It's true: J.L. Bedsole Library will not have every book that every patron wants to borrow. However, even if we do not currently carry a specific book you need, don't panic, you have a couple of options available to you. Be sure to follow the steps listed here and here to make sure that the library does not currently have the title. If we don't have the book, then perform the following steps.
Step 1: Go to WorldCat
First, you can see if a library close to you has the book you're looking for. From the library homepage, click on the Interlibrary Loan link under the Library Services headin in the bottom right corner of the screen:
You will be directed to a different interface. The box on the right side of the screen, under the general Search bar, is titled WorldCat (short for World Catalog) Search. Click the "Book" tab above the Search bar. Type in the title of the book you want and click the gray "Go" button.
Step 2: Select a Book
You will now see the WorldCat search retrieval page. It will look like this:
Often, the book you want will share its title with other books. Be sure to examine the metadata within the book record to determine whether the book you click on is indeed the same book you want. Let's say, though, that you know you want the fourth item in this list. When you click on the text link, you may see this screen:
We do want to use the University of Mobile's WorldCat page, so make sure to click the radio button next to the option: "Go to umobile.worldcat.org (recommended)." Then, click continue. You will be taken to a detailed record of the book that will look like this:
Step 3: Find Local Libraries
From this screen, you can preview the book in Google Books, view other formats that the material exists in or find books about the same subject. But, you want this specific book, and, as this page confirms, it is "not in your library system." Let's click the text link: "Worldwide libraries that own this item" in the middle of the screen, under "Find libraries globally."
Once you click the link, a list of libraries that own the item, organized according to distance from the J.L. Bedsole Library, will drop down. As you can see below, the nearest library that has the book is an hour away. Hardly local.
Fortunately, there is another way to procure the book without having to travel, as long as you can wait a couple of weeks.
Step 4: Interlibrary Loan
Go back to the Interlibrary Loan interface that we visited in Step 1. Look in the Interlibrary Loan box on the left side of the screen. You will notice a disclaimer about possible charges, but don't panic. You are not required to pay any fees for this service. Typically, lending libraries will loan their books for free; however, in rare cases, lenders require a small fee (usually between $5-10) if the book is old and/or rare. In the request form, you will tell us whether if you are willing to pay a fee and how much you are willing to pay. If a lender does want a fee, we will contact you again and ensure you you are willing to pay. If not, then that is fine. We will refuse the lender's request and continue to search for a lender willing to lend for free or for less money.
Scroll down to the bottom of the screen, and click on the "BOOK/VIDEO REQUEST" text link.
You will be directed to a Book Request form that will look like this:
From here, fill out all the information you can. The boxes with red outlines are required fields. The more information we and other libraries have about the book, the faster it can be located and sent to you. If you absolutely cannot find a piece of information, you can type N/A into the blank. Note that it is more difficult to process requests without an ISBN number, so please make sure you have at least that information. You can look in the detailed WorldCat record we saw in Step 3 or check Amazon or Books In Print to get the ISBN number and other book information.
Once your materials arrive at the library, we will contact you at the email address or phone number provided in the request form. Please allow up to two weeks for book delivery. Though delivery time is often shorter than two weeks, it may also be longer depending on the book.
251.442.2246 | umlibrary@umobile.edu | @umobilelib(C) 2012 The University of Mobile and the J.L. Bedsole Library Originally created by Charles W. Hodgin III
Table of Contents
Preliminary
It's true: J.L. Bedsole Library will not have every book that every patron wants to borrow. However, even if we do not currently carry a specific book you need, don't panic, you have a couple of options available to you. Be sure to follow the steps listed here and here to make sure that the library does not currently have the title. If we don't have the book, then perform the following steps.
Step 1: Go to WorldCat
First, you can see if a library close to you has the book you're looking for. From the library homepage, click on the Interlibrary Loan link under the Library Services headin in the bottom right corner of the screen:
You will be directed to a different interface. The box on the right side of the screen, under the general Search bar, is titled WorldCat (short for World Catalog) Search. Click the "Book" tab above the Search bar. Type in the title of the book you want and click the gray "Go" button.
Step 2: Select a Book
You will now see the WorldCat search retrieval page. It will look like this:
Often, the book you want will share its title with other books. Be sure to examine the metadata within the book record to determine whether the book you click on is indeed the same book you want. Let's say, though, that you know you want the fourth item in this list. When you click on the text link, you may see this screen:
We do want to use the University of Mobile's WorldCat page, so make sure to click the radio button next to the option: "Go to umobile.worldcat.org (recommended)." Then, click continue. You will be taken to a detailed record of the book that will look like this:
Step 3: Find Local Libraries
From this screen, you can preview the book in Google Books, view other formats that the material exists in or find books about the same subject. But, you want this specific book, and, as this page confirms, it is "not in your library system." Let's click the text link: "Worldwide libraries that own this item" in the middle of the screen, under "Find libraries globally."
Once you click the link, a list of libraries that own the item, organized according to distance from the J.L. Bedsole Library, will drop down. As you can see below, the nearest library that has the book is an hour away. Hardly local.
Fortunately, there is another way to procure the book without having to travel, as long as you can wait a couple of weeks.
Step 4: Interlibrary Loan
Go back to the Interlibrary Loan interface that we visited in Step 1. Look in the Interlibrary Loan box on the left side of the screen. You will notice a disclaimer about possible charges, but don't panic. You are not required to pay any fees for this service. Typically, lending libraries will loan their books for free; however, in rare cases, lenders require a small fee (usually between $5-10) if the book is old and/or rare. In the request form, you will tell us whether if you are willing to pay a fee and how much you are willing to pay. If a lender does want a fee, we will contact you again and ensure you you are willing to pay. If not, then that is fine. We will refuse the lender's request and continue to search for a lender willing to lend for free or for less money.
Scroll down to the bottom of the screen, and click on the "BOOK/VIDEO REQUEST" text link.
You will be directed to a Book Request form that will look like this:
From here, fill out all the information you can. The boxes with red outlines are required fields. The more information we and other libraries have about the book, the faster it can be located and sent to you. If you absolutely cannot find a piece of information, you can type N/A into the blank. Note that it is more difficult to process requests without an ISBN number, so please make sure you have at least that information. You can look in the detailed WorldCat record we saw in Step 3 or check Amazon or Books In Print to get the ISBN number and other book information.
Once your materials arrive at the library, we will contact you at the email address or phone number provided in the request form. Please allow up to two weeks for book delivery. Though delivery time is often shorter than two weeks, it may also be longer depending on the book.
251.442.2246 | umlibrary@umobile.edu | @umobilelib(C) 2012 The University of Mobile and the J.L. Bedsole Library
Originally created by Charles W. Hodgin III