Interlibrary Loan System Research Articles

Technology and informatics in Australian health libraries.

Australia is no different to any other country in that information technology (IT) and the speed of its advancement has a huge impact on health care and therefore on health libraries. Australian health librarians are valuable members of health care teams and strive to integrate services and resources across hospitals. This article looks at the role Australian health libraries play in the broader health information landscape and the importance of information governance and health informatics as a tenet of the work undertaken by libraries. Of particular focus in this is the Health Libraries Australia/Telstra Health Digital Health Innovation Award, offered annually, to help focus on particular technological challenges. Three cases studies are explored demonstrating impact on the systematic review process, inter-library loan system automation and a room booking service. Also discussed are the ongoing professional development opportunities, which help upskill the Australian health library workforce. Australian health libraries also face many challenges with piecemeal IT systems across the nation, resulting in lost opportunities. Also, many Australian health services do not have a qualified librarian on staff, which undermines information governance. However, resiliency shines through with strong professional health library networks working to challenge the status quo in an effort to improve the application of health informatics.

Just-In-Time: the value of online integrated interlibrary loans to broaden access to information resources


 
 
 This research article will discuss a collaboration strategy used between eight postsecondary institutions in Puerto Rico which are part of the library consortia COBIMET. COBIMET is a non-profit organization that works collaboratively with its members to improve virtual library services and information skills in the digital era. The development of collaboration strategies for information sharing through interlibrary loans (ILL) services have become an important service to reduce the gap of information needed by researchers or scholars. These institutions implemented an automated online interlibrary loan system that was integrated to their electronic resources discovery system. The aim of this collaborative agreement was to reduce request time and to provide access to more information resources in a cost-effective manner. The article will present the rationale on implementing an automated ILL Request Process and project experiences.
 
 

Analysis of National Library of Medicine (NLM) DOCLINE® Interlibrary Loan System Request Patterns during Selected Public Health Events

DOCLINE®, the U.S. National Library of Medicine’s (NLM) interlibrary loan (ILL) request system, sought to better understand its role in providing information access during public health events (PHEs). Such data can guide service improvement, especially when connecting the public health community to the latest research during such incidents. Four U.S. public health outbreaks were used to measure DOCLINE’s capacity to support information seeking behaviors: requests during the Summer 2019 measles outbreak; the Fall 2019 e-cigarette lung injury event; the 2018–2019 influenza season; and early stages of the 2020 COVID-19 outbreak. NLM Medical Subject Headings were used to identify related requests. A team of NLM librarians analyzed these for trends in request volume, geographic and institution type, and content. While the number of PHE-related requests did not make up a large percentage of the total placed, there were identifiable increases during the selected periods. These originated from a variety of geographic locations, with some noticeable intersection with outbreak areas. Hospitals initiated the most requests. This investigation provides evidence that DOCLINE data can be used to drive system development and that a targeted ILL system with rapid turnaround times is an especially valuable library resource during PHEs. Supplemental data for this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/1072303X.2021.1934216 .

Inter-Library Loan System Review and MEDLIS Prospect

Inter-Library Loan System Review and MEDLIS Prospect

Setting Sail for Tipasa: Preparing for an Interlibrary Loan System Transition

This paper is the first segment of a two-part article detailing the transition process of Northeastern State University Library’s migration from OCLC’s interlibrary loan automation system, ILLiad to its first cloud-based ILL management system, Tipasa. The transition planning process began in the fall of 2018 with the transition period beginning in early 2019. This article provides a framework for the successful implementation process of shift to a new interlibrary system in one semester. The authors explore the challenges and lessons learned while providing a structure that may be beneficial for other libraries preparing for a similar transition process.

Solution techniques for the inter-modal pickup and delivery problem in two regions

This work addresses the routing problem faced by transportation carriers and postal services that transport small parcels in large quantities. By splitting the territory into regions, these service providers can adapt a three-part network structure and solve a pickup and delivery problem with long-hauls without direct shipments between regions. That is, bilateral cross-city and cross-country requests must be met while also fulfilling capacity and time window constraints. To address this challenge, this work limits the problem to two regions and thereby can identify the correlations and synchronization between different modes. The proposed solution approach decomposes the problem into two subproblems: a long-haul assignment that can be solved exactly, and a short-haul routing problem that must be solved heuristically. The result is an efficient matheuristic, whose quality is confirmed through a comparison with findings from previous literature; it is viable in terms of solution quality and computation time. Long-haul flexibility also influences short-haul routing cost, such that improvements of up to 22% are possible merely by increasing long-haul flexibility but not long-haul cost. Finally, realistic instances are solved based on the inter-library loan system comparing the influence of selecting train or truck on the SH routing costs.

A Study on the Factors Contributing to Small Church Libraries’ Revitalization

본 연구는 교회의 작은도서관의 현황과 특성을 파악하고 운영 활성화 방안을 제안하기 위함이다. 교회도서관 현황은 매우 열악한 수준이었으며, 교회도서관 운영 활성화 요인 분석 결과, 보유 장서수가 운영활성화 수준에 가장 큰 영향을 미치고 있었다. 규모, 인력, 이용현황에 대한 군집 분석 결과, 극소수의 도서관만이 우수한 수준을 보였다. 따라서 교회도서관의 운영 활성화 방안으로 첫째, 교회도서관의 운영 목적과 목표를 뚜렷이 정하고, 안정된 운영예산과 운영을 책임질 수 있는 전담 인력과 직원을 확보해야 한다. 둘째, 교회시설을 활용하여 도서관의 특성에 맞는 프로그램 개발, 독서의 질을 높일 수 있는 양질의 지식콘텐츠를 서비스해야 한다. 셋째, 도서관 협력 네트워크를 활용한 타도서관과의 상호대차, 순회사서 시스템을 활용할 수 있어야 하고, 적극적인 마케팅 활동으로 지역주민들이나 교인들에게 홍보해야 한다. 또한 목회자와 책임운영자는 헌신과 봉사의 마음으로 지역사회에 서비스해야한다.In order to explore the exact current status and features of small church libraries and suggest implications on how to facilitate their operations, this study has analyzed general conditions of their current operations. Firstly, all aspects of facilities, books, and people of small church libraries, the three elements of libraries, have turned out to be under poor conditions compared to small regular libraries. Secondly, out of all factors that encourage the use of church libraries, the number of retained books in libraries appears to be most influential. Thirdly, it is shown in the results of an analysis on each category group that most church libraries are under poor conditions and only few of them are excellent in terms of the current status of their sizes, labor forces, and users. Based upon these findings, this study suggests implications on facilitating church library operations as follows. First of all, it is highly crucial to have full-time workers and professional staffs who can set aims or purposes of church libraries and be in charge of stable management of budget and library operations. Secondly, it is also important to develop programs suitable for each library’s features and knowledge contents to improve the quality of reading experience. Thirdly, through utilizing library cooperative networks, interlibrary loan or librarian rotation systems should be available. Also, through proactive marketing activities, libraries should be promoted to local communities or church members. Lastly, the most significant part for facilitating church library operations is passions of pastors and chief operators in charge. They need to be willing to contribute to their local communities with their dedications and commitments.

Potatoes to patrons

PurposeThis research was originally conducted as the author’s dissertation work at the Ohio University. The author explored LibQUAL+ results from two separate institutions with different Carnegie Classifications, and therefore different academic missions, to look for relationships between patron types, Carnegie Classifications, and scores across the minimum, perceived, and desired questions of the information control (IC) component of the LibQUAL+ instrument. By comparing results from a library affiliated with a research institution to one from a campus more focused on teaching and learning, a school going through the shift from one focus to another would be better able to anticipate changes related to patron needs. The paper aims to discuss these issues.Design/methodology/approachA three-way between-within subjects ANOVA was conducted. The first between-subjects variable was patron type, which included undergraduate, graduate, and faculty. The second between-subjects variable was Carnegie Classification, which included the two classifications of RU_H and Master’s_M. The within-subjects variable had three levels, which in this case functioned as three dependent variables made up of the mean or composite score of the combined eight questions included in the IC portion of LibQUAL+, broken in the three categories of minimum, perceived, and desired. An additional breakdown shows that 499 were undergraduate students, 137 were graduate students, and 197 were faculty.FindingsThe results of the study indicated that Carnegie Classification has no significant effect on how undergraduate, graduate, and faculty respond to the three levels of the IC component of the LibQUAL+ survey. As other studies have shown however, there were significant differences with regard to patron-level responses. For a more comprehensive look at all seven research questions and their answers, please see the complete dissertation here: http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1354726349Research limitations/implicationsThis study is limited in size and scope because of the limitations of the method of analysis. A broader study using the same analysis would be difficult because of the impracticality of adding, for example, additional Carnegie Classifications into the equation. A significant limitation is that LibQUAL+ results are not typically compared across institutions as the respondents are commenting on separate collections and services. This was minimized by choosing institutions that belong to the same very strong consortial system and have an interlibrary loan system in place which essentially creates one enormous collection for all to share.Practical implicationsPerhaps more significant than the findings themselves is the method of analysis used, as it is one that while complicated statistically, is relatively easy to explain by using the split-plot studies conducted by R.A. Fisher on which the analysis is based as a starting point. The author have found that conceptually it is easier for those without a statistical background to relate to images of potato fields with varying types of potatoes and fertilizer than Carnegie Classifications, patron types, and the multi-level components of LibQUAL+ results.Originality/valueIt would be difficult to speak to the originality of the proposal, but the author would say that a possible outcome would be a discussion of the value of translatable results that speak to broader audiences, particularly those outside library settings. Methods of analysis that can be explained in ways that do not involve the word ANOVA have value and will add to a stronger understanding of research questions and results by decision makers.

From Committees of RUSA: Interlibrary Loan Code for the United States

The Reference and User Services Association, acting for the American Library Association in its adoption of this code, recognizes that the sharing of material between libraries is a core library service and believes it to be in the public interest to encourage such an exchange.In the interest of providing quality service, libraries have an obligation to obtain material to meet the informational needs of users when local resources do not meet those needs. Interlibrary loan (ILL), a mechanism for obtaining material, is essential to the vitality of all libraries.The effectiveness of the national interlibrary loan system depends upon participation of libraries of all types and sizes.This code establishes principles that facilitate the requesting of material by a library and the provision of loans or copies in response to those requests.

From Discovery to Delivery: Successful Systems Integration

Demands for information resources are increasing while libraries are facing decreasing budgets and lessening staffing support. Interlibrary loan and consortial services can help libraries expand access to collections. Patron-initiated borrowing systems are a current trend in libraries, but seamlessly integrating them is challenging. This article analyzes problems in patron-initiated consortial resource sharing, introducing a new generation service which combines complex library systems and allows them to work together in real-time availability: the online public access catalog (OPAC), a consortial borrowing system, an interlibrary loan system, an integrated library system, and an authentication system. The service seamlessly integrated a new discovery tool, WorldCat Local, with local, consortial, and worldwide resource sharing systems. Patron requests are automatically transferred from system to system based on the item's availability, maintaining rapid delivery.

Streamlined request services: the integration of ILS, ILL and Consortia borrowing systems

Purpose– This paper aims to study streamlined request services based on discrete systems’ integration in an academic library. The integration of discrete systems allows patrons to use the library’s online public access catalog to send requests and have the requests automatically transferred to the local integrated library system (ILS), the consortia borrowing system, and an interlibrary loan system. The integration of discrete systems also allows adding the consortia service without adding any library staff.Design/methodology/approach– The authors introduce library holdings behind the search interface, the discrete library systems and the authentication system. The paper illustrates how patron requests can be automatically transferred to discrete library systems.Findings– Resource sharing has become a hot topic in the library world where libraries are facing budget cuts, space limits and employee shortage challenges. Systems’ integration will help libraries to add new services without adding staff.Practical implications– The consortia borrowing system can be seamlessly integrated into discrete library systems and a campus authentication system. Pepperdine University’s experience can serve as an example for libraries which have a plan to implement consortia borrowing systems or want to streamline their workflows.Originality/value– This paper takes a fresh look at the traditional request services using cloud-based systems.

A framework for Interlibrary-loan implementation (in one semester)

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide a framework for implementing and “going live” with a new interlibrary loan system (ILL), ILLiad Document delivery system and RAPID ILL, in one semester. Design/methodology/approach – This paper provides a framework for implementing ILLiad and RAPID ILL through conducting a needs assessment, review of the existing practices and selection process of hardware/software, collaboration with stakeholders within the library and university for implementation, training and “going live”. Findings – This paper demonstrates how to implement a new interlibrary system in one semester. There are many benefits to implementing and “going live” in one semester. Staff training coupled with “going live” is essential to retain the new skill set and put it into practice. Finally, the most immediate and important impact of the new system was giving the university community (students and faculty) expanded access to collections and providing an overall better user experience. Originality/value – This article provides a framework for other libraries to use as a model when considering implementing a new ILL system, such as ILLiad and RAPID ILL, in the course of one semester.

Occam’s Reader: The First Library-Developed Ebook Interlibrary Loan System

An ebook interlibrary loan system called “Occam’s Reader” was developed through collaboration among libraries of the Greater Western Library Alliance. The first of its kind, Occam’s Reader has proved to be a great success due in no small measure to thorough planning, testing, implementation and development through 2012 to 2104. A new version of the system, Occam’s Reader 2.0 is planned for later in 2015. As libraries band together to accomplish a collaborative goal, there really is nothing that can hold them back.

The future of interoperability for ILL and resource sharing

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide background and context on the need for a new interlibrary loan (ILL) system interoperability standard, describe the basic purpose and structure of ISO 18626, information and documentation – interlibrary Loan Transactions – and outline steps for the new standard’s development and implementation. Design/methodology/approach – The author’s paper is based on her expertise as a member of the working group TC46/SC4/WG14 Interlibrary Loan Transactions, charged with development, implementation and promotion of the ISO 18626 standard. Findings – The ISO 18626 standard is needed to replace the outdated standard ISO 10160/10161. It consists of simple messages, namely, a request message; a supplying library message; and a requesting library message. Messages are encoded using XML. Balloting on the draft standard was unanimously approved in December 2013, and a fully developed ISO 18626 standard is expected to be in production in one to two years. Originality/value – This paper reports on a developing standard that will impact ILL systems used by libraries around the globe.As the world shrinks and user’s demands grow, sending interlibrary loan (ILL) requests to other libraries, especially if multiple computer systems or catalogs are involved, has not simplified correspondingly. Even as individual ILL processes have become more streamlined, the need to interact with libraries – and the ILL systems they use – around the globe has dramatically increased. While an international standard, ISO 10160/10161, has been available for 20 years, the minimal acceptance and use of the standard has not provided the interoperability that we had hoped for and need. Work is currently underway to remedy this situation – a standard for the twenty-first century. This paper will provide the context in which this new standard emerged and was written, as well as outline what the new standard will look like and the next steps once the standard has been approved.

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.

The BALIS interlibrary loan system: a new network in Beijing

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to describe a new local interlibrary loan (ILL) system between universities in Beijing, China.Design/methodology/approachThe paper provides a descriptive analysis of the BALIS ILL system.FindingsThe paper finds that BALIS ILL has developed rapidly in the past two years but there are still some problems to solve.Originality/valueThis paper will be relevant to librarians interested in resource sharing in China.

A study on an interlibrary loan system : the implications of the Kumatori Library case (Osaka District Court Judgment)

A study on an interlibrary loan system : the implications of the Kumatori Library case (Osaka District Court Judgment)

The Value of Nonmedical Academic Libraries to Medical Libraries: A Case in Point

While the National Library of Medicine created the National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NN/LM) as a network to provide medical and health information, historically few nonmedical academic libraries have participated. University medical libraries and hospital libraries have been the major focus of the Network. Recently, the NNLM has intensified outreach to public libraries and community health agencies across the country and is investigating international cooperation, but nonmedical academic libraries in higher education institutions do not seem to be mentioned as much as these other types of health information providers. As a result of this study, the author recommends that the National Network of Libraries of Medicine increase their efforts at recruiting network members among nonmedical academic libraries. This case study evaluates the contributions and benefits of a southwestern Louisiana university nonmedical academic library after its first year of Network membership, especially DOCLINE, the medical interlibrary loan system and prime component of the Network. The lending activity of similar NN/LM nonmedical academic library members was also surveyed to discern possible contribution patterns.

Biographical Sketch of Frederick G. Kilgour Librarian, Educator, Entrepreneur, 1914–2006

The article traces the career of Frederick G. Kilgour (1914–2006), who is widely recognized as one of the leading figures in 20th-century librarianship. He founded the Ohio College Library Center (OCLC) and from 1967 to 1981 was its first president and chief executive officer, presiding over OCLC's rapid growth from an intrastate network to an international network. In 1971, under Kilgour's leadership, OCLC introduced an online shared cataloging system and an online union catalog (WorldCat) that is today the world's foremost bibliographic database. In 1978, he created the OCLC Office of Research, and in 1979, under his direction, OCLC launched its online interlibrary loan system. The author of 205 scholarly papers, Kilgour received numerous awards and honors over the course a career that took him from Harvard University Library, to the Office of Strategic Services in World War II, to Yale Medical Library, to OCLC, and finally, to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he spent his final years on the faculty of the School of Information and Library Science as a Distinguished Research Professor.

Key factors for consortial success: realizing a shared vision for interlibrary loan in a consortium of Canadian libraries

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to identify the factors associated with the successful implementation of a shared interlibrary loan (ILL) system by the Ontario Council of University Libraries (OCUL), a consortium of 20 Ontario universities.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is a descriptive review of the approaches taken in the consortial implementation of OCLC's VDX software. The paper elaborates on the building‐blocks and barriers to success as they were experienced, first by participants in OCUL's centralized implementation activities, and second at the local level by staff at Ryerson University Library, a member institution. Now end users can simultaneously search world‐wide catalogues, submit and track progress of requests, and receive materials rapidly. System functionality includes auto‐mediated interlibrary loans (direct requesting); use of link‐resolver software to transfer citation information from borrowing library catalogues to ILL request forms; and ISO peer‐to‐peer messaging.FindingsPost‐implementation analysis reveals several key factors that contributed to the project's success. These include: planning, leadership, financial support, technical support, cooperation, staff commitment, communication, staff‐and end‐user centered focus, training and evaluation.Practical implicationsThis may have broad application for similar complex projects.Originality/valueThe OCUL VDX implementation has achieved the originally expected economies of scale, service performance improvements and reduction in localized maintenance and system support. However, there have also been several unforeseen benefits such as the formulation and standardization of the OCUL ILL policies, and the development of Canada‐wide consortial reciprocal agreements. At the operational level, staff have had to adjust their management styles and develop confidence not only in their individual skills but also in cooperative thinking, reliance on centralized support, and in the overall system. Throughout the project the objectives have been clearly identified, and, for the most part, enthusiastically adopted, by consortium members. Recognizing that ILL is a service that is in transition, staff now look at business transformation and ways to identify, share and adopt best working practices.