ILL Committee Annual Report: 2007-2008

MOBAC COMMITTEE REPORTS FY 2007/08

ILL Committee

1. What are your committee’s long-range goals? What are your short-term objectives for the 2007/08 fiscal year?

The committee’s short-term objectives are:

  • To explore other delivery options, such as UPS and Fed-Ex;
  • To conduct an annual survey of MOBAC ILL practices;
  • To review and begin to update the MOBAC ILL Policies Manual;
  • To add MOBAC ILL policies and history to the MOBAC Intranet.

The committee’s long-range goals are:

  • To encourage the ongoing maintenance of MOBAC libraries’ OCLC   records;
  • To make resource sharing among MOBAC libraries a priority;
  • To provide excellent customer service through the sharing of resources;
  • To monitor the efficiency and frequency of deliveries.

2. Within the areas of responsibility of your committee, what are the issues that MOBAC should address to meet member needs and improve library service by member libraries? Are these issues best addressed by the Administrative Council? Or by one or more of the other Committees?

  • MOBAC should evaluate the current delivery service, both within the MOBAC region, and between MOBAC and PLS/BALIS. While the courier service within MOBAC is generally good, the delivery link to PLS/BALIS is often problematic. Some items have taken as long as four weeks after shipment from the lending institution to reach the requesting MOBAC library. This impacts our patrons, and plays a part in which libraries are selected as lenders. It is often faster to request from an out-of-state library.
  • Update the MOBAC Web page with current information about MOBAC and its committees. This would include history, relevant policies, and other information, that would be useful to current and future MOBAC library staff. Additional information for the public Web page would also be beneficial. The committees would provide the updated content, with the Administrative Council overseeing the process.
  • It is important that all libraries are able to participate fully in OCLC interlibrary loan activities. Financial support from MOBAC may be necessary for OCLC training and interim OCLC access for some member libraries.

3. In the opinion of your committee, what opportunities in your areas of responsibility lie ahead for MOBAC members? What barriers or potential barriers are we facing? How can these barriers be overcome?

  • The California Libraries Catalog has allowed our patrons to enjoy greater access to materials throughout the Monterey Bay region and California. Several libraries now allow patrons to initiate their own ILL requests, and ILL activity has increased substantially in many MOBAC libraries. We expect that this trend will continue.
  • The increased workload has resulted in irregular attendance at ILL Committee meetings. Staff members often have to choose between fulfilling patron requests and attending the bi-monthly meetings. These meetings provide an opportunity for staff to discuss issues, share ideas, and problem-solve with peers, and result in better customer service for the patrons of MOBAC libraries.
  • The challenges to MOBAC libraries are:
    • Keeping holdings records up-to-date and accurate ;
    • Giving MOBAC libraries ILL priority in the face of increasing non-local requests;
    • Providing efficient and timely courier deliveries to accommodate the increasing requests from our patrons, and to continue to meet our customer service standards.
  • Council liaison attendance is important to provide committee members with direction, clarification, and information. Timely posting of all MOBAC committees’ meeting minutes on the Intranet would also facilitate inter-committee communication.

4. What policy decisions will the Administrative Council need to make to help your committee achieve your objectives for FY 2007/08? Please be specific.Administrative Council policy should reflect that:

  • OCLC records need to be kept current for all libraries;
  • Council will offer continuing and consistent support for ILL services, including timely delivery of materials;
  • The ILL Committee will be included in discussions of system consolidation;
  • The Council will lobby for adequate ILL funding (TBR) from the state.

5. What are the fiscal requirements relating toward objective and policy recommendations for FY 2007/08? Are you aware of outside funding sources, such as grants? If so, please describe them. What are your budget needs for FY 2007/08?

  • The Council has already budgeted $2500 for ILL-related     training. The Committee hopes to identify one or more workshop opportunities in the near future.
  • Alternative delivery methods may require additional funding. The Committee would like to work with Council on this issue.

6. What else does the Administrative Council need to know about your objectives for the upcoming fiscal year?

  • Increased patron access to library holdings has presented MOBAC libraries with a number of challenges, including staffing, training, and timely delivery of materials. Communication among Committee members and between the MOBAC committees is becoming increasingly important as we strive to improve service to our patrons. The ILL Committee looks forward to working with the Administrative Council on these issues.

 

 

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