Scanning Productivity in Interlibrary Loan

Abstract

The authors report findings of a research study conducted at the Iowa State University Library. Data was gathered on the scanning of library materials by students working in the Interlibrary Loan (ILL) unit. The goals of the study were fourfold:(1) Develop measures of scanning productivity in ILL, (2) Determine if it is more productive to scan from the original or copy and then scan with a document feeder, (3) Determine the best method of the copy and scan approach, (4) Determine the most productive method of scanning. The authors propose an extrapolation of their findings to other libraries involved in scanning for interlibrary loan.