by Agnes Lee
Quick Summary
In this article from Minitex Resource Sharing, Agnes Lee shares some helpful tips and reminders for improving your interlibrary loan results. She's also looking for some input on the best way to manage lost items for lenders as well as borrowers. If you're interested, send her an email or drop her line!
Body
As we begin the new school year, I'd like to share a few timely updates from Resource Sharing.
- One way you can help us fill requests efficiently is to let us know if you have a list of libraries you send directly to before coming to us. In Mira, our internal database management system, we can make adjustments to bypass locations you have already tried. Email me at leexx050@umn.edu with a list of the library codes and we will make the changes. It could be for both loans and copies, or either one.
- Including proper paperwork such as request slip/bookmarks helps in our processing. Our Referral Processing staff first works on the incoming items and then moves on to the returns. Our Delivery staff relies on the paperwork/bookmark in every item to determine placement on the processing shelves. Items with no paperwork are set aside and worked on at the end of the day, which results in delay. If you're short on supplies, like bookmarks, you can order them on our website.
- There are many ways to pay for a lost item. It is not only the ILL staff who are involved; the business office staff is also. It is time-consuming for both a lender and a borrower. I would like to get your thoughts on how to proceed effectively as a lender and a borrower. I have a few volunteers already and would like to invite a few more staff so all types of libraries are represented. If you are interested, please let me know.
- It is the beginning of a new school year and we are also training new staff. If you see any issues or mistakes in our work, do not hesitate to contact us.
We want to hear from you, so please do let us know how we can help. Have a great school year!
