Librarian filter

[sqwook]

If I had a librarian filter, I'd use it for this post.  You may self-select.  You may also read the post if you're not a librarian - if you think you can HANDLE it. ;)

Ypsi used to have a great system called MiLE that allowed me from my own internet connection to query a consortium of local libraries (which did not include Ann Arbor or UM but did include much of SE Michigan) for books I wished to read, and then order them myself, and then have them delivered to the library location most convenient to me. Awesome!  Then someone hacked into the database, ruining it beyond repair. Opposite of awesome!  After asking about the system every single freaking time I go to the library (to make my love and support for it known), finally, today, the nice circulations women who answered the phone explained in more detail.

The system was irrevocably ruined.  There are no plans to rebuild it. The organization that created it no longer exists. Ypsi uses a database (circe?) that is not compatible with the other primary library-sharing programs, hence one reason why MiLE was established in the first place.

So here's what I do now if I want a book that doesn't happen to be at Ypsi:
Either: Write out a request on paper of the book details, and wait until they find it and get it over to Ypsi.
Or: I can look at other libraries myself (those with reciprocal lending priveleges, not including AA) and go get them, assuming said library is not too far away.

 

Q1: MiLE was awesome! If anyone had funding, wouldn't they fund such a project? (A big IF)
Q2: Should I feel guilty asking the librarians to indulge all my random book requests? I find myself self-censoring because the process seems so unwieldy for them.
Q3: Other thoughts?

Comments

[celtic-elk.livejournal.com]

Q2: No. This is part of what librarians do. We have a whole department here at the University Library that *just* handles interlibrary loan requests.

Q3: If you want an easier way to find a book in a nearby library, try worldcat.org - this is the free-on-the-Web version of the database that librarians use to find out who has a particular book or journal. I don't think it will automatically tell you whether a library has a reciprocal lending arrangement with your local library, but there should be links to the libraries' webpages where you can find out such things.

[sqwook.livejournal.com]

RE:Q2: Yes, I should clarify that as someone who has coded computer systems, the fact that there used to be a system and now there is not drives me absolutely batty.
RE:Q3: Hmm, will take a look...

[celtic-elk.livejournal.com]

Oh, I totally understand that. If we didn't have an automated system for ILL requests here, I'd be bopping back and forth to the Graduate Library even more than I do now. That might help my fitness program, actually.... =)

[kenllama.livejournal.com]

::that there used to be a system and now there is not drives me absolutely batty::

hear hear. one wonders just how vulnerable they made themselves that they couldn't reinstall from secure backups. What kind of organization rests its entire continued existence on the presumption of not getting hacked? One that no longer exists, apparently.

As for Q2, I have a few thoughts. One, of course, is that the Elk is right -- this is just part of what libraries do, and you shouldn't feel guilty about it. If it is unwieldy for them, perhaps they could think about developing less problematic systems. (Of course, libraries like many other organizations cling to their old ways with insane tenacity.)

Alternately/additionally: you might talk to your local library director about your perceptions. (And I would go to the director or asst. director here, rather than a front-line person.) Tell them you miss MiLE and wonder what would have to happen to make something like that fly again. Tell them you're worried about the burdens of ILL and ask if there are limitations you should bear in mind.

Good luck, and happy reading!

[sqwook.livejournal.com]

Yes, that's a very good idea. I think what's going on is that their cat.system is not one that easily hooks up to the other connectors out there, and that they'd (perhaps) need to redo their whole cat.system to fix this problem. And as I recall, the cat.system isn't all that old itself (past 5 years I think.)

[sqwook.livejournal.com]

Here's the scoop, from the director and the acq person: MeLCat will be coming, either late 2007 or in 2008 (MeLCat integrates new libraries in groups, and they haven't yet announced which group Ypsi is in.)

[sqwook.livejournal.com]

Interestingly, Ypsi library is not on worldcat. But that's probably ok, as I would only need it to find books that aren't at Ypsi.
So, can I request ILL books from libraries that don't have reciprocal lending arrangements with my library?

[pumaviking.livejournal.com]

yep. in fact, you don't need to know where the book would be coming from to ILL it. that's part of our job. you just need to know the bibliographic info (title, author, date, publisher - as much of that sort of thing as you can).

[pumaviking.livejournal.com]

Q2: what the elk said. also, as someone who does ILL on the *other* side... I don't mind indulging people at all. it's interesting, for one thing, and there *is* a system set up to handle it. i think more people should ILL books. As long as you're polite, they should be happy to help.

But you should ask if a printout from a library catalog would be as easy for them to handle as handwritten data. Because i'd RATHER have a printout... (fewer chances for error or misunderstanding).