Home » Academics » Library » Library Services

Library Services

Bethany Lutheran College | www.blc.edu

Student Resources

To check your borrowing record or renew items you have checked out:

  1. Choose Your Borrowing Record from the top blue bar in MnPALS.
  2. Enter your User ID/Barcode (14-digit barcode on your college ID) and Password (your last name).
  3. To display the items you have checked out and their due dates, click on Loans.
  4. You may also renew items through this screen. If you are having trouble renewing online, please contact us and we will assist in with renewing your items.

Faculty Resources

Community Resources

How to request materials through Interlibrary Loan (ILL)

When looking for an item, always begin by searching our collection first before initiating an Interlibrary Loan request from another MnPALS library:

  • Go to MnPALS to conduct a search of the Bethany collection.
  • If you do not see the item you are looking for in the results list, select All MnPALS Libraries from the Library and Collections drop down list and run the search again.
  • If the item is listed in the results list, look at the Library (Owned/Out) column to identify the MnPALS library where the item is located. If the item is available from more than one library, find the one geographically closest to Bethany such as MSU-Mankato (abbreviated MSU-M).
  • After identifying the library, click on the title of the item. This brings up the item record.
  • Click the Login button (located just underneath the "Request Item" column), and sign in with your User ID/Barcode (14-digit barcode on the back of your college ID) and Verification (your last name). Click Log On.
  • Once logged in, you will be returned to the item record. Click the Request Item button again.
  • You will be returned to the item page. Underneath the "Request Item" column, there will now be a link called "Request." A form will pop up with some options for requests. You may also be asked to check a box agreeing to respect the Copyright of the item. If you don't need the book after a certain day, please fill out the "Not Needed After" section with that date to avoid any unecessary requests on your account.
  • Though there are spaces to request a photocopy of a section of the book, that is up to the loaning library. Most libraries prefer to simply send the entire book.

If the other options don't work, please try this option to request materials through Interlibrary Loan

You are not restricted to requesting books found in MnPALS. You may also request books through the MnLINK system. Please direct any questions you might have to Ramsey Turner.

 

Loan Periods and Time Required
The lending library will determine the loan period. The due date can be found on the bookmark accompanying the material. The due date can be viewed on MnPALS by clicking on “Your Borrowing Record.”

Turnaround time varies depending on the type of material requested and location of the lending library. The “need-by” date does not speed up the process, but tells how long the ILL staff should attempt to fill your request. Please allow at least 2 weeks for the materials to arrive at our library.

Materials Not Available Through ILL

  • Owned Bethany materials that are available
  • Very recently published books
  • Entire issues of periodicals
  • Reference Books
  • Rare books or original manuscripts

Receiving ILL materials (returnable)
Books and other materials borrowed through interlibrary loan can be picked up at the circulation desk.

Receiving Journal Articles
Journal articles can be sent electronically. The article is posted to a website and you are notified via your BLC email account (subject line: Your Interlibrary Loan Material). The email will include the URL along with a PIN to retrieve the article. Material will be available on the website for 5 viewing days or 7 days after email notification, whichever comes first.

Returning ILL Materials
Books or other items borrowed through interlibrary loan must be returned to the BLC library circulation desk. You are responsible for returning materials by the due date.

Renewal Requests
Please contact Ramsey Turner to request a renewal 3-5 days prior to the due date.

Tracking Your ILL Requests
Go the the BLC Library Catalog and click on “Your Borrowing Record.” Type in your 14-digit barcode (user ID/barcode). Your last name will be your password. Click on “ILL Active Requests” to see the status of your current requests.

Share