Struggling to bridge the gap between acquisitions and interlibrary loan?

Many public libraries choose to only buy items released in the past year. Older stuff can be ILL-ed. Acquisitions staff frequently work in tech services processing new materials where as buyers frequently work front of house directly with the audience they buy for.

Similar to Michelle Doshi's response, I generally look at six-months or newer for acquisition consideration. Anything older than that would likely need to be Fiction rather than Non-Fiction as nonfiction can become out-of-date at any point in time. Whereas Fiction books can become popular again due to any number of factors (e.g. movie, author wrote something new, etc.). Although, another interesting aspect to consider that I heard from a coworker is that what librarians consider 'new' is a much abridged timeline compared to patrons who view 'new' as being a longer length of time. So books may need to stay on the new shelves for longer periods of time.

Yes I agree with your statement. Now a days because of the more dependency on digital format, print version of the resources were getting less usage. Hence, building and maintenaning collection is an issue. So careful consideration of allotted budget, usage of available space, taking care in fulfilling the needs of the users and effective utilisation of resources should be undertaken with utmost responsibility.

Bridging the gap between acquisitions and interlibrary loan (ILL) can be achieved by enhancing communication, integrating workflows, and leveraging data. Regular meetings and shared documentation can improve collaboration between the teams. Implementing automated systems that link acquisitions and ILL processes ensures seamless data sharing. Analysing ILL request data helps identify high-demand items for potential purchase, reducing future ILL requests. Developing clear, flexible policies and training staff across both departments fosters mutual understanding and efficiency. By focusing on user experience and using integrated tools, libraries can streamline operations and improve service to patrons.

Improving integration and communication between acquisitions and interlibrary loans (ILL) is essential. Using an integrated library system (ILS) streamlines both functions and regular meetings help ensure alignment. Data sharing keeps ILL staff informed about new acquisitions, while cross-training promotes understanding of each department’s challenges. Feedback loops allow ILL staff to guide acquisitions in making targeted purchases, and analyzing user data helps address borrowing patterns effectively.

If your closest library doesn’t own it, they would be happy to get it for you. This is called ILL or “inter-library loan”. Libraries are part of networks of libraries that share items back and forth.

Isso é incrível, pois nem sempre a biblioteca tem todos os recursos que o usuário precisa. O empréstimo entre bibliotecas permite que a necessidade do usuário seja atendida .

Pela minha experiência, acho útil ressaltar a importancia da implementa??o de sistemas de gest?o de recursos integrados e automatizados para reduzir significativamente a complexidade e o tempo necessário para as transa??es.

To bridge the gap between acquisitions and interlibrary loan (ILL) in the digital age, integrate digital resource management into both processes. Utilize a unified platform for tracking and managing both physical and digital assets. Ensure that acquisitions include considerations for digital accessibility and compatibility with ILL systems. Regularly update and share digital resource inventories with ILL staff to prevent duplication and streamline access. Foster collaboration through joint training on managing digital and physical collections. Adjust workflows to seamlessly incorporate digital resources, enhancing service efficiency.