If the Library does not own a book that you need, the Interlibrary Loan (ILL) Department will try to borrow that item from another library for you.

Any Hialeah Resident Library cardholder in good standing is eligible to use ILL. You can make up to three ILL requests at a time.

The ILL Department can borrow books that are not available from the Hialeah Public Libraries; but the following items are not available for interlibrary loan.

New books (published within the last 12 months.)

• Reference books

• Genealogies

• U.S. Census microfilm

• Sound or Video materials

• Entire copies of journals

• College textbooks

To place an interlibrary loan request: 

1. Request an Interlibrary Loan form at the Reference Desk.
2. Provide the author, title and if needed, the edition and the year of publication.
3. Also include your name, library card number, and telephone number.
4. Once your request is made, it takes a minimum of three weeks for the loaning library to send the material.  The requests are sent via OCLC to the central State Library, and dispatched to the lending library from there.  No requests from specific libraries are made.
5. Books are available at the discretion of the loaning library.  If you need additional time to use the material, please contact the Interlibrary Loan Librarian. The loaning library grants the permissions for renewals, not Hialeah Public Library. We cannot request renewals for items that are already overdue. If you are leaving town, please contact the Interlibrary Loan Librarian so the request can be withdrawn.

Fees and penalties for ILL overdue and lost items

• The fine for over due items is $0.25 per day.  Materials that are lost or not returned will be billed at the cost of replacement plus a processing fee of $5.00. Please make the effort to have books returned in time to send them back to the lending institution.  Interlibrary loan participation is dependent upon good standing with other ILL programs.  Please make an effort not to abuse the privilege.