Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a limit to the number of items I can request through MnLINK?
You are limited to 10 requests at any one time.
Requests count toward your limit from the time they are placed until the time they are returned to the owning library. When this limit is reached, you will not be able to place new requests until items are returned.
How will I know when my item is ready to check out?
It typically takes anywhere from 7 to 48 days to obtain an item, depending on a number of factors. Lake Agassiz Regional Library’s web catalog system will automatically notify you by email or phone when your item has been received and is ready for you to check out.
How will I know if my item is unavailable?
You can track the status of your requests by logging on to MnLINK using your library card number or you can contact the librarians at your local branch and ask them to check your MnLINK record for you.
How can I track my requests?
You can check the status of your request by signing in to MnLINK and clicking on My Requests in the left-hand navigation bar. This will bring up a new page, then click on the red Search button.
What does the Status of my request mean?
Within the My Requests window MnLINK uses a particular set of Statuses to explain what is currently happening with your request. Unfortunately, these may not always be clear. Here are the most common Statuses and what they mean:
Under Library Review: This is a new request and has not yet left Lake Agassiz Regional Library.
In Process: Owning libraries are checking to see if the item is available.
Cancellation Requested: The request has been cancelled by you or by LARL. The request will remain on your record until the owning library confirms the cancellation.
In Transit: The item has been shipped and should arrive shortly.
Arrived-Your Library Will Contact You: This means it has arrived at Lake Agassiz Regional Library and is not necessarily yet at your specified pickup location. Please check your account to see if it is ready for pickup at your local branch.
Currently Unavailable Through MnLINK: This can mean several things. It can mean that the item is checked out at every available library and is temporarily unavailable or it can mean that the item is not owned, reference-only or otherwise permanently unavailable.
Popular items are almost always the former; wait a few weeks and request them again. Old or esoteric items can be either. If you are unsure, please contact your local branch. LARL staff can help you determine whether or not the item is likely to be available through MnLINK at a later date. You may also use the “Suggest A Purchase” form (you will need to login to your account first).
Why has my request disappeared from my record?
Requests are automatically removed from patron records after having been set to Status “Currently Unavailable Through MnLINK” for 30 days. Requests are manually removed from patron records if they are for items available from within the Lake Agassiz Regional Library system.
Why have I received only Volume One of an item when the MnLINK record included several volumes?
This is because many libraries catalog each volume separately. If an item is cataloged by the owning library with two or more separate barcodes, they must be requested one volume at a time. Please submit separate requests for each individual volume, with “Volume Two” “Volume Three” and so forth entered in the TITLE field, after the title.
Why do I keep getting only Disc One of a multi-disc set?
Most commonly the previous question applies to DVDs. Even if you have selected a MnLINK record for an entire six-disc box-set, if the set is catalogued by the owning library with two or more separate barcodes, they must be requested one disc at a time. Please submit separate requests for each disc, with “Disc Two”, “Disc Three” and so forth entered in the TITLE field, after the title.
Example: “Title: The X-files, the complete first season DISC TWO”
How do I cancel a request?
You can cancel your requests by signing in to MnLINK, clicking on My Requests, clicking Search, finding the request you want to cancel, clicking Cancel and clicking the Cancel This Request button.
Please do not attempt to cancel requests for items that you have already returned.
Why can’t I sign in to MnLINK?
Usually this means there is a problem with your card. If your card has expired, or if your card has fines in excess of $30, or if you are otherwise prevented from checking out materials from Lake Agassiz Regional Library, you will be unable to place requests in MnLINK.
If you have a Lake Agassiz Regional Library card, contact your local branch to see that you are in good standing. If your card was issued by a different library system, you will need to be in good standing with both Lake Agassiz Regional Library and with your home library system.
Why have I received a bill for $100?
If you lose an Interlibrary Loan item, or it is long enough overdue that you have received a bill, the computer system will apply a default charge of $100 to your account. This is a placeholder and doesn’t necessarily reflect the actual cost of the item. Unfortunately, the amount of time before a bill is generated varies from library system to library system. Consequently, we won’t know how much you really owe until the library system that sent the item sends us a bill. Please contact your LARL branch librarian or LINK Site coordinator to learn the exact charge.
Why have I received the wrong item?
Unfortunately, this is not a perfect system. Sometimes, for a variety of reasons, items arrive that don’t match the request. Please understand that human error is a regrettable but inevitable part of the process. Return the item you have received in error and re-submit the request. If necessary, when re-submitting the request, please amend the request data to say “4th Edition Only, Please” or other relevant information at the end of the TITLE field.
What if my search doesn’t produce the desired results?
If your search fails to find a single record for the item you want, check your spelling. If you’ve spelled everything correctly, but are still unable to find what you are searching for, it may be possible that the item you are trying to request is not owned at any library within the MnLINK network. If it is an item that you have reason to think is available through MnLINK, but for some reason the search is fruitless, you can try creating your own blank request. Click Create Request on the left-hand menu. This brings up a blank request form. Complete the fields, providing as much information as possible to identify the item, and click SUBMIT.
How do I submit a National Request?
If an item is not available through MnLINK, you may request that we try to obtain the item from libraries elsewhere in the United States. This request must be submitted in person at one of our branches. There may be a fee, which must be paid in advance, and which is not refundable if we are unable to obtain the item.
ILL FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a limit to the number of items I can request through MnLINK?
You are limited to 10 requests at any one time.
Requests count toward your limit from the time they are placed until the time they are returned to the owning library. When this limit is reached, you will not be able to place new requests until items are returned.
How will I know when my item is ready to check out?
It typically takes anywhere from 7 to 48 days to obtain an item, depending on a number of factors. Lake Agassiz Regional Library’s web catalog system will automatically notify you by email or phone when your item has been received and is ready for you to check out.
How will I know if my item is unavailable?
You can track the status of your requests by logging on to MnLINK using your library card number or you can contact the librarians at your local branch and ask them to check your MnLINK record for you.
How can I track my requests?
You can check the status of your request by signing in to MnLINK and clicking on My Requests in the left-hand navigation bar. This will bring up a new page, then click on the red Search button.
What does the Status of my request mean?
Within the My Requests window MnLINK uses a particular set of Statuses to explain what is currently happening with your request. Unfortunately, these may not always be clear. Here are the most common Statuses and what they mean:
Why has my request disappeared from my record?
Requests are automatically removed from patron records after having been set to Status “Currently Unavailable Through MnLINK” for 30 days. Requests are manually removed from patron records if they are for items available from within the Lake Agassiz Regional Library system.
Why have I received only Volume One of an item when the MnLINK record included several volumes?
This is because many libraries catalog each volume separately. If an item is cataloged by the owning library with two or more separate barcodes, they must be requested one volume at a time. Please submit separate requests for each individual volume, with “Volume Two” “Volume Three” and so forth entered in the TITLE field, after the title.
Why do I keep getting only Disc One of a multi-disc set?
Most commonly the previous question applies to DVDs. Even if you have selected a MnLINK record for an entire six-disc box-set, if the set is catalogued by the owning library with two or more separate barcodes, they must be requested one disc at a time. Please submit separate requests for each disc, with “Disc Two”, “Disc Three” and so forth entered in the TITLE field, after the title.
Example: “Title: The X-files, the complete first season DISC TWO”
How do I cancel a request?
You can cancel your requests by signing in to MnLINK, clicking on My Requests, clicking Search, finding the request you want to cancel, clicking Cancel and clicking the Cancel This Request button.
Please do not attempt to cancel requests for items that you have already returned.
Why can’t I sign in to MnLINK?
Usually this means there is a problem with your card. If your card has expired, or if your card has fines in excess of $30, or if you are otherwise prevented from checking out materials from Lake Agassiz Regional Library, you will be unable to place requests in MnLINK.
If you have a Lake Agassiz Regional Library card, contact your local branch to see that you are in good standing. If your card was issued by a different library system, you will need to be in good standing with both Lake Agassiz Regional Library and with your home library system.
Why have I received a bill for $100?
If you lose an Interlibrary Loan item, or it is long enough overdue that you have received a bill, the computer system will apply a default charge of $100 to your account. This is a placeholder and doesn’t necessarily reflect the actual cost of the item. Unfortunately, the amount of time before a bill is generated varies from library system to library system. Consequently, we won’t know how much you really owe until the library system that sent the item sends us a bill. Please contact your LARL branch librarian or LINK Site coordinator to learn the exact charge.
Why have I received the wrong item?
Unfortunately, this is not a perfect system. Sometimes, for a variety of reasons, items arrive that don’t match the request. Please understand that human error is a regrettable but inevitable part of the process. Return the item you have received in error and re-submit the request. If necessary, when re-submitting the request, please amend the request data to say “4th Edition Only, Please” or other relevant information at the end of the TITLE field.
What if my search doesn’t produce the desired results?
If your search fails to find a single record for the item you want, check your spelling. If you’ve spelled everything correctly, but are still unable to find what you are searching for, it may be possible that the item you are trying to request is not owned at any library within the MnLINK network. If it is an item that you have reason to think is available through MnLINK, but for some reason the search is fruitless, you can try creating your own blank request. Click Create Request on the left-hand menu. This brings up a blank request form. Complete the fields, providing as much information as possible to identify the item, and click SUBMIT.
How do I submit a National Request?
If an item is not available through MnLINK, you may request that we try to obtain the item from libraries elsewhere in the United States. This request must be submitted in person at one of our branches. There may be a fee, which must be paid in advance, and which is not refundable if we are unable to obtain the item.
Other Questions?
If you have any other questions, please contact library staff.