New Jersey State Library

State Protocols for Using the NJULS for NJULS Participants

1. Follow regional protocols.

If unable to locate and/or get a copy following regional protocols, find out whether the customer would prefer to (A) visit a holding library or would prefer (B) interlibrary loan. Also, determine the customer’s deadline: this will be a factor in deciding how to transmit the request, and to whom.

If the customer would prefer to visit the holding library, use the NJULS to identify libraries that have the issue needed. Let the customer choose which library to visit.
Call the library to be sure that the issue is available. Find out what hours the library is open, and what costs the customer is likely to incur. You may also want to get directions and parking information if your customer is not familiar with the library.

If placing an ILL request to get a copy of the item is the best service, you'll need to decide where and how to send the request. Smaller libraries may handle a lower volume of requests than larger libraries and may provide you with the best turnaround and service. All libraries that participate in the NJULS have agreed to share their resources within their library's policies.
Your options include:

(1) sending the request to a JerseyCat member that participates in JerseyCat. are listed on. If you are not a member of JerseyCat, but have access to OCLC ILL, initiate the request via OCLC yourself.

 (2) sending the request directly to any library in the NJULS that is not a member of JerseyCat,  or OCLC or a state contract library. You can phone the library, mail an ALA form or send an ALA form via fax.