User‐initiated resource sharing in Hong Kong universities: planning to reality with HKALL

Abstract

Purpose

To describe the introduction of a collaborative, user‐initiated, unmediated, interlibrary loan service for returnables between initially three and then all eight universities in Hong Kong.

Design/methodology/approach

Historical narrative combined with user and staff evaluation.

Findings

The introduction of the service has been a great success.

Originality/value

This article describes in detail the introduction of a service that will be of interest and relevance to many other libraries facing declining budgets and the need to share resources in an efficient and effective way.

Citation

Sidorko, P., Wong, R., Tai, A. and Wong, E. (2006), "User‐initiated resource sharing in Hong Kong universities: planning to reality with HKALL", Interlending & Document Supply, Vol. 34 No. 2, pp. 60-69. https://doi.org/10.1108/02641610610669750