UPDATE 8/12/24: There is an end in sight! We have heard from the Maine State Library that interlibrary loan requesting will be available again beginning on Tuesday, September 3. In the early days, service will likely be a little slower than we've been used to. There is a backlog of items waiting to get back to their home libraries as soon as delivery resumes. It will also take some time for both the new vendor and the libraries to get used to new processes. Still, we will be excited just to have things moving between libraries again! If you have questions or concerns as interlibrary loan service resumes, email Allison at aatkins@kennebunklibrary.org or call 207-985-2173 x102.
Interruption in Minerva/MaineCat Requesting this Summer
Unfortunately, Minerva and MaineCat requesting will be unavailable for a while this summer. Interlibrary loans are transported between Maine libraries via a courier hired by the Maine State Library. The contract with the current vendor expires at the end of June and the new contract is an evolving situation. Because of this, we don't yet know when this interruption will begin or how long it will last. We will keep you updated regularly. As soon as we have information, we will pass it along.
You will still be able to use the Minerva catalog to request items from our collection, just not those from other libraries. The good news is that Maine Reciprocal Borrowing is still in place. If we do not have an item that you want, you can use your KFL card at any library on this list. Because we won't have transport, you would just need to pick it up and return it there. We also have reciprocal agreements with Graves Memorial Library in Kennebunkport and the Wells Public Library. If you live in Kennebunk or Arundel, you are able to get library cards there.
We will have purchase request forms at each circulation desk. If there's something you want that we don't have, feel free to fill one out. While we can't buy everything, it will help us decide what needs to be added. We'll also be looking into adding some additional titles to Overdrive.
I'm not going to sugar coat this - this is going to be frustrating and it could last for a few months as things get sorted out. We will do our best to help you find the materials that you need. Please be extra kind to staff, who will also be having a frustrating summer. If you have questions or concerns, please bring them to Michelle or to me.
-Allison Atkins
Assistant Director/Head of Adult Services
(207)985-2173 x102
Maine Reciprocal Borrowing Program
KFL is a participant in the Maine Reciprocal Borrowing program, allowing our patrons to go to other libraries and check out items off the shelf. Items will have to be returned to the library you got them from, and items cannot be placed on hold.
You need to have your library card with you; staff will not be able to look you up by ID.
Local participating libraries include:
- Baxter Memorial Library- Gorham*
- Berwick Public Library- Berwick
- D.A. Hurd Library- North Berwick
- Falmouth Memorial Library- Falmouth
- Freeport Community Library- Freeport
- Goodall Memorial Library- Sanford
- Libby Memorial Library- Old Orchard Beach
- McArthur Public Library- Biddeford
- Merrill Memorial Library- Yarmouth
- Parsons Memorial Library- Alfred
- Portland Public Library- Portland
- Rice Public Library- Kittery
- Scarborough Public Library- Scarborough
- South Berwick Public Library- South Berwick
- South Portland Public Library- South Portland
- SMCC Library- South Portland
- Springvale Public Library- Springvale
- Thomas Memorial Library- Cape Elizabeth
- University of New England- Biddeford/Portland
- Walker Memorial Library- Westbrook*
- Wells Public Library- Wells
- York Public Library- York
*Libraries participating in Intra-Minerva Reciprocal Borrowing only
For a complete list of participating libraries, click here
Digital Alternatives
KFL offers our patrons access to multiple e-book and e-audiobook platforms. CloudLibrary and Libby can be found in your appstore. For more information, click here.
Kanopy offers a wide variety of movies, documentaries, foreign films, classics, children’s content and more, and can also be found in your app store. For more information, click here.
A message from the Maine State Library and Maine Infonet:
Sharing between libraries is one of the best and most valuable services that libraries provide to their members.
The ability to smoothly deliver materials between libraries is what makes this work. The contract for the book delivery service is held by the Maine State Library and is subject to State Procurement Laws and procedures. This contract was required to go to through a competitive bidding process (Request for Proposal, or RFP) this year since all contracts that use public funds have to ensure competitive bidding at the state level.
Contracting as a result of this RFP for book delivery is currently working its way through a legal appeals process. Because of this transition to a new vendor who won the competitive bid, and an appeal to overturn that decision by an unsuccessful bidder, there will be an interruption to book delivery between libraries at the end of the current contract which expires on June 30th.
We do not currently have firm dates for the length of this interruption, but we expect that there will be no delivery for at least six weeks this summer, starting on July 1.
In anticipation of this interruption, the Maine InfoNet Board and the Minerva Executive Board have made the difficult decision to turn off all requesting between libraries within the MaineCat environment, including Minerva, MILS and URSUS, as of June 4th.
Patrons will still be able to request and place holds on locally owned items, but will not be able to request materials from other libraries.
Turning off requesting between libraries will allow materials currently in transit to be delivered and will reduce the flow of new material entering delivery. This will help get as many items back to their owning libraries as possible and will help ensure materials are not stranded in the delivery system.
We know that this is a challenging situation that we are all facing. We recognize and feel the same frustration with this situation that you all are feeling. Your local library provides many other valuable services to your community, and we encourage everyone to explore those many services.
If you would like more details regarding this, please visit the FAQ that further explains this situation: Van Delivery FAQ