Interlibrary Reference Service

Interlibrary Reference Service is the free exchange of information, resources and staff expertise among CAMLS libraries to support user needs for information. It is an agreement adopted by CAMLS libraries to enhance information and reference service to all CAMLS area residents and member libraries by using the combined collection strengths and professional experience of their staffs. A librarian in one CAMLS library who cannot answer a specific reference question from their collection has the option of calling a colleague in another CAMLS library who may have the resources needed to answer the particular question.

To promote this service, CAMLS provides Open Houses on a regular basis. Each Open House includes a group of CAMLS libraries in a geographic area who open their libraries to member librarians to meet staff and review available resources. An IRS task force also provides training sessions at individual libraries.

Guidelines

Scope: This is a voluntary agreement adopted by CAMLS libraries to provide the best information and reference service to all our area residents and member libraries by utilizing our combined collection strengths and professional expertise.

Responsibilities of the inquiring library:

ask questions of a reference nature (not research) which you would expect to provide to your patron if you had the appropriate resource
recognize that the responding library will answer as promptly as they can but that they may need to take the request in its turn and respond later by phone or fax
handle specific title requests through interlibrary loan

Responsibilities of the responding library:

respond promptly to the inquiring library and/or inform them of potential delay
if the request can be answered with the provision of a few photocopied pages, the responding library will supply it free of charge

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