If you are unable to find an item from the El Paso Public Library you can search for and request an item via the Texas Group Catalog. The item will be sent from another library in the United States to the EPPL branch of your choice. This process is called interlibrary loan (ILL). It is made possible through the cooperation of over 500 public libraries in Texas and is funded by the Texas State Library.
Before you begin searching, please review the following Q&A which outlines the rules for ILL use.
What is the Texas Group Catalog?
The Texas Group Catalog is an interlibrary loan request system designed especially for Texas library patrons. There are two major benefits to this new system. First, interlibrary loan requests are filled more efficiently. By asking for an item first from a Texas library, your chances of receiving the item are dramatically increased. The system searches all participating libraries in Texas. Most of the time, the request is filled by one of these libraries. If the item cannot be found in Texas the search is widened automatically to all participating libraries in the continental United States.
The second benefit of the Texas Group Catalog is that El Paso Public Library patrons can search for items and place requests on their own without having to visit the library. While we are still happy to place requests for you, we are pleased to now provide the option for patrons to place interlibrary loan requests anywhere, anytime, twenty-four hours a day.
Who can use this service?
If you answer yes to any of the following questions, you cannot request items through the Texas Group Catalog until the issue or issues are resolved.
- Is your library card expired?
- Do you have overdue items?
- Do you have fines or fees on your library account?
You can check the status of your library account and renew items online at http://elpasopl.ent.sirsi.net. You may renew your library card in person at any library location. You will be asked to provide proof of address and photo identification at the time of renewal.
Are there fees for using this service?
A $3.00 postage/handling fee will be charged for all ILL items received for a patron.
The fee will be charged when the item is received by EPPL from another library.
This fee will not be waived for cancelled requests.
Postage fees must be paid at the time of pick up.
Patrons are responsible for keeping current all contact information in their library account. This fee will not be waived if the contact information is out of date and the patron is not contacted by the library.
A fine of $0.15 will be charged for each day an item is overdue.
A fine of $3.00 will be charged for all missing ILL paperwork, book straps or barcodes. Please do not remove any paperwork found in or on an interlibrary loan item.
An initial replacement fee of $50 will be charged for all lost ILL items. In addition to this fee, the retail price of the item will be charged to patrons for all lost ILL items once the price is obtained from the lending library.
Are there limits on what can be requested?
- Patrons are limited to five (5) requests per month.
- These five requests can be a combination of items from the El Paso Public Library catalog and the Texas Group Catalog.
- This limit cannot be waived by any library staff.
- These five requests can be a combination of items from the El Paso Public Library catalog and the Texas Group Catalog.
- Audio-visual materials, such as DVDs and CDs will neither be requested for our patrons nor sent to other participating libraries.
- Textbooks will neither be requested for our patrons nor sent to other participating libraries.
- Items that are less than a year old will also not be requested or sent.
- Only requests from the continental United States will be filled.
- Copies of articles can no longer be requested. Patrons are encouraged to use the TexShare Databases to obtain free full-text copies of articles.
The staff of the ILL Department may judge some items to be too fragile or rare to circulate outside of the library. In these cases, ILL items will be marked “in-house use only”. The patron may view the item at the library but cannot check out the item.
How long can I keep the item?
You can keep interlibrary loan items for three weeks. Note that interlibrary loan items cannot be renewed. Please return all interlibrary loan material on or before the due date.
If you understand the rules and restrictions for placing interlibrary loans, you may proceed to the Texas Group Catalog by clicking the link below:
How do search an item and place a request?
Use simple keywords as you would in any search engine. Try using words from a title; the name of the author, artist or director; or words that describe the subject matter. Your search results will always be presented in this order:
Resources owned by Texas libraries.
Resources available through libraries outside of Texas.
To narrow your search results, use the options on the left side. When you have decided on a specific record, click on the title. Scroll down and click on the Request Item button located to the right of the title information.
Choose El Paso Public Library as your home library from the resulting drop-down list. Click Continue and log in with your library card number and PIN. On the ‘Request this item’ screen, complete all required fields. Click Continue to submit your request. You will receive an e-mail when the item is received.
I don’t have an email address and one is required to place a request. What should I do?
If you do not have an email address, you may contact any library location. Staff will assist you in placing the request. They will receive any email notification for you and will update you as needed.
Whom should I contact if I have other questions?
Interlibrary Loan Department
Temporarily at the Judge Marquez Branch Library
610 N. Yarbrough
El Paso, TX 79915
Phone: 915-212-0357
Office Hours: Mondays 10 AM to 6 PM, Tuesday – Thursday, 11 AM to 7 PM and Fridays 1 PM to 6 PM.