Closing Thoughts...

Library services, in terms of the services we provide and how they are provided, remain at the forefront of our profession. Library services have grown and developed so much over the last century. Considerations are made in order to best service all types; the disabled, scholars, the blind, children, and many more. The ways in which each of these groups is serviced are constantly evolving. New technology is being incorporated constantly in order to best meet their demands. These are just some of the topics that were explored in this blog, and it is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of all that our libraries do for us.

The issues that have been discussed will help to mold me as a professional. I hope that libraries will continue to provide services so that patrons can have there needs met. Thank you for visiting my blog, and for your participation. I appreciate all of your thoughts and comments, and for joining me on this interactive learning experience. Feel free to leave comments, as I will check back in periodically.
Best of luck to you all :)

Interlibrary Loans- Part 2

Interlibrary loans are utilized in order to bring the information to the people. There is innumerable information available about any given topic, and it is impossible for any singular institution to house everything. Therefore, libraries agree to share their resources so that patrons will have access to much more information than can ever be in one single place.

In order for the interlibrary loan system to function optimally, there needs to be an established operating procedure that is agreed upon by the participating libraries. There also needs to be strong communication between the libraries, and of course the utmost respect for the materials borrowed. There are sometimes fees incurred with this service, and a waiting period to receive the materials can be lengthy. Often times the original text is not sent, but rather a photocopy of the material is sent. These are just some considerations to keep in mind before placing the request.

I see interlibrary loans as the library's version of a business doing what it can to keep the customer happy so that they come back again. It is a service that I have recommended to many others and one that I will continue to use myself. I hope that libraries continue to have the funding nevessary to provide this service.

Here are some links that relate to interlibrary loaning that may be useful to you. Enjoy!
http://www.loc.gov/rr/loan/illscanhome.html Library of Congress's Digital Interlibrary Loan program
http://www.nmrls.org/ill/illcode.shtml The National ILL Code for the US
http://www.ala.org/ala/rusa/protools/referenceguide/interlibrary.cfm ALA ILL Code revised 2001
http://dlis.dos.state.fl.us/flin/pdf/FLINmanual.pdf Florida Library Information Network
http://www.lib.usf.edu/public/index.cfm?Pg=InterlibraryLoanFAQs USF ILL questions

Library Ethics

The library ethics paper was my favorite assignment for this class. I found it challenging and thought provoking. I felt that it motivated me to think like a professional in order to provide the best possible library service.

In perusing the Internet, I found this comic that directly correlates to our assignment. This excerpt is actually the end of the comic, but the gist is pretty clear. The patrons have a right to privacy, and it is our job to uphold that. I have attached the link here as well http://www.cafemeg.com/patriotact1.htm . Hope you enjoy, and better yet, hope that it keeps you thinking!