Turning the Tables in Interlibrary Loan: From Net Borrower to Net Lender at Rooney Library
Loading...
Author
Tryon, Rusty
Date
2021
Degree
Abstract
The Rooney Library at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College historically has been a net borrower in its interlibrary loan activity. In the past, the bulk of the library’s limited lending activity focused on supplying returnables, or physical items, which are increasingly declining in demand. Despite strong electronic resource holdings, demand for unowned research materials, coupled with limited funding, drove borrowing activity to become considerably and consistently higher than lending activity. Through the implementation of a few strategic actions, the library was able to transition to become a net lender within a matter of months, and that during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic when access to physical collections was limited. The poster notes key components critical to this turnaround, including the leveraging of existing electronic resources collections and knowledge bases, and the alteration of daily operations and procedures. Unexpected, positive outcomes of the transformation are noted, as well.
Note: Poster presentation at the 2021 Association of Christian Librarians Annual Conference, June 7-10, 2021