[ILL-L] OCLC's IFM: Can we verify beforehand?

[Dale Colston]

Dear Colleagues:
 
While we do not charge for loans, we charge a small amount for photocopies provided to requestors that are out of state.
 
Last week, we sent two photocopied OCLC  requests to a NC public library.  Each request indicated an amount in the "Maximum Cost" field.  We made the copies, charged the appropriate amount and faxed the copies to the library.
 
About a week later, I received two (personal) checks from that library's'  PATRONS.  I immediately called the library informing them that the IFM fee  had been collected when I "shipped" the copies.  I would return the checks so that I wouldn't'  be paid twice,
 
The NC librarian told me that they DID NOT participate in OCLC's IFM  and that the checks were in fact payment for the photocopies.  She indicated an amount  in the "Maximum Cost" to merely indicate the maximum amount that the patron was willing to spend.  
 
I explained to her that since she'd indicated an IFM amount, I believed that our IFM account had been paid.  She said that her library did not have IFM capabilities and that they expected to participate in IFM shortly.
 
How can I verify if a "Maximum Cost" is in fact IFM?  Sometimes a library will indicate "IFM", others don't.  I really don't want to call each library beforehand and don't always have time to prepare invoices for those who don't participate.
 
Thanks in advance.
 
Yours truly,
Dale Colston
 
=====================================
Dale E. Colston, Esq.  
dcolston at npl.org
Principal Librarian
Interlibrary Services & Circulation Department
The Newark Public Library (NPL)
5 Washington Street, 2nd floor
Newark, NJ   07102
M-F, 9a-5p
V: 973.733.7768  F:973.733.5648