New Program Lets Library Patrons Request Delivery of Certain Books

Students and faculty can now order books from 19 of the University's libraries to be delivered to the library most convenient for them.

The provisional book transfer program allows faculty and students to order books through HOLLIS and have the books delivered within five business days, according to Mary Beth Kendrick, reserves and circulation librarian at Hilles Library.

If eligible borrowers find a book they want at one of the participating libraries, they can use the new "Get Any" command on HOLLIS to indicate which library they want the book delivered to.

"I think that this is a service that the libraries have long been interested in providing, and we were able to work through some of the issues involved," said program coordinator Curtis Kendrick, assistant director for the Harvard Depository.

In particular, Curtis Kendrick said modifications to HOLLIS and the expansion of e-mail have allowed the University's libraries to cooperate more.

Students can return the books to either their home library or to the library which owns the books, Mary Beth Kendrick said.

"The important thing to remember for the borrower is that they need to comply with the policies of the library who owns the book," she said, identifying loan periods and fines as examples.

The Intra-Library Loan Pilot is a year-long experimental program which began on October 22.

At the end of the academic year, the University libraries will evaluate the success and the effectiveness of the program.

Curtis Kendrick said the librarians will look specifically at utilization of the pilot project, the adequacy of the University's technological infrastructure and labor force and the cost of the program.

The project is currently being funded by the individual faculties, Curtis Kendrick said.

In the first 10 days of the program, the libraries have processed 300 transactions. Once the coordinators are convinced the technology is working effectively, the project will be publicized more extensively, Curtis Kendrick said.

The participating libraries are: Andover, Baker, the Biological Laboratories, Botany, Cabot, Countway, the Design School, Fine Arts, Gutman, Yenching, Hilles, the Kennedy School, Kummel, the Law School, Littauer, McKay, Music, Tozzer and Widener.

Curtis Kendrick encouraged students to provide feedback on the new program.

"I think that students [need] to make a point to tell librarians and library staff if they're satisfied with it...so that we get that perspective," he said. "We don't want to be providing a service that students have little use for."

Mary Beth Kendrick also noted that several University libraries, including Hilles, Baker and Countway, have recently instituted an e-mail renewal program

Mary Beth Kendrick also noted that several University libraries, including Hilles, Baker and Countway, have recently instituted an e-mail renewal program