 Editor in Chief Bill   | 16 Sep 2025 3:02 p.m. PST |
Have you ever made use of an Inter Library Loan between library systems to obtain a book you needed for miniature wargaming? |
 etotheipi  | 16 Sep 2025 3:10 p.m. PST |
Wargaming Book? No. History Book with application to wargaming? Yes. |
DisasterWargamer  | 16 Sep 2025 3:17 p.m. PST |
Yes – many times for scenario research, terrain, uniforms and other purposes. |
 Dal Gavan | 16 Sep 2025 3:38 p.m. PST |
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| jdpintex | 16 Sep 2025 3:50 p.m. PST |
When I was working on my Masters Thesis a long time ago. Never for war gaming though. |
| Oberlindes Sol LIC | 16 Sep 2025 4:06 p.m. PST |
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| robert piepenbrink | 16 Sep 2025 4:20 p.m. PST |
Certainly. But I was a military history major, so there's a lot of gray area in there. |
 Parzival | 16 Sep 2025 4:37 p.m. PST |
Yes, though not specifically for wargaming. |
 gamertom | 16 Sep 2025 5:14 p.m. PST |
Yes, but it was several decades ago when information was not as readily available as it is today. |
| 79thPA | 16 Sep 2025 5:59 p.m. PST |
I use it to read history books that are mentioned on TMP. It is a great resource, and I have a very helpful and friendly local library staff. |
| Grelber | 16 Sep 2025 6:27 p.m. PST |
Yes, and I was very happy when I ended up in Colorado Springs, where the library system does not charge for use of interlibrary loan. Grelber |
 Old Contemptible | 16 Sep 2025 8:24 p.m. PST |
It's been a while but yes I have. |
| Old Contemptible | 16 Sep 2025 8:27 p.m. PST |
Someone charges for interlibrary loans? That's why you pay taxes. I have never been charge for anything at a public library except 25 cents to make a copy. |
| emckinney | 16 Sep 2025 8:52 p.m. PST |
$10 USD for an ILL in our little town (which is in a much larger urban area). OTOH, I had cards for 5 public library systems and a major university, so a lot of material was available. On the gripping hand, university parking was over $10. USD |
| Zephyr1 | 16 Sep 2025 8:54 p.m. PST |
"Someone charges for interlibrary loans? " My county library ditched ILL over 15 years ago. They did have a small fee the last couple of years. I'd (still) gladly pay it to get some of the books I'd want(ed) to read.
Now the excuse they give you is that you can download digital copies for free (yeah, right, not everything has been digitized…) |
| DisasterWargamer | 16 Sep 2025 9:30 p.m. PST |
NO charge for ILL in my area – have gotten books from around the county – no overseas requests |
 Sgt Slag | 16 Sep 2025 10:20 p.m. PST |
Yes, books on gaming, crafting, figure painting, and RPG books. My local library can't compete with the Minneapolis and St. Paul libraries purses and collections. I've even found books in smaller libraries who had rare books no one else had. It's an amazing service, and it is FREE in my city and State. Cheers! |
| TimePortal | 16 Sep 2025 10:25 p.m. PST |
I have sed the services number of times. They were very good during my research on the various articles. I got several on the Siam-Burma war written in Siam from Hawaii. Got books from Oklahoma and West Point. Great service if your local is a member. Another source is the Federal National Reserve system located at many university library. |
| The Last Conformist | 16 Sep 2025 10:57 p.m. PST |
"Need" is a funny word. But I've used ILL to access books I've wanted to read for wargaming purposes. |
| panzerCDR | 17 Sep 2025 5:05 a.m. PST |
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| khanscom | 17 Sep 2025 8:56 a.m. PST |
Borrowed a copy of Siborne's Waterloo Campaign some 50 years ago for the OoB information. |
| troopwo | 17 Sep 2025 9:04 a.m. PST |
Many, but not for gaming. |
| arthur1815 | 17 Sep 2025 9:09 a.m. PST |
I've used it to borrow history books to research a period or scenario, but never to obtain a book on wargaming itself. |
| Andrew Walters | 17 Sep 2025 9:45 a.m. PST |
Regularly. My library makes it really easy. If you search for a book and it doesn't pop up you get a Link+ button right there. If you haven't done this, ask your library. It's the 21st century and libraries are keeping up better than most institutions. |
| Micman | 17 Sep 2025 9:51 a.m. PST |
Several times. Although my library had a copy of War Plan Orange so I was able to take it home that day. |
| Ran The Cid | 17 Sep 2025 10:20 a.m. PST |
All the time. Many of the Chicago suburban libraries are integrated, super easy to order in any book in the system. Reminder – check out those (historical) books. Books don't sit on the shelf forever, they will be purged without readers checking them out. |
| HMS Exeter | 17 Sep 2025 10:28 a.m. PST |
Back in the 70s-80s, a few times while in college for class work. I had to go to the Library of Congress to photocopy a book I couldn't access any other way, again for school. Dimes get heavy after a while. Not too long ago I went to the USNA library to access a 2 volume set I couldn't get any other way. Nice library. Wonderfully accommodating of visitors. |
 20thmaine | 17 Sep 2025 12:44 p.m. PST |
Not for a long time but yes – history books and wargaming books. |
 KimRYoung | 17 Sep 2025 1:02 p.m. PST |
Yes. My ex worked for our towns library system (2 branches) and I could not only get book loans, but request that the library actually purchase books for use. The best part was the library had a system that when books were not checked out for a period of time, the library would discard them. since my wife was in charge of the checking in of new books and doing the discards I was able to go through the discard pile and take whatever I wanted. I probably have over a 100 books that were discards from the library! Kim |
| mildbill | 17 Sep 2025 3:35 p.m. PST |
Yes I have , for both wargaming and general reading. |
| Garryowen | 17 Sep 2025 4:26 p.m. PST |
Sometimes, but not often. Tom |
| The Last Conformist | 17 Sep 2025 10:51 p.m. PST |
@KimRYoung: Around here, anyone can suggest books for the library to purchase. I've had decent luck with it, avoiding having to buy some expensive books myself, though my success rate is propped up by the fact that I retain the sense not to suggest too obscure stuff. (Really obscure stuff is what ILL is for, of course.) |
| UshCha | 18 Sep 2025 2:20 a.m. PST |
I have done it for historic books of interest in wargaming and it was worth it but it took months to come through. |
 Saginaw | 18 Sep 2025 6:51 a.m. PST |
Definitely, for research purposes. I haven't done that in a long time, thanks to the internet. |
| martin goddard | 18 Sep 2025 1:25 p.m. PST |
Many times in the 1970, 80 and 90 but not in this millennium.
martin
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| CeruLucifus | 18 Sep 2025 1:32 p.m. PST |
I presently utilize interlibrary loan for books (Los Angeles Public Library system calls it "hold" actually). But so far only for fiction, not yet for hobby books. |
