[ILL-L] Inexpensive ways to keep patrons informed

[Campbell, Heather]

Before ILLiad, we couldn't tell customers much except that it had been
processed and we were waiting for a reply. But we're talking back in
2004. we any updates we did were manual.  But even with ILLiad, there's
not automatic e-mailing to keep them updated every step of the way.
And- think about it- do you think every customer wants that much
information sent to an already overflowing e-mail box? If each customer
places 10 requests at one time, I don't think they want potentially over
40 messages sent each time there's a status change.  Both ILLiad and
Clio have ways for customers to check the status of their requests
themselves.  Not sure about the other ILS software out there.

Heather Campbell
Manager- Special Services (Interlibrary Loan and Books by Mail)
303 North Laura Street
Jacksonville, FL 32202-3505 ill at coj.net  (904) 630-2986

-----Original Message-----
From: ill-l-bounces at webjunction.org
[mailto:ill-l-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Melissa Jackson
Sent: Tuesday, September 30, 2008 8:57 AM
To: 'Interlibrary Loan Listserv'
Subject: Re: [ILL-L] Inexpensive ways to keep patrons informed


Before we got ILLiad we didn't try to keep patrons updated every step of
the way.  We made sure our email address and phone number were widely
available, and encouraged patrons to let us know if they had questions.
But we didn't contact them until the item arrived and was processed,
unless there was a problem.

Hope this helps!

Melissa Jackson
ILL Librarian


>>> 
From: 	Paul Jackson <paul.jackson at aims.edu>
To:	'Interlibrary Loan Listserv' <ill-l at webjunction.org>
Date: 	9/29/2008 5:38 PM
Subject: 	[ILL-L] Inexpensive ways to keep patrons informed

Hi,

My library director wants to know if others try to keep patrons informed
about the status of their ILL requests between when they are placed and
when
they arrive.

I know that some of the software like ILLiad and other such solutions
allow
you to do that. But, as a middle-sized community college, we don't have
thousands to spend on such software. 

What do others do, if anything? Is there cheaper software out there. Do
you
email people whenever there is a change in status (from pending, to
sent, to
arrived, etc.). Or, are you like us and, after you receive the ILL
request,
you then wait until the arrival of the item to let them know it is
available
for them to pick up?

Thanks for your help!

 
Paul Jackson
Aims Community College
Greeley, CO 80634



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