British Library document supply – a fork in the road

Abstract

Purpose

This paper seeks to provide an overview of recent developments within the British Library's document supply service and offer an insight into future plans.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper takes the form of a general review.

Findings

The British Library Document Supply Centre (BLDSC) has made tremendous gains in optimising the service in its current guise. As with similar organisations, challenges are presenting themselves that require a completely new look at the way the business model is designed. Although the long‐term plan is not completely formed, this paper aims to give an insight into current thinking.

Originality/value

The paper spells out the improvement strategy that the BL has adopted for document supply in the light of the worldwide decline.

Citation

Appleyard, A. (2010), "British Library document supply – a fork in the road", Interlending & Document Supply, Vol. 38 No. 1, pp. 12-16. https://doi.org/10.1108/02641611011025307