Library Information and Resource Sharing

Book excerpt: Through the perspectives of interlibrary loan (ILL) specialists, this book examines what ILL departments are doing, the value of ILL librarians in the evolving library environment, and how library collections and services are being affected by new ILL policies. In today's libraries, ILL specialists are facilitating service that goes far beyond traditional borrowing and lending. Recent innovations in interlibrary loan and library resource-sharing practices have advanced the information-sharing mission of libraries—a sea change that affects and benefits all library operations and staff. This book explores the far-reaching significance of these innovations in ILL for other areas of library activity, from acquisitions and collection development to reference and instruction to circulation and e-resource management and beyond. Readers will understand that as valuable as traditional ILL remains, ILL librarians are also well-placed to do much more. For example, ILL staff can inform acquisitions and collection development decisions with request data; demonstrate the need to maintain and preserve the long tail of print; advocate for the fair use of copyrighted print material and license terms that safeguard library information sharing in the digital environment; nurture consortial relationships and international cooperation between libraries; and promote the discovery of information, all of which can help librarians meet the information needs of their communities.