Triangle Research Libraries Network Document Delivery System

Definitions

document delivery

interlibrary loan

commercial document suppliers

library photocopy/delivery services

Trends Affecting Document Delivery

• proliferation of journals
• interdisciplinary research
• erosion of library purchasing power
• competition for acquisitions $$
• patrons expect it NOW
• virtual library, virtual patrons...

Quick Facts

• Member institutions:
  • Duke University
  • NC State University
  • University of NC - Chapel Hill
  • NC Central University
• 10 separately administered libraries
  • approx. 50 locations/branches
  • 4 general, 3 law, 2 medical, 1 business
• all libraries use DRA for OPAC, circulation
• cooperative collection development
• reciprocal borrowing
• daily delivery truck
• 10-30 miles apart

ILL/DD environment

• net lenders: 120,000 vs. 30,000
• 50% returnables / 50% non-returnables
• 30-50% requests filled within TRLN
• 11 ILL offices; OCLC, Docline, RLIN
• differences in: organization, policies, use of commercial suppliers, use of Ariel and fax

TRLN Document Delivery System project

• 1992: proposal developed
• 1993-95: US Dept of Ed Title II-D funding
• 1995-96: US Dept of Commerce TIIAP funding
• 1996: TRLN funding for testing/trial
• ongoing: member library staff involvement

Two major components

1. automated document ordering facility though which patrons request documents, implemented through a network-based, client/server design
2. policy, staffing and procedural changes to implement service components for improved document delivery

Phase I: Focus within TRLN

• patron-initiated requests (blank forms or DRA "library request")
• automatic routing of requests to appropriate TRLN library
• direct delivery to most patrons
• policy issues: patron eligibility, fees, workflow/staffing, copyright

Phase I: Service Goals

• retrieval and photocopying of articles from any TRLN library
• retrieval and check-out of books and other materials from any TRLN library
• shipped within 24 hrs of receipt of request
• for pick-up at library or delivered to patron's office
• waiver of all charges to patrons

Patrons will be able to use DDS to:

• place requests
• check status
• update profile & preferences
• cancel a request
• request renewal

Routes for placing requests

• ILL forms on WWW
• order from OPACs
• order from other DRA databases
• order from Z39.50-accessible databases

Request forms

• book
• journal article
• other:
  • government document
  • book chapter
  • newspaper
  • dissertation
  • conference paper
  • proceedings
  • audiovisual
  • music score
  • technical report
  • patent

Staff can use DDS to:

• print pull slips
• respond "can't supply" or "shipped"
• indicate "received", "returned", "completed"
• refer requests outside TRLN: OCLC, ...
• messages to patron

Document Retrieval & Supply

• print pull slips at each branch
• transfer patron data to lender circulation system automatically
• send notices to patron automatically
• fax or delivery direct to patron

Plans for Phase II

• transferring requests to OCLC, DOCLINE, commercial suppliers
• extension of document requesting capabilities from other databases
• local use of full-text/full-image databases as source
• delivery in electronic formats?

Missing links

• local: serial holdings, retrospective conversion, infrastructure to desktop, policies (inter- and intra-campus)
• standards: holdings, circulation, patron data exchange; document identifiers; statistics, financial data

TRLN DDS home page and demo:

email: julie_nye@ncsu.edu