Access to resources through the British Library Lending Division

Abstract

The British Library Lending Division (BLLD) is the main source in the United Kingdom for supplying documents not held locally. The most important features of the system are: the high volume of demand; the fact that all significant serials, reports and English language monographs, between them accounting for the overwhelming majority of demand, are acquired for the central lending stock; and the design of the system for speed of service and low unit cost. The volume of demand is currently about 2,200,000 items a year, growing at over 20 per cent per annum. The BLLD is able to meet about 84 per cent of requests from stock, and an additional 9 per cent are supplied with the help of other libraries. Weaker parts of the system are gradually being strengthened by various means; these include greater access to the copyright libraries and other ‘back‐up’ sources, the photocopying of older serials in the British Library Reference Division and improved lending arrangements with other countries. Detailed figures on supply rates are given. Future problems and developments are considered.