Ten public library systems also deliver to the academic libraries in their area and some systems include school, hospital, correctional, and other special libraries in the delivery service. CESAs offer weekly delivery service during the school year as a contracted service at the option of the school district. South Central Library System operates a van delivery service that connects 16 public library system offices, the Reference and Loan Library, WILS, the State Historical Society, and 24 academic libraries. Few libraries report using fax as a frequent method of delivery for interlibrary loan purposes. The disadvantages of using fax mentioned by libraries include difficult to use machines, wasted photocopies, extra staff time, cost of long distance calls, location of fax machines, and copy quality.
Speed is the primary advantage mentioned.
Technology used for interlibrary loan OCLC OCLC, Inc. is a nonprofit library computer service and research organization dedicated to the public purposes of furthering access to the world's information and reducing information costs. Created in 1967 by libraries in Ohio, OCLC now serves more than 21,000 libraries in 61 countries. The database also contains 7.8 million volume-specific serials union list holdings. Linked to the catalog is an interlibrary loan system that offers electronic transmission of requests to multiple lenders, request tracking, statistical reports, a method for establishing prioritized groups for borrowing and an automatic, individually customizable fund transfer option. OCLC also offers reference services including databases and full text, and electronic journals.