Action for Libraries

ILL Management Software: Fare to Fuel your Productivity

By Heather Clark

For most libraries, interlibrary loan service has grown dramatically over the last few years. As global discovery services - such as Open WorldCat - grow, our patrons have more knowledge, not only about what items exist, but also where those items reside. Electronic delivery of articles and book excerpts has become the norm for academic libraries, and many offer electronic document delivery services of their own print collections to staff and faculty.

All of these developments have pushed resource sharing departments to better manage their workflow and record keeping processes with some form of management software. These software packages allow practitioners to consolidate their workflows into one stream by creating interactive databases that manage all aspects of record keeping, data transfers with ILL systems and patron communication. A wide menu of options - scalable in both features and price - permit any size of ILL shop to benefit from ILL management software.

Clio Software
Clio software is in use in more than 800 institutions throughout the U.S. It's suitable for the low-volume library that wants to eliminate the paper record files or for higher volume institutions that want to automate billing. Prices start at $500 and scale according to the number of transactions, with an annual support fee after initial purchase.

Clio comes in two flavors. The basic package has a staff interface that automates routine tasks and interacts with external systems such as OCLC and Docline. It can also be installed on as many workstations as needed. Clio Advanced allows import and delivery of electronic articles via Ariel software. It includes ClioWeb, a patron Web interface that allows patrons to submit and track their ILL requests online. Both products have built-in statistics and reports that can be exported in a CSV file. Clio is a reliable, cost-effective solution for libraries without demands for high customization.

BCR offers members a 5 percent discount on Clio. For more specifics and ordering information, see our Web site www.bcr.org/resourcesharing/man-sys.html.

Relais Software
Relais International seeks to provide a robust product with standards compliance and offers two products to meet ILL and document delivery needs. Relais ILL is designed for the smaller library, while Relais Enterprise offers extensive customization options for libraries with high volume and/or multiple workflows (i.e. branch activity). Both products provide Z39.50 search access to library catalogs and ISO ILL connectivity to OCLC and other ISO products such as VDX. The products include modifiable Web forms for patron request submission and tracking as well as reporting services that can be customized. Other standards supported include NCIP for patron authentication, OpenURL linking and Web Services XML.

Electronic delivery is implemented within Relais ILL and Relais Enterprise. Stand-alone scanning and document delivery services are also available from Relais. Pricing for Relais ILL is an annual subscription model, while the Enterprise product is an initial capital purchase with annual maintenance fees. Relais offers personalized support and extensive training to its customers.

BCR offers a 10 percent discount on Relais products to its members. For more specifics and ordering information, see our Web site www.bcr.org/resourcesharing/man-sys.html.

OCLC ILLiad
OCLC ILLiad is a highly robust ILL management product that is fully integrated into OCLC's WorldCat Resource Sharing software. ILLiad resides on a SQL database and, consequently allows a myriad of customization options to accommodate the needs of large libraries that have multiple circulation sites. Libraries can host the ILLiad server themselves or have it hosted at OCLC for an additional fee. The service includes patron Web form templates that are customizable with CSS formatting. The product also includes a billing module to manage fees and payments for libraries that charge their patrons for transactions.

ILLiad includes the Odyssey electronic delivery software, which allows the transfer of electronic material between other ILLiad and Odyssey libraries. A key feature in ILLiad is its link to the Copyright Clearance Center that allows libraries to track copyright usage, view royalty costs for requested items and pay fees all through one workflow. Pricing for ILLiad is available online at www.oclc.org/illiad/ordering/pricing/.

All of these products share similar benefits: the ability to streamline your workflow, reduce turn around time and, therefore, create happy customers. BCR is happy to talk with you about the options that are available that would best meet your local needs. Please contact BCR's Heather Clark at hclark@bcr.org or (800) 397-1552 with questions or for further information.