Abstract

Trends over the past 20 years (1992-2012) of interlibrary lending and document supply (ILDS) automation in Spanish academic libraries are discussed. Taking into account the routines and procedures carried out by ILDS services -document identification, localization, document request, reception of borrowed items and user services or internal management- the article lists the software used in Spanish universities to handle these services, setting it into the context of the evolution of each process in parallel with software developments.

Abstract

A brief description of the international state of interlibrary loan (ILL) is presented. The limitations of the previous ILL service provided by the Consortium of University Libraries in Catalonia (CBUC) and its evolution to the new consortial borrowing service, the PUC, are described. The software selection, rules, logistics, and how the system works are detailed. The improvements the PUC represents as a patron-initiated service where the user can place a book request through the union catalog (CCUC) directly to the library that owns it, without mediation by library staff, have reduced waiting time and costs.