[ILL-L] BOOK CHAPTERS

[Melissa Jackson]

One other reason for lending the book that I haven't seen mentioned here is gutters.  If they are very tight or narrow, we'll send the book because we can't get a good photocopy or scan.  Perhaps the borrowing library has better copying equipment than we do, or their patron might be willing to take notes from it.  This way they get what they need, and we get credit for the lend.  I thought it was a win-win situation.

Normally we do try to send the chapter, since it is cheaper than sending the book and arrives faster.  But if borrowers would prefer we not send the book for long chapters or tight gutters, then speak up in the borrowing notes or the publisher field.  In those cases we'll say "NO" and send it on.

Just my two cents. 

Melissa Jackson
ILL Librarian


>>> 
From: 	"Breedlove, W Stephen" <breedlov at lasalle.edu>
To:	"ill-l at webjunction.org" <ill-l at webjunction.org>
Date: 	10/28/2009 12:25 PM
Subject: 	[ILL-L] BOOK CHAPTERS


This issue may have been discussed on this list before.  But here goes:

For the life of me, I cannot understand why a library that receives a request for a book chapter will send the book rather than scan the chapter and send the article through Ariel or Odyssey or email.  This morning, we received a book from which we requested a ten or so page chapter.  The supplying library paid UPS fees to send the book to us and we will in turn have to pay UPS fees to send it back to them after we copy the chapter.  By sending the book rather than copying the chapter, the book could get lost or damaged in transit.  Plus, supplies such as shippers and tape are needlessly used.  

I could understand this if a library had no staff to copy or was "swamped," but it seems to me even in these cases they could just say NO and let the request go on to the next library who might copy the chapter.

Currently, we are operating on a restrictive budget as far as postage and UPS expenses--and supplies--are concerned.  We are using every angle possible to keep expenses to a minimum.  We always copy a chapter rather than send the book, unless the chapter is very, very long.  Copying a chapter is not violating copyright as far as I know.

Thoughts?

W. Stephen Breedlove
Reference and Interlibrary Loan Librarian
La Salle University Library
breedlov at lasalle.edu 
215-951-1862



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