Interlibrary Loans

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

Before you make a request to borrow from another library, 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 year or is a DVD/Blu-Ray or video game. For a new title published within the last year, you can request that we purchase the title for our own collection by Suggesting a Title.

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.

If you prefer to input your own interlibrary loan requests rather than contact staff, you can request a Self-Serve Interlibrary Loan Account.  Just fill out our Online Registration Form and a staff member will contact you when your access is setup.  Note that interlibrary loan requests are limited to 3 per person at a time. 

Interlibrary loans are free of charge! 

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.

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