Experience with facsimile transmission in Birmingham libraries

In April 1984 the British Library Research and Development Department (BLR&DD) funded a twelve‐month project to investigate the use of facsimile transmission in libraries. Of the thirteen libraries selected, four comprised the BCOP (Birmingham Libraries in Co‐operation) libraries of Aston University, Birmingham Public Libraries, City of Birmingham Public Libraries, City of Birmingham Polytechnic, and the University of Birmingham. These were chosen to gain experience of fax operation in a local co‐operative. The first months of the project were spent establishing and publicising fax and in staff training, and while take‐up was encouraging it was felt that a year was insufficient to test the service fully. Thus, with agreement from the British Library, the project was extended for a second twelve months. This report covers the experience of BCOP libraries during the second stage of the project, i.e. from May 1985‐end of March 1986. A full report of the complete project is presently in preparation for publication by the British Library, and details of the first year's operation at Aberdeen City Libraries have already been published.