International Interlibrary Loan Survey by American Library Association

The Reference & User Services Association (RUSA), a division of the American Library Association, recently released the results of its fifth International Interlibrary Loan Survey.

"The survey was first undertaken in 2007 ... The 2023 survey was distributed globally in collaboration with the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) Document Delivery and Resource Sharing Section (DDRS), and was the first  survey to be made available in all seven official IFLA languages (i.e., Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Russian, and Spanish) ..."

"The survey was distributed via listservs, library contact information gleaned from the International ILL  Toolkit, and social media to institutions in over 85 countries. The survey was open for twelve weeks from June 14, 2023 to September 10, 2023."

Questions included:

•  Does your library borrow internationally?
• What type of materials does your library borrow internationally?
• Which types of materials are hard to obtain from international collections?
• Charging local patrons for international ILL borrowing requests?
• What type of requests will your library supply internationally?
• Does your library fill more or fewer international interlibrary loan requests now than five years ago? What has the change been?
• Do copyright restrictions prevent your library from supplying non-returnables to international borrowers?
• Do licensing restrictions prevent your library from supplying non-returnables to international borrowers?
• etc.

There were 269 respondents. with 143 responses (53%) from North America.

On nearly every continent, a plurality of respondents worked in academic libraries. The exception was Australia and Oceania where more medical/health libraries responded than other library types (43% medical/health, 29% academic).

OCLC Launches Redesigned WorldCat Catalogue

OCLC, an international library technology and research organization based in the United States, has launched a revamped WorldCat.

WorldCat helps people explore the collections of thousands of libraries worldwide in a single search. The tool is used by many librarians, in particular for the purposes of inter-library loans.

The redesign is optimized for mobile devices and highlights resources from institutions closest to the searcher.

More information can be found in the press release.

Article on Access and Copyright Challenges for Canadian Libraries During COVID-19

The most recent issue of The Journal of Copyright in Education and Librarianship has published an article entitled Canadian Collaborations: Library Communications and Advocacy in the time of COVID-19:

"The COVID-19 pandemic forced libraries to unexpectedly and suddenly close their physical locations, necessitating a remote working environment and a greater reliance on digital and virtual services. While libraries were in a better position than most sectors due to decades of experience in licensing and acquiring digital content and offering virtual services such as chat reference, there still were some services and resources that traditionally had only been offered in a face-to-face environment, or were available in print only. There were questions in the Canadian library community about how, and if these programs could be delivered online and comply with Canadian copyright law. This article will describe the access and copyright challenges that Canadian libraries faced during the first nine months of the pandemic and will outline the collaborative efforts of the Canadian library copyright community to respond to these challenges."

Managing Interlibrary Loan Returns During COVID-19

 OCLC, an international library services cooperative, runs a number of blogs, one of them called Hanging Together.

Earlier this week, it published an article entitled Managing interlibrary loan returns and overdues during the pandemic: emerging consensus from the SHARES resource sharing consortium:

"After months of working at home, staff are now returning to their libraries, implementing safety protocols, ramping up services, and in some cases welcoming library users back into the building. Physical collections are back in play. One consequence of libraries closing suddenly and staying shut down for several months is that there is now quite a large backlog of interlibrary loan books that were caught in limbo when a state of emergency was declared back in March."

"There are many aspects of this challenge that deserve attention, and more than one way to go about solving the problem of getting tens of thousands of stranded books back to the lending libraries where they belong. SHARES members spent a recent town hall discussing the most constructive point of view to have about the return process in the time of COVID, as both a borrower and a lender, and were able to reach a consensus on the 'best' philosophy for managing overdue notices and recalls during a pandemic — at least the best philosophy for the SHARES consortium. (SHARES is a mix of small, medium and large academic libraries, special libraries focusing on law and art, and one major public library — about 100 libraries in all, at 70+ institutions, spread across 5 countries. What works best for your library or consortium may well differ from SHARES solutions, but we hope the questions we’re asking and approaches we’re taking will contribute to conversations happening across the global resource sharing system.)"

Survey of Academic Library Use of Open Access Materials

Primary Research Group, a New York-based publisher of research reports and surveys about libraries, has published the Survey of Academic Library Use of Open Access Materials ($95.00 US):

"As a response to the COVID crisis many colleges and universities are turning to open access resources and this report gives highly detailed data on the extent of use of a broad range of specific open access resources including but not limited to Google Scholar, Google Books, LOCKSS, the Directory of Open Access Journals, PubMed Central,  arXiv, bioRxiv, MedRxiv, ResearchGate the Directory of Open Access Books, OAPEN, the Online Guide to Open Access Journals, PDQY, Open Access Theses and Dissertations, the Registry of Research Data Repositories, MedEdPortal, the Open Access Directory, OpenDOAR, the Free Music Archive, EBSCO Open Dissertations, Science.Gov, OpenStax, MERLOT, Lumen Learning, the Open Course Library, Boundless and Saylor Academy."

"The report also looks at use of interlibrary loan, direct appeals to authors and at pirating sites such as Sci-Hub as ways to fulfill patron demand after subscription cancellations.  The study also gives detailed data on the use of, and perception of the skill level in using, digital object identifiers to track and find open access and other available free or low- cost materials. Study participants also comment on what they are doing to publicize open access resources to their patrons, and what training they are providing in their discovery and use. "

"Just a few of the 132-page report’s many findings are that:

• 37% of those sampled turn to interlibrary loan as their first choice in replacing content to which they have lost access (...)
• 63% of US-based colleges and universities in the sample produced a guidebook, listserv or LibGuide on how to locate and use open access resources."

Crowdsourcing the Safe Return of ILL Physical Items

OCLC, an international non-profit library co-operative that operates an inter-library loan platform, is asking librarians to help crowdsource the safe return of ILL physical items.

From an e-mail message to libraries:

"Interlibrary loan is the embodiment of sharing on a global scale. When COVID-19 hit, nearly 400,000 physical items were on loan to 5,674 libraries via the WorldShare ILL network."

"As these libraries begin to reopen, ILL professionals need to know if, and when, to send items back to their home library. If items are mailed to libraries that are not open and able to receive them, there is a high probability they will be lost or damaged, or libraries will incur additional fees because items are undeliverable."

"Help crowdsource the safe return of ILL physical items. At the request of the ILL community, and to support this urgent need, we are providing an easy way for you to signal when it is safe to mail physical items back to your library.

1. Please add your library to the crowdsourced list: oc.lc/mailform
2. Update your library’s status over time by following the instructions you will receive in your confirmation email
3. View the status of all libraries: oc.lc/mailstatus"

Report on Higher Education Inter-Library Loan Management Benchmarks

New York-based Primary Research Group has released a report entitled Higher Education Inter-Library Loan Management Benchmarks, 2018:

"The study presents data from 39 colleges and universities predominantly from the USA but also from the UK, France, Spain, Denmark, Israel and New Zealand, among other countries.  The 160+ page comprehensive study presents detailed data on budgets, staffing, borrowing and lending, turnaround time, technology use, consortia and partnerships, revenues and costs, eBook lending, special collections lending, audio-visual materials lending and much else ..."

"Just a few of the report’s many findings are that:

• The vast majority of respondents reported that ILL staffing has stayed the same over the last three years.
• Only 10% participated in international agreements or consortia.
• For borrowing requests fulfilled through transfer of paper resources by post or courier, the average turnaround time for articles is between 6 and 7 days and for books is between 7 and 8 days."

Print and PDF versions are available for $112.00 (US). Site licenses are also available.

Northwest Interlibrary Loan and Resource Sharing Conference August 2018

Librarians who handle inter-library loans will be interested in the Northwest Interlibrary Loan and Resource Sharing Conference taking place September 13-14, 2018, at Portland State University in downtown Portland, Oregon.

The program will look at issues relating to:

• Managing your ILL statistics 
• Sustainable ILL and green practices
• Succession planning
• Keeping track of licensing of e-content for ILL 
• Training staff and students 
• Copyright and licensing
• etc.

Deadline for Proposals is March 8, 2018.

You can have a look at the content of past conferences online.

Inter-Library Toolkit from American Association of Law Libraries

The American Association of Law Libraries (AALL) has published a new ILL Toolkit:

"It is designed to help new and experienced interlibrary loan and document delivery professionals learn about the various platforms, professional groups, conferences, and resources available."

It has sections on:

• Professional Groups and Listservs
• Products/Platforms
• Consortial Groups
• Conferences
• Practical Guidance (guidelines, copyright, discovery etc.)

Northwest Interlibrary Loan and Resource Sharing Conference August 2017

Librarians who handle inter-library loans will be interested in the Northwest Interlibrary Loan and Resource Sharing Conference taking place August 10-11 2017 at Portland State University in downtown Portland, Oregon.

The program will look at issues relating to:

• Copyright issues and interlibrary loan
• Leadership and management in resource sharing
• ILL workflow solutions for all library types
• Emerging and changing technology in interlibrary loan and resource sharing

Early Bird Registration ends July 10, 2017.

You can have a look at the content of past conferences online.

AMICUS National Union Catalogue to be Replaced Under Deal Between OCLC and Library and Archives Canada

Library and Archives Canada (LAC) has signed a deal with OCLC, the international non-profit library co-operative, to replace AMICUS.

AMICUS serves as a national union catalogue, helping users locate materials in hundreds of library collections across the country. It is often used for the purposes of identifying libraries that can provide copies of material via inter-library loan.

As LAC explains:

"LAC’s current system is outdated and no longer adequately meets the needs of Canadians. Following an in-depth analysis and consultations with key stakeholders in the Canadian library community, LAC concluded that it would be less costly to acquire these services than to build and maintain an in-house system."

"Implementation of LAC’s new library management system will take place over the next 24 months. LAC will continue to serve its clients using AMICUS while the new service is implemented. Once the OCLC system is fully operational in 2018, AMICUS services will be discontinued."

"To take advantage of OCLC’s world-class services, Canadian libraries must be members of the co-operative. Many Canadian libraries are already members of OCLC. In line with feedback from the Canadian library community, LAC has negotiated an agreement with OCLC whereby LAC will cover the interlibrary loan and copy cataloguing subscription fees for small public libraries and small libraries at post-secondary institutions (community colleges, CEGEPs and universities). In spring or summer 2017, LAC will let libraries know how they can apply for financial assistance in order to become members of OCLC."

"LAC will also work closely with Canadian libraries that are not OCLC members to resolve their interlibrary loan and copy cataloguing needs."

Primary Research Group Report on Inter-Library Loan Services for Research University Faculty

New York-based Primary Research Group has just published a report called International Survey of Research University Faculty: Use of Inter-library Loan Services:

"The study presents data from a survey of more than 500 international research university faculty from 50+ universities in the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the UK and Ireland about their use of their academic library interlibrary loan service.  The study imparts data on incidence of use, extent of use, payments of fees, and satisfaction with a range of factors including speed of delivery, breadth of services, costs, and inter-library loan staff knowledge of a scholar’s field, among other factors.  Survey participants also volunteered what they like most and least about their library’s inter-library loan services.  In addition, the study looks at how faculty feel about article 'rental services' and how they compare to traditional inter-library loan."

Print and PDF versions are available for $109(US). Site licenses are also available.

Survey on Scanning Practices for Inter-Library Loan

The Reference and Users Services Association, a division of the American Library Association, is surveying Inter-Library Loan and Document Delivery practitioners in libraries to find out what equipment and scanning practices are currently in use today.

The organizers will report back to the ILL community and use the survey results  to build discussion about best practices for scanning.

The survey will close on July 29, 2016.

Canadian Urban Library Council to Administer Library Materials Shipping Tool

The Canadian Library Association (CLA) announced last week that the Canadian Urban Library Council (CULC) is assuming the responsibility of administering the Library Materials Shipping Tool:

"This tool provided libraries across Canada access to affordable shipping rates. As a result of CLA's pending dissolution, it will no longer be administering this tool however we are delighted to share with you that the new administrator of this tool will be the Canadian Urban Libraries Council (CULC). CLA has been working with CULC to ensure that existing customer needs are met. More information will be provided through CULC on this transition."

In January, CLA members voted to dissolve the association and replace it with a new national library advocacy organization, the Canadian Federation of Library Associations. CLA has been gradually transferring its many responsibilities to other organizations and it will close its doors at the end of June.

You can find more information about the CULC on their website.

Supreme Court of Canada Library: New Interlibrary Loan Procedures

The Supreme Court of Canada library has just posted new interlibrary loan  procedures on its website.

The procedures were updated in June 2015.

Library and Archives Canada Response to Library Community Concerns About Outsourcing of AMICUS National Catalogue

This is a follow-up to the March 11, 2015 Library Boy post entitled Canadian Library Association Concerns About Outsourcing of AMICUS National Catalogue to OCLC.

Library and Archives Canada (LAC)  has been negotiating with the OCLC international library cooperative about taking over AMICUS, Canada's national union catalogue. Many Canadian libraries use AMICUS to identify institutions from which to order materials via inter-library loan.

The Canadian Library Association (CLA) wrote earlier this year to LAC to express concerns about the change. These concerns include questions relating to:

• access to the new AMICUS for libraries that are not members of OCLC
• the openness of OCLC
• accessibility issues for libraries using older technologies
• the maintenance of Canadian authorities and subject headings going forward
• cross-references between English and French authorities and subject headings

Library and Archives has responded and that response has been published on the CLA website.

Canadian Association of Law Libraries Conference Session on Collection Issues

One of the sessions I attended at the annual conference of the Canadian Association of Law Libraries that ended yesterday in Moncton, New Brunswick had to do with "Collection Issues in Changing Times".

A panel of library representatives from academic, courthouse, and law firm libraries discussed the issues that each faces – some the same, some that are unique to each because of different user groups and mandates.

Louis Mirando, director of the library at Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto, started off the discussion by describing the issues he thinks are paramount when it comes to collections.

Among these are:

• the need to discuss the creation of a Canadian print archive network that would guarantee that a best last copy of all important print materials would be preserved and made available via inter-library loan. The US-based PalmPrint project run by the New England Law Library Consortium of which my library is part provides this last print copy service for many American legal materials
• doubts about whether academic library patrons are using the collection. Mirando explained that students appear to prefer reading little beyond the contents of their coursepacks and his library has no way of tracking e-books
• the impact of e-licenses that are closing academic law libraries more and more to the general public who are often not seen as authorized users of the licensed e-resources
• the impossibility of sharing e-books via inter-library loan again because of e-license restrictions. What if every library has ditched their print copies of important materials?
• who bears the responsibility for maintaining specialty collections in an era of budget cuts? Osgoode may assume that Dalhousie continues to buy maritime and fisheries law, Dalhousie may assume the University of Alberta is buying print materials in energy law. etc. What if the assumptions are wrong?
• many academic libraries are eliminating purchases of law reporters in print. Will there be anyone left soon to act as the repository of the last print copy for sharing with other institutions?
• fair dealing provisions in Canadian copyright legislation have not prevented universities from being sued by copyright collectives

Cyndi Murphy, Knowledge Manager in the Halifax office of Stewart McKelvey, described the issues faced  by a regional law firm library serving offices spread across the Atlantic provinces.

Budget constraints have led to the centralizing of ordering and technical services in Halifax, the abandonment of one of the two major Canadian legal research platforms (she did not specify whether this was Quicklaw or Westlaw), and a change in acquisition practices. The firm used to buy all new major Canadian law books and now purchases what is needed. It has also cancelled many looseleafs in recent years, preferring to look for online options when available. The effect of these trends is that the print collection has become concentrated in two cities and materials will go to other offices via inter-library loan. Decisions have become much more usage-based, for example if a work is frequently loaned out to another office, a new copy will be purchased for that location.

The final speaker was Jenny Thornhill, Manager of Court Library Services for the Nunavut Court of Justice, located in Iqaluit, Nunavut. She is the sole person in charge of both the main Law Library and the Judges Chambers Library. Jenny is responsible for all Law Library services to the judges and lawyers of Nunavut.

Her description of the physical library and her technological infrastructure surprised many people.

Her library is tiny, inter-library loans are difficult since Library and Archives Canada abolished its ILL service, IT access is sometimes wonky with only one satellite available to serve the huge territory. She works with Windows XP and Internet Explorer 8. Many sites and databases load slowly and webinar training is not always easy because it often requires downloading software that is not supported by local staff.

The budget situation in Nunavut does not make thing easier. The budget, already very low at $220,000 per year, has not increased in 5 years. Dealing with vendors is also a headache since the library cannot use a government credit card for purchasing and still works with invoices (and cheques I suppose). Of course, the major problem from a collections point of view is the limited relevancy of many Canadian legal texts to the realities of the far North.

International Inter-Library Loan Survey

The International Interlibrary Loan Committee of the Reference and User Association (RUSA), a division of the American Library Association, is conducting a survey about international inter-library loan activities. It was developed for the Committee by the University of Washington.

The questions deal with:

• Total number of ILL Borrowing and also Lending requests received within a recent (last three years) 12 month period
• Total number of International Borrowing and also International Lending requests received within a recent (last three years) 12 month period
• Average turnaround time for all borrowing requests regardless of source
• The top five countries borrowed from and also the top five loaned to

Two previous international ILL reports are available on the RUSA website:

• Executive Report of STARS International ILL 2007 Survey
• Executive Report of STARS International ILL 2011 Survey

Northwest Interlibrary Loan and Resource Sharing Conference September 2015 in Portland

Librarians who handle inter-library loans will be interested in the Northwest Interlibrary Loan and Resource Sharing Conference taking place September 10-11, 2015, in Portland, Oregon at Portland Community College.

The program will look at issues relating to:

• Managing your ILL statistics
• Sustainable ILL & green practices
• Coping with fewer resources
• ILL for public libraries
• Succession planning
• Libraries without books, what does it mean for ILL?
• Keeping track of licensing of e-content for ILL
• Training staff and students
• Copyright and licensing 

You can have a look at the content of past conferences online.

Canadian Library Association Concerns About Outsourcing of AMICUS National Catalogue to OCLC

This is a follow-up to the Library Boy post of September 9, 2014 entitled Roundup on Proposed Outsourcing of AMICUS National Catalogue to OCLC.

Library and Archives Canada (LAC)  has been negotiating with the OCLC international library cooperative about taking over AMICUS, Canada's national union catalogue. My place of work uses AMICUS to identify institutions from which to order materials via inter-library loan.

The technology that runs AMICUS is decades-old and is no longer seen to meet the needs of the Canadian library community.


LAC has been holding roundtables with stakeholders about the issue and the Canadian Library Association's Technical Services Network submitted a series of questions to LAC in the wake of such a meeting on March 2, 2015.

The questions cover access to the new AMICUS for libraries that are not members of OCLC, the openness of OCLC, accessibility issues for libraries using older technologies, the maintenance of Canadian authorities and subject headings going forward, cross-references between English and French authorities and subject headings, etc.