Web services to link interlibrary software with OCLC WorldShare
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to describe the use of web services to interconnect the GTBib interlibrary loan (ILL) program with the OCLC WorldShare platform.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors describe the current problem of duplication of procedures in libraries that have added their collections to the OCLC WorldCat catalog in recent years and are therefore more likely to receive ILL requests through the WorldShare platform.
Findings
A solution that uses web services to insert and retrieve requests between the two systems is presented. Autonomous agents periodically check the status of the requests and keep them updated and synchronized. These agents also inform the library staff of any variation or inconsistency that is detected.
Practical implications
This technology reduces process management time by making it unnecessary to introduce the request data in both systems. Agents are used to check the consistency of statuses between the two systems, thus avoiding errors and omissions and improving the efficiency of the whole ILL process.
Originality/value
This paper describes in detail the technical aspects of the development as a reference for the development of future applications.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This research was funded by the Agency for Management of University and Research Grants (AGAUR), in the context of the project “ Cultura i continguts digitals” (SGR-177/2009).
Citation
Rodríguez-Gairín, J.-M. and Somoza-Fernández, M. (2014), "Web services to link interlibrary software with OCLC WorldShare", Library Hi Tech, Vol. 32 No. 3, pp. 483-494. https://doi.org/10.1108/LHT-12-2013-0158
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2014, Emerald Group Publishing Limited