New interlending service from Sabinet Online

Citation

(2001), "New interlending service from Sabinet Online", Interlending & Document Supply, Vol. 29 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/ilds.2001.12229aab.002

New interlending service from Sabinet Online

New interlending service from Sabinet Online

Keywords: Interlending, Internet, Partnerships, South Africa

Sabinet Online has launched ReQuest, a Web-based interlending service that sets new standards in resource sharing among South African libraries. Funded by the Mellon Foundation in the USA, the new system will act as the interlending platform for around 350 of South Africa's libraries, replacing an older version which had limited functionality.

Facilitating the requesting and supplying of books, ReQuest simultaneously manages the whole request management function for returnable and non-returnable items, all in an easy-to-use, Web environment. The system is linked to SACat, the official cataloguing database of South African library holdings, with over three million bibliographic records.

Complying with ISO standards for ILL systems, ReQuest also interfaces with similar systems around the world and offers users, for the first time, the ability to send electronic requests between systems. Another benefit is the flexibility that allows librarians and end-users to specify their preferred partners and customise the way a request is handled. The high level of automation enables libraries to enter rules into the system that will ensure that they only receive ILL requests for items that they are prepared to lend.

Source: Press release