Action for Libraries
Analyzing ILL Usage
Texas State Library and Archives Commission Project
By Heather Clark
In July 2007, the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) awarded BCR a contract to complete a comprehensive study of the Interlibrary Loan (ILL) services which are subsidized by the commission. A team from BCR, including Brenda Bailey-Hainer (BCR executive director), Heather Clark (member services librarian) and Lynn Taylor (BCR contract consultant), joined with two consulting partners to complete the project.
The project included:
- An examination of options for meeting ILL needs with cost/benefit analysis.
- A blueprint for building statewide ILL service based on best practices.
- The determination of needs within the Texas ILL system with relation to patron demand.
- The collection of data reflecting attitudes and perceptions from patrons regarding ILL delivery methods.
Several methods were employed to accomplish the wide-ranging tasks required. In the initial discovery phase, the team surveyed the resource sharing landscape specific to Texas and more broadly in North America. Team members completed 10 site visits to ILL referral centers throughout Texas in order to interview librarians and analyze the current workflow. A review of current ILL literature was written to examine the current state of ILL practice within North America. The literature review was supplemented by an examination of best practices and protocol documents developed by various resource sharing groups such as consortia, regional groups and statewide services. Additionally, an overview of current statewide ILL solutions was presented with selected case studies that demonstrated how the solutions were implemented.
Consulting partners, CIVICTechnologies and Your Perceptions, provided additional background information. CIVICTechnologies supplied GIS mapping services including demographic, population and resource sharing program participation in order to analyze how programs are distributed geographically across the state and areas of potential growth. Your Perceptions deployed patron and library staff surveys and analyzed the data returned. Patron surveys were administered onsite at 21 locations across the state with a self-contained, "black box" survey instrument. Patron responses also were collected through an online survey.
The final phase of the project was delivered to TSLAC on December 14. The report includes a cost/benefit analysis of several statewide ILL solutions as applied to the needs of Texas libraries. A feasibility rating for each solution also was prepared which considers not only financial costs, but logistical and political costs as well. All analyses were developed with the goal to provide efficient, comprehensive service to Texas library patrons.
This project is an exciting venture for BCR staff members who have gained a deeper insight into the resource sharing environment and the needs of library patrons. BCR looks forward to continued opportunities to assist its members, large and small, in similar projects that evaluate their work processes for improved efficiency and return on investment.