Last updated on May 31, 2002

Table of Contents:

1. Etiquette, Cooperation, Participation, Protocol
2. Borrowing
3. Patron Returns an Item to the "Wrong" Library
4. Lending
5. Updating the Net.PAC Database
6. Set Up (Prior to Participation)

Etiquette, Cooperation, Participation, Protocol

Borrowers:

1. Try the Net.PAC Service first.
2. Try the Access-PA Database second.
3. Try the District Center ILL Service third.

It is the responsibility of the borrowing library to try other potential lenders and/or other Interlibrary Loan Services.

Requesting from the Monessen District Center

If Net.PAC or Access-PA says Monessen owns an item, you can request the item via one of these methods. Monessen does not require the use of its ILL Request Forms in this situation. However, Monessen will place a reserve on a (currently circulating) item only if you request it using the standard MPL ILL Request Form. If you request via Net.PAC or Access-PA E-Mail, Monessen will not place a reserve on an item.

Lenders/Holders:

Please reply, via E-Mail, to ALL requests you receive, whether or not you can supply the item. Reply in a timely fashion: by the end of the next business day (after the date of the E-Mail).

Please submit your new acquisitions to the database in a regular and timely fashion.

Everyone:

Please follow these procedures! The usefulness of the Net.PAC system depends on us.

We appreciate your cooperation!

[Top of Page][Etiquette][Borrowing][Wrong Library Returns][Lending][Updating][Setup]

Borrowing

Requesting an Item (Book):

1. Connect to the Net.PAC Web Page on the Internet at: http://westmoreland.library.net
2. Follow the instructions on the Net.PAC Web Pages to find libraries holding the book you need.
3. Create your Request:
   1. Please select a library from the drop-down list of holding libraries. (If you use the default holding library, the same few libraries will be overburdened with most of the requests, because the list of holding libraries is always listed in alphabetical order.)
   2. In order to protect the privacy of your patrons over the Internet, we recommend that you leave the patron information empty.
4. Submit your Request.
5. Update your file(s) to indicate the submission of a request.

Receiving an Item (Book):

1. Update your file(s) to indicate receipt.
2. Prepare the item for use by your patron: Remove the E-Mail paperwork, but make sure the Net.PAC Delivery Strap remains attached to the item. (Attach/insert your own date-due card/slip.)

Returning an Item (Book):

1. Update your file(s) to indicate return/completion.
2. Prepare the book for return:
   1. You should:
      1. Remove (and trash) the existing Net.PAC Delivery Strap from the item.
      2. Obtain a new blue Net.PAC Delivery Strap.
      3. Write (in large and dark lettering) the name of the destination library on the To Library line on the Delivery Strap. The name of the destination library should be easily readable by the Van Driver.
      4. Write your library's name on the From Library line on the Delivery Strap.
      5. Attach the Net.PAC Delivery Strap to the front cover of the item.
   2. Or, you can:
      1. Scratch out the names of the libraries on the Delivery Strap.
      2. Write (in large and dark lettering) the names of the new To and From Libraries. But, please do not scratch out and rewrite/rearrange the preprinted words: "To" and "From", because the Van Drivers are likely to make a mistake.
3. Leave the item for pickup by the District Van.

Patron Returns an Item to the "Wrong" Library

Patron:

1. Library A borrows an item (via Net.PAC) from Library B.
2. The patron returns the item to Library C.

Library C:

1. Record your Library's Name on the Net.PAC Delivery Strap below the name of the From Library.
2. Leave the item for pickup by the District Van.

Lending

Lending Out an Item:

1. Check your (Net.PAC) E-Mail at least once a day.
2. Please reply (via E-Mail) to every request you receive (by the end of the next business day after the date of receipt):
   1. If you reply with a no:
      1. Please briefly state the reason why in your E-Mail reply.
      2. (You are finished responding.)
   2. If you reply with a yes:
      1. Print the E-Mail Request.
      2. Retrieve the item from your collection.
      3. Check-Out the item to the borrowing library (at your circulation desk or station).
      4. Please clearly write your return-by (due) date near the top of your print-out of the E-Mail Request. Example: Return by Jun 6, '01.
      5. Obtain a blue Net.PAC Delivery Strap.
      6. Write (in large and dark lettering) the name of the destination library on the To Library line on the Delivery Strap. The name of the destination library should be easily readable by the Van Driver.
      7. Write your library's name on the From Library line on the Delivery Strap.
      8. Attach the Net.PAC Delivery Strap to the front cover of the item.
      9. Insert the E-Mail Printout into the item.
      10. Leave the item for pickup by the District Van.

Checking-In an Item:

1. Check the item in (at your circulation desk or station).

Updating the Net.PAC Database

Libraries sending full database replacements (most of the libraries):

1. Updated databases are due on the 1st and 15th of each month. Send in your database either once or twice a month, whichever is appropriate for your library.
2. Extract copies of MARC records from your local automation system for your current collection into a file or files. Consult your user manual to learn how to do this.
3. Send the extracted file(s) to TLC by either: 1) file transfer protocol (FTP); or 2) US mail:
1. FTP: Consult TLC's Instruction Sheet, and be sure to also send to TLC an E-mail to notify them of your FTP.
2. US Mail: Send either floppy disks, CD-ROMs or tapes to TLC. Label them with your library name and Library ID number "9117." If you have more than one disk, label the correct order, such as 1 of 5, 2 of 5 etc. When sending floppy disks, label the package with "Magnetic Media", to keep the disks from being erased by scanning equipment. Mail to: The Library Corporation, Data Processing, Research Park, Inwood, WV 25428

Libraries sending changed records (adds and deletes) only:

1. Updates are due on the 1st and 15th of each month. Send in your updates either once or twice a month, whichever is appropriate for your library.
2. Extract copies of MARC records from your local automation system for recent acquisitions, and for your lost or weeded items. Consult your user manual to learn how to do this. If you no longer have MARC records for certain titles, you can do "MARC Download(s)" from "Labeled Display" Net.PAC Web Pages for individual titles. Contact TLC for instructions to learn how to do this.
3. Send the extracted files(s) to TLC by either: 1) File Transfer Protocol (FTP); or 2) US mail:
1. FTP: Consult TLC's Instruction Sheet, and be sure to also send to TLC an E-mail to notify them of your FTP.
2. US Mail: Send either floppy disks, CD-ROM's, or tapes to TLC. Label them with your library name and Library ID number "9117." If you have more than one disk, label the correct order, such as 1 of 5, 2 of 5 etc. When sending floppy disks, label the package with "Magnetic Media", to keep the disks from being erased by scanning equipment. Mail to: The Library Corporation, Data Processing, Research Park, Inwood, WV 25428

Set Up (Prior to Participation)

Borrowing:

1. You must have access to the Internet.
2. You must have E-Mail, and know how to use it. You should set up a separate account for Net.PAC (or ILL).
3. You must have a user name and password (for sending E-Mail requests from the Net.PAC website).
4. You will need a supply of blue Net.PAC Delivery Straps. The District Center (Monessen) will supply them to you.
5. You will need to set up up a filing system (either paper-based, or a computerized database) to keep track of your Net.PAC requests:
   1. You can install and use the MS-Access database created by Greensburg Library, which is available free of charge.
   2. Monessen files its paperwork in alphabetical order by title, keeping its paperwork for "Received & Circulating" requests separate from the paperwork for its "Forwarded" requests. (Monessen also keeps its files for borrowing completely separate from its files for lending.)

Lending:

1. You must first submit your collection to TLC for loading into the Net.PAC Database.
2. You must have E-Mail, and know how to use it. You should set up a separate account for Net.PAC (or ILL). (If you change your E-Mail address for Interlibrary Loan, inform the Greensburg Library as soon as possible.)
3. You will need a supply of blue Net.PAC Delivery Straps. The District Center (Monessen) will supply them to you.
4. You should issue a borrower's card for every library that is a member of Net.PAC. Keep the cards (or their barcode numbers) handy for use. (You may want to give the libraries special borrowing privileges on your library automation software, such as longer lending times.)

We appreciate your cooperation!

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