How electronic full text journals impact interlibrary loan article requests at a small, Liberal Arts University
Rheiner V.R.
2008
Journal of Interlibrary Loan, Document Delivery and Electronic Reserve
12
10.1080/10723030802186405
In academic libraries today, many journals are accessible as full text via various databases or direct subscriptions. The number of journals available in this format generally rises each year, and this growth inevitably changes patterns of academic library use. Many librarians wonder if the increasing availability of electronic full text journals will decrease or even eliminate the need for interlibrary loan of articles. Alternatively, as more articles are available electronically, will patrons want more via interlibrary loan? To study the relationship, this research report examines interlibrary loan requests and availability of e-journals at the Blough-Weis library at Susquehanna University, a small liberal arts college, over the course of ten years (1995/1996-2004/ 2005). Using data from the interlibrary loan and serials departments, the study quantifies the change in the number of interlibrary loan article requests and determines whether increased electronic journal access causes a decline or an increase in interlibrary loan requests.
Electronic journals; Interlibrary loan; Journals
Haworth Press Inc.
Article
Scopus