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ILL in the fast lane: a Hong Kong
perspective
Ruth Wong Shuk-ching and
Peter E. Sidorko
Abstract | Paper in
Portable Document Format (PDF) Presentation in Microsoft® PowerPoint®
format
While the University of Hong Kong
Libraries (HKUL) enjoys access to a rich collection developed over its more
than 90 year history, the extensive range of teaching and research activities
compels the Libraries, like most other institutions of higher learning, to
obtain items from local and overseas resources through interlibrary loan and
document delivery. To ensure a high quality of service delivered in a cost
effective manner, close partnerships locally and internationally and a low
staff mediated ILL/document delivery system are seen as highly desirable. HKUL
began automating interlibrary loan processes first through its use of Ariel and
then with OCLC ILL services in 1992 and 1993 respectively. ILL/document
delivery services, however, were still heavily paper based and intensive staff
mediation was an inevitable consequence. To gain the maximum benefit from
existing technologies, HKUL worked with three other Hong Kong academic
libraries to investigate, evaluate and to implement an automated ILL/document
delivery system in 2002. The introduction of this system, OCLC ILLiad, has
enabled HKUL to participate more meaningfully in the digitized world of
document delivery. This paper will focus on the difficulties encountered and
the lessons learnt during the investigation, implementation and evaluation
phases of the project. Issues relating to collaboration, automation, user
empowerment and their subsequent impact on the ILL department and its staff
will be explored. We will conclude with an outline of future dreams for ILL and
document delivery at the University of Hong Kong Libraries. |
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