Interlibrary Loan

The Mid-Hudson Library System (MHLS) Interlibrary Loan Department coordinates interlibrary loan services for members to borrow from nationwide collections, when items are not available in Sierra or SEAL (SouthEastern Access to Libraries).

How do I help my patron find material that is not in Sierra?

You’ll find over 90% of what your patrons are looking for by searching the collections of MHLS member libraries through the OPAC/Sierra.

• • If the item is not available in the OPAC/Sierra, member library staff should first check SEAL (the regional database of catalogs from academic, special, public and school libraries in Columbia, Dutchess, Greene, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, and Ulster counties), and request the item through the SEAL interface.
    
    • • Requesting Items via SEAL

• • If the item is not available in SEAL, MHLS coordinates interlibrary loan services for members to borrow from nationwide collections through the Online Computer Library Center (OCLC). Member library staff can send the request to the MHLS ILL Department through the ILL Module within Sierra or email. 
    
    • • Note: If a journal title in not available in Sierra, please also check the electronic journals on your county eResources/HomeACCESS page before sending in a request.
    • • Note: MHLS will not place ILL requests if any of the following elements are true. MHLS ILL staff will notify the member library’s designated staff if this is the case.
        
        • • A circulating copy can be borrowed within the MHLS library system or through the SEAL catalog.
        • • The item is not available through a participating member of the Empire Delivery system
        • • If unavailable through Empire Delivery and a comparable new edition can be purchased on Amazon for less than $25, the average cost of an ILL transaction at book rates for shipping.

Contact the MHLS ILL Department (845-471-6060 ext. 224 or ill@midhudson.org) with questions about additional ILL policies from the MHLS Resource Sharing standards, ILL practice and procedure in the region and through the New York State Library Interlibrary Loan (NYSILL).