As a full member of the Reaching Across Illinois Library System (RAILS) the Lansing Public Library cooperates with the other libraries in the area, allowing us to borrow items from other libraries to fulfill your requests.

Information Desk staff will be happy to order the items you wish to borrow from another library.

How does this work?

Items will be delivered to Lansing Public Library.
You will be notified by phone when the item is available for pickup.
Requested items can only be checked out by the requesting borrower.
Patrons return items to Lansing Public Library and we arrange for it to return to the owning library.

Requesting Items in SWAN

Lansing cardholders place their own requests in SWAN.
Just search the catalog and click place hold.
Choose to pick up the item at Lansing Public Library, or any participating library listed in the drop-down.
You will be contacted by phone, email, or text (depending upon your preference in your account) when the item has arrived and is ready for pick-up.
Requested items can only be checked out by the requesting borrower.
Note: picking up the item at another library does not let you benefit from Lansing cardholders' fine-free privilege. You will incur overdue fines for late items checked out at other libraries.

Requesting Items in I-Share

You cannot place your own requests in I-Share. Information Staff will be happy to assist you!
Contact the Information Desk (in person, by phone (708) 474-2447 ext. 109, email or Request I-Share/OCLC Items Form.
We will need your name, phone number, library card barcode, and information about the item: author, title, ISBN and format (book, large print book, audiobook CD, DVD, etc.) 
You will be contacted by phone, email, or text (depending upon your preference in your account) when the item has arrived. Requested items can only be checked out by the requesting borrower.

Requesting Items in WorldCat

You can place your own requests in WorldCat! When you find an item you would like to request, click the "request item" button. A request form will prompt you for your patron information. 
You will be contacted by phone, email, or text (depending upon your preference in your account) when the item has arrived. Requested items can only be checked out by the requesting borrower.
Cost: We make every effort to find the lowest cost source for materials. We do not charge as long as we can borrow the item within the state of Illinois for free. Some colleges charge for loans. You will be contacted if your item will incur a fee. If we have to borrow an item from a library outside of Illinois, you will be charged $5.00. This fee applies even if you do not pick-up the requested item.
Note: users must have a valid Lansing Library Card in our database to use this resource. Our contract with OCLC does not allow us to grant access to users from other towns.