interlibrary loan
C1Formal, Academic, Professional
Definition
Meaning
A service where one library borrows an item from another library for a user.
The system or process governing the borrowing and lending of materials between separate library institutions, often facilitated by a formal network or consortium.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Typically refers to physical books or media, but increasingly includes digital materials. The term denotes both the service itself and an individual transaction (e.g., 'I have an interlibrary loan').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The concept is identical. Spelling follows local conventions (e.g., 'interlibrary' not hyphenated).
Connotations
Neutral procedural term in both regions.
Frequency
Equally common in academic and large public libraries in both the UK and US.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The library [VERB: obtained, provided] the book via interlibrary loan.Users can [VERB: request, access] materials through the interlibrary loan system.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It's quicker than an interlibrary loan. (Used to indicate something is very slow)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare; may be used in corporate library settings.
Academic
Primary context. Essential service for research and study.
Everyday
Used by members of the public using library services.
Technical
Precise term in library and information science.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The librarian will interlibrary-loan the journal for you. (Rare, informal)
American English
- Can we ILL this article? (Using the common initialism 'ILL' as a verb)
adverb
British English
- The item was acquired interlibrary loan. (Non-standard, rare)
American English
- It was obtained interlibrary. (Informal shortening)
adjective
British English
- The interlibrary loan request was processed promptly.
American English
- Check the interlibrary loan policies on the website.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My library can get a book from another city for me.
- If my library doesn't have a book, I can use an interlibrary loan.
- The interlibrary loan system allows researchers to access specialised materials not held locally.
- Due to budget constraints, the university has had to streamline its interlibrary loan procedures, integrating them with a national consortium.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine LIBRARIES in different towns (INTER) LOANing a book to each other on a long string.
Conceptual Metaphor
KNOWLEDGE AS A SHARED COMMODITY (libraries trade in knowledge objects).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation that implies a 'loan between libraries' as a financial transaction. The core is 'межбиблиотечный абонемент' or 'межбиблиотечный заказ'.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'inter-library loan' (hyphen less common in modern usage).
- Using as a verb incorrectly: 'They interlibrary-loaned the book.' (Prefer: 'They obtained it via interlibrary loan.')
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary purpose of an interlibrary loan?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It varies. Many public and academic libraries offer the service for free to members, but there can be charges for rare, international, or rush requests.
Mostly books, journal articles, and theses. Newly published books, rare/valuable items, or reference materials are often excluded.
Typically from a few days to several weeks, depending on the lending library's location and policies.
It is the common professional abbreviation for InterLibrary Loan (or Lending).