The Road Not Taken: SFX,ILLiad, and Interlibrary Loan Submission Methods

In Fall 2008, the interlibrary loan office at the College of Staten Island began to use ILLiad and SFX OpenURL to fulfill borrowing requests. Four years later a review showed that patrons used SFX to submit borrowing requests less than half the time. The majority of patrons’ borrowing request submissions were still being entered manually. We decided to review patron submission methods and see what impact this was having on transactions. We also explored possible patterns in order to encourage SFX usage and improve patron services. Reasons for this behavior are suggested and future solutions are explored.     

The Invisible Employee: Success and Fragility of Automating Interlibrary Loan

Libraries and their interlibrary loan departments have enacted different methods for improving processes and services to create greater efficiency and less waste. Techniques range from holistic, and expansive process improvement projects to leveraging the ability of request management systems to automate processes and services successfully. This article explores the effect of automation on the output of a sample interlibrary loan department and points out possible challenges that this automation success may create in the future.     

Reflecting Usability Engineering Goals in Interlibrary Loan User Interfaces

Many interlibrary loan services have an online Web presence, ranging from a page of policy information to an entire Web-based system dedicated to providing interlibrary loan services. This article summarizes key themes and works in user-centered design theory and suggests ways to apply usability engineering goals to designing interlibrary loan online interfaces.     

Interlibrary Loan Interoperability Experiment: A Nontechnical View

Accessing interlibrary loan requests from various resource-sharing software systems through a single interface has long been a promise of vendors—a promise not often implemented. Our region of New York State chose VDX for its hundreds of libraries, while the State University of New York at New Paltz, the major lender, is a participant in OCLC via ILLiad. Our staff required training and updates for both systems. This article describes our successful efforts to implement interoperability and the steps and missteps encountered to achieve compatibility between VDX and ILLiad.     

Implementing ILLiad: A Successful Collaboration of the Systems and Interlibrary Loan Departments in an Academic Library

In libraries, collaboration between departments or individuals can be the best way to implement a new project. This article will examine the implementation of ILLiad at the University of Toledo and show how a successful collaborative relationship was formed between the Interlibrary Loan and Systems Departments. It will demonstrate that, although challenging at times, collaboration is worth the effort in order to introduce a new service successfully.     

Enriching Your Wealth of Resources by Marketing Interlibrary Loan

Interlibrary loan (ILL) is a service that increases user access to resources, however it is of little use if no one knows about it. ILL statistics at libraries generally show that the service as a whole is well used, but upon closer inspection it becomes clear that these high usage statistics are generated by library power users, and not by new, novice, or intermediate users. When conducting thorough research, it frequently extends beyond the holdings of an individual library, which makes ILL essential. Therefore, it is important for users to know about and use this service. While ILL enhances what libraries can offer, very few libraries focus their marketing on ILL. Instead, most libraries simply lump ILL into the marketing of library resources and services in general. In this article we analyze libraries that have broken out of the mold to market ILL in innovative, cost-effective ways, and we will share the marketing campaign we undertook at Wheaton College (IL).     

Book-Buying Through Interlibrary Loan: Analysis of the First Eight Years at a Large Public University Library

Purchasing recently published books rather than requesting them through interlibrary loan provides rapid service to patrons and builds the collection with relevant materials that circulate at least as much as books purchased through traditional methods. This article is a case study of how Joyner Library at East Carolina University has used interlibrary loan to purchase requested titles from 2006 through 2014 and provides an analysis of the results. The mechanics, changes, and successes along the way of the eight years of the service are discussed.     

Interlibrary Loan Assessment: Assessing Services in a Small Private College Library's Interlibrary Loan Department

Assessment is a required component of strategic planning and decision making in any library. Interlibrary loan surveys can provide data regarding user satisfaction levels for accuracy, thoroughness, convenience, and turnaround time. As interlibrary loan librarians at D'Youville College, we believed that our patrons were satisfied and impressed with the library's recent service improvement initiatives. However, we did not have any concrete data that would help drive future strategic decisions. We were short on staff time and resources and wondered how a small library staff could create an assessment tool and then analyze the results.     

A Telecommuting Interlibrary Loan Librarian's Experience: The Views of Both the Telecommuter and the On-Site Supervisor

Because of the changing world of librarianship and the introduction of new technologies, telecommuting has become an innovative option for certain jobs in the library. Telework gives an organization the opportunity to retain skilled employees and cut the costs of recruiting, selection, and training of a new employee. There are certain tasks in the workflow of the interlibrary loan department that could permit an employee to work from a distance. This is specifically due to resource sharing management systems such as ILLiad. Florida Atlantic University decided to retain an interlibrary loan employee who had to relocate and try telecommuting on a trial basis. This paper details the employee's experiences.     

On Our Own: Starting an Interlibrary Loan Service From Scratch

In August 2009, the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine Medical Library opened its doors to students, faculty, and staff. One of the many challenges before opening the library was developing a unique and autonomous interlibrary loan service for its patrons. This article examines the decisions in choosing the best document delivery system, the management of funds, and the selection of holdings for a new medical library. Along with these decisions, there is discussion on the significance of costs, turnaround times, and challenges going forward.     

Interlibrary Loan From a Distance Learning Perspective: Trying a Hybrid Position

Libraries have long recognized the value of interlibrary loan to distance learning students. Based on the experiences of a librarian who is both a resource-sharing and distance learning librarian, the characteristics and possible strategies of a (distance) learner-centered interlibrary loan model are proposed.     

Developing a Web API for Interlibrary Loan Copyright Payments

Wayne State University Libraries (WSUL) pays copyright royalties for Interlibrary Loan (ILL) copy requests that exceed National Commission on New Technological Uses of Copyrighted Works (CONTU) guidelines. Prior to 2011, submitting requests to the Copyright Clearance Center (CCC) required harvesting the necessary data from ILLiad and Innovative Interfaces’ Interlibrary Loan systems, validating the requests, and submitting a combined spreadsheet to CCC. A 2010 announcement from CCC indicated that they will no longer accept spreadsheets for invoicing. The alternative method of submitting requests involves using their web submission interface—which is time consuming and places a heavy burden on staff resources. In response, WSUL developed a .Net web-based application that automatically harvests, validates, and submits requests to CCC using their private application programming interface (API). The system interfaces with multiple ILL systems and submits payment lists automatically, removing the need to manually enter copyright orders. Initial estimates suggest a yearly reduction of over 500 hours in staff time when compared to the web submission method.     

Aiding Faculty Research Through Convenience in the Interlibrary Loan Department

The Interlibrary Loan (ILL) Department at Murray State University has developed convenient methods to aid faculty members in their research. Various means of communication and programs, such as Campus Delivery, Document Delivery, and “Free ILL,” have allowed faculty members to see the wide variety of research resources that are available through interlibrary loan. These methods have been used as key public relations tools to promote library resources and services, and have strengthened the relationship between faculty members and the Interlibrary Loan Department at Murray State University.     

Interlibrary Loan in the United States: An Analysis of Academic Libraries in a Digital Age

The primary focus of this study was to determine the effect of digitally held full-text articles on interlibrary loan (ILL) rates in American academic libraries. A second focus was an examination of how the size of print journals and monograph collections affect ILL activity. Finally, the study looks, in a preliminary fashion, for any effects on ILL rates due to the presence of an MLS-holding librarian as head of the interlibrary loan department. The study investigated American academic libraries and gathered ILL statistics for the period from 1997–2008. It was found that there was a general increase in ILL activity since the 1990s, with an increase in ILL non-fulfillment during the period. There was a strong correlation between print journal and monograph collection size versus ILL activity. There was positive correlation between the presence of databases and ILL activity. The presence of a link resolver was also correlated with increased ILL activity. Finally, the study found there was no overall reduction in ILL department personnel in the last 5 years and that the presence of a professional librarian as head of the department was also positively correlated with ILL activity.     

The Consolidation of Two Campus Interlibrary Loan Units Into One: A Partnership Between Law and Main Campus

Until July 2009 Valparaiso University had two campus interlibrary loan units, one serving the main campus and the other serving the law school. In the wake of a projected 15–20% campuswide budget cut, the two campus libraries investigated ways to work together to reduce costs. The libraries came together with Online Computer Library Center and Atlas Systems, Inc., to consolidate the two separate units and ILLiad databases into one. This article discusses the reasons for merging two interlibrary loan units and the steps undertaken to combine two ILLiad systems.     

Interlibrary Loan Patron Use Patterns: An Examination of Borrowing Requests at a Midsized Academic Library

The results of a recently conducted study of interlibrary loan fee-based borrowing requests are presented in this article. The study examined 3,074 borrowing requests completed over a three-year period from January 2007 to December 2009. Statistics were analyzed to understand patron behavior in submitting requests and the types of materials being requested.     

UCF Library Express: Planning a Faculty Delivery Service

As it becomes increasingly difficult to demonstrate the worth of the library to the academic community, gate counts and usage statistics are no longer enough. Showing the impact the library has on the community requires planning new services with outcome measurement from the start. This article outlines a project plan for launching a faculty book delivery service at the University of Central Florida's John C. Hitt Library using Rhea Rubin's (2006) Outcome Measurement model. The article reviews the relevant literature, analyzes the current internal and external climate in which the service will be implemented, discusses the logistical aspects of the service such as cost, delivery method, and staffing, and concludes by determining the goals and outcomes of the service based on these factors. This article is the first in a series of three articles that together make up an entire project planning and management document, including planning, marketing, and assessing the service. The plan in its entirety provides an example of how to apply the Outcome Measurement model in an academic library setting.     

UCF Library Express: Marketing a Faculty Delivery Service

As it becomes increasingly difficult to demonstrate the worth of the library to the academic community, gate counts and usage statistics are no longer enough. Showing the impact the library has on the community requires planning new services with outcome measurement from the start. This article outlines a marketing strategy for launching a faculty book delivery service at the University of Central Florida's John C. Hitt Library using Fisher and Pride's (2006) Blueprint for Your Library Marketing Plan. It includes a review of relevant literature on marketing delivery services, service and marketing goals and outcomes, target audiences, marketing messages, message delivery strategies, marketing budget, and management of staff responsibilities. This article is the second in a series of three articles that together make up an entire project planning and management document that is based on Rhea Rubin's (2006) Outcome Measurement model. The plan in its entirety provides an example of how to apply the Outcome Measurement model in an academic library setting.     

An Experiment: Combining Interlibrary Loan with a Science/Engineering Reference Department

ABSTRACT

This article reports on survey findings investigating the impact of statewide library consortia on Interlibrary Loan departments and their potential impact in the State University of New York library system as it moves toward creating its statewide integrated system, called SUNY Connect. The surveys were sent to a sampling of 75 libraries in three existing statewide library consortia, VIVA in Virginia, GALILEO in Georgia and OhioLINK in Ohio. The results of this survey indicate what changes Interlibrary Loan departments may see in workflow, staffing, and technology when joining a statewide consortia.     

EBook Interlibrary Loan in American Public Libraries

In recent years, eBook collections have been increasing at a slow but steady rate in both public and academic libraries. With the increasing eBook collections in libraries and the advancements made in information discovering services, users can now discover materials existing outside of their local library more easily. EBooks also offer the potential for quick interlibrary loan delivery. Ironically, eBook interlibrary loan has not become prevalent in libraries. Many studies have been done to explore eBook licensing and interlibrary loan in academic libraries and to offer practical solutions for eBook interlibrary lending. Few studies have been done in public libraries. This study explores the current practice of eBook interlibrary loan activities in American public libraries. Survey questionnaires were distributed to 118 randomly selected public libraries. Questions focused on current eBook interlibrary loan best practices, issues, and obstacles in American public libraries. Findings from this study indicate eBook ILL is not a priority for the surveyed public libraries, and the adoption rate of eBook ILL in public libraries is much lower than that in academic libraries.