The term interlibrary loan includes both borrowing and lending, of technical books, reports, series, journal articles from other cooperative libraries. The basic theory for interlibrary loan is that no library can be completely self-supporting in meeting the needs of its patrons.
Interlibrary loan is essential to the vitality of libraries of all types and sizes.
It is an important integral function of an efficient library. Libraries will not let an individual borrow a book. It must be done through another library. Most libraries will not lend recent publications in heavy demand, reference material, or particularly valuable or fragile material. You should allow at least 2 weeks for an item to arrive.