National Network of Libraries of Medicine

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Cross-Border DOCLINE Test

Nancy Press

Should you have libraries across the border in your routing table? Four Canadian libraries and four US libraries agreed to test cross-border DOCLINE and interlibrary loan to answer that very question.

The first Canadian library (College of Physicians and Surgeons in Vancouver) started using DOCLINE in May 1993. Right now there are 20 DOCLINE libraries in Canada and new Canadian libraries are signing up all the time. The NN/LM Resource Sharing Committee asked the NN/LM to design a study that would fill in some of the unknowns about cross-border sharing. The two specific questions we wanted to answer were:

1. Are the collections in the two countries complementary (e.g., is it worthwhile to add libraries on the other side of the border)?

2. Are there practical problems in document delivery across the border? Turn-around time was of particular interest.

We knew we would not have statistically significant information, but we hoped to be able to answer that question at the top of this article. The study period was from January 1 through March 31, 1994. During the study libraries agreed not to charge each other. Study participants were Billings Clinic, Billings, MT (Julia Sadler); Evergreen Medical Center, Kirkland, WA (Betty Jo Jensen); Intercollegiate Center for Nursing Education, Spokane, WA (Bob Pringle); Merle West Medical Center, Klamath Falls, OR (Steve Rauch); BC Health Association, Vancouver, BC (Carolyn Hall); College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC, Vancouver, BC (Jim Henderson); Royal Columbian Hospital, New Westminster, BC (Cathy Rayment); and Vancouver Health Department, Vancouver, BC (Sue Abzinger).

Results

The collections appear to be complementary. Reports from Canada say that most US loans request Commonwealth literature (mostly Canadian and British). A US librarian wrote that many of the requests "would have gone to HSLIC or other charging libraries," so that "my hospital probably saved quite a bit of money." Canadian libraries tended to request titles not available in BC and, often, not available anywhere in Canada. A Canadian librarian wrote, "The items borrowed were for titles not held in BC."

Turnaround time was addressed by all respondents and was considered to be quite satisfactory as compared with other libraries in routing tables. A Canadian librarian wrote, "Average turnaround time with US libraries is one week. This compares favourably with BC libraries." A US librarian wrote, "Turnaround time for all items borrowed was 4.77 days. The Canadian libraries took slightly longer [7.27, 7.33, 9.33, and 8.00] My requests from NLM average 9.2 days." Another US librarian wrote, "Speed was as good as or better than other folks we usually deal with." Still another wrote, "Turnaround time has been good-less than one week."

The greatest pre-test worry was over mail and some problems did arise. Mail was the method of delivery used most for the test requests. A US librarian wrote that articles were "returned to me by the post office because I had either neglected to add 'Canada' to the address and/or extra postage. The extra postage was a surprise, as I thought mail went to Canada at the same rate as for US mail." A Canadian librarian wrote, "Obviously new users on both sides of the border have to be alert to varying postal rates in the two countries." (The RML has a copy of the postal charges and will send it out upon request to Pacific Northwest libraries.)

Other comments on the test were:

Canadian librarians wrote:

"I do feel that DOCLINE has radically improved our ILL service; we can't imagine how we got along without it. Hats off to NLM for letting us participate!"

"US libraries have been very welcoming and very cooperative."

"Other tools available because of DOCLINE (fiche, directory) are very useful."

"We are really enjoying using DOCLINE and have found US libraries very cooperative. Hope we have been the same."

US librarians wrote:

"Activity seems to be increasing daily and I feel very positive about the future of this collaboration, especially is we can maintain reciprocal 'no fee' arrangements."

"The biggest kick I got was the letter from Richmond Hospital [which said, 'Your request has caused much excitement! Not only is it our first DOCLINE request but it is also an international one!!!'] Oh for those lost days of innocence when we were thrilled to get a DOCLINE request!"

Anecdotal or not, the results of this study show that cross-border sharing has been a positive experience.

Supplement, November-December 1994 -- Vol. 25, Number 6

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