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Australian Interlibrary Resource Sharing (ILRS) Code Development

The National Resource Sharing Working Group (NRSWG) developed the ILRS Code in consultation with practitioners around Australia. Papers were presented at conferences, issues were raised at various meetings, and feedback was sought from discussion lists.

A consistent message was that improvements were needed to the existing Interlending Code. The Working Group also considered international standards, undertook research to quantify current trends, examined the infrastructure which is available in Australia and considered recent research on the experiences and perceptions of library users.

 
Why a new code?
What was the role of the NRSWG?
How was the code developed?
Who has endorsed the code?
What happens now?
Will the new service levels in the Code be included in KDD and the ILRS Directory?

ILRS Code main page


 

Why a new code?

The key impetus for developing the new Code came from the National Academies Forum (NAF) and the Australian Libraries Collection Task Force (ALCTF). NAF identified that academics want ILL/DD services to be improved. In a survey conducted by the National Round Table on Access to Overseas Monographs, academics said that ILL was not working for them. There was both inadequate knowledge and misinformation about interlibrary lending services and how end users could access them. The result was that many users bypassed the service and used personal contacts to obtain material from overseas.

The ALCTF identified interlibrary lending services as a critical issue for academics in the focus groups research it undertook. The ALCTF Looking for Books report and the NRSWG's In the Mail report identified improved ILL service with guaranteed delivery times as a key issue.

The NRSWG reviewed other ILL codes and practices, for example from Canada, the United States and New Zealand. Developments by the ILL Protocol Implementers Group and the results of the Association of Research Libraries ILL/DD Performance Measures Study conducted in the United States by Mary Jackson were considered.

Other environmental changes which influenced the development of the new code included:

 

What was the role of the National Resource Sharing Working Group (NRSWG)?

The NRSWG was set up as an initiative of the National Library of Australia in response to concerns expressed by users and library staff about the effectiveness of the current interlending system. NRSWG members were ILL practitioners drawn from all sectors and most states and territories. The Group's brief was to ensure that a robust, reliable and cost-effective interlending system, built on cooperation and agreed service standards and policies, is in place to serve Australian libraries and their users. The establishment and work of the NRSWG had strong support from key peak industry bodies including:

The Standards Subcommittee of the NRSWG was formed to draft the new code. The Subcommittee included NRWSG members and other ILL/DD practitioners, chosen for their expertise and to increase the opportunities for consultation.

Further advice and guidance was received from the National Resource Sharing Policy Committee which had representatives from CAUL, CASL, ALIA and the NLA.

 

How was the code developed?

The NRSWG examined:

The NRSWG discussed issues with many of groups and library staff at meetings and conferences, and sought feedback through discussion lists (doclibs and kinetica-l). Subcommittees were formed with other practioners to look at data collection, performance standards (existing models and ISO interlibrary lending standards). A consistent message was that a revised Code should include more closely defined service level standards, including defined turnaround times.

The Subcommittee drafted a revised code and best practice guidelines, and developed three models for the service level standards. It subjected the models to rigorous examination, tested them against advantages and disadvantages, and reviewed the implications for current workflows. On the basis of this analysis, the NRSWG chose the model used for the revised ILRS Code.

 

Who has endorsed the code?

The Code has been formally endorsed by the Australian Library & Information Association (ALIA), the Council of Australian State Libraries (CASL), the Council of Australian University Librarians (CAUL) and the National Library of Australia.

 

What happens now?

To assist libraries to implement the new Code, the NRSWG presented information sessions to groups and worked closely with AIMA to develop practical workshops. The AIMA workshops assisted participants to develop implementation strategies for their own libraries.

The Code was officially launched by Mairéad Browne, President of the Australian Library & Information Association (ALIA), on 15th January 2001.

 

Will the new service levels in the Code be included in KDD and the ILRS Directory?

Yes they will. The Kinetica Document Delivery Service (KDD) will use the service level standards in the new Code and the recommended charges in the Code will be applied in the Payment Scheme. The updated Australian ILRS Directory will allow you to note your use of the new Code.

Go to National Library of Australia home page

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