Cutting Out the Middle: Patron-Initiated Interlibrary Loans

Abstract

The interlibrary loan process at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale has undergone a major redesign. Central to the redesign has been a move toward empowering patrons by providing them with choice and responsibility. In 1994 the library began facilitating unmediated borrowing from 48 members of a statewide library consortium via a shared online union catalog and circulation system to enhance service to its users. The elimination of intermediary steps has reduced turnaround time significantly and contributed to increased patron satisfaction. The authors will explain the forces that prompted the redesign, the use of technology, and the impact on staffing.