[ILL-L] Invoices included with Electronic Deliveries

[Tom Bruno]

Just my two cents:  invoices should always be sent under separate
cover, whether they are for physical items or electronic deliveries.
Large ILL shops may have several different people handling incoming
Borrowing materials, and even the most strategically-placed invoice
can easily get missed.

In the case of electronic delivery, many Odyssey institutions
(ourselves included) have customized receiving so that incoming
articles are now posted directly to the server and delivered to the
patron without staff mediation.  So we won't even see these unless the
patron thinks to bring them to our attention.

I think we can all agree that invoices are at best a necessary evil --
right now they represent a fraction of our Lending income and we would
love to be able to make that fraction go away.  But until that day
comes when everyone is on IFM or when everything is free, it's best to
keep the delivery of materials and their billing as separate
processes.

Regards,
Tom Bruno
Head of Interlibrary Loan
Widener Library
Harvard University

2009/2/4 Jeanine Weber <weberjea at aquinas.edu>:
> If libraries want to send invoices electronically they could put it in a
> separate email and word the subject so its obvious its an invoice.  This way
> it shouldn't get missed and the patron doesn't see it.  I haven't received
> invoices electronically yet, but I have received overdue notices this way.
> Either the email is the notice or the notice is in a pdf and attached. This
> would solve the problems mentioned in the original email on this topic.
> Jeanine
>
> On Wed, Feb 4, 2009 at 11:33 AM, James B. Harper <jbharper at ncsu.edu> wrote:
>>
>> Hey All, I raised this topic on the ILLiad list and someone thought I
>> should raise it here as well.
>>
>> Lending libraries should NOT include invoices with articles delivered
>> electronically (ie Ariel or Odyssey.)
>>
>> As Lenders we need to assume that:
>>   *A*) borrowing institutions seldom print out articles received
>>   electronically   *B*) most borrowing institutions only give incoming
>> articles a
>>   cursory glance before sending them on to the patron.
>> Special notes and invoices are often missed by borrowing staff. Missed
>> invoices don't get paid and do on occasion freak out a patron or two.
>>
>> We lenders should send articles that are "ready for prime time". With the
>> growth of unmediated borrowing and use of trusted sender there is an
>> increased need for this quality assurance.
>>
>> I often miss the obvious so I'd like to hear from those who disagree or
>> have a different slant on the topic.
>>
>> If you do have something to add, consider doing it on my obscure, never
>> read BLOG (illdds.wordpress.com) That way those who are not interested in
>> the topic will only have to delete one email.
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> James
>>
>> --
>>
>> _______________________________________________________
>>
>> James B. Harper, MLIS
>> Librarian for Interlibrary & Document Delivery Services
>> North Carolina State University Libraries
>>
>> jbharper at ncsu.edu                           919-513-3586 (phone)
>>                 919-515-7854 (fax)
>>                                                 CHAT:
>> www.lib.ncsu.edu/staff/jbharper/chat.html
>> uncill.wordpress.com
>> illdds.wordpress.com
>> 2 Broughton Ave
>> Campus Box 7111
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>> _______________________________________________________
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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>
>
>
> --
> ************************************************
> Jeanine Weber  /  Phone: 616-632-2128
> Interlibrary Loan Coordinator & Public Services Assistant
> Aquinas College  /  Fax: 616-732-4534
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