ILL in the faster lane: empowering users with HKALL

In an environment of reduced funding for higher education institutions, and consequently reduced funding for the libraries of those institutions, three of the eight university libraries in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China (HKSAR) embarked on an ambitious trial. With a main objective to achieve greater value for money and greater quality of service in the use of their libraries’ shrinking budgets, the libraries at the University of Hong Kong, the City University of Hong Kong, and Lingnan University sought to assess the impact of the introduction of a collaborative, user-initiated, unmediated, interlibrary loan service. Following a period of examination and discussion, INNOVATIVE’s INN-Reach module was chosen as the preferred system to be used during the trial which commenced in January, 2004. In this paper, the authors will explore the reasons behind conducting such a trial, the issues that confronted the collaborating partners before and during the trial, as well as an assessment of the degree of success of the project. In particular, following the trial period of nine months, the three university libraries sought answers to a number of important questions. Through a detailed analysis of available data, coupled with user and library staff evaluation obtained through surveys and focus groups, these questions were answered. In their paper the authors will outline the answers to these questions along with other lessons learned. The paper will conclude with a look to the future for collaborative, user-initiated, unmediated, interlibrary loan services in Hong Kong.published_or_final_version9th Interlending and Document Supply International Conferenc

ILL in the fast lane: a Hong Kong perspective

While the University of Hong Kong Libraries (HKUL) enjoys access to a rich collection developed over its more than 90 year history, the extensive range of teaching and research activities compels the Libraries, like most other institutions of higher learning, to obtain items from local and overseas resources through interlibrary loan and document delivery. To ensure a high quality of service delivered in a cost effective manner, close partnerships locally and internationally and a low staff mediated ILL/document delivery system are seen as highly desirable. HKUL began automating interlibrary loan processes first through its use of Ariel and then with OCLC ILL services in 1992 and 1993 respectively. ILL/document delivery services, however, were still heavily paper based and intensive staff mediation was an inevitable consequence. To gain the maximum benefit from existing technologies, HKUL worked with three other Hong Kong academic libraries to investigate, evaluate and to implement an automated ILL/document delivery system in 2002. The introduction of this system, OCLC ILLiad, has enabled HKUL to participate more meaningfully in the digitized world of document delivery. This paper will focus on the difficulties encountered and the lessons learnt during the investigation, implementation and evaluation phases of the project. Issues relating to collaboration, automation, user empowerment and their subsequent impact on the ILL department and its staff will be explored. We will conclude with an outline of future dreams for ILL and document delivery at the University of Hong Kong Libraries.published_or_final_version8th Interlending and Document Supply International Conferenc

Cultivating leadership in Asian libraries: a longitudinal impact study

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe a study aimed at assessing the impact of the only recurring Asian library leadership institute on its participants. Design/methodology/approach – A review of the literature focussing on similar longitudinal studies was first conducted followed by a survey of past participants aimed at utilizing a self-evaluation approach. Findings – The study found it difficult to establish a conclusive cause and effect link between institute attendance and the subsequent changes in participants’ professional lives. Nevertheless the study provides compelling evidence that the institute has enhanced participants’ leadership skills, knowledge and insights and thus contributed directly or indirectly to changes in respect of their career progression, involvement in leadership activities and changes at their respective organizations. Research limitations/implications – Like other similar longitudinal studies on library leadership training, the inconclusive nature of findings suggests that further analysis of participants might be undertaken through a qualitative approach in the form of focus group interviews with the participants and over a time period less than the ten years used in the study. Practical implications – Survey respondents provided overwhelming support for the institute providing organizers with the motivation to continue to provide this opportunity to librarians in the Asia region. Originality/value – As the only Asian library leadership training of its kind, this study has delivered a unique set of data that provides perspectives that have not been previously documented. Keywords Management, Leadership, Survey, Training, Asia, Longitudinal study Paper type Research pape