Donald Smith, Dean of Information Services, says that this is very unusual in Louisiana and that most university libraries only allow graduate students and faculty members to borrow through interlibrary loan. Interlibrary loan allows students to borrow materials from other universities without having to physically travel to that location. Patrons may simply fill out a card, either paper or electronic, and the service will find the book or article at another university. Sometimes materials can be located in a day, or it may take up to a week or longer, depending on the location from which it comes. This service does not go unchecked and is not always free for patrons.
Interlibrary loan is divided into consortiums by region.
All libraries and publishing groups connected with these consortiums have agreed to be part of a five-copy plan. This plan allows libraries to only borrow five copies a year of any materials published in the last five years. Once five copies have been borrowed, each institution must then pay copyright fees. These fees are then passed on to the student, but not before agreement on the student's part. If a student does not want to pay the fee, then the information will not be ordered on their behalf.