The popular interlibrary loan (ILL) system will be back in circulation Sept. 3 after a temporary summer shutdown. Readers are asked to limit their requests as the program restarts, but librarians say ILL should soon be about the same as before.  

“We're excited to get it back,” said Joanna Breen, executive director at Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library (BHML). “People are used to it. People like it. It enhances our service ability. So, while we enjoyed the throwback of just having our in-house collection, we're happy to go back to what people have become accustomed to and to what libraries can do now.” 

Earlier this summer, Maine Infonet, which manages the ILL system, sent a notice that requests would be turned off for most libraries effective June 4; the move came amidst discussions around ILL courier’s service agreement. Breen said contract negotiations at the state level are now complete, and a new courier will begin service after Labor Day. 

“Thank you in advance for your patience regarding this process,” said Maine State Librarian Lori Fisher in a recent communication to libraries. The statement was posted at https://bbhlibrary.org/news/ill-to-return-after-labor-day/. “This is a HUGE transition, and it is bound to have some hiccups. We’re doing everything we can at Maine State Libraries to ensure the smoothest transition as possible.” 

Wiscasset Public Library Director Pamela Dunning said patrons can begin requesting books online after Labor Day. However, she said Fisher asked that they request only three books at a time, otherwise running the risk of overwhelming the program as it warms up in its first few weeks. For patrons with more than three requests, she recommended spacing them out over a few weeks, which will also help library staff to gradually resume ILL processing. 

While ILL’s return is welcomed, Breen said the pause went well. She said it brought people into the building and the library was able to purchase many books that patrons requested. She thanked patrons for their patience and for letting the library know what to add to the collections. 

“It was nice to see people back in the stacks again,” she said. “People were kind of roaming around in the library and finding things. And we didn't really have a lot of complaints. Our patrons were just really understanding and made do with the wonderful collection that we have in-house here and helped us make it even better by telling us what they wanted.”