Congratulations to Natalie Sturr and Michelle Parry from the Penfield Library at SUNY Oswego on their upcoming article in the Journal of Interlibrary Loan, Document Delivery & Electronic Reserve. And thanks for your mention of Nylink Professional Solutions True Serials® and EffectiveData! Here’s the abstract of the article, and citation information:
One of the signposts of 21st century librarianship is the shifting paradigm to an increasingly dynamic collection to serve the resource needs of our patrons. Interlibrary loan is an integral library service for this model. This article focuses on key facets of successful practices and administrative issues that maximize efficient resource sharing, particularly regarding nonreturnable materials (articles/book chapters). Issues regarding tools, staffing, accurate and informative serials holding information, deflection policies, embargoes and database licensing are identified.
Nylink’s LAND (Libraries and Nylink Deliver) service has 110 participating libraries across New York. Over 350,000 items are delivered each year. Each one of those items meets a need, helping library patrons do original research, read widely in their field, and broaden their perspectives. This critical function of LAND is illustrated by a slightly silly video.
The project to implement a new Policies Directory has been underway for the past year and is finally coming to fruition. A new Policies Directory interface will be installed on Sunday, December 13th.
The install will also include a new underlying database and platform for the Policies Directory.
Your access to the Policies Directory will remain the same.
Via the existing URL (https://illpolicies.oclc.org) using your OCLC ILL authorization and password.
Through the WorldCat Resource Sharing interface, either by clicking the Policies Directory link or on the ‘Libraries that Own Item’ screen, by clicking on the red ? next to the library symbol.
Via the existing links in ILLiad and the WorldCat Services Administrative module.
All existing data (policies, deflections, contact data) will remain. You do not need to make any changes to your existing Policies Directory data.
We’ve implemented some new features, including real-time supplier status, an improved more user friendly interface and integration with WorldCat Registry.
A complete list of changes and enhancements is located at http://www.oclc.org/info/policies/
Coming later this week – a preview environment for a sneak peak at the new interface. Details to follow.
The Policies Directory interface and access to the data in the Policies Directory will be unavailable from 8:00 pm Saturday, December 12th through 6:00 am Sunday, December 13th Eastern Standard Time.
WorldCat Resource Sharing will be unavailable on Sunday, December 13th
from 2:00 am – 6:00 am Eastern Standard Time.
In 2008, 112 libraries saved over $700,000 in postage and shipping supplies, handling more than 319,00 items using the LAND Delivery Service. So far this year, libraries are on track to save even more. LAND usage has been higher every month in 2009, with an average of 12% more bags per month, and 4% more items, used by the libraries that report their LAND statistics.
Resident Nylink ILL expert Jon Penn, in reviewing ILL subscription renewal pricing
for Nylink members and affiliates, noticed that something wasn’t adding up. He and
other staff collated last year’s actual ILL use and compared those numbers to renewal
rates. In about fifty cases, renewal pricing, which is automatic, was higher than what
libraries should be paying. Taking the initiative, Jon appealed the renewal pricing for
those members, winning reductions for the majority of them on their 2009-2010 rates.
That’s just one example of Nylink Professional Solutions.
How often do we all wonder what it would be like to step into someone else’s job for a few hours, or even a few days? Our own Jon Penn had just that chance last week when he spent a week in SUNY Geneseo’s ILL department at the Milne Library.
Jon was able to participate in and observe the day-to-day activities, from processing ILL requests through ILLiad to watching how the LAND delivery service is integrated into the ILL workflow. He admitted it’s been a few years since he’s worked in an ILL department, revealing that in his time paper forms were the norm. While the workflow is essentially the same, he said, automation has “streamlined the ILL process and eliminated some labor intensive tasks.” And SUNY Geneseo’s efficient station design allows workers (student or otherwise) to know exactly what needs to be done whenever they walk into the ILL office, e.g. whether the items in the LAND bags need to be unpacked, shelved or sent out to other LAND libraries. Jon noted that Geneseo’s well organized office “helped solve the attention to detail concerns” inherent in any ILL operation.
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