Here are two common scenarios that come up with ILL and TV Series and the best way to explain it to patrons. You can always grab Molly or Denise if you have questions.
Can I order all the seasons of this TV show via Interlibrary Loan? While we can place up to five ILL requests for patrons at a time, it is helpful to talk patrons through the ILL process:
Remind them that each season might be borrowed from another library. We can’t guarantee which season will arrive first or what the due dates will be. It is not uncommon for the last season to arrive a week or more before the first season and to be due back within days of the first season arriving.
I always strongly recommend that they request no more than two or three seasons at a time. Then when they finish a season, they can call or visit us to request the next season (up to five at a time).
Why are we giving some people longer than the standard two-week circ time for TV Series? I want to watch this season and isn’t due for almost a month? Patrons wanting the next season in a TV Series can be frustrated to see that the due date is more than two weeks out. ILL accounts (libraries that borrow our materials for their patrons) are given a standard check-out period of 30 days for DVDs/Blu-rays/TV Series and 60 days for all other materials. This is to allow extra room for delivery and processing to and from the libraries.