Resource Sharing System/Interlibrary Loan

Presented by Scherelene Schatz
Program Manager, Statewide Interlibrary Loan System
New Jersey State Library

Following is a summary of the presentation and demonstration on the RSS/ILL System:

• A brief history of the statewide interlibrary loan project was given;
• There was a live demonstration of the statewide interlibrary loan system using the new version 3.1 of EpixTech's RSS (Resource Sharing System) software;
• A worksheet was distributed and the requirements for connection to the RSS system were explained.

Ms. Schatz noted that to date there are 250 libraries in New Jersey with RSS installed (including academic libraries, school libraries, and public libraries). Dynix, Horizon, CARL, Sirsi and Endeavor catalog systems are currently connected, and RSS is able to pull circulation information for holdings data on requested items from these systems. EpixTech is currently working with DRA to connect to holdings information through RSS. Ms. Schatz invited academic libraries to participate in the statewide project. New implementations of RSS can begin as early as February 2001.

The RSS connects library catalogs through the Z39.50 version 3 standard interface. Ms. Schatz showed the Web-based patron request interface as well as the Windows-based interface for Borrowing and Lending operations for RSS. Services offered are a statewide ILL system at no charge to the participating libraries in NJ state. Future versions of the RSS will allow exporting requests from RSS to OCLC using ISO 10160/10161 standards.

New Jersey state has the largest implementation of EpixTech's RSS. Ms. Schatz encouraged academic librarians to attend the EpixTech Users Group session at ALA Midwinter, on Sunday, January 14th at the Grand Hyatt from 1PM-3PM.

For more information on the statewide interlibrary loan system, go to the New Jersey ILL- Resource Sharing in the State of New Jersey Web page at: http://sussex.njstatelib.org/njlib/illpage.htm