Sweet Briar hosts interlibrary loan forum

Sweet Briar College will host the 14th Annual VIVA Interlibrary Loan Community Forum Friday, July 13 at the Florence Elston Inn Conference Center on campus. About 112 academic librarians and administrators from around the state are expected to attend.

VIVA — the Virtual Library of Virginia — is a state-funded consortium of nonprofit academic libraries serving colleges and universities in the commonwealth, including 34 private nonprofit institution members. VIVA’s goals include enhancing electronic resource sharing, facilitating interlibrary loans, coordinating collection development among members and providing educational and training opportunities.

VIVA’s purpose is to put every Virginia college student on equal footing when it comes to library access. According to its website, “VIVA brings the essential presence of a great library to every corner of higher education in the commonwealth, and ensures that all students graduate with the best possible foundation for their next step in life.”

Forum organizer and Sweet Briar librarian Joe Malloy says the interlibrary loan forum is also an important resource for his colleagues in an ever-changing discipline. It’s a way to stay current and a place to come together to exchange ideas, experiences and best practices.

“This annual event allows library directors, interlibrary loan librarians and practitioners to learn about new trends and technologies in document delivery as well as introducing new staff members to the VIVA-ILL,” Malloy said.

During the daylong conference, various sessions will cover issues, advancements and best practices across the discipline. Topics range from interlibrary loan etiquette to purchase on demand publishing. There is also a session for librarians new to the interlibrary loan field.

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