•  
  •  
 

Keywords

Interlibrary loan, barriers to access, scholarly communications, digital humanities, library technology systems, academic libraries

Abstract

This paper focuses on the ILL aspects of a larger project investigating the continued availability of items identified in a 1991 bibliography (Dillard). For this stage of the research, the particular focus was on obtaining various theses and dissertations, as well as books and sheet music items. As Lowry (2006) noted, especially in the humanities and social sciences, the majority of dissertation and thesis research has traditionally not resulted in further publication, with only about 10% of this work being republished in other forms. This means that the original works are the only source of this research, and therefore there is a need for continued access.

While aggregated databases such as ProQuest Dissertation and Theses Global provide instant full text access in many cases, other items are only available for separate purchase through the database, by borrowing through ILL channels, for download from individual institutional repositories, or for viewing in the library of the degree-granting institution (Smith, 2023). There are also issues in identifying more recent dissertation and theses research as there is no one universal source, but rather a proliferation of different directories and research databases where they may be listed, or they may only be listed within a single institutional repository (Center for Research Libraries, n.d.).

Despite the many difficulties encountered, one theme emerged from these retrieval endeavors: the importance of personal communication in overcoming barriers and ensuring access to materials. This paper highlights the different ways in which establishing communication promoted understanding firstly between the ILL librarian and the researcher, and then at each stage of the borrowing process, resulting in mostly successful transactions. Communication was able to overcome barriers of the borrowing institution’s ILL policy that previously prevented successful transactions; it enabled navigation through complex and multi-stage digitization requests involving international universities and national libraries; it enabled direct digitization and electronic delivery of items at no cost to the borrower; and it enabled identification and retrieval of items from institutional repositories.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

References

Allen, R. (1963). W. S. Gilbert : An anniversary survey and exhibition checklist. Bibliographical Society of the University of Virginia.

Asadi, S., Abdullah, R., Jusoh, Y., & Nazir, S. (2019). Understanding institutional repository in higher learning institutions: A systematic literature review and directions for future research. IEEE Access, 7, 35242-35263. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2019.2897729

Baich, T., & Fisher, E. S. (2011). Technology and web 2.0. In C. L. Weible & K. L. Janke (Eds.), Interlibrary load practices handbook (3rd ed., pp. 93-107). ALA Editions.

Bristow, M. (1968). A Gilbert and Sullivan Bibliography. (2nd ed.). Author.

Center for Research Libraries (n.d.) Dissertations: Related resources. Retrieved from https://www.crl.edu/collections/topics/dissertations

Dillard, P. H. (1991). How quaint the ways of paradox!: An annotated Gilbert and Sullivan bibliography. The Scarecrow Press.

Forro, D. (2011). Borrowing workflow basics. In C. L. Weible & K. L. Janke (Eds.), Interlibrary load practices handbook (3rd ed., pp. 17-35). ALA Editions.

Gee, W., & Shirkey, C. (2010). Giving patrons what they want: An analysis of a thesis and dissertation purchase-on-demand project at East Carolina University. Journal of Interlibrary Loan, Document Delivery & Electronic Reserve, 20, 103–114. https://doi.org/10.1080/10723031003694536

Joseph, T. (1971). Towards a G&S bibliography. Library Review, 23(4), 135–140.

Leon, L., & Kochan, C. A. (2021). Collective and creative learning to enhance interlibrary loan. Journal of Library Resource Sharing, 30(3–5), 85–94. https://doi.org/10.1080/1072303X.2022.2100858

Lowry, C. B. (2006). ETDs and digital repositories--a disciplinary challenge to open access? Libraries and the Academy, 6(4), 387-393.

Munson, K., & Thompson, H. H. (2018). Giving your patrons the world: Barriers to, and the value of, international interlibrary loan. Libraries and the Academy, 18(1), 17-34.

Polidian, S. (1961). Sir Arthur Sullivan : An index to the texts of his vocal music. Information Service, Inc.

Searle, T. (1931). Sir William Schwenck Gilbert : A bibliographical adventure. Alexander Ouseley.

Smith, A. J. M. (2023). Selective availability: Problems in accessing older dissertation and thesis research. 2nd International Online Conference on Digital Transformation in Culture and Education (DTCE 22), Belgrade, Serbia. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7715087

Download

Share

COinS