Development of the automation of interlending by microcomputer (AIM) system at Leicester Polytechnic

The design and development of an interlibrary loan administration system, using a standard data management software package to run on stand‐alone micro‐computers is described. A systems analysis of some interlending departments was carried out and a questionnaire survey sent to a sample of British Library Lending Division (BLLD) users. From this a system specification was created and a number of software packages tested against this and other criteria. The selected package was tested against an experimental database, and a demonstration system set up. The Administration of Interlending (AIM) system will administer the borrowing of items from BLLD and other locations, and the loan of items to other libraries. A manual has been developed to enable the system to be used on a variety of microcomputers.