The ACL Interlibrary Loan (ILL) Service is a dedicated listserv that supports document delivery between participating libraries. This service plays a vital role in helping libraries—especially those not part of another consortium—meet patron needs through resource sharing.

Key Features:

  • Library-to-Library Only: All requests must be made and filled between libraries. Materials are not sent directly to end users.

  • No-Cost Lending: Lenders are expected to provide materials without charge.

  • Support for Small and Independent Libraries: Ideal for libraries without access to other ILL networks or consortia.

Participation Guidelines:

  • Participants must follow standard interlibrary loan copyright guidelines and best practices.

  • Borrowers are responsible for ensuring copyright compliance.

  • Lenders must comply with their vendor licensing agreements—especially when sharing electronic theses from platforms like TREN or ProQuest.

OCLC WorldShare ILL Users:

If your library is a member of the Christian Library Consortium (CLC) and uses OCLC WorldShare ILL, we encourage you to join the Christian Library Network (CLN)—an OCLC Preferred Sharing Group—to streamline and expand your sharing capabilities.

How does it work?

  • Requesting Items
    • Send an email to [email protected] (you must subscribe to the listserv first).
    • Use the subject line format: REQUESTING: Title of item
    • If resubmitting a request: REQUESTING 2nd ATTEMPT: Title of item
  • Filling Requests
    • If your library can supply the requested item:
      • Send the item directly to the requesting library.
      • Include a copyright notice with the item.
      • Reply to [email protected] with the same subject line, changing the first word to: FILLED: Title of item
  • Email Subject Line Format
    • Use ALL CAPS for the first word in the subject to help others sort or filter messages. Examples:
      • REQUESTING: Theology of Worship Article
      • FILLED: Theology of Worship Article

Who may participate?

Any library employee may participate in the ACL Interlibrary Loan (ILL) Service on behalf of their library.

The primary purpose of this service is to support libraries without access to other lending networks or those with specialized or hard-to-fill requests that may be better served through the ACL ILL community.

How Do I Sign Up?

You must subscribe to the ACL ILL listserv in order to send and receive requests.

To subscribe, complete the Library Resources section of the following form: Connection Central