Interloan services in New Zealand: what do the research results reveal?

Abstract

PurposeThis paper is based on Interlibrary Loan Services in New Zealand: An Environmental Scan and National Survey, a research report produced by the School of Information Management at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. The paper aims to summarise these recent research findings that identify trends in interloan in New Zealand. Additional information is offered to confirm trends or as evidence of divergence from the research results.Design/methodology/approachThis article measures the current state of interloan and considers how it may develop in the future.FindingsThe paper concentrates on five major themes. They are: a state of change; user‐initiated interloans; satisfaction levels; co‐operative resource sharing; and the advantages of the New Zealand model of interloan.Research limitations/implicationsThe research report is a beginning. Ongoing data gathering is underway to help identify interloan trends and determine future service directions.Practical implicationsThe traditional model of interloan is changing and affected by several factors. Its ongoing health is underpinned by three significant characteristics: a national interloan system (Te Puna Interloan), a strong National Bibliographic Database and National Union Catalogue, and the key role of the National Library of New Zealand.Originality/valueThe research report provides a building block for an ongoing longitudinal study of interloan in New Zealand, plus a base for ongoing discussion and debate.