4.1 Use an ICT-based library management system proficiently

Table of Contents

1. Automated library management systems
2. The circulation module
3. The acquisitions module
4. The cataloguing and stock management modules
5. Inter Library Loan module
   1. Inter Library Loan procedures
   2. Using Inter Library Loans
   3. Rules governing Inter Library Loans

Inter Library Loan module

You should be familiar with the steps associated with the ILL process.

It may be that the borrower has a specific item in mind, in which case you must get a precise description of the item.

1

Inter Library Loans What information about a book would you ideally wish to have before placing an ILL request? To satisfy the British Library ILL form, a considerable amount of information is required, indeed the full bibliographic details. In the case of a book, these are the following: - Author - Title - Year of publication - Edition - ISBN - Publisher & place of publication - The source of the reference And remember you also need to record the name and contact details of the borrower.

If, as is likely, the borrower cannot supply you with full bibliographic details of the item being requested, you will need to ascertain these using appropriate bibliographic tools.

It may be that from the nature of the borrower request (they cannot find an item to satisfy their quest) you may need to follow the reference interview process, described in Unit 1 so that you have a clear definition of the subject area required by the borrower. If you wish to refresh your understanding of this topic, you can return to the Unit 4 home page by clicking the ICTL logo at the top left of the screen and navigate from there to Unit 1.

Let's have a look now at Inter Library Loan procedures ...