ACRL College & Research Libraries News

College & Research Libraries News

Letters

Non-library administrator’s viewpoint

To the Editor:

One sentence in Rebecca Kellogg’s enlightening article in the September C&RL News on the perspective of the non-library administrator is particularly pertinent: “I really have nothing until they (articles and books) are retrieved and photocopied for me.” Here at Indiana University we have tried to meet this need through an innovation we call the Bloomington Delivery Service. We offer expedited book and photocopy delivery service to faculty, staff, and graduate students.

Requests can be sent via campus mail, phone, or electronic mail. Book delivery is free and articles are retrieved and copied for 10¢ per page. Currently we are working with our Academic Computing Center to create a total information environment. Step one of this process involves blurring the lines between the delivery service and traditional interlibrary loan.

The service has proven immensely popular, with patron usage increasing by 52% over the last year. We are extremely pleased with our success and hope to continue to refine our service as new technologies surface.— Judith A. Copier, Head, Inter- library Loan Services, and Cyd Duncan, ILL/BDS Supervisor, Indiana University.

Speech writing

To the Editor:

Susan Matson’s article in the September C&RL News on how to develop a research paper was absolutely marvelous. I look forward to a sequel, in which she may give pointers on how to convert the oral presentation into an article suitable for publication. She will, I know, reveal the secrets for convincing readers of the importance of the article without, of course, their feeling any need actually to read it.—William J. Myrick, University Associate Dean for Libraries, The City University of New York.