EFFECTIVENESS OF A LOCAL INTER‐LOAN SYSTEM FOR FIVE ACADEMIC LIBRARIES: AN OPERATIONAL RESEARCH APPROACH

This note considers the alternative of satisfying inter‐loan items emanating from five academic libraries locally, compared to the existing approach of satisfying such items from a national central store. A model was developed to evaluate different scenarios. At current prices it was found that the local option was not efficient, except in certain limited circumstances. The relative costs of the options might change markedly in the future.