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Requesting

We are committed to connecting you to the resources you need to achieve academic success. We can obtain virtually any resource you need, even if it is not in our databases or our print collection—at no cost to you.

Items Owned by Other Libraries

If you need an item immediately and Twin Cities Library does not own it, you can pick it up directly at an affiliated library. Learn how.

You can also request items from libraries throughout the world using a service called interlibrary loan. If we do not own the item you want, you can request it, and we will order it from another library as quickly as possible.

Articles are emailed to your Saint Mary's Gmail account within 1-2 business days on average. Books and DVDs arrive within 1-4 business days on average, and we will email you as soon as they arrive. Learn how to request an item.

The following policies apply to interlibrary loan requests:

• Only current students, faculty, and staff with a valid Saint Mary’s University I.D. may use interlibrary loan services.
• Students may make up to thirty requests per calendar month.
• Students are responsible for all fees imposed by out-of-state lending libraries.
• The library cannot request entire issues of journals.
• The library will not request books that are currently available to be checked out from the library.
• The library will not request books specifically required in a course syllabus (in other words, textbooks). See the textbook policy page for more information.
• The patron is responsible for monitoring his/her account for interlibrary loan articles that have been emailed, which includes checking spam folders.
• Due dates and renewal procedures are established by lending libraries.
• Renewal requests should be made before the due date. Learn how.
• Overdues: see overdue policies.
• The library reserves the right to deny interlibrary loan privileges to those who consistently ignore policy.

Items Owned by Twin Cities Library

Saint Mary's University students, faculty, and staff may request Twin Cities Library items by placing a hold. Learn how. If an item is checked out by someone else, a librarian will notify you via email that the item has been returned. If an item is not checked out, you may still place the item on hold. All library items will be held for one week after the notification email is sent.

If you need a checked-out item immediately, you may request a recall by emailing tclibrary@smumn.edu. When an item is recalled, the item is given a new due date that the current borrower must honor. Overdue fees are applied based on the new due date. If a book or dissertation is recalled, the original borrower's loan period will be no less than 30 days.

Interlibrary Loan Lending

Saint Mary's University lends material to other libraries. We do not charge for photocopies, nor do we charge for sending books. Libraries within the MNSCU/PALS consortium should make requests via ALEPH. Other libraries should make requests via OCLC when possible or use ALA forms.