Faculty use of interlibrary loan in six colleges in Nebraska.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate patterns in faculty use of interlibrary loan as related to geographical proximity to major libraries. A four-page questionnaire was mailed to a systematically drawn random sample of 116 faculty members from the six private colleges in Nebraska which resulted in 104 valid respondents. The results of the study, with thirteen display tables, are as follows: 1. A total of thirty-six respondents answered the question concerning other types of libraries used for resources. Twenty-three persons (64 percent), indicated they use their own personal libraries while twelve persons (33 percent), use other university libraries. 2. Comparing the frequency of use of interlibrary loan services and the faculty use of the institution's library in general revealed that sixty-one of the eighty respondents use their interlibrary loan services more than ten times during the year. There was nearly an equal number of respondents that used the library and interlibrary loan services one or two times per semester. 3. The age of materials consulted by over one-half of the faculty was less than five years old. Forty-two percent of the respondents indicated they had n? set pattern; age varied in the choice of materials needed. 4. All fifty-one faculty respondents overwhelmingly supported the library staff and praised their willingness to offer needed assistance. Thirty-five of the respondents indicated that the staff successfully located suitable materials to meet their needs. 5. Interlibrary loan activities could probably increase if the services were publicized more among the faculty.