TRANSPORT SCHEMES FOR INTERLIBRARY LOANS

In 1975 the British Library Research and Development Department commissioned a study of the feasibility of establishing a national transport system for interlibrary loans. The study suggested that transport schemes could be cheaper than postal services and provide a comparable level of service. The Library then funded two pilot transport schemes — in the North‐West of England and London — to monitor their effectiveness and to consider how a national scheme could be implemented. The success of the pilot schemes led the Study Group to recommend that co‐ordinated transport schemes for interlibrary loans should be established throughout Great Britain. The Lending Division is now discussing with each of the Regional Library Systems how such schemes can be implemented in their areas.