A comparative study of interlibrary loan functions and the development of a model interlibrary loan network among academic libraries in Saudi Arabia

The purpose of this study was to survey and analyse the condition of the present system of academic libraries, defined in this study as the seven university libraries, in Saudi Arabia; determine the perceptions of academic librarians in Saudi Arabia toward cooperation; and design a model interlibrary loan network (ILLN) for the academic libraries of Saudi Arabia.; An extensive analysis of international literature related to interlibrary loan developments and resource sharing networks in developed, as well as developing countries was conducted. A document review, questionnaire survey, and structured interview were used for data collection. A questionnaire was administered to the seven Deans of academic libraries to obtain data related to library personnel, collections, budgets, library equipments, the extent of cooperative interaction among the libraries, and the network opinion, etc. Interviews of the librarians of the subject academic libraries were also conducted.; Major findings of the questionnaire survey are: six of the seven academic libraries of Saudi Arabia do not meet the ACRL standards in respect of collections. No library indicated that 'All of the Needs' in respect of textbooks, research, and recreation are being provided by their respective libraries. All seven libraries indicated that they have cooperation with all other academic libraries, but they borrow/lend materials either occasionally or do not borrow/lend at all. Inadequate finances and inadequate resources were ranked number one as factors hindering cooperation among academic libraries. The interlibrary loan by photocopy service was ranked number one as area of cooperative activities by all academic libraries. There was also agreement that current cooperative activities were inadequate. They strongly favor participation in an ILLN and rated an ILLN as highly desirable.; It was determined that the collections of the acadenic libraries are small and not up to any reasonable standard. Therefore, they are unable to adequately fulfill the needs of their users. The need for the immediate initiation of a cooperative and coordinated collection development policy of monographs and serials among the academic libraries is evident.; This study proposed an ILLN that will both be a distributed and centralized network in which academic libraries will coordinate and communicate directly with each other. Requirements, such as telecommunication systems, bibliographic tools, ILL policy, and ILL forms; potential financial sources; etc. have been presented. The proposed ILLN will be formal, systematic, and regular. This will provide greater cooperation, coordination, efficiency, cost effectiveness, and will ensure comprehensive sharing of available resources.