Trends in charging for documents supply: a selective comparative study

Interlending services have become a fact of life in the library world. However, interlending systems differ from one country to another especially in charging practices. The ways in which interlending is organised in the United Kingdom, France and Nordic Countries are examined. Various aspects of charging for document supply in the above countries are assessed. A survey focusing on charging for document supply was conducted among 185 French and UK libraries. The results reinforced the idea that in France and in the United Kingdom, charging for interloans particularly photocopies, is a common practice. Recommendations for libraries intending to charge for inter-library loans are made on the results of the study.