QSKILL Workshop 9/9/04: Report from the National Resource Sharing Working Group Margaret Gauld, University of Queensland

Background to the NRSWG  Established by National Library 1999  Followed by National Resource Sharing Policy Committee (NRSPC) in 2000  Support development of a national interlending infrastructure

Achievements of the NRSWG and NRSPC  ILRS Code launched in 2001 and reviewed in 2003  Interlibrary Loan and Document Delivery Benchmarking Study (2001)  Facilitation of various events: Mary Jackson Seminar, National Resource Sharing Forum and Field Day, IFLA ILDS Conference

NRSWG/NRSPC Final Meeting  Held in Canberra on 30 July 2004  Review of interlending conducted  Highlighted a number of areas for future action

Issues for the future  Participation  Collections  ILRS Code  Skills and manuals/documentation  National performance indicators and benchmarking  New models  Trends

Participation  Public libraries moving beyond own resources  TAFE sector moving to packaged electronic resources to support curricula  Future developments need to include all sectors

Collections  Australian Research Libraries Collection Analysis Project (ARLCAP) Study x.html  Detailed comparison and analysis of holdings of major Australian academic research libraries and the NLA in specific subject areas  Study focused on the humanities and social sciences

ARLCAP Study: what it showed Significant unique collectionsSignificant unique collections Loss of collections through closure of librariesLoss of collections through closure of libraries Mechanisms for offering collections to other libraries not well known or well publicisedMechanisms for offering collections to other libraries not well known or well publicised Need identified for all collections to be listed in the NBD – this issue within the role of the National LibraryNeed identified for all collections to be listed in the NBD – this issue within the role of the National Library

ILRS Code  Feedback from users through NLA Document Supply Survey and several libraries  Code too complex  5 day turnaround too slow  Referred to ALIA for review

Skills and manuals/documentation  Need for an up to date information package – for practitioners  Ausloan last produced in 1993  Updated manual to cover code, copyright, general interlending issues  Referred to ALIA Interlending Group

National Performance Indicators and Benchmarking  Benchmarking study a basis for understanding how libraries can be more efficient  Measurement of improvements not yet undertaken - development of performance indicators being considered  CAUL’s performance indicator thought inadequate

New Models  A number of ‘Borrow Direct’ models being developed  Important to explore information on new models and their effects  Research needs to be done on factors affecting demand by end users

Trends  Statistics show interlending is on the decline  However does not include monograph lending  Important to monitor the impact of direct end user access (eg Copies Direct)

Trends (ctd)  Unmediated ILLs likely to be an essential future direction  Consortia essential for access to printed as well as electronic collections

Main Themes of meeting: summary  Need for increased resource discovery (through the NBD)  Acquisition of collections (particularly with library closures)  Capability building (training and manuals)  Information on ILL/DD performance  Urgent need to review the ILRS Code

ILRS Code: various issues identified  Need to simplify service levels (5 too confusing)  Standard needed for bills for lost copies  Need national standard for quality  Need to improve speed of delivery (user expectations are now higher)  Should we have a minimum loan period?

What next?  Issues identified at meeting to be referred to the appropriate bodies  Annual resource sharing round table convened by National Library to share information and report on activities  Paper on NLA Website scussion.html