[ILL-L] Use of WorldCat.org in rsource sharing

[Paul Drake]

I have the pleasure of attending Solinet's webinar on Resource Sharing
Detective: Citation Tracing, presented by Russell Palmer the past two
afternoons.

 

I did share some of my use of WorldCat.org as a tool in resource sharing.
<<I also do a comparable use with Louisiana's academic network union
catalog: LOUISiana Union Catalog.>>

 

 

I search WorldCat.org for several uses:

 

1. To locate circulating copies of likely non-circulating/reference titles.

 

For example, I had a request from a faculty for "Facts on File Dictionary of
Environmental Science" 3rd ed, 2007. Rather than try five libraries at a
time, I search WorldCat.org. For most library listings, it links to the
library's catalog. I search the catalog for availability and location. If a
circulating copy, I check the MARC display, or STAFF view, to get an OCLC
symbol. This is usually in the 049 field, but occasionally elsewhere.  I had
to check about 75 catalogs to locate 5 potential sources. Received a copy
from 800 miles away in a week

 

 

2. To get available of recently published titles that may still in actuality
be on-order or in tech processing, and thus a "NO" on an ILL request. 

 

For example, today I had a request for "Library 2.0: a guide to
participatory library service" by Michael Casey. Published May 2007.   I
checked WorldCat.org and discovered all Louisiana locations the copies were
either in tech processing or checked out. I quickly (a relative term)
checked about 20 other listings and found five available copies from
libraries with which we share at no charge.

 

 

3. To check for possibly not-yet-published journal articles. Dec 2007 or
even April 2008 issues might be received, but I feel more comfortable
knowing that a library has received the needed issue. With all the advance
notification of scholarly publishing on publisher websites, or by the
author, these articles may not yet be available.

 

 

I wouldn't consider using these methods for all requests, but just when my
ILL-sense is triggered.

 

 

 

Paul B. Drake

Interlibrary Loan Librarian

Frazar Memorial Library

McNeese State University (LHA)

Lake Charles LA 70609

337.475.5726

 

McNeese State University - Excellence with a Personal Touch

 

 

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