ILL in the fast lane: a Hong Kong perspective

Abstract

While the University of Hong Kong Libraries (HKUL) enjoys access to a rich collection developed over its more than 90 year history, the extensive range of teaching and research activities compels the Libraries, like most other institutions of higher learning, to obtain items from local and overseas resources through interlibrary loan and document delivery. To ensure a high quality of service delivered in a cost effective manner, close partnerships locally and internationally and a low staff mediated ILL/document delivery system are seen as highly desirable. HKUL began automating interlibrary loan processes first through its use of Ariel and then with OCLC ILL services in 1992 and 1993 respectively. ILL/document delivery services, however, were still heavily paper based and intensive staff mediation was an inevitable consequence. To gain the maximum benefit from existing technologies, HKUL worked with three other Hong Kong academic libraries to investigate, evaluate and to implement an automated ILL/document delivery system in 2002. The introduction of this system, OCLC ILLiad, has enabled HKUL to participate more meaningfully in the digitized world of document delivery. This paper will focus on the difficulties encountered and the lessons learnt during the investigation, implementation and evaluation phases of the project. Issues relating to collaboration, automation, user empowerment and their subsequent impact on the ILL department and its staff will be explored. We will conclude with an outline of future dreams for ILL and document delivery at the University of Hong Kong Libraries.