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Worldwide Searches

A presentation by

Peter RobinsonCustomer ServicesThe British Library

Tel: 01937 546606peter.robinson@bl.uk

Forum for Interlending Conference 2005From Local to Global

University of Wales Swansea6 July 2005

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A definition…

Two roles…

• As a borrower from others’ stock – WWS (Worldwide Searches)

• As a lender from our own stock – OCLC (Online Computer Library Center) requests.

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WWS requests

• As a borrower, the Worldwide Searches department can apply abroad for overseas publications that have not been traced in the UK or Ireland on behalf of customers in those areas.

• 80% of WWS customers are from the academic sector, e.g. Cambridge University, London University, Bodleian Library, University College Dublin

• 12% are from the commercial sector

• …the remainder are from government bodies, charities etc.

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OCLC requests

• As a lender, most of the OCLC requests we receive are from the USA

• 98% of the requests are successfully downloaded onto our Automated Request Processing (ARP) system

• The remainder are processed manually by WWS staff

• Cost is the same as a standard copy or loan

• Each OCLC request has a limited time in which it can be processed – depending on the customer’s requirements the time limits are in increments of four days.

• If BL fails to respond during the allotted time, the OCLC record moves on to the next library in the list.

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Why use Worldwide Searches?

The only way of obtaining certain materials of value to your researchers.

• Items published overseas and not available in the UK or Ireland

• May not be available other than via British Library Worldwide Searches

• Worldwide Searches encompasses the whole ILL process, from ordering, issuing, recalling, renewing, returning and paying for an item

• We often succeed where others fail because the British Library is respected worldwide.

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Expensive?

Once the BL has identified an organization that is willing to supply the item, a fee is payable for the transaction.

This is often the bulk of the cost of the service, and can include postage both ways. The organizations we use may not have a document supply service and will only deal with

us, not with individual libraries. Therefore, what they charge is generally higher than the normal

document supply fee.

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Where time is money...

Receive article request from your customer Check that journal is not already in stockVerify details with requesterCheck bibliographic details thoroughly Search online catalogues and union lists but no locations Send speculative request to who you think might have it Wait a few days Chase request Receive reply saying it is unavailable Try directHear nothing for weeksChase requestReceive reply that it is only available via British Library Send request to the BL for a Worldwide SearchWe do a thorough bib check We chase if no responseCopy will be supplied as soon as possible.

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Worldwide Searches

A presentation by

Peter RobinsonCustomer ServicesThe British Library

Tel: 01937 546606peter.robinson@bl.uk

Forum for Interlending Conference 2005From Local to Global

University of Wales Swansea6 July 2005

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Any questions?

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Worldwide Searches prices

Added value for your researchers, cost-effective for you.

• Worldwide Search - item supplied on loan  £46.80 (VAT n/a)

• Worldwide Search - photocopy supplied     £43.95 (+ VAT = £51.64)

• Worldwide Search - failure charge              £15.50 (+ VAT = £18.21)