Yes, we charge our patrons $3.00 per item.
 
We used to charge back on a cost-recovery basis (If the ILL cost us
$8.00, we charged the patron $8.00; if it was free to us, it was free to
the patron; etc.) As a result, we were frequently handed a lengthly
bibliography with the request that we get "everything that's free." Some
quality filter, eh?
 
The $3.00 fee has expedited the ILL process for us, and it serves as a
gatekeeper for the patrons; they are forced to make a decision based
presumably on quality, given that all ILL's have the same monetary value
to the patron.
 
I know that any charge at all introduces an economic factor into
the decision-making process, but we did not/do not have the budget to
provide ILL's for free. ($3.00 is a break-even point for us) And, as I
tell our patrons, $3.00 is downright cheap in the world of document delivery.
 
Hope this helps.
 
Margo Coletti ([log in to unmask]) / Beth Israel Hospital / Boston, MA
 
 
On Thu, 12 Oct 1995, Valerie L. Haas wrote:
 
> Does anyone charge patrons for ILLs? Do you charge departments for *any*
> library services? Money is getting tight and we are looking into other
> areas. Thanks for your help!
>
> Valerie Haas
> [log in to unmask]
>