Impact of information technologies on interlibrary loan and document delivery services at the University of Auckland Library

Abstract

Information technology, by combining computers and telecommunication technology into one function, has powerful impact on interlibrary loan (ILL) and document delivery (DO) services in academic libraries in the following aspects: changing how requests are made and processed; changing how information is delivered and received; and changing the way which interlibrary loan and document delivery staff are doing their job and also changing the role ILL staff is playing in the ILL and DD services. This thesis looks at the impact of computerized interlibrary services on the library and the library patrons at the University of Auckland (AU). It also discusses the impact of information technology on the interlibrary loan borrowing and lending activities, the staffing issues as well as how they are handled overseas. The purpose of the research is to gain some understanding of the impact of information technology on the interlibrary loan and document delivery services and aims to find out what is causing the increase of staff workload and investigate the most rapid, cost effective way of document delivery and also to find out possible solutions to the existing problems.