Inter-Library Loan

The South Dakota State Archives is pleased to offer inter-library loan access to our newspaper collections on microfilm. Because these are the only items in our collections that have both use and preservation copies, our collection of historical newspapers on microfilm is the only part of our collections that can safely be lent out to local libraries. Instructions for how to request rolls of microfilm are below.

If you are interested in accessing a roll of newspapers on microfilm through your local library, you will first need to check with your librarian to ensure that they have both a microfilm reader on-site or at a branch library and that they are able to process inter-library loan requests.

When you submit your official loan request to your local librarian, you will need to know exactly which rolls you would like, so please take a thorough look through what we have available using the Newspaper Search Form. If you have any questions or need help finding the right roll for your project, give us a call (605-773-3804) or email (statearchives@state.sd.us) and one of our staff will provide assistance.

Once your official request is submitted to your local librarian, either you or your local library will need to pay a $10.00 fee per roll of microfilm requested. If your library requires that you pay the fee directly, you will need to either mail us a check or money order (made out to "South Dakota State Archives" and addressed to the same at 900 Governros Dr, Pierre, SD 57501) or give us a call with your credit card information (605-773-3804). Some libraries have funding for inter-library loans and most libraries have an established procedure for payments that works with their accounting processes, so make sure to check with them prior to providing payment.

All microfilm rolls are sent out for a loan period of five weeks, with the possibility of a 30-day extension if the State Archives is notified prior to the due date. If you think that you will not be finished with a roll before its due date, please let your local librarian know as soon as possible so they can request an extension.

It may be helpful to provide the information in the For Libraries section below to your local librarian.

The South Dakota State Archives does not participate in the ILLiad inter-library loan system or any of the state systems. Because of the relatively small number of requests we receive, and because we are primarily a sending library, we manage all loans in-house.

Before the State Archives sends out any rolls of newspaper microfilm, we will need to hear directly from one of your library staff members to confirm exactly which rolls your patron is requesting, as well as the address to which the State Archives will be mailing the rolls. Library staff can contact the State Archives by phone (605-773-3804), email (statearchives@state.sd.us), or by mail (South Dakota State Archives, 900 Governors Dr, Pierre, SD 57501).

Per our fee schedule, there is a fee of $10.00 per roll for the loan, which can be paid by either the patron or the requesting library. To provide payment, please either mail us a check or money order (made out to "South Dakota State Archives" and addressed to the same at 900 Governors Dr, Pierre, SD 57501) or give us a call with your credit card information (605-773-3804). An invoice for the payment can be provided upon request; however, payment must be received before any rolls will be mailed. We are flexible on the method of payment, so please do whatever works best with your accounting processes.

All microfilm rolls are sent out for a loan period of five weeks. A free 30-day extension of the loan can be granted if the State Archives is notified prior to the due date. If the rolls of microfilm are returned late, the receiving library will be required to pay a late fee of $10.00 per roll. Each requesting library is allowed a maximum of four rolls at a time. If a roll is lost or damaged after leaving the State Archives, the requesting library will be required to pay a $50.00 replacement fee per roll.