[ILL-L] Interlibrary loan fees

[Harlene Hansen]

Especially if this is an area that is going to be taught again, consider purchasing the book(s) for your collection.  Many times a used book can be obtained from a source (ie: amazon)  for almost what it costs to ILL it.  then it also comes out of acquisitions budget instead of ILL.  Studies have also showed that these types of purchases have a higher circulation rate than other books.   


Harlene Hansen, Reference Assistant
(319) 399-8016
Stewart Memorial Library
Coe College
1220 First Avenue NE
hhansen at coe.edu
Cedar Rapids, Iowa  52402
Direct: (319) 399-8016


>>> "Sarah Henderson" <sarah.henderson at minotstateu.edu> 10/02/07 2:53 PM >>>

I apologize in advance if a situation like this has already been discussed.
 
I have received a request from a faculty member regarding interlibrary loans for the students in a class being taught this semester.  They are doing research on a specific area where we do not have an extensive collection.  To supplement it they have been submitting interlibrary loan requests.  Our procedure has been to try all possible free lenders first.  If that does not work we contact the student and inform them there are no free lenders but we would be willing to contact lenders that charge.  We would cover the first five dollars of the fee and the student would be responsible for the rest.  The student has the option to come in and review the request with me so they know how much to anticipate in fees or can cancel the requests.  The faculty member has asked if there was something we could do to waive or cover the ILL fees the students were asked to pay.  Although I understand his concern about fees and the size of our collection in that area, I feel that if I waive the fees for his group then I am opening the door for other cases and there will be no going back.  Our budget doesn’t allow us to pay the entire cost for ILLs.  He has asked his dept. head for ideas on alternative funding but he has not received an answer yet.
 
Has this issue come at your institution?  Have you found any ways to compromise?  
 
Thank you in advance for your help!
 
Sarah
 
 
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Sarah Henderson
Access Services Librarian
Minot State University  
Tel:  701-858-3094
Fax:  701-858-3581
                                                   
 
 
 
 
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