Interlibrary Loan In Academic And Research Libraries

A dramatic increase in interlibrary loan (ILL) in academic and research libraries in the last five years, combined with a changing office environment, is forcing reassessment of the relationship between the volume and cost of loans to service quality. In the spring of 1988, a survey was sent to 116 member libraries of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) to gather data about workload, professional and non-professional staffing levels, use of bibliographic utilities, fillrates, and perceptions about staffing adequacy. This report uses the 76 responses received to present an overview of ILL staffing patterns, test assumptions about workloads and fillrates, and suggest some guidelines for libraries to follow in the analysis of their own efficiency and effectiveness. In conclusion, it is suggested that the importance of professionals in ILL may be underestimated, and that increasing ILL activity may be causing a reduction in the quality of service in borrowing operations. Six tables highlight survey responses. Appended are a copy of the survey and cover letter; a self-analysis workform showing median productivity levels for libraries found to be effective and efficient in ILL operations; and linear and quadratic correlations and a chart for monthly analysis of unfills. (11 references) (NRP)

The perfect introduction to interlibrary loan! Interlibrary Loan and Document Delivery in the Larger Academic Library is primarily a practical handbook for library staff members who are new to interlibrary loan, the suggestions and resources it contains will also be valuable to experienced interlibrary loan staff. With the tremendous changes and innovative new technologies that have been introduced in the past few years, this essential book fills an urgent need in the library literature for an up-to-date interlibrary loan manual. Based upon the policies and procedures of the interlibrary loan department at Rice University in Houston, Texas, this handy desk reference provides a case study of an actual ILL department as well as general suggestions for organizing and operating a modern ILL department. Interlibrary Loan and Document Delivery in the Larger Academic Library: A Guide for University, Research, and Larger Public Libraries provides you with: the latest, most up-to-date treatment of interlibrary loan available a patron's perspective on ILL--what users want and expect from ILL services an extensive list of resources for copyright information and updated information on copyright law as it applies to ILL an extensive list of interlibrary loan resources practical examples based on the real operation of an ILL department helpful appendices and flow charts of the ILL process an annotated bibliography and list of resources for further exploration Designed primarily for librarians with little to no real practical experience in interlibrary loan, this book will educate readers about ILL and to provide a basic framework for evaluating an existing ILL operation or establishing a new one. It will also be a valuable reference for supervisors with responsibility for the ILL department, reference librarians, and experienced interlibrary loan librarians looking for expert, up-to-date information.

The study profiles the interlibrary loan efforts of nine leading American colleges: the University of Texas at Arlington, Tulane University, the University of Minnesota, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Brigham Young University, the University of Tennessee, Colorado State University, Oberlin College and Stony Brook University. The libraries interviewed shared their thoughts on a broad range of topics including but not restricted to: workflow management, productivity measures, departmental organization, budgets and spending trends, service to distance learning students, copyright and licensing issues, measures for special collections, automation and software use, use of institutional repositories and open access publications, shipping costs and procedures, and many other facets of academic interlibrary loan management. The purpose of the report is to define and diffuse best practices by profiling measures taken by nine leading institutions of higher education. Although the report contains much useful quantitative information, especially relating to budgets and employment, the focus in this report is on a journalistic narrative explaining departmental goals, procedures and practices and evaluating results.

This book, first published in 1995, addresses the key issue facing libraries on how to survive in an age of interdependence. Increasingly, individual libraries must act as if each is part of a ‘world library’ Instead of being self-sufficient, each library, from the small public library to the large research library, must find ways to put materials from this ‘world library’ into the hands of its patrons and must stand ready to supply materials from its own collection to others, both quickly and cost-effectively through interlibrary loan. It explores the critical questions for making resource-sharing work, with particular emphasis on interlibrary loan. Cooperative collection development, economic decision models, consortial arrangements, copyright dilemmas, and the possibilities of technology are explored and a national project to revamp interlibrary loan and document delivery is described and future directions posited. Authors present historical perspective, explore the future, and report from multiple perspectives.