Interlibrary loan and commercial document supply: Finding the right fit

A trial of three commercial document delivery suppliers with strong holdings in biomedicine

The University of Vermont's Medical Library evaluated the services of three commercial document delivery suppliers with significant holdings in biomedicine. The purpose of the trial was to determine whether journal articles could be procured in less time than routine interlibrary loan without greatly increasing costs. Each supplier offered a quick delivery method employing modern technology at a standard fee. The need to pay copyright royalties at times and a desire to test the possibility of substituting "access" for "collection" also prompted the trial. Results reported include: mean and median delivery times, percentages of requested titles held, and average price per transaction, including copyright fee. The Medical Library continues to use commercial services to augment interlibrary loan.

Interlibrary loan and document delivery: costs and fees

Presents a comparison between the two modes of information delivery and discusses the costs involved, along with their place in the library budget. Cost recovery has become a hot issue, but must be considered within the library’s mission. Considers various responses and their consequences, including the results of using commercial services to meet library goals. Offers a methodology for determining the library’s policy decisions. Legal and financial ramifications are included in this consideration. Recommends careful examination of goals and objectives in setting into place either procedure.