State Utilizes Standards-Based System to Streamline Workflow and Improve Delivery Time
Auto-Graphics, Inc. (OTCBB:AUGR) (Pink Sheets:AUGR), a technology innovator providing library automation solutions for over 35 years, today announced that the New Jersey State Library’s JerseyCat+ application of AGent Resource Sharing™, has successfully implemented the ISO Interlibrary Loan Protocol (ISO ILL) to streamline their interlibrary loan (ILL) process and improve delivery time. The introduction of interoperability between AGent Resource Sharing, the New Jersey State Library’s JerseyCat+ service and Online Computer Library Center’s (OCLC) WorldCat Resource Sharing through use of ISO ILL has dramatically reduced work for staff by eliminating the need to manage ILL transactions in two separate ILL messaging environments.
“The implementation of ISO ILL replaced the need to add an additional JerseyCat+ staff member. This staff member would have been required to do at least 250 ILL request status updates on a daily basis. Now when the local library updates the interlibrary loan requests to appropriate statuses on JerseyCat, they are updated on OCLC also,” stated Scherelene Schatz, JerseyCat project manager.
The JerseyCat+ service upgraded to the AGent ISO ILL Resource Sharing system to address a more time-consuming workflow required to initiate ILL calls on the OCLC ILL system when non-OCLC participants request items not found in JerseyCat, New Jersey’s hybrid (virtual and union) catalog and ILL system. If an ILL request cannot be filled by a JerseyCat participant, the JerseyCat+ staff identifies potential lenders on OCLC and adds those lenders to the lender list in the AGent Resource Sharing ILL request. AGent Resource Sharing then sends a request to OCLC through the ISO ILL Protocol. The New Jersey borrowing library now uses AGent Resource Sharing to manage the complete ILL transaction – from receiving the item to reporting the item has been returned.
“The implementation of the ISO ILL Protocol between AGent Resource Sharing and OCLC’s WorldCat Resource Sharing enables borrowers and lenders to use their ILL system of choice,” commented Mary E. Jackson, Auto-Graphics’ product manager for Resource Sharing. “This linkage expands the pool of potential lenders whose holdings are represented in other union and standalone catalogs.
“I am delighted that the New Jersey State Library, an Auto-Graphics customer since 2002, has been able to reduce their turn-around time and increase the percentage of the requests filled by using the AGent ISO ILL Resource Sharing system. By using Auto-Graphics’ standards-based ILL system, they have freed staff from tedious and duplicative workflow procedures enabling them to focus on service to local users.”
About JerseyCat and JerseyCat+
JerseyCat+ is funded in part by the New Jersey State Library, which is responsible for the coordination, promotion and funding of the New Jersey Library Network; by New Jersey’s Regional Library Cooperatives; and by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, an independent federal agency whose mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas. For more information, please visit www.jerseycat.org.
About Auto-Graphics, Inc.
Founded in 1950, Auto-Graphics has been a technology innovator for more than five decades, providing data automation solutions to customers across multiple industries. For the past 35 years, Auto-Graphics has helped libraries of all sizes become more efficient and patron-centric. Its flagship solution, AGent™, is the most comprehensive library automation platform available today, allowing libraries of any size manage, share and search their resources. The AGent integrated product suite – currently used by more than 5,000 libraries in North America – comprises a complete ILS system for public libraries; a robust ILL solution for consortial entities and member libraries; and a powerful federated search solution for both public and academic libraries. For more information, please visit www.auto-graphics.com.