Interlibrary Loan: Strutting Our Stuff

2007 NWILL Conferencepresentation by Nancy Alder

Interlibrary loan is a core library service which…

•allows libraries to use their materials budgets most effectively and •provides access to uniquely held items anywhere in the world.

The mission of the Harold B. Lee Library is to assist individuals in their quest for perfection by providing information resources and services that support education, encourage learning, and promote spiritual and intellectual growth. The library accomplishes this by doing the following:

Serving as a center for learning by providing a place for students and faculty to actively engage in study and research;

Using technology to extend access to library resources and services; Selecting, acquiring, organizing, preserving and providing access to scholarly

information related to the university's curriculum and research programs; Assisting and instructing students and faculty in finding and using

scholarly information available at the university and elsewhere; and Supporting life-long learning. As a research library, the Harold B. Lee Library serves as a participant and

partner in local, regional, national, and international academic library consortia.

Newsletters – send out library-wide each quarter

Memos – send when landmarks are reached pass on kudos

announce article publications and conference presentations

Speak up in Meetings

Solicit feedback through a patron survey Solicit feedback using a “Tell Us How We’re

Doing” notation on emails Keep a file of kudos received

… and send these expressions of patron satisfaction onto your Administrators!

Report on your dazzling turnaround time Report on the value of your data to subject

selectors. Interlibrary loan data should be used in conjunction with the collection development process

Report on the increasing number of requests you handle. ILL opens the collections of libraries all over the world to your patrons.

“The average cost to add a title to the collection exceeds $100. At a national average of $16 to borrow, every resource sharing transaction serves the users need and avoids over $85 in expense.”

From Indiana Cooperative Library Services Authority white paper, “Wagging the Long Tail: share more of less”

Work with your Acquisitions staff to establish an Interlibrary Loan ‘Purchase on Demand’ policy and workflow

Work with your Collection Development staff to show patron needs met outside your collection

Work on library committees charged with enhancing service to patrons

Question them on how they view and value resource sharing.

Ask how they see ILL as part of the workflow in collection development, acquisitions, reference services.

Ask how they see ILL as part of the budget process.

Participate in state and regional library organizations

Volunteer for ALA committees Take a turn as Chair on a consortium or

organization committees Mentor new Interlibrary Loan staffers at

other institutions Step up to share successful ideas with

colleagues at other institutions

Contact nancy_alder@byu.edu

801 422-3624