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Renewals, Returns, and Lost Items

Since interlibrary loan items are from other institutions, the borrowing policies are not the same as for local items from our collection. This includes the processes for renewals and lost items, along with different expectations for returns and recalled items. 

Access and use interlibrary loans has additional information about policies specific to using loans of physical items. 

Renewals

We send a courtesy reminder notice 5 days before your items are due, but cannot grant renewals ourselves. 

You can request to renew interlibrary loan items through your ILLiad account starting 5 days before your due date and up to 2 days afterward. Select “Checked out items” and then “Renew.”

When you place a renewal request, the system gives you a temporary due date and our team requests a new one from the lending institution. We will notify you of their renewal decision by email once we hear back.

Contact us at interlibrary.loan@umich.edu for assistance if an item is 3 or more days overdue, you are unable to return your material on time, or your renewal is denied. 

Returns

We recommend returning interlibrary loans to the dedicated drop box located near the elevators on floor 1 of Hatcher North or any of the other Hatcher Library return locations. This ensures items are checked in promptly and removed from your account.

All other return locations accept interlibrary loans as well, but keep in mind that processing may be delayed.

If you returned something and it has not been marked as “Request Finished” within 10 days, please contact us at interlibrary.loan@umich.edu. We suspend interlibrary loan privileges when an item is 30 days or more overdue.

Since renewals are not guaranteed and recalls can happen anytime, please return your interlibrary loan items before you leave campus for vacations or the end of a term.

Interlibrary loan recalls

Items are subject to recall at any time. When an interlibrary loan item is recalled, we’ll send you an email giving you 3 days to return the item.

Please return your item to the dedicated drop-box in Hatcher North. U-M Flint and U-M Dearborn patrons can return items to their respective campus library. 

Items not returned by the new due date will result in your borrowing and interlibrary loan privileges being suspended.

Lost items

If you lose an interlibrary loan item, please let us know immediately at interlibrary.loan@umich.edu to avoid losing privileges. We will contact the lending library to see what the options are and let you know.

Like with due dates and renewals, the charge for a lost interlibrary loan item is determined by the lending library. It is usually between $75 and $150.