DEVELOPMENT OF A MODEL INTERLIBRARY LOAN NETWORK AMONG ACADEMIC LIBRARIES IN SAUDI ARABIA

The purpose of this study was to survey and analyse the condition of the present system of academic libraries, defined in this study as tile seven university libraries, in Saudi Arabia; determine the perceptions of academic librarians in Saudi Arabia toward cooperati on; and design a model i nterl i brary loan network (ILLI~) for the academic libraries of Saudi Arabia. An extensive analysis of international literature related to interlibrary loan developments and resource sharing networks in developed, as well as developing countries was conducted. A document revi ew, questi onnai re survey, and structured i ntervi ew \I/ere used for data collection. A questionnaire \-Jas administered to the seven Deans of academic libraries to obtain data related to library personnel, collections, Dudgets, library eLjuiprnents, the extent of cooperative interaction among the libraries, and the networ