Interlibrary Loans

Looking for something but can't find it in our library? We may be able to borrow the item from another library system in Ontario.

Before you make a request to borrow from another library system, make sure you’ve checked to see if we have it in our catalogue myBPL.  
We cannot borrow an item from another library if we own it ourselves, if it is published within the last 12 months, or if it is a DVD/Blu-Ray or video game.

For a physical book or audiobook (not-digital) published within the last 12 months, you may request that we purchase the title for our own collection by Suggesting a Title.  Requests for us to purchase eBooks or eAudiobooks need to be submitted through your account in cloudLibrary.

***UPDATE: While the Canada Post Workers have returned to work on Dec. 17, public libraries across Ontario are slowly starting to resume their offering of Interlibrary Loan services. 
Barrie Public Library has resumed this service, however it is important to note that, as result of backlogs in the mail system, as well as other libraries resuming services on their own schedules, and all of the Ontario Public Libraries now activating our new Interlibrary Loan platform that we migrated to just prior to the strike, there will be an increased wait time for submitted requests to be processed.  We will work through all our requests in the order that they have been received. Thank you for your patience.***

To make a request, you need a valid library card. Call us at 705-728-1010 or email us at askus@barrielibrary.ca and provide your full name, address, home phone number, pickup location (Downtown, Painswick or Holly), and library card number.

We have just migrating our Interlibrary Loan software along with the rest of the connected library systems across Ontario and transitioned to the new platform in November.  As of November 12, patrons who had an independent login to submit their own interlibrary loan requests no longer have access through the existing website.  Once we have successfully transitioned our internal processes after the migration, patrons will once more have the ability to input their own requests through the new platform with new account information.

If you would like to be updated once you can make a new account in the new platform, be sure to update your contact information with Barrie Public Library; you can do this online through our Renew A Card form or in person when you are next at any of our locations.

Note that interlibrary loan requests are limited to 3 active requests per person at a time. 

Accessing materials through Interlibrary Loans is FREE! 

It is important to note, however, that while Barrie Public Library is Fine Free and does not charge fees incurred for overdue materials provided they are returned, items borrowed through Interlibrary Loans follow the borrowing policies of other library systems and fees can be charged on patron accounts for late, lost, and damaged materials. 

Should other library systems charge the Barrie Public Library for material a patron has failed to return, the library is obligated to pay that amount to the owning library system and will in turn place that incurred fee onto the borrowing patron's library account.

Waiting times vary depending on the lending library and the materials requested - two weeks is the average but it can take up to six weeks or longer.  You will be notified based on the preferred method specified in your library account (automated phone message, text, or email).  Prompt pick-up ensures that you will have the maximum borrowing time set by the lending library.

Self-serve patrons can view the status of requests by looking at "My Requests" on the right-hand sidebar of the Self-Serve system to see when it has been processed, shipped, and received. You can also see if the request has been cancelled because the item is already available in the Barrie Public Library, it is a recent publication within the previous year, or we were unable to locate a library that will lend the item. If there are any issues with your request, you will receive an email or a note will be placed on your account and you will be notified at your next visit.

We are in the process of migrating our Interlibrary Loan software along with the rest of the connected library systems across Ontario and will transition to the new platform in November.  As of November 12, patrons who currently have an independent login to submit their own interlibrary loan requests will no longer have access through the existing website.  Once we have successfully transitioned, patrons will once more have the ability to input their own requests through the new platform with new account information.

If you would like to be updated once you can make a new account in the new platform, be sure to update your contact information with Barrie Public Library; you can do this online through our Renew A Card form or in person when you are next at any of our locations.

To renew an item, send an email to askus@barrielibrary.ca several days before the due date of the item to request a renewal. The request will be forwarded to the lending library and they will determine whether or not they will permit the renewal – this is not a decision made by the Barrie Public Library.

You cannot renew an item through the Self-Serve Interlibrary Loan system.

Libraries will not normally lend the following:

• old, rare, or valuable material
• reference and genealogical material
• material in high demand at the lending library (i.e. current bestsellers), materials published within the last year
• curriculum material, including textbooks
• scripts, screenplays, libretti, and scores
• multi-volume sets
• DVDs/Blu-Rays

In addition, some libraries will not lend:

• sound recordings
• entire issues of magazines or journals