This book contains the results of the first and only multi-institution study of interlibrary loan and document delivery customer satisfaction among academic library patrons. By examining customer perceptions and ILL/DD activities, Interlibrary Loan/Document Delivery and Customer Satisfaction: Strategies for Redesigning Services allows library administrators and managers to better understand service needs and shows them where to best allocate resources. The volume includes current reports on workload and staffing in ILL, analysis of current ILL statistical software packages, reports of on-site software development, and suggestions for the future of ILL/DD services. As ILL and DD are the fastest growing services in academic libraries, having a tool that provides so much comparative data on service quality, efficiency, and effectiveness is crucial for librarians in search of solutions to an array of ILL/DD problems.Interlibrary Loan/Document Delivery and Customer Satisfaction is a valuable resource for academic librarians, public and special librarians struggling with ILL/DD issues, DD providers (commercial or otherwise), and students in the field of library and information studies. Readers become immersed in the issues as this book: describes the development of local software to reduce the tedious tasks involved in request fulfillment, freeing office personnel to tackle more difficult requests analyzes how important delivery speed is to academic ILL/DD requestors and suggests when investing additional resources in improving delivery speed may be a waste of money provides comparative data on how many requests can be processed by the typical ILL office staff member debunks some long-held assumptions about delivery speed sets guidelines for efficiency and effectiveness proposes two strategies for redesigning ILL services to incorporate new developments in technology and innovative approaches toward long-standing, traditional servicesInterlibrary Loan/Document Delivery and Customer Satisfaction is useful not only to administrators interested in redesigning ILL and DD, but also to other libraries interested in comparing the speed and effectiveness of their service with some positively evaluated services provided by high-volume libraries. The software review helps providers implement the best choice of software for their offices and provides in-depth discussions about the strategies needed to further develop one’s own software to reduce workload. At a time when the tenets of Total Quality Management and customer satisfaction are the focus of many managers, interlibrary loan and document delivery are transforming from peripheral services to primary services in the academic library. Interlibrary Loan/Document Delivery and Customer Satisfaction reflects the convergence of these trends and provides a great snapshot of services provided by a representative group of academic libraries.

"This indispensable guide is armed with concise, easily digestible ratings from an authoritative dream-team of praciticing librarians and information professinals." "E-Reference Ratings test drives 180 resoruces in 14 subject areas, from Arts to Science to Technology and everything in between. Each subject category is matched with an easy-to-understand chart that ranks tools from one to four stars, in seven categories, including Scope, Writing, Design, Bells and Whistles, Ease of Use, Linking, and Value." "In-depth descriptions of each tool are included, and a multitude of added features, including contributor biographies and exhaustive indexes, will earn this guide a spot at every reference desk."--Jacket.

The perfect introduction to interlibrary loan! Interlibrary Loan and Document Delivery in the Larger Academic Library is primarily a practical handbook for library staff members who are new to interlibrary loan, the suggestions and resources it contains will also be valuable to experienced interlibrary loan staff. With the tremendous changes and innovative new technologies that have been introduced in the past few years, this essential book fills an urgent need in the library literature for an up-to-date interlibrary loan manual. Based upon the policies and procedures of the interlibrary loan department at Rice University in Houston, Texas, this handy desk reference provides a case study of an actual ILL department as well as general suggestions for organizing and operating a modern ILL department. Interlibrary Loan and Document Delivery in the Larger Academic Library: A Guide for University, Research, and Larger Public Libraries provides you with: the latest, most up-to-date treatment of interlibrary loan available a patron's perspective on ILL--what users want and expect from ILL services an extensive list of resources for copyright information and updated information on copyright law as it applies to ILL an extensive list of interlibrary loan resources practical examples based on the real operation of an ILL department helpful appendices and flow charts of the ILL process an annotated bibliography and list of resources for further exploration Designed primarily for librarians with little to no real practical experience in interlibrary loan, this book will educate readers about ILL and to provide a basic framework for evaluating an existing ILL operation or establishing a new one. It will also be a valuable reference for supervisors with responsibility for the ILL department, reference librarians, and experienced interlibrary loan librarians looking for expert, up-to-date information.

Guidance on how to do ILL efficiently and effectively, with advice on being a considerate borrower and lender.