A practical guide to e-journal and e-book supply – a UK perspective

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to report on current interlending and document delivery of e-books and e-journals in the UK and analyse the challenges encountered in such practices, using the experiences at King's College London as an example.

Design/methodology/approach

The author uses a case study approach.

Findings

Most UK libraries and higher education institutions negotiate the usage terms for their e-resources through Jisc's NESLI2 model license agreement. While the terms of this agreement work relatively well for document delivery of e-journal articles, allowing for secure electronic document transmission under prescribed circumstances, the interlending of e-books remains problematic.

Research limitations/implications

The paper provides insight into how UK document supply services can better use electronic holdings to offset the costs of requesting. It discusses the dilemma of e-books and potential solutions.

Practical implications

This will enable UK library professionals to better use e-resources in a legally compliant way for the purpose of document delivery. It will explain to non-UK library professionals how supplying from e-resources works in the UK.

Originality/value

The paper provides insight into how UK document supply services can better use electronic holdings to offset the costs of requesting. It discusses the dilemma of e-books and potential solutions.

Citation

Kluzek, M. (2014), "A practical guide to e-journal and e-book supply – a UK perspective", Interlending & Document Supply, Vol. 42 No. 1, pp. 13-15. https://doi.org/10.1108/ILDS-09-2013-0026