Interlending and Document Supply in Britain Today

Citation

Wolfe, J.A. (2008), "Interlending and Document Supply in Britain Today", Collection Building, Vol. 27 No. 1, pp. 43-43. https://doi.org/10.1108/01604950810846260

The authors have noted they “could not find a book about the IDS system in the UK today,” so this “book aims to fill that gap.” This effort has reached that aim. This is an exhaustively researched and detailed book applicable to all types of libraries in the United Kingdom and it is comparable to Lee Andrew Hilyer's book, Interlibrary Loan and Document Delivery, which is written for interlibrary loan services in the United States.

This volume contains 13 essays contributed by nine different and highly experienced authors. The first chapter contains a very interesting history of the development of interlending in the UK. The authors also cover topics including departmental management, effective practices, copyright, and interlending software evaluation. The text is well organized and indexed, so information may be located quickly for reference purposes. Many of the chapters have appendices which include links to web resources.

Though geared toward operations in the UK, this book does contain information useful to a wider audience, particularly Chapter 10 which addresses staff levels and training, task structure, evaluation, and the maintenance and preparation of departmental statistics. The last chapter attempts to provide a “look at the future” of interlending while stressing the importance of taking responsibility for this future.

The authors have provided a detailed, useful book containing information which will appeal to staff in libraries of all types and sizes.