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The paper aims to provide an overall methodology and case study for the innovation and extension of a digital library, especially the service system.

Based on the three‐dimensional structure theory of the information service industry, this paper combines a comprehensive analysis with the practical experiences of Peking University Library as a case study.

The paper proposes three‐dimensional extensions of a digital library service system. It analyses the respective functions of organisations and librarians, information resources, services and methods and the interactions between them.

Innovatively, the theory of three‐dimensional structures is applied to the discussion of the development of the digital library service system. It is significant for the integrality of a digital library theoretical system, as well as for the practical developments, innovations and sustainability of the digital library.

The purpose of this paper is to develop a decision-making model for buy vs borrow selection decisions.

The authors conduct a statistical analysis of circulation transactions and Interlibrary Loan (ILL) request data related to Western books as well as the overall subject content of local collections. They compare the relative costs and delivery times for obtaining materials through interlibrary loan channels vs purchase from domestic or foreign publishers. Based on this analysis, they make recommendations for buy vs borrow decision-making model relevant to the Western books collection at the Peking University Library.

For materials available domestically, requesting through ILL is the preferred acquisitions strategy because of the low cost of domestic service and the comparable speed of delivery. Materials that can only be obtained from foreign libraries are best acquired through a combination of purchase-on-demand and ILL.

This paper adds to the corpus of professional literature on buy vs borrow collection development models but adds a unique perspective by applying this model to a Western book collection in a Chinese academic library.

The purpose of this paper is to discuss how to make libraries adjust their roles in the digital age through exploring changing user needs and expectations, and utilizing libraries' distinctive advantages, so that library resources can be much better used and library users can be best served.

Library user surveys were conducted by Peking University Library from 2006‐2007. The surveys are partially analyzed to reveal user needs and the relevant responses.

Based on the surveys and related studies, the changing user needs and expectations can be seen: a single point of discovery for all resources from anywhere at anytime; a simple, intuitive user interface and good results; seamless services to ensure resources immediately available; open platform and easy user communication; convenient self‐services and personalized services; and embedding library services into users' workflows. From these needs and expectations, libraries, particularly those serving academic communities, need to reassess their roles to offer services in innovative ways.

The paper highlights the needs and expectations of library users using a holistic approach while providing services. Libraries' distinctive advantages in the digital age are also analyzed.

The purpose of this paper is to provide a detailed overview of the China Academic Library and Information system (CALIS) document supply service platform (CDSSP) – its historical development, network structure and future development plans – and discuss how its members make use of and benefit from its various components.

The authors provide a first-person account based on their professional positions at the CALIS Administrative Center.

CDSSP comprises five application systems including a unified authentication system, Saas-based interlibrary loan (ILL) and document delivery (DD) service system, ILL central scheduling and settlement system, File Transfer Protocol (FTP) service system and a service integration interface system. These systems work together to meet the needs of member libraries, other information service institutions, and their end users. CDSSP is widely used by more than 1,100 libraries based on a cloud service strategy. Each year more than 100,000 ILL and DD transactions are processed by this platform.

The development of CDSSP makes it becomes true for CALIS to provide one stop information retrieval and supply service. At the same time, it promotes the resource sharing among member libraries to a great degree.

China Academic Library and Information System (CALIS), funded primarily by the Chinese Government, is a nationwide academic library consortium in China. As one of the two public service systems in “Project 211”, in China's ninth five‐year plan, CALIS plays a multiple resource‐sharing role among the participating libraries. During past five years, CALIS has established a three‐tiered coordination and management network comprising national information centers, regional information centers and member libraries. In addition, a number of resources have been developed or imported which have made considerable improvements to the service to Chinese higher education and also accelerated the growth of CALIS. The target for CALIS is to build the China Academic Digital Library within the next five years. Currently, CALIS is doing research on the strategies and development of digital library systems, with cooperation and coordination from member libraries. With the development of “digital service environment”, “public service platform”, “imported and self‐built resources”, “service network”, etc. the digital library and information system will be established. The extension of digital library consortium resources and services will thus operate in a digital, networked environment. This paper provides information about the background, initiatives and the strategic plan of CALIS, illustrating how it operates and what it provides.

This paper aims to report on the methodology and findings of the China Academic Library and Information System (CALIS) Model Member Libraries (MML) plan which evaluated the success of interlibrary loan and document delivery (ILL/DD) services among 71 CALIS member libraries.

CALIS constructed an evaluation instrument consisting of a set of primary and secondary performance indicators, which were used to assess participating libraries in a number of areas such as the number of bibliographic holdings contributed to the union catalog, the number of qualified professional staff dedicated to ILL/DD, the amount of training provided for library staff and end-users, request volume, fill rate, turnaround time and user satisfaction.

CALIS has implemented the evaluation with the purpose of better understanding ILL/DD service among its member libraries. The evaluation has achieved the expected targets and improved service performance as originally planned. The performance measures provide a basis for the MML to compare their ILL/DD service performance with another similar institution.

According to the evaluation, the major objectives of MML on ILL/DD service are summarized.

This article seeks to propose that – as university faculty and students increasingly engage in research, teaching, and learning in international locations – librarians at the home campus need to expand the geographic range of their public services planning. Specifically, it aims to suggest that written agreements with university library partners in other countries can be used to provide patrons with access to collections, expertise, and study space during their residence abroad.

The article provides an overview of agreements (the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)) concluded by East Asia Library staff at Yale University to secure access for Yale affiliates to the University of Tokyo and Waseda University Libraries, both in Tokyo, Japan. These institutional arrangements facilitated a level of access not possible for an individual researcher or student.

The agreement with the University of Tokyo is an example of a detailed reciprocal arrangement providing both library use and borrowing privileges. The agreement with Waseda is also reciprocal, but the written language is much less specific; nevertheless, the framework provided by this general MOU now allows enhanced access services for patrons.

Unlike most of the international library exchanges and partnerships described in library literature to date, this case study developed from the idea that agreements be strategic and designed to serve user needs. While there is an extensive literature about serving international students and researchers, this article provides a shift in perspective by focusing on what the “sending institution” can do through strategic agreements to enhance library services for patrons abroad.