Philosophy
Interlibrary Loan (ILL) is a service where a library requests or supplies materials from one library to another partner library. Its purpose is to expand the resources available to NECC students, faculty, and staff by partnering with the HELM Network and the Statewide Commonwealth catalog (COMCAT).
Lending & Borrowing Services
- Interlibrary Loan services are available only for current NECC students, faculty, and staff. Public patrons and alumni are encouraged to use their local public library for Interlibrary Loan requests.
- The NECC Libraries do not provide Interlibrary Loan services to support coursework for courses taken at other institutions. NECC students, faculty, and staff working on degrees at other institutions are encouraged to utilize the resources of the institution at which they are enrolled.
- Items available through the HELM network should be requested through the patron’s NECC Library Account.
- Items not available through HELM may be requested through the Statewide Commonwealth catalog (COMCAT). There is a limit of ten (10) active requests through COMCAT. Materials may be checked out for 28 days. Renewals are not allowed. Items should be returned to the library where they were checked out.
- NECC students, faculty, and staff may use the Interlibrary Loan Request Form to request journal articles from the Boston Public Library when the articles are not available in NECC databases or collections. Articles are usually provided digitally in PDF format.
Additional Policies
- The NECC Libraries will hold all ILL materials for seven (7) days upon receipt from the lending library. If the item is not picked up in that time, it will be returned to the lending library.
- NECC students, faculty, and staff are responsible for all costs associated with lost or damaged materials. The lending library determines the charges for items, and the charges will vary depending on the item.
- Students, faculty, and staff who abuse the ILL service by failing to return materials or by keeping materials long past the due date may be denied further requests.
Last updated: 6/16/2020
