If we don’t have the item you’re looking for, we may be able to borrow it from another B.C. library. Interlibrary loans are special requests, so they have different due dates and return policies than regular items. We’ll do our best to help, but we can’t guarantee every request as these depend on the lending library’s availability.
Requesting a loan
There are a few simple steps you can take to improve your chances of getting what you need.
Make sure we don’t already have it
We can’t request books that the GVPL already owns. First, search our catalogue. If you’re still unsure, please contact us and we can double-check for you.
If you need materials in a specific format we do not own, we may be able to request them for you, For example, if you need a large-print version of a book that isn’t in our catalogue, or a physical copy of a book we only own in a digital format, we can request your preferred format.
Check your account
You cannot borrow interlibrary loan material if you have over 10 items overdue or owe more than $40 in fees. You can pay fees in My Account.
Choose books at least two years old
We can only request books that are at least two years old, meaning they were not published in the current or previous calendar year. This means if you request an interlibrary loan in 2026, make sure the book you want was published in 2024 or earlier.
We also can’t request audiovisual materials like DVDs, CDs, or video games. One exception is that we can request audiobooks if you have a print disability. To get a print disability designation, follow the steps in our assistive technology page.
Request a loan
We use Illume to manage interlibrary loans. Illume is a catalogue that shows what’s available from several public libraries in B.C. We can only request items that are listed in here.
Good to know
- Requests can take up to several weeks, so please be patient.
- Requests expire after three months. When this happens, you can re-request the item.
- You’ll need to contact us to cancel your request. But if the item has already arrived, you may need to wait three months before requesting it again.
Log in to Illume with your library card
Search for the book you want
Request up to five books at a time
Check your Illume account for updates
If your request is successful, we’ll let you know it’s ready by email. Please look for the subject line “Library Notice: items ready for pickup.” You can pick it up at the front desk at a branch of your choice.
Suggest a title
We welcome your suggestions for titles you’d like to see in our library collection.
