New Library Materials Request Form Improves Communication with Faculty Members

Acquisitions Services and Library Information Technology Services (LITS) personnel have collaborated over the past several weeks to enhance the current Library Materials Request System (LMRS). In response to faculty requests to have more communication from the Libraries regarding the status of materials they have requested, Dr. Arthur W. Hafner, Dean of University Libraries, tasked the group with developing new notification functionality within the LMRS.

The newly revised LMRS form will automatically pull information from the Sirsi/Dynix Symphony integrated library system and present it via e-mail messages. Each requestor will receive weekly e-mails when their requested titles have been ordered and when their requests are received and are available for use. In addition to informing requestors of the status of their items, departmental library representatives will receive a monthly e-mail that will summarize the items ordered using their departmental library allocations and items that were received and are now ready for use.

Included in the enhancements is the ability to notify requestors more efficiently and quickly of requested materials that are already held by the University Libraries. This will provide speedier feedback allowing funds to be re-deployed for other requests from the department. Another enhancement expedites the Acquisitions Department’s handling of submitted requests.

The new LMRS, implemented at the beginning of December, already is proving to enhance communication with faculty and increase the effectiveness of Acquisitions Services. The new form is located on the Acquisitions Services’ Web page at www.bsu.edu/library/acquisitions.

For more information regarding the LMRS, contact Michael W. Twigg, Assistant Head of Acquisitions Services, MTwigg@bsu.edu, 765-285-8030.