A Structural Analysis of Interlibrary Networks:

This study is a structural analysis of a multi-type and multi-level library network within the framework of a regional interlibrary loan (ILL) system. The study monitored information network structure for resource sharing of academic and research library materials transmitted through the ILL. The local flow of academic and research information was measured by a survey of the filled ILL transactions by individual libraries in the Western 3Rs region. The major findings were as follows: (1) the regional ILL network showed less than half participation of the total subject libraries, (2) existing structure surveyed was identified as a composite centralized network with three communication groups, (3) depending on the types of materials transacted, the structure was changed, (4) statewide and multi-state library cooperatives had direct interactions with some of the local libraries, (5) individual libraries participated in the ILL network more for periodicals than book materials, and (6) academic libraries throughout the total six structures analyzed showed the highest percentage of participation.