Informing interlibrary networking and document supply in the English National Health Service: a comparison of models from five countries and a Caribbean network

Abstract

and BIREME, a Latin American and Caribbean network. Factors considered will include library types involved, organizational structure of library systems, length of system implementation, formats of documents involved, and efficiency of the system. Funding and pricing structures, where information is available, are described. Findings -Complementary collections are necessary for the widest, most cost-effective access to information. Access to electronic resources does not alleviate the need for remote document supply. Automation of library systems should improve the user experience, but does not necessarily replace the need for the involvement of library services and staff. Using software that conforms to the ISO ILL protocol and other industry standards such as Z39.50 allows for coordination of and improved efficiency of remote document supply (RDS) processes. Centralization of RDS does not guarantee an efficient service for users. Originality/value -Provides insights into current thinking in the NHS for delivering material electronically directly to end users.

Managing document supply: a SAGA come true in Sweden

“…Examples of products/projects mentioned in the literature include Agent Resource Sharing (Advanced Technology Libraries, 2006), the BLDSC Automated Request Processing System (Chivers, 2000), Clio (Whitlock and Edwards, 2003), Danbib/bibliotek.dk (Petersen and Lose, 2006), DOCLINE (LaCroix and Mehnert, 2002), DocUTrans (Dekker and Waaijers, 2001), ESTAR (Braid, 2003), ILLiad (Kriz et al, 1998) (Norton and Stover, 2003), IMPALA (Van Borm and Corthouts, 2003), INN-Reach (Chmelir, 2005), IntelliDoc (VanBuskirk, 2003), Kinetica (Missingham, 2006), NILDE (Cecconi et al, 2006), Odyssey (Connell and Janke, 2006), Prospero (Morgen and Hersey, 2003), QuickDoc (Munson and Hill, 2003), RAPID (Smith, 2006;Delaney, 2007), Relais (Cornish, 2000) (Guadagno, 2005), RLG's ILL Manager (Massie, 2000), URSA (Nitecki and Jones, 2004), VDX (Burrows et al, 2004) (Braun et al, 2006;Irwin andReid, 2006), WebZap (Library Technology Reports, 2000), WinCHILL (Glover et al, 2000), a number of open source alternatives (Wan, 2006), and the interlibrary loan modules of various local library systems (Prowse, 2006). For reviews, see Barry (2000), Jackson (2000), Lieberthal (2000), Prowse (2006) and White (2006).…”

Interlending and document supply trends in NHS North West health libraries 2003/2004 to 2006/2007

“…It is estimated that in 2002/2003 NHS libraries spent around £1m on providing interlibrary loans and document supply to NHS Staff 5 . If the North West trends are typical of national trends, then this figure may have been falling significantly over the last 4 years.…”

“…In a paper published by White and Twomey, a vision for NHS remote document supply is set out. This vision would enable NHS staff to access easily the documents they need, at the time and the place and in the format required in ways that are both affordable and cost‐effective for the NHS 5 . Solutions being considered include enhancing existing networks, maintaining the status quo or procuring a national remote document supply system provided by a third party.…”

“…It is estimated that in 2002/2003 NHS libraries spent around £1m on providing interlibrary loans and document supply to NHS Staff. 5 If the North West trends are typical of national trends, then this figure may have been falling significantly over the last 4 years. A working group of NHS librarians is currently developing a business case for a national document supply system or solution on behalf of the National Library for Health.…”

“…Health care libraries spend a high proportion of the non-pay budgets on periodicals and interlending and, in those libraries with large collections, document supply activities can take up a significant proportion of staff time. 4,5 In addition to interlending and document supply between LIHNN members, many NHS NW health libraries are also members of other schemes such as the Nursing Union List of Journals (NULJ) and the Psychiatric Libraries Cooperative Scheme (PLCS). Libraries may also be members of the British Library Document Supply Centre (BLDSC), the British Medical Association (BMA) Library or the Royal Society of Medicine (RSM).…”