The impact of electronic journals and aggregate databases on interlibrary loan: a case study at Ball State University Libraries

Reports the results of a series of studies conducted at Ball State University Libraries to examine the impact electronic journals and aggregate databases have on interlibrary loan activities. Borrowing and lending were monitored intermittently over a two‐year period to determine the number of requests that could be filled from available electronic journals or aggregate databases. The findings were not significant enough to justify changing current interlibrary loan procedures for searching requests before ordering. Among several follow‐up studies suggested is a recommendation to investigate whether there might be a correlation between recent decreases in the number of interlibrary loan borrowing and lending requests and the increasing amount of full text information researchers have available online.