An interlibrary lending network for sharing of serials collections amongst university libraries in Turkey

Yaşar Tonta

(Unpublished M.Lib. Dissertation), University of Wales,

Aberystwyth, September 1986.

ABSTRACT

 

The research aimed to identify the use made of existing interlending services of the university libraries in order to identify the prerequisites and requirements of an interlending network, and to outline such a network for sharing of serials collections among university libraries in Turkey.

 

Different types of networks, their features and structures are reviewed. Telecommunication facilities in Turkey is also studied with reference to data transmission using circuit-switched and packet-switched data networks.

 

A questionnaire, which was returned by 15 out of 28 university libraries (a response rate of 53 percent), was used to gather data regarding the budgets and collections of the university libraries and their administration. Topics such as the number of interlending transactions produced by the university libraries on national and international level; the channels (mail, telex, telefax, etc.) used for transmission of both requests and documents; union lists of serials; and the photocopies produced have been examined. The aim was to ascertain whether there was a balanced pattern or any dependence on any particular university library or libraries.

 

The online searching activities of the HEC Documentation Centre are also introduced.

 

A proposed network, which aims to foster the sharing of serials collections among university libraries, is outlined. It involves the concentrated serials collection of the HEC Documentation Centre, of the University of Hacettepe Medical Centre Library and METU Library both specialised on medicine, and science and technology respectively, and of the Turkish serials collection of the National Library. Various requirements of the proposed network are also emphasized.

 

Conclusions and recommendations are summarized. Appendices, a select bibliography and glossary accompany the research report.