Library Express - Using Document Delivery of ILLiad in the Voyager Catalog

Abstract

In the Voyager Catalog at Eastern Kentucky University, we have added a button, called "Get It," next to the item status that gives patrons the option to request that particular item. When clicked, the item's Open URL information is sent to ILLiad for the user to place a request. To the user, it is a quick and seamless process; for our staff, it is an involved process to complete the request and get the item to a pickup location for the patron to get. But, using ILLiad helps us track the requests and communicate with the patron. By placing the service in the catalog, we can offer the delivery of books to the patron, even if the item is there on the shelf already. With help from shared code, we are able to offer this new and exciting service for our patrons. This presentation will cover not only the code setup and how it works in the catalog and with ILLiad, but also some behind-the-scenes looks at how we deal with the requests once they come in. If you've ever thought about offering such a service at your library, then we can share what we've done to help you get started with your own, "Library Express."