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Transition to OCLC:
Reference & Loan Library Q & A

1. RLL Question: SCLS indicates that the Madison Public Library as the clearinghouse for SCLS will use OCLC as the primary method for lending and borrowing.

   When will this start? Do you plan to respond to current requests with SCLS in the rota? Do you want the Reference and Loan Library to suspend these requests?
   

   
   SCLS Response: As of November 1, please make SCLS inactive as a lender in WISCAT ILL. We will continue to respond to existing requests for 60 days. As of November 1, our resource library will not be using WISCAT ILL as a borrower.
   
   
   
2. RLL Question: You are asking that the Reference and Loan Library accept requests from SCLS on OCLC and then refer them using WISCAT ILL to other libraries.
   
   SCLS Response: No. We are only sending requests to Reference and Loan Library on OCLC for things that Reference and Loan owns. We will not send requests to Reference and Loan to be referred.
   
   
   
3. RLL Question: You are asking that public library systems accept requests from SCLS using OCLC. The implication in your statement is that the systems would also have to use OCLC to access their public or other types of libraries that do not use OCLC.
   
   SCLS Response: No. If a library is using OCLC and their holding symbol is in all caps, we will send requests to them, and hope that they would fill those requests from any library represented by that holding symbol. If a system chooses to access one of their member libraries on our behalf, the methodology they use is entirely up to them.
   
   
   
4. RLL Question: You are asking the Reference and Loan Library to send requests to SCLS on OCLC.
   
   RLL does send requests to academic libraries and out-of-state libraries. However, we do so after we have cleared all public libraries, including Milwaukee Public. It is not clear that we would be able to send you requests at the point in the hierarchy without incurring additional steps and costs.
   
   SCLS Response: Yes. If Reference and Loan wants to send requests to WIM, we ask that they be sent on OCLC.
   
   
   
5. RLL Question: You are asking that public library systems send you requests on OCLC.
   
   I would be very reluctant to request that they do so. Their cooperation with you would be voluntary.
   
   
   SCLS Response: Yes. We would like library systems to come to us directly on OCLC. We would like Reference and Loan to refer requests to us on OCLC from other systems if the other systems cannot or will not use OCLC.
   
   
   
6. RLL Question: You indicate that SCLS libraries that want to continue to use WISCAT ILL could continue to do so if they pay the fee.
   
   If SCLS does not use WISCATILL, then SCLS would not be able to be a default for these libraries. The requests would come back to the libraries unfilled and they would have to send them to SCLS for further action. Another alternative would be for RLL to be the default.
   
   SCLS Response: We request that any of our libraries that continue to use WISCAT ILL be their own default on WISCAT ILL. Further referrals will be handled by SCLS using OCLC.
   
   
   
7. RLL Question: You do not mention how you plan to interact with WiLS, Milwaukee Public Library, and MINITEX.
   
   At this point, I can say that I would not be willing to pay for any requests that you send directly to either WiLS or WiLS member libraries or Milwaukee Public Library on OCLC. Any direct SCLS use of OCLC with MINITEX would not be covered by our agreement with them.
   
   SCLS Response: We will be going direct on OCLC to WiLS, the Minnesota libraries that are OCLC lenders, and Milwaukee Public Library. At this time, we do not expect Reference and Loan to offset our costs.
   
   
   
8. RLL Question: You have said that you would take ALA forms.
   
   Would you be willing to take printouts from WISCAT ILL that were delivered through the SCLS delivery system or via fax? Or if we could set WISCAT ILL to send you an email request, would you be willing to take those?
   
   SCLS Response: No, we would not be willing to accept printouts from WISCAT ILL. We are only willing to take ALA request forms from anyone who isn't on OCLC and who is acting on their own behalf.
   

For more information about Interlibrary Loan, contact Cheryl Becker.

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