Special Services - Burlington Public Library

Interlibrary Loan Service

Can't find an item you want in our library? If there is a particular book or information you need that we do not have, we can try to borrow it for you from another library system. Interlibrary Loan (also called ILLO) is a service for BPL customers who have full borrowing privileges. If you are a reciprocal borrower, please ask the library in your community for ILLO help.

You can borrow...

books

microfilm, for example, from the national or provincial archives

photocopies of magazine or journal articles

We cannot borrow for you...

recent publications, books published prior to the last 18 months

books that we already own

audio-visual items, such as books-on-CD, DVDs, videos, CDs, cassettes

car and machine repair manuals

travel guides, computer books

complete magazine issues

multiple copies of a title, e.g. for book clubs

textbooks and school course materials

computer software manuals

Fees
If we are able to obtain an item for you from another Ontario Public Library, our service is free, but if you wish us to search beyond, and the lending library charges a fee this will be passed on to you. We will ask you beforehand whether you wish to accept any charges (generally between $10-15) before completing your request.

How to request an interlibrary loan
Call or visit any one of our Burlington Public Library branches (see Hours & Locations). Full BPL borrowing privileges are required. Please do not e-mail interlibrary loan requests to us as it is very important that our staff speak with you about your request and the service.

How long will it take to get the item?
It may take on average 2-4 weeks, and sometimes longer, due to the complex nature of the service. Occasionally there may be requests that we are unable to fill.

Search INFO and Ontario Public Libraries
The online union catalogue of Ontario Public Libraries is available to all. It may be used to verify that a title exists, to identify a book on a particular subject, or to search for possible locations for a title. Note that by searching the INFO Union Catalogue, you are searching a static database of selected locations. This database is updated annually. You can also search the various individual Profiles for public libraries that allow access to their "live" catalogues. >> Search INFO

Lending to libraries outside Burlington
Burlington Public Library participates in the INFO/VDX provincial interlibrary loans network between Ontario public libraries. Libraries outside the Ontario Public Library system may email us.

Multilingual Books & DVDs at Central Library

Books: In addition to our French collections in the Adult and Children's Departments at Central Library, we also have books in the following languages. Link to the library's catalogue to find a list of available titles in a language.

DVDs: We have DVDs in the following languages. Use link below to the library's catalogue to find lists of these videos. To find these materials you may do a Keyword / Subject search, e.g. feature films (country) OR motion pictures (language).

In the case of Chinese DVDs, you may select either Mandarin or Cantonese within the DVD.

For further information contact Karen Young, Information Services, 905.639.3611 ext 181.

Special Services & Collections

Interlibrary Loan Service

Multilingual Books & DVDs at Central Library