Document Delivery Services


1. Parties to this understanding

For the purposes of this Understanding, these parties will be referred to as "the participating libraries". WAGUL libraries are required to use VDX to participate in this service.

Each participating library is the "home library" for staff and students of its University and the "host" library for staff and students of other participating libraries.

2. Aim

The aim of this Understanding is to:

  1. Improve access to information held in participating libraries and increase the information resources available to library clients, especially researchers, postgraduate students and academic staff.
  2. Provide responsive, cost effective services, reflecting national and international standards and directions.
  3. Share the costs of collaborative document delivery initiatives aimed at improving the quality of service of participating libraries.
  4. Promote the regular exchange of information between participating libraries to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of document delivery services.


3. Eligibility

The WAGUL Document Delivery service is provided for the current staff, external students, honours and other higher level undergraduate students undertaking research, and postgraduate students of the participating libraries.

It should be noted that libraries' definitions of these terms may vary and that, within these categories, libraries may impose further eligibility requirements on their staff/students as they deem appropriate.

Document delivery services for other clients at the participating libraries, will be negotiated between libraries as appropriate.


4. Terms of understanding

The participating libraries agree to:

  1. Provide document delivery services for the benefit of eligible staff and students of other participating libraries.
  2. Charge an agreed standard transaction fee at one half of the standard national fee set for the core service.
  3. Provide service response times based on one half of the InterLibrary Resource Sharing Code (ILRSC) core service, that is, supplying libraries should either despatch or notify non supply within 48 hours of receiving the request.
  4. Work towards common performance measures and practices.
  5. Use VDX to provide an automated system of requesting and supply.
  6. Support innovation and creativity in relation to document delivery services.
  7. Conduct an annual review of supply times and other performance measures as required.

5. Conditions

  1. VDX will normally be used for the transmission of all requests and supply of all documents, between libraries. This will include client-initiated transactions. Where clients do not have access to VDX, the home library will mediate the service.  
  2. Each participating library is to comply with agreed response times.
  3. Certain items/collections may not be available for supply, as determined by each library.  However libraries agree where feasible to supply from electronic resources subject to licence agreements.
  4. Rush services as defined by the ILRSC may be available for the standard national Rush fee.
  5. Loan conditions may vary from library to library with respect to length of loans, renewals, recalling items and the number of requests between libraries.
  6. Payments for services supplied under this Understanding are to be reconciled annually.
  7. Each participating library will be responsible for its own compliance with copyright laws.
  8. Usage statistics will be collated annually and distributed to the participating libraries.
  9. Each library will be billed for the non-return of items.
  10. Joint licensing-related and contractual VDX issues will be managed by AUSLG. VDX issues affecting an individual library will be dealt with by that library, in conjunction with OCLC.
  11. Each participating library will be responsible for representation at key VDX meetings.


Updated by AUSLG 21/02/11