interlibrarianism

[trochee]

grr...

I filed an interlibrary loan request yesterday. It being a holiday in the US yesterday, I didn't expect a speedy response. But I was pleasantly surprised to find an email notification this morning in response.

But here is what it said: (emphasis mine):

Dear [trochee],
 
A request you placed:
          
  Author:  Kager, Rene and Wim Zonneveld
  Title: Phrasal Phonology

  UWorld #: 148096 (Borrowing)
 
has been cancelled by the UWorld Express staff for the following reason: 

We are unable to verify this citation and cannot locate any potential
suppliers for this material.
 
Question about this cancelled item should be directed to the 
UWorld Express office at [email] or [number]. Please cite the 
UWorld Number 148096 for the cancelled request.

Thank you for using UWorld Express.

Wait, so they're thanking me for having "used" their service where they do exactly nothing for me, in less than two hours of research, and haven't (1) contacted the book editor or publisher themselves or (2) done basic google research. The PDF of chapter 1 is the second link!

I wrote back immediately to the service and cc'ed the librarian in charge of linguistics. This is why we have a library, and why the university takes such a big cut from grants: it's supposed to support the shared institutions like librarians and people who track down difficult-to-find books. arrgh. It's not like I'm being lazy -- i wrote the linguistics grad students listserve as well. Finally, I couldn't help adding a postscript:

PS: in addition, I would much prefer that you ask me for more information
rather than summarily cancel my request.

Comments

[boobirdsfly.livejournal.com]

Well, it's probably machine processed right ?
Just an automated response. Yes annoying, but I doubt a real person has looked at it . At all.

[trochee.livejournal.com]

hm.

I considered this, actually, but they cancelled the request. If they're cancelling requests with an automatic service, then I'm just as irritated. I think that a human probably looked at it, actually, and said "huh, doesn't come up in my index; it must not exist."

[beckyb.livejournal.com]

Want some necco wafers?

[xaosenkosmos.livejournal.com]

*psst*

Don't forget the magic drops on his.

*leans back casually*

[boobirdsfly.livejournal.com]

I need some too !

[beckyb.livejournal.com]

wafers or magic drops? I may need to send out for the latter.

[boobirdsfly.livejournal.com]

magic drops.
work hits hard after 3 days off.

[beckyb.livejournal.com]

*feverishly trying to reconnect with my supplier*

Necco wafers are easier to come by.

[soliss.livejournal.com]

Well... I got an interlibrary loan, and read it, and returned it. Now they're charging me 50 cents a day in overdue fees. They were kind enough to wait a week after I returned it to even send that email, too.

Quite probably it was a mistake to drop it in the box because Odegaard was closed for post-finals.

[trochee.livejournal.com]

that sucks. you'd better go deal with them in person if you can.

give 'em hell.

[soliss.livejournal.com]

Ugh... Yeah, I should do that. Eventually the amount *will* exceed the parking cost to go deal with it.