I understand from the colleagues who attended the Cambridge 
conference that there was some interest in my own 
discussions with III regarding the state of the I.L.L. 
module (release 12.1). I am glad to have the opportunity to 
share these with members of the group and welcome your 
comments. ILL is an area where local practices vary greatly 
but use of the BLDSC systems means that there must be some 
commonality too. The following is a list of Exeter's 
suggestions:

Martin Myhill
Deputy Librarian
University of Exeter

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--------------------------

	i.BL Voucher management and allocation:
Voucher costs are in excess of £5 sterling each and adequate
control of these is an absolute necessity:
  
    		a)- control of number sequences at point of 
   		request rather than at point of transmission
   		b)- ability to add voucher(s) once request 
 		has been transmitted
   		c)-option to return unused or cancelled 
   		vouchers (non BL-requests) into the unused 
 		sequence
   		d)- two voucher files for system to draw 
   		'next available' voucher(s) - avoids having
   		to look up/check voucher sequences (cf 
 		LIBERTAS where this facility worked well)
		[Possibly in release 2000?] 
 		e)- facility for multiple (gap) voucher 
 		format:
  		AB12345, AB12348-9 rather than just 
  		AB12345-6 
   		f)- Addition of BL voucher info to non-BL 
  		suppliers; request needs to carry clear 
  		indication of BL voucher(s) - at start of 
  		request. 
  
 Voucher control is also important to allow an appropriate 
 automated response to BL replies. The following sections 
 highlight areas where it would be useful to amend a 
 previously transmitted request with further information. 
 There is room for considerable sophistication here, or a 
 separate facility for each ARTTel-permitted option (see 
 below) or simply an editor which allows the key command 
 (e.g. REAPP) and/or voucher info to be added to the message 
 header together with the option to insert a new, second 
 line message as shown in the ARTTel handbook.
 
    	ii. Upgrade of 'y' to 'z'/www search (add vouchers)
   		-message to ARTTel required plus voucher
   		allocation (above)
   
    	iii. Renewal of BL-based loans (add vouchers)
   		-message to ARTTel required plus voucher 
   		allocation (above) with 'RENEW XXXXX 
   		(original voucher no) on next line.
   
 	iv.  REAPPlication option for BL transmissions
   		-message to ARTTel requires REAPP on header
  		plus optional message on second line (such
  		as 'additional cost accepted')
  
  	v. Use of BL special requirements other than X 
   		or Y:
   		COPYRT, WWS, PHOTO, LOAN, MICNO, HOME,
   		TRANSON, TRANSIP, MUSIC, PATENT, UKTHESIS
   
   	vi.  Ability to CANCEL ARTTel requests
   		-requires CANCEL on header line plus
   		'Please remove from Waiting List' on next
   
   	vii.   Ability to 'RECALL'/'RECALL DUE WAIT' 
   		(returned/non-receipt)
   		-requires RECALL on header line plus 
   		either 'This item was returned on...' 
   		or 'This item was never received' on
   		second line (plus full request)	
   
 There are also some operational problems which cause 
 serious difficulties for Issue Desk staff:
 
    	viii. Chaser dates don't reactivate
   		-investigate programming problem
   
          xi. Correct return date problems in 		
  		circulation system where the INNOPAC
 		due date defaults to 28 days rather than 
 		picks up the actual date entered on receipt
 		of item.
  		-currently overriden with --.
  		Investigate programming problem
  
  	x. Ability to exclude ILL from circulation loan 
    		limits but inclusion in fines sub-system
   		-investigate circulation system rules and 
   		insert an extra allowance for ILL items
 
 	xi.Removal of ILL items from OPAC self-renewal 
 		options (at the moment this is allowed 
 		as a one-day default)
 		- ILL items can normally only be renewed
 		in conjunction with the lending library
 		This requires consultation (and often extra
 		payment) between libraries and is
 		unsuited to a self-service environment.
   
       	xii. Ability to amend voucher details while request 
    		is in progress (e.g. for failed BL requests)
   		-requires re-supply facility which would 
   		allow complete removal of one voucher and 
   		it's replacement by another.
 	
	xiii. Ability to edit request text once input
		-current situation requires cancellation
		 and re-input of the ENTIRE message.
		-Chasers often benefit from the addition of 
		 extra notes; such notes do not require
		 instant transmission but provide further
		 background in the event of a chaser being 
		 sent. 
  	
	xiv. Request history to remain for cancelled 
 		requests
  		- currently removed once request is 
  		cancelled
  
 And finally, a few 'extras' to make the system more 
 functional:
 
  	xv. Consideration of statistics for 'outward' 
  		loans
   		-requires archiving mechanism to breakdown 
   		circulation stats into borrowing libraries
   		[important for refunds etc]
   
    	xvi. Preparation for new intray messages from BL
   		-new 'meaningful' Report messages are on 
   		their way instead of the old codes.
   
   	xvii. Status Read and Status List online facility 
		to ARTTel.
  		-review of content of files recieved by BL
  
 
Martin
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----------------------
Martin Myhill
Deputy Librarian
University of Exeter



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----------------------
Martin Myhill
University of Exeter



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