Introduction

The authors completed a study on the borrowing and lending activity of 26 of the largest libraries in Illinois last year. A copy of that report is enclosed here. The study focused on article requesting in light of the well-documented serial price increases that have resulted in wide spread journal cancellations. The results showed that the Illinois libraries were able to meet a majority of requests made for frequently requested journal titles with the exception of 114 titles. A number of those titles were very expensive science titles but a good percentage were specialized titles not widely held in the United States. These specialized titles were related to individualized research while the more expensive titles were requested by a larger population pointing to a need for better access for these. Science titles not surprisingly, dominated the list.

The study provided a basic framework by which the state’s collection could begin to be measured. Strengths and weaknesses along subject lines was documented as well as overall volume of activity. The sheer number of requests made is very high (90,000 articles obtained). In light of the increasing number of full text sources now available, this is an opportune time to examine how full text resources have effected ILL activity.

Proposal

The authors propose a follow up extended study to more fully explore ILL trends for journal article activity in Illinois. A particular focus will be on how ILL may be impacted by the increased availability of full text sources. We propose to collect data on current ILL activity for the 26 same institutions and compare it to the 95/96 data. An immediate check will be the volume of articles requested, as decreases would be expected. A sampling of full text titles will be reviewed for ILL activity. Frequently requested titles will be reviewed for full text availability/ Recommendations will be made for appropriate follow up in obtaining more full text or to determine why ILL activity was still occurring with titles that are already available via full text links.

The data will be collected monthly for a full year from the OCLC Ill Management Statistics service. We propose to pay for this service if an institution has not subscribed and to access and download the data monthly when OCLC makes it available. The data will be transferred to the Library Research Center located at the Graduate School of Library and Information Science e on campus. The research center will be merging and manipulating the data for a fee.

Budget

The Library Research Center quoted a flat fee to cover their services. The amount of data is extremely large. Records must be merged, sorted, de duped and then sorted again in order to obtain the information needed. The Center quote is for $9,800.00

A graduate assistant will be employed to download the data form OCLC monthly. This task is estimated to take twenty hours a month for a total of 240 hours. The assistant will also be employed to collect the full text statistics and to put together some graphs comparing the 95/96 to the current data. The number of hours needed is estimated at 400 for a total of $4,400.00

The project will pay to subscribe to the OCLC data, this carries an annual fee per institution and a posting fee per month. The fee is estimated at $150.00 per institution and the posting fee approximately $4.00 per month per institution. A number of the 26 are already subscribing. The amount needed is estimated at $3-5,000.

Another $500.00 will cover copy and other supply costs.

The total budget is projected at $19,700.00.

Time Line and Product

The authors propose a finished product in the form of a Final Report to CCMCC. This report will include summary text, graphics, survey information, data tables, and an Executive Summary. The data will be collected over the next 12 months. We propose delivering a report to CCMCC no later than September 2000. In addition, we ask that the authors retain the right to publish these data and any portion of the final report in a journal article. Full acknowledgment will be given to CCMCC for their support of the project.

Summary

This proposal meets the consortium's controlling principles as articulated in the Plan for Collaborative Collections Management Among Illinois Libraries as follows:

Universal Benefit

This data analysis will provide unique and valuable information on the use of the full text and serial collections from the largest Illinois Libraries. The results will have the potential to better inform decision making on collection development in that area.

Open Physical Access

The reports produced and the data sets may be made widely available at the discretion of the CCMCC.

Local Sufficiency

NA

Selective Participation: Universal input

All libraries can gain from a better understanding of the use of the collections and collection strengths and weaknesses. Again, the results will help in decisions on developing the collections to best meet the needs of the consortium libraries. CCMCC will decide on how to involve all participants in the use of the data analysis that will result from this project.

Multiple Funding Modes

This study follows an initial study of ILL activity. That report is attached here.

Creative Pilots

The project will enable the consortium to better determine how full text resources may be relieving the ILL burden on libraries and where it can be enhanced. The project is unique in offering a more comprehensive look at how electronic resources are shaping resource sharing

APPENDIX I

List of the 26 Illinois Libraries

OCLC lending/borrowing data available from 7/96-5/97

Augustana College
Bradley University
Chicago Pubic Library
DePaul University
Eastern Illinois University
Elmhurst College
Governors State University
Illinois Institute of Technology
Illinois State Library
Illinois State University
Illinois Wesleyan University
Loyola University of Chicago
Millikin University
Northeastern Illinois University
Northern Illinois University
Northwestern University
Roosevelt University
Rosary College
Southern Illinois University
Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville
University Of Chicago
University of Illinois, Chicago
University of Illinois, Springfield
University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign
Western Illinois University
Wheaton College