Interlibrary lending

The Australian library and information sector has - for many decades - operated an interlibrary lending scheme which allows the information resources of the sector to be shared. The national collection is stronger and more cost-efficient as a result.

Australian interlibrary resource sharing code, May 2006

Following a comprehensive review in 2005, a revised Interlibrary Resource Sharing (ILRS) Code (link to the new Code) has been endorsed for the Australian library and information sector.

The ILRS Code is the voluntary code of practice that supports resource sharing and co-operation in interlibrary lending among Australian libraries.

The review of the ILRS Code was co-ordinated by the ALIA Interlibrary Lending Expert Advisory Group. The ILRS Code has been endorsed for the Australian library and information sector by the National Library of Australia, the Council of Australian State Libraries, the Council of Australian University Librarians and ALIA.

The revised ILRS Code replaces the Code adopted by the library sector in 2001, with minor amendments in 2004.

Features of the new Code include:

• simplified service level standards, with three service levels - Core, Rush and Express
• a supplier turnaround time of four working days for the Core service level, rather than five working days as in the previous Code
• a national guideline for the automatic expiry of requests from an automated system
• no changes to the recommended fees, except for a new recommended charge for colour copies of $2.20 for each colour page copied.

The new ILRS Code will come into force from 1 July 2006.

For more information contact ALIA National Office (enquiry@alia.org.au.nospam) ph 02 6215 8221, fx 02 6282 2249