Skip to Main Content
IDS Project Logo

A unified community of trust and support
built around a critical and clearly understood purpose
effective resource sharing.

IDS Orientation

Workflow Toolkit

Maintained by the IDS Project's Mentors, in partnership with Atlas Systems, the Toolkit provides best practices that can enhance all aspects of borrowing, lending, and document delivery services through ILLiad customizations, resource sharing strategies, and workflow improvements. View the online version for the most recent updates and additions.

ILL Code

The Interlibrary Loan Code for the United States is the governing document for ILL in the United States. If you have questions about how to participate in ILL, this document has many answers.

ILLiad Information

ILLiad is the software that most IDS Project members use to facilitate patron requests. The following links are provided from the Atlas:

IDS Logic

IDS Logic helps automate ILL workflows in ILLiad behind the scenes. You can think of it as a coworker that performs routine tasks by clicking things for you. It can automatically do things such as:

  • determine if an item is available and lendable
  • route transactions based on specific criteria
  • send emails
  • handle renewal approvals
  • and so much more.

Whenever IDS Logic touches a transaction, it leaves a bit of information in the Notes field so you can always see if IDS Logic acted on a particular transaction or not. These notes all start with "IDS Logic:"

IDS Logic has several different components and functions. They are all “IDS Logic” and can be used together or you can choose to only use some of the functions.

For books IDS Logic might:

  • add location and call number information
  • cancel requests for items that are unavailable (ex: checked out or in collections that don't circulate)
  • and/or send requests out to other queues

For borrowing requests, IDS Logic can:

  • accept and act on 1st renewals without intervention on your part
  • send a request out to OCLC's Automated Request Manager (formerly Direct Request) without you ever touching the transaction

Here's an example of how IDS Logic automates borrowing article requests:

  1. Fix the date and ISSN fields for consistency.
  2. Process copyright automatically if certain criteria are met (for example, older than 5 years old or less than 5 requests for that journal title)
  3. Send requests to other IDS Libraries based on journal holding coverage information contained in ALIAS, or
  4. Investigate the cost to purchase newer articles through Reprints Desk, Get It Now, and Copyright Clearance Center. Logic can then (if desired) automatically fill the request through Reprints Desk based on cost and other information

Learn more about IDS Logic functionality by visiting the IDS Logic Overview and to find out more about your specific configuration email logic@idsproject.libanswers.com

If Logic isn't working the way you want to or stops working as expected, the IDS Project team can help. We can fix it! Email logic@idsproject.libanswers.com

More information about how IDS Logic works and troubleshooting is available on the IDS Logic Overview.

Acronyms within ILL

  1. ALA - American Library Association
  2. CONTU - Commission on New Technological Uses of Copyrighted Works
  3. DOCLINE - A resource sharing system for health sciences libraries
  4. ILL - Interlibrary Loan
  5. ILLiad - Interlibrary Loan Internet Accessible Database
  6. ISO - International Organization for Standardization
  7. LEND - Library Exchange Network Database
  8. NCIP - NISO Circulation Interchange Protocol
  9. OCLC - Online Computer Library Center
  10. PURL - Persistent Uniform Resource Locator
  11. RAPID - RapidILL (a resource sharing system)
  12. RELAIS - A resource sharing software
  13. SCONUL - Society of College, National, and University Libraries
  14. SHARES - A resource sharing program within the OCLC system