Association of Research Libraries (ARL) has released a white paper on ILL written by Anne K. Beaubien, Director, Cooperative Access Services, University of Michigan Library. The paper analyzes trends in ILL activity in US academic and research libraries over the past two decades.

One trend that Beaubien notes in the white paper is that ILL activity in the U.S. is increasing and that the majority of the increase is for returnable items (books and other physical formats). ILL for nonreturnables (photocopied articles or electronic format articles) is decreasing, perhaps due to the increase in e-journal subscriptions now held by many academic libraries. Beaubien cites reasons for increase in ILL of returnables, including increase in discovery tools (such as online index databases, online search engines, etc.) and simplification of the ILL ordering process for library users.

I found it interesting to read this white paper and the national trends it analyzes, because MeLCat has shown similar trends in ILL on a smaller scale. Here in Michigan, we’ve experienced the increase in ILL of returnables with the implementation of MeLCat. MeL has improved discovery for library users – both through the MeLCat shared catalog and through links from MeL Databases (such as WorldCat). MeL has also greatly simplified the ILL process for MeLCat library users – allowing users to place ILL requests through a few clicks and entry of a library card bar code. Plus, the fact that MeLCat loans are free is also a big factor in increasing ILL of returnables in MeLCat libraries. I don’t know if ILL of nonreturnables has decreased in Michigan, but I think that it is a likely possibility – especially with the availability of an increasing amount of full-text articles through the MeL Databases.

The white paper also notes that most borrowing requests are through OCLC ILL. In Michigan, we still do a great deal of ILL through OCLC ILL – for libraries not yet in MeLCat, for nonreturnables, and for materials not held in MeLCat — since MeLCat has about 7 million items and OCLC ILL has about 70 million items, there are going to be instances where MeLCat does not meet all users’ ILL needs.

The white paper also notes that some academic libraries routinely purchase items requested on ILL if they meet selection criteria. I’m lucky enough to be a library patron of a MeLCat library, Capital Area District Library, and many of my reading needs have been met through CADL’s collection and through MeL. But – in those instances where neither CADL nor MeLCat has the book I want, I’ve been able to place a “suggestion for purchase” through CADL and so far they’ve bought the books I requested for their collection.