2008 Woodie Awards
Library checks out new technology
Sarah Zeeck
Issue date: 3/24/08 Section: News
Recently, the Leslie F. Malpass Library received a technological upgrade that will benefit library workers and patrons alike.
For those who are unaware, Interlibrary Loan is a way to borrow books the Malpass Library does not have but other libraries across the world do. By filling out a slip of paper and waiting for it to be processed, borrowers could check out whatever books or other materials they wanted in roughly a week.
With the implementation of a new software program, ILLiad, that process is somewhat altered. According to Interlibrary Loan coordinator Linda Wade, students can get onto ILLiad and register once, which will save the student from having to fill out a request every time he or she wants to borrow something via Interlibrary Loan.
"You create a username and password, put in your ID (and) your address and make your request," Wade said, adding that this process is done online, so users can register from any computer.
In addition to saving time, another benefit of ILLiad is the amount of paper the library will save by eliminating paperwork.
"By not filing, we're saving trees by not printing everything out," Wade said. "It's much more efficient for Interlibrary Loan staff; we can order requests much faster."
Jeffrey Darensbourg, marketing and outreach librarian, said, "It really expands the collection here. We have more than 1 million catalogued volumes of books here at WIU, and also many more articles available electronically.
"It expands our collection to include items throughout the country and the world so if there is something we don't have (for the borrower), within a week we can access untold millions of other volumes," he added.
For more information concerning Interlibrary Loan and the new program, training seminars are set to take place in room LLC2 of the library on March 24 from 2 to 3 p.m. and March 27 from 3 to 4 p.m. For more information concerning ILLiad, visit the library Web site at www.wiu.edu/library.
For those who are unaware, Interlibrary Loan is a way to borrow books the Malpass Library does not have but other libraries across the world do. By filling out a slip of paper and waiting for it to be processed, borrowers could check out whatever books or other materials they wanted in roughly a week.
With the implementation of a new software program, ILLiad, that process is somewhat altered. According to Interlibrary Loan coordinator Linda Wade, students can get onto ILLiad and register once, which will save the student from having to fill out a request every time he or she wants to borrow something via Interlibrary Loan.
"You create a username and password, put in your ID (and) your address and make your request," Wade said, adding that this process is done online, so users can register from any computer.
In addition to saving time, another benefit of ILLiad is the amount of paper the library will save by eliminating paperwork.
"By not filing, we're saving trees by not printing everything out," Wade said. "It's much more efficient for Interlibrary Loan staff; we can order requests much faster."
Jeffrey Darensbourg, marketing and outreach librarian, said, "It really expands the collection here. We have more than 1 million catalogued volumes of books here at WIU, and also many more articles available electronically.
"It expands our collection to include items throughout the country and the world so if there is something we don't have (for the borrower), within a week we can access untold millions of other volumes," he added.
For more information concerning Interlibrary Loan and the new program, training seminars are set to take place in room LLC2 of the library on March 24 from 2 to 3 p.m. and March 27 from 3 to 4 p.m. For more information concerning ILLiad, visit the library Web site at www.wiu.edu/library.
Be the first to comment on this story