Our library purchases the books and materials that we believe will be the most useful, and most requested, by our community. Because of limited resources and space, we can’t purchase everything that is published, but we can usually obtain it from another library. This is called InterLibrary Loan (ILL). Our library is part of a vast network of participating libraries that are willing to loan out materials to other libraries. Our library uses SILO InterLibrary Loan to borrow items from other Iowa libraries and OCLC InterLibrary Loan to borrow items from libraries around the United States and other countries. ILL materials should be ordered from a patron's “home” library and will not be ordered by the West Point Public Library for a patron from another City Library.

If we don’t have the items or materials that you are looking for, ask library staff if it may be available from another library. 

To use our IinterLibrary Loan service, you will need:

1. to have an account in good standing

2. to provide the title and author of the item you are requesting

In the case of OCLC InterLlibrary Loans, if the lending library charges additional fees or deposits to send the requested materials, it will be the patron's responsibility to pay these fees.

Most of the items are delivered to our library within 2 weeks by IAShares, a statewide courier service. Loan periods may vary, but most are for at least 2 weeks. Once an InterLlibrary Loan arrives, library staff will notify you by phone and/or you will receive an automatic text and the item needs to be picked up within one week. Items not picked up within two weeks will be returned to the lending library.

Read more about InterLibrary Loans in our Circulation and Services Policy.