Services

Alberta-wide Borrowing

Interlibrary Loans

Can’t find what you want in our catalogue? Search the collections of public libraries across Alberta using the Alberta Public Libraries Resource Sharing System. This resource provides you with access to books, DVDs, CDs, and more from all Alberta Public Libraries. The best part is that these items will be delivered directly to Lethbridge Public Library (Main Branch, Crossings Branch, or the Bookmobile) for pick up!

  • In order to complete your Interlibrary Loan Request, you need to have a current Lethbridge Public Library membership with a PIN on your library account.
  • Each lending library will determine which items they will loan and the loan period.
  • Items can take several weeks to arrive depending on availability and where it is being shipped from.
  • Please be aware of the publication date when requesting an item. Libraries typically will not loan out items if they have only been published within the last year.
  • Items cannot be requested from outside of the province.
  • We are only able to accommodate six (6) interlibrary loans per library card holder at one time.
  1. Select “Chinook Arch Regional Library System.”
  2. Enter your item (or key word) into the search bar.
  3. Find your item among the search results and click on it.
  4. Check that the title is “Requestable” (in the “Availability” column).
  5. Select the Library pick-up location (don’t forget to mark a check in the acknowledgment box).
  6. Click “Request.”
  7. Enter your library card’s barcode, and your PIN (if you are unsure of these, contact the library at 403-380-7330 during business hours).
  8. You should receive a confirmation screen stating that your request has been submitted.

Getting Started with the Resource Sharing System

If the item you’re looking for is newly published, suggest that your library buy it by using Suggest for Purchase.


ME Libraries

The ME Libraries service allows you to borrow materials in person at any public library in Alberta using your local library card. Sign up at melibraries.ca.


ME Account Terms and Conditions

Patrons using ME Libraries accounts to borrow items* from Chinook Arch member libraries agree to the following terms:

  • Loan periods, renewals, and borrowing limits vary depending on the individual Chinook Arch library’s local policies. 
  • In general, books have a loan period of 3 weeks, A/V materials have a loan period of 1 week. Some materials have extended loan periods including Book Club Kits which have a 6 week loan period.
  • Most Chinook Arch libraries do not limit the number of items that can be checked out at a time. Some exceptions do exist for special collections and at some Chinook Arch libraries. 
  • Holds placed by ME Libraries card users must be picked up by the user at a Chinook Arch library.
  • CNIB materials may only be checked out by borrowers with print disabilities.

*ebooks and other electronic content are not available to ME Libraries card users due to licensing restrictions.

The Alberta Library Card – access to academic and special libraries

Request a TAL card at your home library to borrow materials in person from any participating TAL library, including academic and government libraries. You can return borrowed materials at any participating TAL library.

Note that certain special collections may not be available through the TAL program. Loan periods and overdue fines may vary by library – ask the borrowing library for more information about their policies.