TWXIL: TWX Interlibrary Loan Network.

The Ohio State Library developed a TWX Interlibrary Loan (TWXIL) pilot project in 1971 in order to: (1) produce information that would be helpful in the design and operation of a reference and information network, and (2) produce improvements in library services and sharing of existing resources through the strengthening and limited extension of two existing interlibrary networks, and (3) improve interlibrary loan service through the state library. The state library and three large public libraries were connected by teletypewriters, and the state library had a computer terminal to interface with Ohio State University and the Ohio College Library Center. One of the three public libraries, Cleveland, was a communication link with seven other public and two academic libraries, four of which had a union catalog of adult nonfiction. Results of the pilot project were encouraging. Ninety percent of library requests were filled within eight working days, and 11,518 transactions took place in the year July 1972 through June 1973. Some possibilities for future improvements included better report forms, wider instruction of librarians in the knowledge and use of the TWXIL system, increased communication between the cooperating organizations, cost sharing, inclusion of subject requests, and system expansion. (LS)