INTERLENDING BETWEEN RESEARCH LIBRARIES IN BELGIUM

There is a widespread lack of adequate statistical information relating to inter/ending transactions between Belgian libraries and this situation should be rectified as soon as possible so as to provide an adequate basis for the development of an effective system. The overall volume of interlibrary lending is estimated to be 300,000 transactions per annum. As in other European countries the burden of cost is borne by the bigger libraries. Two factors which would contribute to a quick and efficient system are missing: firstly an up‐to‐date union catalogue of holdings of both monographs and periodicals and secondly the willingness of all libraries to make their collections readily available to the whole community.