No more Interlibrary Loan from LAC

This is a recent message from Canada's National Library:

End of ILL Services

Interlibrary Loan (ILL) services at Library and Archives Canada (LAC) will end in December 2012.  Users of LAC’s current services should note the following dates:

·         November 13, 2012: End of loan requests from international libraries.

·         November 16, 2012: End of renewals. All items loaned after this date will be non-renewable.

·         December 11, 2012: End of loan requests, location searches, and ILL-related photocopying services.

LAC’s ILL listserv (CANRES-L) and Canadian Library Gateway also will be archived in December 2012.

LAC will continue to facilitate interlibrary loan activities among other institutions through the ILL form in AMICUS, and through ongoing administration of Canadian Library Symbols. 

Through our modernized service channels, LAC will emphasize increased digital access to high-demand content.  LAC is working with Canada’s ILL user community in order to inform this approach to accessing the institution’s unique holdings.  

As a librarian and a Canadian, I am very disappointed that the institution that is responsible for holding copies of all Canadian publications in existence will no longer provide interlibrary lending services.