Interlibrary Loan

Interlibrary Loan

The White Oak Library District is a member of the Pinnacle Library Cooperative which provides access to materials in a shared catalog that can be made available to any library cardholder. Should you want or need an item that you cannot locate in the Pinnacle Catalog, you can now search WorldCat from within the catalog. Just make sure you choose a White Oak Library catalog page, look below the keyword search bar and use the select dropdown menu to choose "WorldCat Libraries Worldwide." When you find the item you are looking for you can place your hold on the item, as you would for a regular hold. If you need assistance please contact our Adult Services staff, which will help you to obtain your selection from within the state or throughout the country.

It is important to remember that if you place an ILL through the Catalog you need to make sure that you choose one of the three White Oak Library Branches as a pick-up location. We will not ship an ILL outside of our Library District.

Crest Hill Adult Services: 815-552-4280
Lockport Adult Services: 815-552-4260
Romeoville Adult Services: 815-552-4230

ILL Frequently Asked Questions

What is interlibrary loan (ILL)? Interlibrary loan (ILL) is the borrowing of materials from libraries outside of the Pinnacle Library Cooperative. If you’re looking for materials that are unavailable directly through the shared Pinnacle Catalog, our ILL service can help. Interlibrary loan can provide you with access to millions of titles from libraries and institutions all across the United States.

Who can use ILL? Any patron who has an account in good standing with one of the Pinnacle member libraries has access to White Oak’s ILL service. ILL items need to be picked up and dropped off at any branch of the White Oak Library District. Reciprocal users are unable to borrow ILL material through the White Oak Library District.

What can I order through ILL? You have access to millions of books, audiobooks, DVDs, Blu-Rays and CDs through our interlibrary loan service, but there are some restrictions.

We will not borrow the following material types through ILL:

  • Videogames
  • E-Books or E-Audiobooks
  • Items newer than six months
  • Audio/Visual material newer than one year
  • Newspapers, magazines, or microfilm

The White Oak Library District will not borrow material from libraries outside the contiguous United States, or from libraries that charge us to share.

Does this service cost me anything? We only borrow material from free lenders, so we never have to charge you to access these items. However, all materials borrowed through ILL are subject to the same overdue fines as any White Oak item. Lost or damaged ILL material will result in fines/charges as dictated by the lending library. Depending on the lending library’s policy, these charges may be nonrefundable.

Please see the White Oak Library District Circulation Policy for more information on fines, fees, and charges.

How do I place an order? If you’re familiar with placing a regular hold through our online catalog, then ordering an item through ILL is simple. We have provided you with step-by-step instructions below, but if you need any help placing an order, feel free to contact our adult service staff at any White Oak branch.

  1. Perform a regular catalog search through the White Oak Library District website.

  2. If you do not see what you’re looking for, repeat the search with "WorldCat: Worldwide Libraries" selected from the database drop-down menu ("All Pinnacle Libraries" is the default).

  3. Once the website has finished retrieving the results, click the hyperlink to add pending results. This link is located directly below your search criteria and directly above the search results.

  4. Typically these searches will produce a large number of results, so you might find it helpful to sort by relevancy, title, or author.

  5. Once you have located the item you would like to order, select the Place Hold button. You will be prompted to enter your library card number/username and your account PIN. You will then be asked for your preferred pick-up location. Remember to choose a White Oak branch for pick-up if you’re ordering through our website.

How many items can I order? White Oak cardholders are limited to five pending orders and five ILL materials checked out, for a maximum of 10 active/received orders.

When will my order arrive? Delivery times vary for every request depending on a number of factors. Therefore, we are unable to provide an estimate or to guarantee a specific delivery date for any ILL request. In an effort to provide faster access to material, we order from in-state libraries first when possible.

What are the lending periods for ILL materials? Lending periods are dependent on the lending library.

Can I renew my ILL materials? We are unable to guarantee renewals on ILL materials. However, if you’re interested in requesting more time with your ILL, make sure you speak to circulation or our ILL clerk at least a week before your item's due date.

Who can I contact for help or additional information? Our adult service desk is the best place to go for any questions regarding an ILL request. You can also contact our ILL clerk directly by phone at 815-552-4242 or email at interlibraryloan@whiteoaklib.org