I agree that it's best when Medlib is saved for the really difficult
requests, and I think you've got a great checklist.

And I also think there are times when there's a legitimate "rush request,"
and it's helpful to know that.

Ann M. Holman
Systems Librarian (But ILL is dear to me!)
Stitt Library: Information is Our Lifeblood.
National Naval Medical Center
301-319-8411 (voice)
269-8411 (DSN)
295-6001 (fax)
[log in to unmask]
https://www.bethesda.med.navy.mil/professional/stitt_library/index.aspx

-----Original Message-----
From: Medical Libraries Discussion List
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Virginia Ballance
Sent: Wednesday, February 07, 2007 11:17 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Medlib policy on ILL requests

Medlib is an integral resourse for many of us.  It has always been my
understanding that we should only request ILLs on Medlib as a last resort
-- when we have exhausted all other resources.  Maybe together we could make
a checklist to go through before placing an ILL on Medlib:
Local holdings, Google Scholar (how many times have I found what I wanted
there free?), Highwire, Pubmed, Docline, friends, and finally...Medlib.  I
am sure I have missed a few places to look...

Working in a small library with few local resources, I have had to come to
Medlib on many an occasion for an ILL request.  Usually the problem is that
too many librarians are willing to send the article!  

Virginia B.

Virginia Ballance
Nursing & Health Sciences Librarian
Hilda Bowen Library
College of the Bahamas
P.O. Box N-4912
Nassau, Bahamas 
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