Does (No) Discovery Lead to (ILL) Delivery? Comparing Transaction Logs to ILL Requests to Determine the Persistence of Library Patrons

This study looks at known-item searches within a university catalog that come up with a “no results” response to see whether patrons will then place an ILL request for that material and how persistent a user might be in order to obtain something that they want. Catalog search transaction logs were compared against interlibrary loan (ILL) requests placed during the same time frame. Overall, the rate of persistence, or the frequency with which ILL requests were placed when no results were found in the catalog is very low.     

高校档案信息发布利用平台优化设计

高校馆藏档案数字化,已成为档案信息化建设的主流趋势.在确保档案安全的前提下,如何做好档案资源利用服务工作,急需对档案信息发布利用平台进行优化设计.针对普遍的需求和当前存在的不足,提出完善系统功能、优化用户管理、健全授权机制、强化档案服务利用流程化设计、提高查全查准率、优化安全日志、完善统计功能等实施策略和参考模型,具有现实借鉴意义和参考价值.     

Unnecessary Requests: Examining Patrons’ Reliance on Interlibrary Loan for Electronically Owned Items at an Academic Library

University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Library analyzed 4,567 interlibrary loan borrowing requests for articles and other non-returnables. From 2017–2018, nearly 44% of requests were for items that the library owned electronically. Patrons could have accessed the full-text immediately but submitted interlibrary loan requests instead. This prevalence raises questions about user behavior and deficiencies in discovery tools.     

The nature of the use and users of the Midwest Regional Medical Library

Using a 10 percent random sample of all requests submitted to the Midwest Regional Medical Library during 1968-1969, this study has revealed that physicians constitute the user group making the most requests, that physicians request periodical materials most, that 86.6 percent of materials requested were for periodicals, and that over one-third of materials requested was more than ten years old. It was found that 66.3 percent of requests were filled, that "Pathology, Diseases, and Treatment" was the subject category with the highest percentage of requests, and that this category and Materia Medica were the subjects accounting for over 50 percent of the requests from all users. The subject categories most frequently requested by physicians were found to be the same (Pathology, Diseases, and Treatment and Materia Medica) as for educators and researchers. The most requests from students were in the Materia Medica and "other" subject categories. These findings are significant for drawing up acquisition policy for both the John Crerar Library, which supplies the physical facilities for the MRML, and the borrowing library which submits the requests for users.     

Appendix 2

ABSTRACT

QuickDOC is a software package that enables Interlibrary Loan (ILL) staff to enter DOCUNE ILL requests offline and upload them quickly to the DOCLINE system. It also enables users to automatically collect a range of statistics and billing information. QuickDOC is designed to be flexible and can be used in a number of different ways. This study aimed to find out how ILL staff, particularly in larger, net lending libraries, are using it and how satisfied they were with it. The study found that QuickDOC is able to function in large ILL operations and measured user satisfaction is measured. The variety of uses is described and possible enhancements are discussed.     

基于概念相关性度量的语义Web服务匹配：模型及匹配器原型

针对当前主流语义Web服务匹配方法过分强调服务请求与服务广告的精确匹配从而导致用户在实际中难以获得真正所需要的Web服务、或在服务自动发现与集成任务中计算负荷过大的问题,本文把基于本体的概念语义相关性度量模型引入Web服务匹配,提出一个新的更"轻便"的语义Web服务匹配模型.该模型使用一系列概念组分别描述服务的服务类别、输入、输出、前提、效果等诸方面的语义信息,在此基础上通过基于本体的概念组之间的相关性度量模型分别评价服务请求与服务描述在这些方面的语义匹配度.总体语义匹配度被定义为输入、输出、前提、效果方面的语义匹配度的加权和.基于这一匹配模型,本文进而研究了相应的服务匹配器原型.初步的数据试验表明,本文所提模型能较好地适应用户需求表述的模糊性,从而提高服务匹配的召回率;从计算复杂性看,本文所提模型也优于基于严格逻辑推理的语义Web服务匹配模型.     

Only with your permission: how rights holders respond (or don’t respond) to requests to display archival materials online

Archival repositories are increasingly considering mass digitization as a means of meeting user expectations that materials be available online, remotely. Copyright is frequently noted as a significant obstacle to these efforts, but little empirical data exist on the copyright permissions process in archives. This article reports the findings of a study of the copyright permissions process for the Jon Cohen AIDS Research Collection at the University of Michigan. Specifically, the study sought to reveal how much effort is required to seek copyright permissions, what the results of those efforts would be, and whether or not there were traits of documents or copyright holders that were associated with accept or denial status. The study found that significant time is required to contact and negotiate with rights holders and that the biggest obstacle to getting permission is non-response. Of those requests that get a response, the vast majority are to grant permission. While few of the requests were met with denial, the data suggest that commercial copyright holders are much more likely to deny permission than other types of copyright holders. The data also show that adherence to the common policy of only displaying online those documents with explicit permission will likely result in substantially incomplete online collections.     

Authority Files in Online Catalogs

Authority control is discussed from two viewpoints: The need for bibliographic records relating to a name to be brought together under one form of the name; and the need for cross references to direct a user to a heading from variant forms of the name. Data from two research projects that support the need for choosing one form of name are summarized. The author's study of user requests that resulted in no "hits" in an online catalog is described. Data are given to show that for only 6.4% of these requests would our current methods of cross referencing in authority records have been helpful, and that two system programs would have given much greater assistance.     

信息构建与图书馆组织结构的调整

文摘基于信息理解的IA活动的原理、原则、方法和所要达到的目标体现了以人为本的基本理念,这与现阶段图书馆的个性化服务所大力提倡的服务思想是一致的。本文着重探讨了IA的设计思想在图书馆组织结构中的体现与反映。通过图书馆组织结构的调整与变革,优化图书馆数字化信息环境,确保信息有效的循环,提高图书馆的信息利用率和用户满意度,保持信息生态环境的健康发展。     

User satisfaction survey and usage of an electronic desktop document delivery service at an academic medical library

In June 2000, the Biomedical Library at the University of South Alabama introduced Prospero, an electronic desktop document delivery service. From June 2000 to November 2002, Prospero delivered 28% of interlibrary loan requests and 72% of document delivery requests. In November 2002, the library conducted a user satisfaction survey of the Prospero service. Forty-two surveys were used. Fifteen responses were received from affiliated faculty, staff, and students, who generally expressed satisfaction with the service. Twenty-seven responses were received from unaffiliated users, comprised of medical libraries, individual users, and businesses. Based on the survey results, the library deemed the Prospero service a success. To better support users, the library's Web page was updated to include hardware and software requirements for successful use of the Prospero service, as well as screen shots of the Prospero process.     

An evaluation of book availability in Taiwan university libraries: A resource sharing perspective

This study is intended to answer the following questions: Have university libraries in Taiwan acquired books recommended by selection aids? Can university library collections in Taiwan sufficiently fill users' requests? Do libraries of different collection sizes process users' requests in an unbiased and efficient manner?This study employed interviews and document delivery tests. Librarians from 15 university libraries were interviewed to investigate their thoughts on ILL services. Samples from Choice and Bowker's Global Books in Print were searched for through the online catalogs of 148 university libraries. This study concludes that resource sharing will not operate in an equitable way if most user requests are only directed towards a small percentage of Taiwan's university libraries. Without an adequate quantity of volumes in the library collections of any region or country, resource sharing cannot be realized.     

Developing a Data Narrative: Analyzing Trends in an Academic Interlibrary Loan Department

Between 2010 and 2015, interlibrary loan request rates at Albertsons Library at Boise State University were observed to be in decline. This study details the efforts to explore this trend and to determine a cause using existing data available through the OCLC Atlas ILLiad Web Reports interface. A simple but effective method to analyze these substantial reports is presented and practical examples of analysis conducted at Albertsons Library are discussed. By looking at factors such as usage patterns, new user registrations, and cancelation language, the decrease in borrowing and lending requests was confirmed and attributed primarily to decreases in graduate student ILLiad registrations and a lending ebook deflection implemented in 2015. Additional, focused qualitative assessment and updates to user interfaces were recommended as a result of the study.     

NSTL网络服务系统用户原文索取行为的几种分析方法

本文以NSTL网络服务系统的全文订购服务的统计数据为依托,从用户索取原文的数量、索取原文的年代分布、索取原文的方式以及付费方式几个不同角度,用文献计量学的方法对信息服务系统用户的原文索取行为进行了统计分析和探讨。     

Taking Action on Usability Testing Findings: Simmons College Library Case Study

Simmons College Library conducted in-person and remote usability testing to observe how students retrieve full text when using Library Search, its discovery service system powered by EBSCO Discovery Service (EDS). Testing was conducted as a collaborative study with a consultant associated with EBSCO Information Services User Research Group. This testing found that students expect direct access to full text, have an unfavorable impression of Interlibrary Loan (ILL), and are unsure, based on terminology, which links provide direct access to full text. Steps taken by the library in response to the findings include local customization of EDS, improvements to ILL messaging, updates to user education regarding full text formats and terminology, and requests to EBSCO to update terminology to support users’ direct access to full text. Study findings also validated decisions the library made during the initial set up of its discovery service system.     

Reference activity and the external user: confluence of community needs at a medical school branch library

The allocation of reference services between primary and secondary users constantly challenges academic medical libraries. Routine statistics at a medical school branch library suggested that over 40% of its reference transactions involved persons not affiliated with the university. To investigate this finding, a survey of reference activity was conducted using measurement techniques unobtrusive to the user. Fifteen data items were recorded, including user status, type of question, intended use of information requested, status of staff taking request, and staff time spent. Survey results showed that nonaffiliates accounted for 51% of reference activity. Based on this documented data, definitive reference guidelines addressing hours, priority of requests, charges, and staffing patterns can now be developed. Findings will also assist in evaluating the library's regional role, in formulating marketing strategies, and in determining library objectives.     

Always Yes,Never No

ABSTRACT

The “difficult” requests submitted by the research library users prove document delivery vendors could hardly replace interlibrary loan librarians. “Difficult” requests ask for the “grey literature” not traded commercially and not kept in libraries. They require the special attention and professional knowledge of the interlibrary loan librarian. Besides usual bibliographic and reference tools, the Internet, e-mail, and the search engines have to be employed to solve them. The help of those responsible for the production of the literature in question is significant. In tackling “difficult” requests, interlibrary loan librarians may further add value to their services by facilitating sharing between scholars or researchers. Five actual cases are presented to illustrate how the “difficult” requests were tackled and solved.     

Using Clio 1.2 with the ILL Microenhancer for Windows

ABSTRACT

Clio 1.2, the interlibrary loan records management software developed by Perkins and Associates, effectively tracks OCLC ILL transactions for both borrowing and lending. Clio is equipped to report statistical information, which it gathers as the user initiates or receives OCLC, ALA and fax requests. Interacting with OCLC's ILL Microenhancer for DOS and Windows, Clio 1.2 affords accurate and comprehensive information to its users and provides a number of access points to the database. Clio is another effective application software package that helps make the tracking of interlibrary requests manageable. This paper will cover and illustrate the larger elements of Clio and its operation.     

Helping patrons find locally held electronic resources: An interlibrary loan perspective

The University of North Texas Libraries provide extensive online access to academic journals through major vendor databases. As illustrated by interlibrary loan borrowing requests for items held in our databases, patrons often have difficulty navigating the available resources. In this study, the Interlibrary Loan staff used data gathered from the ILLiad interlibrary loan management system to investigate why patrons request locally available materials. This study resulted in recommendations for the Libraries' linking strategies in EBSCOhost databases. Several user education needs were identified and communicated to the Libraries' Subject Liaisons.