Interlibrary Loan in the United States: An Analysis of Academic Libraries in a Digital Age

The primary focus of this study was to determine the effect of digitally held full-text articles on interlibrary loan (ILL) rates in American academic libraries. A second focus was an examination of how the size of print journals and monograph collections affect ILL activity. Finally, the study looks, in a preliminary fashion, for any effects on ILL rates due to the presence of an MLS-holding librarian as head of the interlibrary loan department. The study investigated American academic libraries and gathered ILL statistics for the period from 1997–2008. It was found that there was a general increase in ILL activity since the 1990s, with an increase in ILL non-fulfillment during the period. There was a strong correlation between print journal and monograph collection size versus ILL activity. There was positive correlation between the presence of databases and ILL activity. The presence of a link resolver was also correlated with increased ILL activity. Finally, the study found there was no overall reduction in ILL department personnel in the last 5 years and that the presence of a professional librarian as head of the department was also positively correlated with ILL activity.