or, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to Fear and Loathing at a Public Library Reference Desk



Interlibrary Loaning

   July 3rd, 2008

Library Hold ShelfI was sad to read a recent post on Walking Paper, quoting someone who was unhappy with their local library's interlibrary loan record.

Any bad library experience is a blow, but especially so with interlibrary loan: I personally think the ability to freely lend library items across the country is one of our greatest strengths, and one definite thing that sets us apart from other local groups and for-profit organizations.

And honestly, I always get a bizarre little thrill when someone calls to request a book. I like knowing I can pull a book from the shelf, print a hold slip, and put that book on the hold shelf. Then, another staff member will continue to forward that book on to the patron, be it a local patron or someone in another state. Dorky, I know, but I like that sense of being part of a system.

But back to the comments: unfortunately, everything cited is (or can be) true. Requests can take time to fill. Books do go missing. Most ILSs don't provide an easy way to communicate problems upstream. Sometimes, the best a local staff person can do is mark their local copy missing and hope the request is filled by another library.

But that shouldn't be the best we can do. To capitalize on our unique network, and to compete with modern options like NetFlix, any new system (software and people) should be designed to optimize interlibrary loan, not just allow for it. Massachusetts is at least lucky that we have a (mostly-)state-wide catalog, but there is plenty of room for improvement.




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3 Responses to “Interlibrary Loaning”

  1. Keri Says:

    I used to work in Massachusetts and while their statewide ILL is awesome, the catalog was SO SLOW.

    Now I’m in Jersey. JerseyCat is almost as slow but slightly better organized so you don’t have to click through as many links to find the right one.

    Then again, in my new consortium, all holds and requests are placed manually, where in MBLN everything was automated and lovely.

  2. Rebekka Says:

    Stories like these makes me so grateful that I work at a Danish library. We do have a national catalogue and that makes everything so much easier. Especially because it is set up to facilitate effecient ILL.
    And I agree with you re: the thrill. Especially if the patron starts out with “You probably can’t help me with this” and it turns out that you can. Love that.

  3. Melissa Says:

    I’m the only ILL coordinator for my county and I can definitely say that having a state wide catalog would be fantastic! And I too get excited every time I get a new request. It’s just one fun puzzle after another.