Enrich Iowa

Open Access provides Iowans with direct access to more library materials and information resources than their home library can provide. It enables eligible patrons to go to any of the nearly 500 participating public and academic libraries and directly check out physical materials.

As a result, Iowans have greater access to more library resources, more choices in library service, and the convenience of using a library where they work, shop or visit. The state reimburses the loaning library a small amount for each item checked out to offset expenses.

Eligible libraries: Iowa public and academic libraries

Interlibrary Reimbursement provides Iowans with equal access to library resources by encouraging and supporting interlibrary loan among all types of libraries. 

Participating libraries agree to loan their materials to other eligible libraries in Iowa for use by their patrons and receive a small reimbursement per loan. As of July 1, 2024, the requesting library may charge a fee to their own library customers to borrow interlibrary loan items. The fee charged is a local library decision.

More than 380,000 items are loaned through the program each year. 

Eligible Libraries: All Iowa library types

Direct State Aid funding is distributed to participating public libraries through a formula that calculates:

• A base amount dependent on Tier Level met, as set by the Accreditation & Standards program.
• The per capita amount based on the population of the city and level of compliance with quality measures.
• Three percent of the amount of funding received by the library in the previous fiscal year for service to rural residents and contracting communities.

Participating libraries must also agree to submit an annual Direct State Aid report and the Public Library Annual Survey, as well as participate in the Open Access and Interlibrary Loan Reimbursement programs.

Eligible Libraries: Iowa public libraries

Copy of the FY25 Open Access Letter of Agreement (for reference only)

Open Access Worksheet & Instructions: Find out more about eligible and ineligible Open Access transactions and patrons; access a printable worksheet to gather data before submitting the online report.

Contracting Cities List: See a complete list of all contracting cities and cities that contain branches along with the associated libraries. Note: this is not a complete list of eligible cities. This list can change over the course of the year, so check back for updates.

Copy of the FY25 Interlibrary Loan Reimbursement Letter of Agreement (for reference)

FY25 Interlibrary Loan Transaction Log: Use to track items that are requested outside of SILO.

The FY25 ILL Request for Reimbursement Online Form will be available July 2025. FY25 forms will be due July 31, 2025.

• Use the ILL Request for Reimbursement online form if you have any interlibrary loans to eligible Iowa libraries beyond those made through the SILO or OCLC ILL systems to report. You do not need to file a form if you have no transactions beyond SILO or OCLC ILL to report. Do not report requests made for your own patrons. This is for loans of your materials to other libraries in Iowa.
• NOTE: Postage for ILL items returned is not reimbursed. Reimbursement is based on the number of loans only.
• The report should be submitted online only. Please do not sent reports by fax or snail mail; reports sent in these formats may be lost.
• Have your transaction log ready to submit with the report form. You will be required to attach the transaction log to the report before you are able to submit.
• When you submit the form you will receive an email notice as a receipt. The receipt notice will include attachments of the form and any transaction logs submitted. Keep this information for your own records - you do not need to forward this to State Library staff. Submitting the report gives the State Library access to the copies submitted.
• A user name or password is not required to use the ILL Request for Reimbursement Online Form.

Copy of the FY25 Direct State Aid Letter of Agreement (for reference only)

Direct State Aid funds for FY25 were distributed to participating public libraries in Fall 2024. All Direct State Aid funds received in FY25 must be spent by June 30, 2025.