2005 ILL Guidelines - Evolution of ILL Guidelines

Wisconsin Statutes state that the state superintendent shall:

Promote cooperation and resource sharing among public libraries, school libraries, other types of libraries and related agencies.

Plan, coordinate, evaluate and set statewide priorities for the development of networks to enable library cooperation and resource sharing within this state and resource providers in other states.

Contract for service with libraries and other resource providers in and outside of this state to serve as resources of specialized library materials and information not available in the reference and loan library under s. 43.05(11).

To carry out these statutory requirements, the Division periodically develops and publishes interlibrary loan guidelines. The first edition of the Wisconsin Interlibrary Loan Guidelines was published in May of 1980. The Guidelines were the result of eight months work by the Statewide Committee on Interlibrary Loan and Reference Referral Patterns in Wisconsin. The Committee was jointly sponsored by the Division for Libraries, Technology, & Community Learning (then called the Division for Library Services), the Council of Wisconsin Libraries and the Council on Library Development. A second edition of the Guidelines was published in 1982 and incorporated minor changes.

In late 1980, the Council on Library and Network Development was formed and replaced the Council on Library Development. The council was given responsibility in Chapter Law 347 to conduct several studies including, 1) study of aids to medical libraries and system resource libraries 2) study of state level resource libraries and 3) study of regional organizations for interlibrary cooperation and resource sharing. These studies were conducted in 1982 and 1983 and sent to the governor and/or the legislature as directed. The Council was also given general responsibility for advising "state superintendent in regard to the general policies and activities of the state's program for library development, interlibrary cooperation and network development.

In 1985, the Council on Library and Network Development recommended that the Guidelines be revised to reflect changed patterns and to clarify a number of concepts. The guidelines were again revised in 1996.

The Division for Libraries, Technology, & Community Learning first developed a statewide database of library holdings in 1982. The WISCAT project goals were to provide statewide tools for resource sharing and to assist libraries in the development of machine-readable library records for use in local automated systems. The database has been produced in many formats since then, including microfiche, CD-ROM, online client, and web-based software. An online interlibrary loan management system was first introduced in 1995 and a gateway that searches local library and shared integrated systems was introduced in 2002.

Between 1980 and 1995 several attempts were made to create and pass legislation that would have created multitype library systems. To date, none of these efforts have been successful. Public library systems vary widely in providing services to other than public libraries and in encouraging multitype cooperation within their areas. Therefore, there is not yet a common plan in place throughout the state for the delivery of interlibrary loan services among all types of libraries.

Since the late 1980s, the Division and public library systems put increased resources into development of online integrated systems that were implemented for member public libraries. The majority of resource sharing among public libraries now takes place by patrons and library staff placing holds for specific items and having the materials delivered through a system delivery service. Public library systems continue to be required to have agreements with all participating public libraries for interlibrary loan of materials, annual plans for rapid and regular delivery and communications systems for participating public libraries and a written agreement for backup reference and interlibrary loan services from the system resource library, including the development of and access to specialized collections.

Other types of libraries have also developed shared services using technology. The University of Wisconsin libraries use Universal Borrowing services provided through their online catalog and circulation systems, and medical libraries share resources using DOCLINE services. Libraries of different types continue to use OCLC for resource sharing. Libraries of all types use BadgerLink for access to periodicals, newspapers, and other materials in electronic format, and libraries have begun in earnest to digitize materials from their collections and make them available on the web. Libraries of all types have greater access to high speed telecommunications networks through the state government.


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For questions about this information, contact Terry L. Wilcox (608) 224-6163

Last updated on 2/25/2008 12:27:34 PM