Interlibrary Loan and Document delivery through the internet in Academic Libraries: American and British Case Studies

Abstract

This study examines the present case of Interlibrary Loan and Document Delivery that are provided through the Internet in academic libraries. It introduces basic Interlibrary Loan and Document Delivery concepts and the problems associated with the copyright law. It then examines and analyses Web sites of different American and British Academic Interlibrary Loan (ILL) services and discusses their policies and procedures to facilitate ILL activities. Selected American and British Academic Interlibrary Loan services were examined in more detail (by questionnaire) to give further insites into the use of the Internet for ILL services. A comparison between the American and British case studies illustrates the level of development in these countries and the way the Internet is influencing the Interlibrary Loan Departments in academic libraries.