Interlibrary Loan Instructions
The State Historical Society of Missouri's book collection is non-circulating; however, an interlibrary loan (ILL) service makes microfilm available to patrons who cannot visit our facility in Columbia. The Society's circulating microfilm collections include:
- newspapers
- selected high-demand county history books
- city and county directories
- land ownership maps
- periodicals
- Missouri Newspapers on Microfilm at the State Historical Society.
- Guide to Selected Holdings on Microfilm at the State Historical Society of Missouri
Further information about the Newspaper Library holdings is also available online through the University of Missouri online library catalog, which includes the holdings of the State Historical Society. Newspaper holdings can be found by title or by searching for a county or town name under Keyword. The catalog entries include previous titles, succeeding titles, and information about the Society’s holdings of each newspaper.
Members who with annual memberships at the Supporting level or higher may borrow microfilm directly and bypass the interlibrary loan procedure.
Members at the Patron level receive complimentary direct loans.
If you desire to initiate a loan, simply provide your local interlibrary loan librarian with the item citation. For newspapers a citation includes:
- town of publication
- title of the newspaper
- the date or time period needed
- title
- author
- publication date
- call number (if possible)
To cover postage and handling costs, the Society charges from $10.00 to $21.00(US) per interlibrary loan transaction depending on the locality and billing requirements of your local library. Some borrowing libraries pass this cost on to the patron, others do not.
Check with your local library regarding ILL policies. Payment is required in advance.
(1-2 reels, two weeks use)
| Missouri | $10.00 |
| Out-of-State | $10.00 |
| Alaska | $13.00 |
| Canada | $21.00 |
Society members receive a $1.00 discount on all loans.
Members who with annual memberships at the Supporting level or higher may borrow microfilm directly and bypass the interlibrary loan procedure.
Instructions for Interlibrary Loan librarians:
- Any public or college library in the United States may borrow a maximum of two reels of SHS microfilm at a time. Note that the limit is two reels per library, rather than two reels per patron. The loan period is two weeks
- .We require the standard ALA request form. If you do not have the standard form, you may use the Society's ILL form to submit requests.
You may use either our:- online form or
- Adobe pdf
or - MS Word format.
- Payment is required in advance
- Please submit a return addressed mailing label that includes the street address (The United Parcel Service cannot deliver to post office boxes.) Without a street address for a borrowing library, the Society must charge an additional $15.00 fee.
- Borrowing libraries are responsible for collecting ILL fees from the patron. The Society reserves the right to suspend interlibrary loan services to libraries with unpaid balances.
- Please return all interlibrary loan materials in sturdy cardboard boxes. Do not use Jiffy mailers.
- Ensure that borrowed SHS materials are used within the confines of the borrowing library's building.
- Note that the borrowing library is responsible for replacement or repair costs for any damage done to the interlibrary loan materials.
- The Society regrets that it cannot place any material on reserve.
Questions concerning the Society's interlibrary loan service can be directed to Loucile Malone at MaloneB@umsystem.edu.







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