials via WorldCat, but you can also place a request via your ILL account, select "Request" in top menu. Please provide as much information (title, author, ISBN or ISSN, etc.) as possible.

You can contact ILL by phone or email. Submit inquiries via your ILL account, select "Questions" from top menu. Call the ILL office at 954-357-7442. The reference librarians at your branch are available to assist you in searching, locating or placing your ILL requests. Email comments or suggestions to bill@broward.org.