Interlibrary Loan Plan
Approved by NN/LM PNR Resource Sharing Committee, October, 1997
This plan for the Pacific Northwest Region of the National Network of Libraries of Medicine is predicated on the National Interlibrary Loan Plan as published with the Request for Proposal, RML Contracts. This regional plan includes additional elements that are specific to and meet the needs of the Pacific Northwest. Libraries affected by this plan should also be familiar with policy information in the National Library of Medicine's Fact Sheet entitled "Interlibrary Loan Policy," and with the National Interlibrary Loan Code of the American Library Association. This plan was approved by the NN/LM PNR Advisory Committee (April 20, 1992) and its Subcommittee, the Resource Sharing Committee.
The NN/LM PNR staff has the responsibility of coordinating regional interlibrary loan policies, initiatives, systems, and databases that relate to the use of NLM products and services.
The NN/LM PNR's Resource Sharing Committee is charged with providing advice to the NN/LM PNR on resource development and sharing topics of concern to health libraries and health professionals in the Pacific Northwest. Such topics include, but are not limited to DOCLINE (including its Serial Holdings, Institutions, and Routing Table features), Loansome Doc, and other cooperative efforts.
Policies
I. General interlibrary loan (ILL) policy in the Pacific Northwest
Interlibrary loan is to be used to augment a library's collection; it is not intended to substitute for journal subscriptions or book purchases which are core materials for a library's clientele. High quality and timely service is to be encouraged.
The National Library of Medicine recommends that libraries attempt to use local resources first.
Libraries may charge for filling interlibrary loans. It is recommended that no library charge more than the national maximum for Resource Libraries [$11.00 at the start of the 2001-2006 RML contract]. While libraries are encouraged to provide ILL service for any library in the region, it is recognized that individual circumstances may dictate that a library not provide ILL service for another library or group of libraries.
II. Interlibrary loan information on Pacific Northwest libraries
To ensure the accuracy of interlibrary loan information in the Directory of Health Sciences Libraries and Network Members and DOCLINE's Institutions records, Pacific Northwest health libraries are expected to update their Institution record whenever information changes.
III. Locator Tools
The serials locator tool for the Pacific Northwest is DOCLINE's Serial Holdings. Libraries must update their holdings at least once every year or risk being dropped from DOCLINE.
IV. DOCLINE
Within the National Network of Libraries of Medicine, DOCLINE is an important interlibrary loan tool. DOCLINE usage is free to participants, but depends on DOCLINE libraries' careful compliance with policies and procedures. The NN/LM PNR and the Resource Sharing Committee monitor DOCLINE usage by the Region's DOCLINE users and may question individual libraries' practices. DOCLINE users should follow the instructions as delineated in NLM's National Network of Libraries of Medicine Document Delivery Plan for the 2001-2006 NN/LM contract period.
A. Libraries with over 25 journal titles must input their holdings information to DOCLINE Serial Holdings in order to participate in DOCLINE.
B. DOCLINE participants are expected to log into and check DOCLINE every working day, although DOCLINE access will not be denied to health libraries in the Pacific Northwest where DOCLINE is read less often because of part-time staffing. It is also recognized that vacations and illness may preclude the reading of DOCLINE; libraries are not required to notify other libraries in case of limited staff absences. When circumstances prevent DOCLINE use for three or more consecutive working days, libraries should use the DOCLINE Hold Request to temporarily deactivate their account..
C. Libraries should follow the NN/LM PNR policy for Routing Table Preparation.
D. Libraries are encouraged to note in their DOCLINE Institution record that they will provide routine fax service. Within this region, fax requests on DOCLINE should usually be limited to cases of urgent need and lending libraries should respond within 24 hours. When a response time of less than 24 hours is necessary, the DOCLINE fax request may be followed up by a phone call.
V. Loansome Doc
Loansome Doc, the National Library of Medicine's document ordering capability for PubMed users, allows health professionals to electronically order documents from a DOCLINE library. PubMed users ordering documents must identify a DOCLINE library which is willing to serve them. Loansome Doc is a means for a PubMed user to communicate with his or her library (used in place of written messages, phone calls, or other electronic messaging systems) and, as such, should not affect the borrowing/lending relationship between libraries. PubMed users who call the NN/LM PNR for referral to a library will receive the following response:
A. At least three library services will be suggested and users will be encouraged to make their own choices.
B. At least one of the receommended library services will be the closest DOCLINE library that will accept Loansome Doc users.
C. If the health professional has an affiliation with a library offering Loansome Doc services, that library will be suggested.
D. At least one of the recommended library services will be a very large collection--a resource library in the state or another sizeable collection.
E. Where appropriate, a library service with subject expertise will be in the list of suggestions (for example, a cancer research center library for an oncologist).
F. The NN/LM PNR encourages consortia to make arrangements for PubMed users in their area. Where such arrangements are in place and are reported to the NN/LM PNR, users will be referred to the consortium.
G. The NN/LM PNR will not attempt to tell users about the pricing or service policies of a library, merely that prices and services vary and that arrangements must be made individually with the DOCLINE library.
