The ordering facility via WebSearch complements the regular Libris ILL facility. An interlibrary loan means a loan between two libraries that do not belong to the same library system, or two libraries that do belong to the same library system but are located in different municipalities. Also regarded as interlibrary loans are copies delivered instead of loans. However, loans obtained across the circulation desk at any of a library's service points are under no circumstances to be regarded as interlibrary loans. Ethical recommendations To ensure that the co-operation between the different systems and between individual libraries will work, the following should be complied with.
Interlibrary loans are a mutual commitment.
Libraries should be as ready to lend materials as they are to borrow materials. The ILL system is based on all libraries taking their share of the responsibility. Individual libraries should only decline interlibrary loan requests in exceptional cases, as other libraries may thus be overloaded. Spread the ILL requests when this is possible, so that a small number of libraries will not be excessively loaded. This sorting can also be an aid in facilitating regional ILL co-operation.