The Sulphur Springs Public Library may obtain materials for users not found in our collection as quickly and efficiently as possible. Our goal is to obtain needed materials. Through Interlibrary Loan (ILL) users can request the loan or photocopy of books, journal articles, and other materials not available in the Library. The supplying library sets the loan period and user restrictions of loaned items. Some libraries charge use fees and postage in addition to the Sulphur Springs Public Library ILL flat fee for postage cost of $3.00 per item. These fees are the responsibility of the borrower. Anyone eligible to borrow circulating material is also eligible to receive interlibrary loan service.

ILL service can however be denied for violation of this policy.

Users should search the library carefully to determine that the material needed is not available in our collection. If unavailable, ILL requests are available at the circulation desk during operating hours. Interlibrary Loan requests are usually processed within 24 hours of receipt of request. Receipt and processing of requests from other libraries are at the discretion of the lending library.

Most lending libraries will not loan certain types of materials, such as rare, fragile, or expensive items: reference or heavily used books, genealogical material, entire issues of newspapers or periodicals, American dissertations and bestsellers. First time use will be limited to 2 (two) items.

Users will be charged a flat fee for postage costs for interlibrary loan. Once requested, the user is responsible for all fees and fines attached to the material. Once the request is placed, there are no refunds; the initial flat fee for postage is forfeited.  The item cannot be cancelled once it is requested and the Sulphur Springs Public Library is therefore responsible for returning items.

No more than 5 (five) ILL requests may be submitted by any one user per week. Due dates cannot be extended. If the user needs more time they must reorder the material.

Interlibrary Loan service upholds the principle of intellectual freedom, which guarantees access to all expressions of knowledge. Parents/legal guardians - and only parents - have the right and the responsibility to restrict the access of materials to their children - and only their children. Parents/legal guardians who do not want their children to have access to certain library services, materials, or facilities should so advise their children. Librarians and governing bodies cannot assume the role of parents or the functions of parental authority in the private relationship between parent and child. Librarians and governing bodies have a public and professional obligation to provide equal access to all library resources for all library users.