EFTS, the Electronic Fund Transfer System used to debit and credit member accounts for the cost of interlibrary loans, was started in 1996 and currently has over 1200 participants.  There are now EFTS libraries in each of the 50 states, Canada, and Mexico.  In developing the service over the past 12 years, EFTS staff has had the opportunity to listen to many librarians who have raised questions, issue and concerns regarding EFTS.  Here are some of the more frequent questions and answers: (more…)

DOCLINE now makes using EFTS (Electronic Fund Transfer System) easier for all sized libraries. Via the DOCLINE “Requests” tab, the EFTS Transaction File Builder allows you to review and select transactions to create a file to upload to EFTS for billing. It also allows you to exclude transactions if you don’t wish to bill for them.

NLM encourages all libraries to consider joining EFTS to reduce ILL costs and labor, and eliminate waiting for outgoing checks to be issued and incoming payments to be received. See the NLM Technical Bulletin article, EFTS and DOCLINE® Assist Libraries with Billing for more information.

Join the 52 Pacific Northwest Region Network members who already participate in EFTS and start saving time and money. If you have any questions, or to request EFTS promotional materials (bookmarks, labels, pamphlets or emery boards), please contact Patricia Devine.

The release of DOCLINE 3.1 on April 26 brings a change to Delivery Methods: “Mail” will no longer be a default. This means that libraries can now indicate that they will not provide or accept delivery by mail. See the images below for the “before” and “after” views of DOCLINE Delivery Methods and instructions on how to check the Delivery Methods in your DOCLINE account. (more…)

From the 02/22/2007 MLA-FOCUS:

New MLA Copyright Publication Released

MLA’s third edition of Copyright Law and the Health Sciences Librarian is now available online. You will need your MLANET username (MLA ID#) and password to access this members-only publication. The electronic document makes it possible for MLA to incorporate changes whenever the law is changed or a new technology creates a need for clarification. (more…)

The Section 108 Study Group: Copyright Exceptions for Libraries and Archives is requesting comments on proposed revisions to Section 108 that effect library photocopying and ILL. These changes could have severe impacts on current ILL operations. Here is an example:

Topic A, question 9: Copies for Users - “Because there is a growing market for articles and other portions of copyrighted works, should a provision be added … requiring libraries and archives to first determine on the basis of a reasonable investigation that a copy of a requested item cannot be readily obtained at a fair price before creating a copy of a portion of a work in response to a patron’s request?

There are 11 questions in Topic A, most of which discuss electronic delivery of interlibrary loans. If you would like to review the questions, visit: http://www.copyright.gov/fedreg/2006/71fr70434.html and scroll through Topic A until you see “Specific Questions”. ALA will be responding as will many other library associations; however, the Section 108 Study Group is looking from feedback from libraries as well. You can email them at section108@loc.gov. Comments are due by March 9.

As many of you know, the transfer of request information from DOCLINE into ILLiad is not always a smooth journey – data turbulence is not uncommon. More specifically, the DOCLINE “Comments” information goes awry in the transfer to the ILLiad “Special Instructions” field: that is, all of the DOCLINE “Comments” data appears in the ILLiad “Special Instructions” on-screen, but truncation occurs when the record is printed out.

This data oversight can be easily remedied by the lender (you!) verifying delivery method requests *before* the Request Form is printed out. To do this:

• Open the “Lending Request Form” in ILLiad
• Check the “Notes” field on the right side of the Form
• View the entire DOCLINE request by clicking anywhere in the white text-box in the upper right-hand corner
• Look at: (scroll below for image)
o “Comments” (near the bottom)
o “Alternate Delivery Method(s)” - since they do not transfer into ILLiad

All of the above should be done in the ILLiad client. This should not take you long in your day-to-day lending, and your borrowers (plus your RML!) will thank you for it – and once again, thank you for helping to foster good lending karma in DOCLINE!

Questions or concerns? Please email Patricia Devine.