Interlibrary Loan Protocol:

An interlibrary loan protocol has been developed to facilitate resource sharing in a computerized library environment. The protocol defines a standard which permits the exchange of ILL messages between bibliographic institutions that use different computers, systems and communication services. The protocol is currently being standardized by the International 0rganization for Standardization (ISO) and is being examined for implementation by institutions in North America and Europe. This is the second of two articles on the ILL protocol. It describes how the protocol works, the benefits associated with using the protocol and Canadian and international ILL protocol related activities. The first article appeared in Interlending and Information Supply, volume 1, number 1. It reviews the ILL service environment and how the National Library of Canada initiated the development of the ILL protocol in response to the need for effective intersystem communication for ILL.