Interlibrary Loan

FirstSearch is a fee-based online service that provides access to a wide range of reference databases. OLIS subscribes to the service on behalf of the member libraries of the Library of Rhode Island (LORI). Library staff who work in LORI libraries with a valid LORI account can use the service.

What you can do with FirstSearch

• Citations and Reference Research: Researchers and library staff can find and select resources in thousands of library collections.
• Interlibrary Loan: when a citation is found but the item is not available locally, a librarian may submit an ILL request which will be processed by the OLIS ILL Clearinghouse.

Register for a FirstSearch Account

The FirstSearch account applicant should send an email to Lori DeCesare from their library issued email account with "New FirstSearch Account" in the subject line and include the following information in the email body:

• First name
• Last name
• LORI delivery code
• Library name
• City, State
• Title/position
• Library phone number & extension
• an 8-character alpha/numeric password (no special characters)

Account Help

If you have trouble logging in or need to edit your FirstSearch account, email (include FirstSearch access in subject line) or call Lori DeCesare at 401-574-9307.

1. Log in to FirstSearch
2. Enter your LORI username, password, and your library's LORI code
3. Click "Okay"
4. For assistance in searching please refer to the FirstSearch online help.
5. Click the item to view the entire record in detail. Verify there are domestic (US) lenders by clicking "Libraries worldwide that own item." If this is the correct record, click "ILL" button at the top of the screen.
6. Fill out the form.
7. Comments:  if you use the "Comments" field, please indicate who the comments are for, e.g. Kelley/Clearinghouse, or reminders to yourself or your staff.
8. Submit.
9. Keep a copy (electronic or print) of the request for your records and exit FirstSearch.
10. The library will receive a copy of the request via email.
11. Email OLIS ILL Clearinghouse with the title of the item and the ILL number when the item is received.
12. Email OLIS ILL Clearinghouse with the title of the item and the ILL number when the item is returned.

1. Check for incoming requests daily and respond promptly.
   (Request should arrive through the library's ILL email account. Notify OLIS if the ILL email for your library is incorrect).
2. Verify the availability of the material requested. If available and:
   • the request was received via an automated network, ship and process the material according to local procedures.
   • the request was received via a non-automated network,
     • ship the item with a copy of the request.
     • ship the item with "Due Date" information on the item itself.
3. If not available
   • if the request was received via an automated network, transfer the hold manually to the next supplying library, or cancel the request if no additional copy is available.
   • if the request was received via a non-automated network, manually forward the request to the next supplying library specified by the requesting library. If there is no additional supplying library, notify the requesting library's Resource Sharing Contact that the item is not available.
4. Respond to renewal requests within 3 business days. If the supplying library fails to respond, the loan period will be automatically extended.
5. Maintain counts of items loaned to other libraries to allow reporting of fiscal year ILL statistics in the Resource Sharing LORI Certification of items loaned to RI libraries and to out-of-state libraries. 

Refer to the LORI Resource Sharing Working Group LibGuide for additional resources.

Select the best method for requesting a specific title or article in this priority order:

1. Search your local (your library's or automated network's) catalog. If the item is available for loan, place a hold/request and notify patron when the item arrives.
2. Check if the item is available in other in-state libraries. (You can also use FirstSearch to identify items owned by LORI member libraries).  
3. Use the LORI ILL Request form to request from libraries found in #2 above.
4. If the item is not owned/available in a LORI library, go to FirstSearch to pursue your request via the OLIS ILL Clearinghouse. (OLIS requests only from contiguous US libraries).
5. FirstSearch requests for items available in LORI Libraries will be declined and the library asked to submit through LORI (see #3). If an item requested through FirstSearch is owned but not available for loan through the LORI ILL Request Form, please add a note in the FirstSearch request.
6. Contact the Resource Sharing Contact for the LORI supplying library directly if the request is not answered in 3 business days. For FirstSearch/out of state requests, email OLIS ILL Clearinghouse if you do not receive any confirmation in 2 business days.
7. Notify the OLIS ILL Clearinghouse when you receive and return items requested through FirstSearch.
8. If you need to renew a LORI item, contact the supplying library at least 48 hours before the original due date. (Request renewals for FirstSearch items through the OLIS ILL Clearinghouse).
9. To return, pack and label materials accordingly and follow normal LORI delivery procedures (or mail non-LORI items). If the item is from the Clearinghouse, notify the OLIS ILL Clearinghouse.
10. Maintain counts of items received from other libraries to allow reporting of fiscal year ILL statistics in the Resource Sharing LORI Certification of items borrowed from RI libraries and to out-of-state libraries. 

Refer to the LORI Resource Sharing Working Group LibGuide for additional resources.