LTA Interlibrary Loan and Resource Sharing

Question 1

What does the acronym 'ILL' stand for in library services?

Accepted Answer

Interlibrary Loan

Answer

ILL stands for Interlibrary Loan, the service through which libraries share materials with one another on behalf of patrons.

Question 2

Which organization operates the primary bibliographic network and ILL management platform used by most US libraries?

Accepted Answer

Online Computer Library Center (OCLC)

Answer

OCLC operates WorldCat and the WorldShare ILL platform, which is the primary network used by US libraries for interlibrary lending.

Question 3

According to CONTU guidelines, what does the 'Rule of Five' govern in ILL copyright compliance?

Accepted Answer

No more than five copies of articles from one periodical title may be borrowed within a five-year period without paying royalties

Answer

The CONTU 'Rule of Five' limits libraries to requesting no more than five copies of articles from the same journal title published within the last five years before royalties must be paid.

Question 4

In ILL terminology, what is a 'lending library'?

Accepted Answer

The library that owns and supplies the requested item

Answer

The lending library is the institution that owns the requested item and sends it—or a copy—to the requesting borrowing library.

Question 5

Which ALA document provides the primary standards and guidelines for ILL operations in the United States?

Accepted Answer

Interlibrary Loan Code for the United States

Answer

The ALA's Interlibrary Loan Code for the United States is the foundational document establishing responsibilities and best practices for ILL in the US.

(LTA) Library Technical Assistant Practice Test

(LTA) Library Technical Assistant Practice Test

LTA Interlibrary Loan and Resource Sharing