Did you know that the DeKalb Public Library is part of a consortium of over 1200 libraries in Northern Illinois? Your card gives you access to all of these libraries. Not only can you request items from these libraries to be sent to you, but you can also visit those libraries and check out items in person with your DeKalb Public Library card! Don’t want to drive all the way back to return those items? No problem! You can return all of the other library’s items to DKPL just like you would with ours.
Not only that, but you can use your library card at any public library in Illinois. Show your DKPL card to the circulation staff and let them know you’d like to be a reciprocal borrower. The library will call us to make sure you’re a user in good standing, then give you a barcode you can use at their library. If they are not part of our consortium, you’ll have to return those items to that library directly. There may be a restriction on the number of type of items you can check out, as well as the length of time you may keep the items.
If you’re not able to be at another library in person and none of the libraries in our consortium have what you’re looking for, we can request books through an interlibrary loan system. You must be a DKPL patron and the book must be owned by another library in Illlinois. At this time we are not able to borrow movies or music through interlibrary loan. Stop by the reference desk and we’ll be happy to look up any book you’re interested in to see if we can borrow it! Unfortunately, we have no control over how long it might take the book to arrive, or the amount of time you’ll be able to check it out.
Would you like help placing an item on hold from another library? Contact the Adult Services Department at (815) 756-9568 ext. 2150 or email us at [email protected].