> I seem to remember that some libraries using worldcat local reported an
> increase in interlibrary loan activity. There may an argument here that if
> there were a more transparent way across all libraries to see holdings
> easily/centrally from within the catalog that circulation would increase, a
> rising tide lifting all boats, or at least the bigger boats with more
> holdings.
Since implementing WorldCat Navigator -- a consortia level product
that provides a discovery experience similiar to WorldCat Local, we
have seen an increase in ILL across our member institutions. However,
the impact is highly variable ranging from very little to over 200%.
Some institutions also report increased use of electronic resources
which could conceivably result from requests for nonreturnables that
would normally go to ILL being routed through resolvers that identify
electronic copy. Actual circ numbers are down.
A number of logical explanations could be used to describe what is
happening, but the reality is that associating cause and effect can be
difficult.
One thing that is often absent from discussion is the effect that
service expectations have an impact on requesting. You can have the
greatest discovery mechanism, but if you want reference libraries to
plug your service and patrons to rely on your system, the delivery
mechanism whether materials are physical or electronic needs to
perform.
kyle
--
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Kyle Banerjee
Digital Services Program Manager
Orbis Cascade Alliance
banerjek_at_uoregon.edu / 503.999.9787
Received on Thu Sep 24 2009 - 17:51:18 EDT