Is ILL Enough? Examining ILL Demand After Journal Cancellations at Three North Carolina Universities

Interlibrary loan has traditionally been offered as a substitute method of access for low-use titles during cancellation projects. There has been little current research about the impact that cancellation actually has on interlibrary loan demand. Universities in North Carolina experienced severe budget reductions in 2011–2012, resulting in dramatic serials cancellations. This paper examines interlibrary loan demand for journal titles cancelled during budget reductions at three North Carolina schools since time of cancellation. We will also address factors that mitigate interlibrary loan demand, including the diverse structure of cancellation projects at the different institutions. The panel will discuss implications of these data for future journal cancellation projects as well as implications for publishers, database providers, and the future of scholarly communication.