InterLibrary Loan Voucher System

The Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) operates an interlibrary lending voucher system, with vouchers used by libraries as payment for interlibrary loans, photocopies or microform copies made for retention by another library. The scheme was introduced to provide a simple and secure form of interlibrary currency with a minimum of record-keeping. ALIA monitors the system to ensure that it operates efficiently, and with as few rules as possible. Many Australian libraries accept and make payments by using ALIA vouchers.Use the Interlibrary Resource Sharing (ILRS) Directory to find out which Australian libraries accept ALIA vouchers

ALIA interlibrary loan vouchers are redeemable vouchers purchased from the Association and used by libraries as payment for interlibrary loans or copies of articles and other information made by one library or information service for use by another library or information service. The scheme provides a simple and secure form of interlibrary currency and meets the GST requirements. The voucher denominations reflect the schedule of recommended charges as set out in the Australian Interlibrary Resource Sharing (ILRS) code.

Vouchers with face values of $12, $9, $6, $3, $1 and $1.20 may be purchased in books of 50. Vouchers with face value of $0.30 may be purchased in books of 100.

ALIA vouchers

Where do I get them?

Vouchers may be purchased directly ALIA. You can download your order form and forward to the financial services officer (please remove '.nospam' from address) at ALIA, PO Box 6335, Kingston, ACT 2604, telephone 02 6215 8221, fax 02 6282 2249. Please note that prepayment is essential. A pro-forma invoice is available by post or fax, and allow three weeks from the date of payment to receipt of your vouchers.

Who can use them, and how?

Vouchers are sold only to Institutional and Voucher-only members of the Association. For details of Insitutional and Voucher-only membership and to join the Association visit ALIA's membership pages. To use your vouchers, complete a loan request form and send it, along with the required vouchers, to the supplying library.

How do they become valid?

To become valid each voucher must be stamped by the library initially purchasing it. As a security measure, libraries should apply this stamp on receipt of vouchers. Vouchers may be re-used without further stamping and may be redeemed by other ALIA Institutional or Voucher-only members.

Will the National Library accept them?

The Document Supply Service of the National Library of Australia ceased accepting ALIA vouchers as payment for interlibrary loans and document supply from 1 June 2000. Libraries using the National Library of Australia's Document Supply Service can choose from a number of alternative methods of payment. Further information is available from the National Library.

How are they redeemed?

Claims for redemption will be received only from Institutional and Voucher-only members. Surplus or worn-out vouchers may be redeemed in lots of 50 (of single denomination only) through the Association's national office. Payment will be made within one month of a claim being made. It is recommended that vouchers are sent back to ALIA by courier or registered mail. Use this form to redeem your vouchers...

The fine print...

For Libraries Australia Document Delivery (LADD), electronic, fax or telephone requests, the requesting library should forward vouchers upon receipt of the item.Vouchers should be attached to each request sent by mail. Libraries having considerable traffic with any particular library may wish to send vouchers for non-mail requests in batches on a monthly basis. In the case of payment for interlibrary loans it is acceptable to forward vouchers on return of the item to the lending library. Requesting libraries should indicate their preferred form of delivery (e.g. fax, courier, mail). Libraries operating on special arrangements (e.g. knock-for-knock arrangements) should make their procedures well-known to all libraries with whom they transact interlibrary loan business.

Application for voucher forms and pro-forma invoices issued before 30 June 2000 (if payment not received by ALIA National Office before 1 July 2000) will attract a GST of 10 per cent on the handling fee - applicable to all Australian libraries.