Abstract:
An automated tool for analyzing inter-library loan (ILL) transactions to identify holding needs for a library. The automated tool may be used in conjunction with a bibliographic database that comprises data related to inter-library loan requests and document orders. Libraries have the ability to compare borrowing requests over time to identify acquisition priorities, compare borrowing requests based on age, subject, serial, and nonserial items, analyze items the library is borrowing, and analyze items the library is lending. ILL request data may be analyzed by date, by frequency, and by cost. The library may then decide to acquire additional holdings for its collection based on the analyses of ILL transaction data.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     None. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to software tools for analyzing holdings information contained in a bibliographic database. In particular, the present invention is a web-based tool for analyzing inter-library loan transactions to identify collection and acquisition needs for a library. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The largest and most comprehensive bibliographic database in the world is the WorldCat® database from OCLC. It comprises millions of online records built from the bibliographic and ownership information of contributing libraries. Cataloged items span thousands of years and nearly every form of human expression. Records exist for physical items, electronic content, born-digital works, and digitally preserved artifacts. WorldCat database records represent items from hundreds of languages and cultures in hundreds of countries and territories around the world. Item records are written in many languages and the database supports cataloging in many different scripts. 
     Because holdings contained in the WorldCat database are extensive, libraries need automated tools to review and analyze them. One such tool is the WorldCat collection analysis, a web-based service that provides automated analysis and comparison of library collections based on holdings information contained in the WorldCat bibliographic database. In particular, it allows a library to evaluate its holdings by identifying unique items, overlaps, and gaps in the collection and to compare its holdings by evaluating its collection against the collections of other libraries. 
     The features and functionality of WorldCat collection analysis provide libraries with a substantial amount of information about their holdings. The ability to compare collections between libraries can be helpful to the libraries in identifying “gaps” in their holdings. For a library that wants to expand its holdings, the differences between its holdings and the holdings of other libraries may help the library decide what materials to add to its collection. The library may decide to purchase for its collection materials that are frequently found in other libraries&#39; collections and therefore, potentially of interest to its own patrons. 
     Although comparisons and information about differences between library holdings may provide some guidance in selecting new materials, there is a chance that the newly purchased materials are not of great interest to the patrons of a particular library. Before purchasing additional holdings, it would be helpful to a library to have information about the needs of its patrons and the materials that are most likely to be of interest to its patrons. One way to gauge the interest of patrons in a library&#39;s holdings is to analyze inter-library loan transactions. The ability to review and analyze materials that a library&#39;s patrons are requesting from other libraries can help a library identify materials that are likely to be of interest to its patrons. The volume of data related to inter-library loans, however, is substantial. Libraries process tens of millions of inter-library loan transactions each year. Therefore, there is a need for an automated tool to analyze inter-library loan transactions to identify holding needs for a library. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is an automated tool for analyzing inter-library loan (ILL) transactions using an existing collection analysis structure to identify holding needs for a library. In an example embodiment of the present invention, the automated tool is an extension to the WorldCat collection analysis service for use in conjunction with the WorldCat database. A WorldCat resource sharing data component available to WorldCat database contributing libraries enables libraries to create, send, manage, and track inter-library loan requests and document orders. A web-based interface allows contributing libraries to make requests and fulfill them. The requests and orders are recorded and therefore, available for further analysis according to the features and functionality of the present invention. 
     The inter-library loan (ILL) analysis tool gives a library the ability to:
         1. compare borrowing requests over time to identify acquisition priorities;   2. compare borrowing requests based on age, subject, serial, and nonserial items;   3. analyze items the library is borrowing—items that supplement the collection; and   4. analyze items the library is lending—how the collection is used.       

     A user using the ILL analysis tool specifies initially whether to analyze the data for the library as a borrower or a lender. Further options available to the user are based on whether the analysis is directed to the library as a borrower or a lender. The user may review analyses of ILL request data such as requests by date, requests by frequency and requests by cost. Results are presented in tabular form. Results may be expanded by selecting various icons associated with table cells. The library may then decide to acquire additional holdings for its collection based on the analyses of ILL transaction data. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an example Request by Date analysis screen for a library as borrower; 
         FIG. 2  is an example Request by Date analysis screen for a library as lender; 
         FIG. 3  shows results for an example expanded Request by Date analysis screen; 
         FIG. 4  shows results for an example Request by Frequency analysis screen; 
         FIG. 5  shows results for an example Request by Cost analysis screen; 
         FIG. 6  is an example actual holdings screen; 
         FIGS. 7 and 8  are sample screens for limiting dimensions of an analysis; 
         FIG. 9  is an example selected limits screen; and 
         FIG. 10  is an example change analysis screen. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     An example embodiment of the present invention is implemented as an extension to the WorldCat collection analysis service for use with the WorldCat bibliographic database and WorldCat resource sharing data. The WorldCat collection analysis service is a web-accessible collection analysis tool that supports multiple aspects of library collections management. It provides information about a library&#39;s collection(s) as represented by holdings in the WorldCat database. The present invention provides information about external use of the library&#39;s collection, as well as documents potential areas for acquisition, by tracking the collection&#39;s borrowing and lending activity within WorldCat resource sharing which records patron ILL requests and orders. 
     ILL requests and orders that are recorded in a database may comprise data such as the following: ILL transaction identifier; ILL request date; borrower institution, borrower; date item is needed; cancellation date if item cannot be located; item identifying information such as title, publication date, and format; charges and other borrower obligations; lending institutions receiving request; lending institution fulfilling request; date request fulfilled; date item received at borrowing institution; date borrower notified of availability of item; date item checked out of borrowing institution; date item returned to borrowing institution; and date item returned to lending institution. 
     In particular, borrowing and lending activity may be tracked by:
         1. library role (Borrower/Lender);   2. request activity (Request Date, Request Frequency, Request Cost); and   3. external borrowing of items owned or not owned by the library (Holding Status)       

     Understanding the results of an ILL data analysis is facilitated by an understanding of the OCLC conspectus for structuring WorldCat holdings. The conspectus is structured in a hierarchical order, from broad divisions to very specific subjects. Each level is an increasingly detailed partition of the previous level. The three levels in the conspectus, in hierarchical order, are: 
     
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Name 
                 Number 
                 Description 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 Division 
                 32 
                 Divisions represent broad disciplines of 
               
               
                   
                   
                 knowledge. They are not tied to a specific 
               
               
                   
                   
                 classification scheme. Examples are: 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Agriculture 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Anthropology 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Art &amp; Architecture 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Biological Sciences 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Business &amp; Economics 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Chemistry 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Communicable Diseases &amp; Miscellaneous 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Computer Science 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Education 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Engineering &amp; Technology 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Geography &amp; Earth Sciences 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Government Documents 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Health Facilities, Nursing &amp; History 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Health Professions &amp; Public Health 
               
               
                   
                   
                 History &amp; Auxiliary Sciences 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Language, Linguistics &amp; Literature 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Law 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Library Science, Generalities &amp; Reference 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Mathematics 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Medicine 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Medicine by Body System 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Medicine by Discipline 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Music 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Performing Arts 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Philosophy &amp; Religion 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Physical Education &amp; Recreation 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Physical Sciences 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Political Sciences 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Psychology 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Sociology 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Unknown 
               
               
                 Category 
                 Approximately 
                 Categories represent topics within a specific 
               
               
                   
                 500 
                 division. These are correlated with Library of 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Congress, Dewey Decimal or National 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Library of Medicine classification numbers. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Example: Music Instrumental Music 
               
               
                 Subject 
                 Approximately 
                 Subjects provide the most detailed 
               
               
                   
                 7000 
                 identification within a specific category. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Example: Music Instrumental Music 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Piano Music 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     A computer user with a web browser may access a web-based application that interfaces to a database comprising ILL data. To complete ILL analyses according to the present invention, the user responds to prompts for information and is presented with the results of the data analysis. First, a role for a library is specified. Library roles include borrower (My Library as Borrower) or lender (My Library as Lender). For borrowing, all requests for materials or documents from other libraries are counted as borrowing requests, even if the request expires as unfilled. For lending, all requested items that are physically or electronically shipped from the library are counted as lending requests, even if the item is not expected to be returned such as a photocopy of an article. 
     A request activity for the library is also specified. Request activities relate to a basis for analyzing the transaction data. Libraries can analyze their borrowing requests based on the date of the request (Request by Date), the number of times the same item has been requested (Request by Frequency), and the cost of borrowing the requested item (Request by Cost). Libraries can analyze their lending requests based on the date of the request (Request by Date) and the number of times the same item was loaned (Request by Frequency). 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an example Request by Date analysis screen for a library as borrower is shown. The screen comprises a summary of the analysis request  100  and the results of the analysis  102  displayed in tabular form. Initially, the results are organized according to conspectus division  104  and show the total number of titles held by the library in the corresponding division  106  as well as the total number of borrowing requests for the corresponding division  108 . The results also show the total number of borrowing requests annually for various years  110 ,  112 ,  114 ,  116 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , an example Request by Date analysis screen for a library as lender is shown. The screen comprises a summary of the analysis request  120  and the results of the analysis  122  displayed in tabular form. Initially, the results are organized according to conspectus division  124  and show the total number of titles held by the library in the corresponding division  126  as well as the total number of lending requests for the corresponding division  128 . The results also show the total number of lending requests annually for various years  130 ,  132 ,  134 ,  136 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , results for an example expanded Request by Date analysis screen is shown. The totals  140  may be expanded into quarterly totals  142  by selecting an “expand column” icon  144  in the “year” column heading. In addition to expanding columns, rows can be expanded by selecting an “expand row” icon  146  next to the division. Rows expand as follows: 
     
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                 TABLE 2 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                   
                 Conspectus (Division/Category/Subject) 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                   Holding Status 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                     Lender 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                       Language 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                         Format 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                           Audience 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , results for an example Request by Frequency analysis screen for a library is shown. An ILL analysis according to this dimension indicates how often borrowing requests were issued from a library as borrower for a specific item or how often the specific items were shipped from a library as lender. The screen comprises the results of the analysis  150  displayed in tabular form. Initially, the results are organized according to conspectus division  152  and show the total number of titles held by the library in the corresponding division  154  as well as the total number of lending requests for the corresponding division  156 . The results also show totals according to the frequency of requests as follows: one time  158 , 2-5 times  160 , 6-10 times  162 , and more than 10 times  164 . 
     Rows may be expanded according to the following areas: 
     
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                 TABLE 3 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                   
                 Conspectus (Division/Category/Subject) 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                   Holding Status 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                     Language 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                       Format 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                         Audience 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , results for an example Request by Cost analysis screen for a library is shown. An ILL analysis according to this dimension presents the costs incurred by a library to borrow items from other libraries. The screen comprises the results of the analysis  170  displayed in tabular form. Initially, the results are organized according to conspectus division  172  and show the total number of titles held by the library in the corresponding division  174  as well as the total number of borrowing requests for the corresponding division  176 . The results further show the costs for the borrowing requests according to different ranges: nothing  178 , $10 or less  180 , between $10.01 and $20  182 , between $20.01 and $30  182 , between $30.01 and $40  182 , between $40.01 and $50  182 , more than $50  182 , and unknown  184 . 
     Rows may be expanded according to the following areas: 
     
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                 TABLE 4 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                   
                 Conspectus (Division/Category/Subject) 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                   Holding Status 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                     Language 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                       Format 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                         Audience 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , an example actual holdings screen for an example embodiment of the present invention is shown. To view a list of the titles for the actual holdings, the user selects the number shown in the corresponding table cell. The user may then scroll through the titles associated with the table cell. 
     The data provided in each analysis may be manipulated in various ways. A “limiting analysis” reduces the breadth of an analysis by specifying subsets of one or more analysis dimensions. Limiting analysis options may relate to the following: 
     
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 5 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 Lending Library 
                 One or more libraries included in analysis 
               
               
                 Borrowing Library 
                 One or more libraries included in analysis 
               
               
                 Request Date 
                 Various dates and ranges 
               
               
                 Request Cost 
                 For My Library as Borrower analysis only 
               
               
                   
                 Various costs and ranges 
               
               
                 Holding Status 
                 For My Library as Borrower analysis only 
               
               
                   
                 Shows how many borrowing requests were 
               
               
                   
                 submitted for items not owned by the library 
               
               
                 Copy/Loan 
                 For My Library as Borrower analysis only 
               
               
                   
                 Shows how many borrowing requests were 
               
               
                   
                 submitted for physical items that the library expects 
               
               
                   
                 to be returned to its collection (loan - such as 
               
               
                   
                 books or videos) as opposed to items that it does 
               
               
                   
                 not expect to be returned (copy - such as 
               
               
                   
                 photocopies of journal articles) 
               
               
                 Division 
                 Limited by conspectus by division (not category 
               
               
                   
                 or subject) 
               
               
                 Publication Date 
                 (As described below) 
               
               
                 Language 
                 (As described below) 
               
               
                 Format 
                 (As described below) 
               
               
                 Audience 
                 Adult and juvenile (based on MARC record 
               
               
                   
                 Field 008, byte 22: target audience) 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Publication dates are grouped into these ranges: 
     
       
         
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 6 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 Pre-1500 
               
               
                 1500-1599 
               
               
                 1600-1699 
               
               
                 1700-1799 
               
               
                 1800-1849 
               
               
                 1850-1899 
               
               
                 1900-1924 
               
               
                 1925-1949 
               
               
                 1950-1959 
               
               
                 1960-1969 
               
               
                 1970-1979 
               
               
                 1980-1989 
               
               
                 1990-1994 
               
               
                 1995-1999 
               
               
                 2000 
               
               
                 2001 
               
               
                 2002 
               
               
                 2003 
               
               
                 2004 
               
               
                 2005 
               
               
                 2006 
               
               
                 2007 
               
               
                 Other 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Publication date ranges change as additional years are added. Major changes occur at the end of every decade. For example, in publication year 2009, ranges 1990-1994 and 1995-1999 will be merged 1990-1999, individual years 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004 will be merged to 2000-2004. 
     Languages are from the “MARC Code List for Languages” (MARC record Field 008, bytes  35 - 37 ). 
     
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                 TABLE 7 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                   
                 Afrikans 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Albanian 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Arabic 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Armenian 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Bengali 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Bosnian 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Bulgarian 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Catalan 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Chinese 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Croatian 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Czech 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Danish 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Dutch 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 English 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Finnish 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 French 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 German 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Greek 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Modern 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 (1453-) 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Gujarati 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Hebrew 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Hindi 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Hungarian 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Indonesian 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Italian 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Japanese 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Korean 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Latin 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Macedonian 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Malay 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Marathi 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Norwegian 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Panjabi 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Persian 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Polish 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Portuguese 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Romanian 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Russian 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Sanskrit 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Serbian 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Slovak 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Slovenian 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Spanish 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Swedish 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Tagalog 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Tamil 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Telugu 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Thai 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Tibetan 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Turkish 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Ukrainian 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Urdu 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Vietnamese 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Yiddish 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Other 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Format data relates to the following materials types [MARC record Leader (LDR), bytes  6  (Type of Record) and  7  (Bibliographic level)]: 
     
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                 TABLE 8 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                   
                 Archival Materials 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Archival Materials, Electronic 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Archival Materials, Microform 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Articles 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Articles, Electronic 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Articles, Microform 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Books 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Books, Microform 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Computer Files 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Continually Updated 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Resources 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Continually Updated Resources, 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Electronic 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Continually Updated Resources, 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Microform 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Maps 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Maps, Electronic 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Maps, Microform 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Musical Scores 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Musical Scores, Electronic 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Musical Scores, Microform 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Serial Publications 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Serial Publications, 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Electronic 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Serial Publications, 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Microform 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Sound Recordings 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Sound Recordings, 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Electronic 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Sound Recordings, 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Microform 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Texts, Electronic 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Visual Materials 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Visual Materials, Electronic 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Visual Materials, Microform 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Once limits are set, they are applied to subsequent tables as well as corresponding graph views, printing, and exporting. 
     The number of libraries with which a particular library participates in ILL transactions can be very large. To reduce scrolling and still provide a complete list of lenders when necessary, the lending library dimension can be limited by means of radio buttons that appear below a dimension title. Referring to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , sample screens for limiting dimensions of an analysis are shown.  FIG. 7  provides options for limiting according to borrowing library  190 , request date  192 , and copy/loan  194 . Options related to borrowing library  190  may include the following. 
     
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 9 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Button 
                 Displays 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 Top 10 
                 Ten libraries to which greatest number of requests have 
               
               
                   
                 been submitted. 
               
               
                 Top 25 
                 Twenty-five libraries to which greatest number of requests 
               
               
                   
                 have been submitted. 
               
               
                 Top 50 
                 Fifty libraries to which greatest number of requests have 
               
               
                   
                 been submitted. 
               
               
                 All 
                 All libraries to which requests have been submitted. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     The “top” options result in a list of libraries by name and the number of requests associated with the library. As a result, it is possible to see which library made the largest number of requests followed by the second largest number of requests, etc. In  FIG. 7 , the combined limiting factors of top three libraries  190 , request date of 2005  192 , and copy  194  limits the analysis to the top three libraries to which the library shipped the most copies in 2005.  FIG. 8  illustrates additional limiting options for language  196  and format  198 .  FIG. 9  is a sample screen for viewing selected limits (e.g., lending library, request costs, holding status, publication date, division, language, format, and audience). 
     Results data may also be manipulated by changing the order in which dimensions are applied to an existing analysis. Referring to  FIG. 10 , an example change order analysis screen is shown. First, the data to analyze is specified  200 . The following column values may be selected to change the order in the results data  202 : “format,” “language,” “publication date,” “request date,” “holding status,” “request frequency,” and “request cost.” Selections for row expansion order are also supported. For row expansion, the following dimensions may be re-ordered except for the one selected in the column value  204 : “audience,” “division,” “format,” “holding status,” “language,” “borrowing/lending library,” “request cost” (library as borrower), “request date,” and “copy/loan.” 
     The present invention is a tool for preparing detailed analyses of ILL transactions using an existing collection analysis structure. The ILL transaction analyses assist a library in understanding what materials and items its patrons are most often requesting from other libraries. The library may better serve its patrons by adding to its collection the materials and items that are of greatest interest to its patrons. The analyses may also assist a library in understanding what materials and items are of interest to patrons from other libraries. The information may help a library better understand its own areas of expertise and identify other acquisitions that allow it to expand its offerings in its various areas of expertise. 
     While certain exemplary embodiments are described in detail above, the scope of the application is not to be considered limited by such disclosure, and modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention as evidenced by the following claims: