LiLI Express

LiLI Express Logo

LiLI Express makes it possible for your customers to borrow from other libraries where they travel to work, study, recreate or visit. There's no cost for you and great convenience for them.

By agreeing to be a LiLI Express library, your customers can use the collections of other LiLI Express libraries in Idaho. Best of all, they won't have to pay any borrowing fees or wait for an interlibrary loan.

Sign up for LiLI Express (Agreement in PDF Document Icon and Word Document Icon formats) by faxing the completed agreement to 208-334-4016 at any time.

LiLI Express Participating Libraries

A Trip to Anytown Library - The story of a LiLI Express Transaction

Frequently Asked Questions - Library Staff

Frequently Asked Questions - Patrons

Marketing Materials (Includes poster, brochure, and sample procedures)


A Trip to Anytown Library

LiLI Express Logo

Jane Doe lives in Hometown, Idaho, but commutes to Anytown, Idaho. Because Jane's Hometown Library and Anytown library are both members, Jane can participate in LiLI Express services.

To check her books out at Anytown Library, Jane shows her valid Hometown library card and a picture ID. She reads the Anytown Library's LiLI Express borrowing privileges and signs the
Anytown Library's LiLI Express Borrowing AgreementWord Document Icon .

Meanwhile, an Anytown Library staff member calls the Hometown Library to verify that Jane is a patron in good standing. With the paper work done, Anytown Library creates Jane's patron record and the books are checked out to her.

Jane is happy. After reading her selections, she returns the materials to the Anytown Library where she borrowed them.


Frequently Asked Questions - Patrons

LiLI Express Logo

Q1. What is LiLI Express?

LiLI is Libraries Linking Idaho, an alliance of libraries and library consortia working together to bring networked library services to the citizens of Idaho. LiLI Express is one of the services achieving that goal. It is a reciprocal borrowing program that makes it possible for customers of one library to borrow from other participating libraries when traveling to work, study, recreate or visit.

Q2. How can I use the LiLI Express service?

When you find yourself at a LiLI Express participating library, simply show them your current home library card and a picture ID. The library will then ask you to review the LiLI Express guidelines and issue to you a visitor library card with a LiLI Express logo on it.

Q3. How do I find out which libraries participate?

The list of participating libraries is available online here.

Q4. What do I do if the person at the check-out desk doesn’t know about LiLI Express even though the library supposedly participates?

Ask the staff member to check with their supervisor, or let them know that there is information about LiLI Express, including a list of participating libraries, on the LiLI Website.

Q5. How many things can I check out? How long can I use them?

The number of items and length of use depend upon the lending libraries policies. Borrowers are subject to the borrowing terms of the library in which you check out books.

Q6. Where do I return the materials I checked out?

Always return materials to the library at which you checked them out.

Q7. What happens if I lose something I checked out from a library or I return it late?

When you check materials out from a library, you agree to follow their policies. If you lose something, you will need to repay library replacement costs. If you return it late, you will be responsible for paying any overdue fines that have accrued.

Q8. Can I get a card if there is no library service in my town?

If you live in an area with no library service, you may obtain a non-resident “home library” card at any of the participating, publicly-funded public libraries by paying the non-resident fee of that library.

Q9. Does this mean I have a new home library?

Your “home library” is defined as either:

  1. The library whose primary mission is to serve you by virtue of enrollment, residence, or employment, or
  2. A library that issues you non-resident card as a result of your paying their locally established non-resident fee.

Q10. Why can’t I just use Interlibrary Loan?

You can. LiLI Express is simply an alternative method to accessing library materials. You may wish to make use of another library if you are traveling for work or pleasure to another part of the state. Or, if you need an item from a participating library faster than ILL services can deliver it, you may choose to drive to that location and borrow it using the LiLI Express service.

Q11. Can a library find out my past borrowing history?

When you borrow through the LiLI Express program, you are agreeing to guidelines that allow the lending library to contact your home library to determine if you have any outstanding fees or fines. Information regarding titles, topics, or other personal information will not be shared.

Q12. Do I have to pay to use LiLI Express?

LiLI Express is a free service to the patrons who use it and to the libraries who choose to participate.


Frequently Asked Questions - Staff

LiLI Express Logo

Q1. How can my library sign up to participate?

To sign up, simply complete the LiLI Express Agreement, and fax it to the Idaho Commission for Libraries at 208-334-4016. LiLI Express services will be active January 1, 2004; although your library can sign up at any time.

Q2. Who should sign the LiLI Express Agreement?

The agreement has a place for two signatures. The Library Director will always sign the agreements. And, for libraries that require additional authority, a place is provided for a board chair, superintendent, or city manager to sign.

Q3. What happens after my library signs up?

After your library’s registration form is received at ICFL, the library name will be added to the participating libraries list and a packet of materials will be sent to you. Materials will include stickers to affix to LiLI Express customers’ library cards, sample procedures and documents that can be customized for your library, and other marketing materials to help inform your customers of their LiLI Express options.

Q4. What does it cost to participate in LiLI Express?

LiLI Express is a free service coordinated by the Idaho Commission for Libraries through the Libraries Linking Idaho program. There is no cost for a library to join, and no borrowing costs for the library customers who choose to take advantage of the service.

Q5. Is LiLI Express going to mean more work for circulation staff?

Libraries who have participated in similar programs have indicated that they did not see a significant change in work load. When a LiLI Express customer wants to check out a book from your library, the transaction might look like this: Example Procedure.

Q6. How will my library’s home patrons benefit from LiLI Express?

Your customers will benefit with improved services. Now their expectations can be met with access to wider selections. Plus, they’ll have the convenience they enjoy by having options to either drive to a nearby library to borrow an item or use the traditional ILL services you already provide to them.

Q7. What if a user takes all our books?

The LiLI Express service was designed to allow for local customization. Your library can impose restrictions on the number and type of materials non-resident borrowers can check out. In addition, you may choose to have borrowers sign off on their responsibilities. Of course, any publicly funded lending institution can follow the steps outlined in Idaho Code 33-2620 regarding the failure to return materials borrowed.

Q8. What’s the incentive for my customers to keep using their home library?

Your library’s services are reflection of your community. In addition to meeting their primary needs through traditional lending services, your customers still want to take advantage of your reading programs, electronic information services, and the other local services you provide based on identified community needs. These services, and their need for them, will not change as a result of their occasional reciprocal borrowing needs.

Q9. If my customer needs a special item from another library, why not just use ILL?

Interlibrary Loan is a wonderful service to find specialized items for library customers, and the need for ILL will not go away by participating in LiLI Express. LiLI Express will be an alternative option for customers willing to drive a short distance to retrieve a needed item, as opposed to waiting for 2 or more days for ILL delivery. This kind of LiLI express option also saves money that the library would otherwise have spent on ILL services to request and ship an item.

Q10. How will I know if a borrower is in good standing?

Participating LiLI Express libraries have agreed to respond to queries regarding the status of patrons registered at their libraries. This means that you can contact a patron’s home library and inquire as to outstanding fines or fees.

Q11. Will LiLI Express extend to Idaho citizens that do not pay property taxes for a local city library or district?

Yes. Residents in unserved areas of the state have the option of paying a non-resident fee for library services outside of their area. LiLI Express will recognize the non-resident cards held by those customers.

Q12. Can we still keep our lending policies for kids?

Sure. Regardless of a borrower’s home library’s lending policies, they will still abide by the lending policies of the library from which they are checking out materials.

Q13. What kind of statistics will we need to keep?

The Idaho Commission for Libraries will periodically request the following information from participating libraries: (1) number of LiLI Express patrons using your library and (2) the number of items borrowed by LiLI Express customers in your library

Q14. After my library joins, can we withdraw from the program?

Any library participating in the RBI program may discontinue participation by submitting at least a 30-day, written notification to the Idaho Commission for Libraries.


LiLI Express in Your Library

LiLI Express Logo

PosterPDF Icon: PDF Document Icon (8.5" x 11")

Open poster and print. Space available at bottom (in ticket area) to include library information.

Customer Brochure

Brochure - Inside Page PDF Icon: PDF Document Icon

Brochure - Outside Page PDF Icon: PDF Document Icon

Open brochure and print both inside and outside pages. After creating double-sided copies, fold brochure in half with LiLI Express logo on the front and list of participating libraries on the back side.

Sample Press Release about LiLI Express ServiceWord Document Icon

Sample Library LiLI Express Borrowing PoliciesWord Document Icon

 

 

 


LiLI Express Participating Libraries

LiLI Express Logo

The list of participating libraries will be updated monthly.