Apologies for cross posting.

Members of CONARLS (The Circle of Officers of National and Regional
Library Systems) have agreed a common **inter-regional** ILL pricing
policy, to be effective from 1 October, for their members.

The agreement is briefly detailed below. For more information, contact
your local Regional Library System if it has not already been in touch
with you. Slightly fuller details than below have also been sent to FIL
for inclusion in its next Newsletter, due out this month.

The agreement does not prejudice any pre-existing ILL schemes or
pricings but provides a cheaper alternative to BLDSC for those libraries
which want it. BLDSC, via its representation on CONARLS, has been
involved with the discussions leading to the agreement.

CONARLS agreement is:-

1. LOANS

1.1 from 1 October 2000 - 31 March 2001 = 4.67pounds

1.2 from 1 April 2001 = 5.00pounds (reviewable annually)

1.3 Regional request forms can be used inter-regionally provided they
carry a library's BLDSC customer code (87-xxxx), a unique reference
number and the value of the form. Libraries using printouts from ILL
systems and e-mail requesting should ensure this information also
appears. Current BLDSC prepaid forms (4.67pounds) can, of course,
continue to be used until 31 March 2001 or until stocks last.


2. PHOTOCOPIES

2.1 The BLDSC rate of 3.80pounds + VAT will apply. Requests on either
BLDSC forms or regional forms or printouts, etc. (cf. 1.3 above),
provided they carry a library's BLDSC customer code (87-xxxx), a unique
reference number and the value of the form, are acceptable.


3. 'C' COPIES (or equivalent)

3.1 BLDSC has agreed that loans, etc., for all the above forms can be
credited / debited via its 'banking system' **at the value shown on them
when received by BLDSC for processing**. It would be helpful to BLDSC
if 'C' copies, etc., could be separated out into the different types of
form/prices when submitted for claim as it will help speed processing.


4. LOCATIONS

4.1 CONARLS members, with the exception of LASER, have agreed that at
least until 31 March 2001, and on the same basis as they do now, will
provide a free location service for each others member libraries. Please
use your own regional/national ILL centre *before* applying to that in
another region. Provision of the service will be reviewed in the light
of demand.

4.2 LASER has already announced its intention to charge for the
provision of locations/supply of material to non-member libraries. For
more information, contact LASER.


5. PARTICPANTS

5.1 It is intended to list the libraries participating in the CONARLS
scheme on the CONARLS website (http://www.zebra.co.uk/conarls/ ); this
will be done as soon as possible


6. NON PARTICIPANTS

6.1 It is assumed that libraries which do not accept the CONARLS common
inter-regional pricing will carry out their ILL loan transactions at the
BLDSC rate (6.20pounds from 1 October). Equally, libraries which charge
*over* the normal rates (eg 2 BLDSC forms) for supplying items, should
expect to be charged that rate, not a lesser one.



--
Pat McKenzie
Chair, CONARLS
Inter-Library Services
National Library of Scotland
33 Salisbury Place
EDINBURGH
Scotland
EH9 1SL

E-mail (personal): [log in to unmask]

E-mail (general/ILL): [log in to unmask]

Tel: +(44)(0)131-466 3815 (direct)
     +(44)(0)131-226 4531 Ext. 3315 (via switchboard)

Fax: +(44)(0)131-466 3814 (direct)


12.9.00




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