From the Archives (1997): New technology helps with inter-library loans
Originally published February 11, 1997 – For Judy Ferrier, the job of helping people find that particular book they so badly want to read has just become easier.
The Sedgewick Public Library now has a computer that allows Ferrier to check every library in the Parkland Regional Library system, and within seven other regional library systems in the province, to see if a certain book is available.
With the help of two compact discs called “The Focus CDs,” all the information is recorded on which books and audio-visual equipment are available in the seven regional library systems in rural Alberta.
The librarian can check for the item through the book’s name or author. Once it is found to be available in some other library, an inter-library loan request goes out to a 1-800-number. The book is then sent by mail or through government courier to the library requesting it.
Before this the librarian would have to call the 1-800-number to request a search for the book. Now, the librarian can do it for him or herself.
“The difference is that now you tell them where it can be found,” said Ferrier. “It’s easier to find in the Parkland system, but we have seven [library regions] altogether in the province from which a book can come.”
Ferrier has accomplished an inter-library loan of a book from the University of Alberta Library and can also do out-of-province loans, if necessary.
“I’ve even had books come from the States,” she said, to satisfy the yearning of a particular reader for a particular book.
“I think the idea of getting computerized is that we can share our resources with all the other libraries,” she added, “because we each can’t have the inventory to give everyone the book they want.”
Computers were given to Sedgewick, as well as libraries in Blackfalds, Clive, Delburne, Hay Lakes, Innisfail, and Sundre, by the Parkland Regional Library.
Sedgewick received their computer on Jan. 14 and Ferrier was given training in Lacombe.
“Sedgewick got it because of the number of inter-library loans we do,” said Ferrier, which was the reason the other libraries also received their computers.
For instance, in 1995 alone, the Sedgewick Public Library borrowed 257 items from other libraries, with 32 requests coming to Sedgewick from other libraries for books.
Ferrier said that regional libraries provide lower book costs due to bulk ordering, consulting as to what the libraries need, and through inter-library loaning of books.
