Introduction to WISCAT and Interlibrary Loan
WISCAT Introduction PowerPoint slide deck and YouTube video – This introduction to WISCAT provides a high-level overview of interlibrary loan in Wisconsin. The covered content includes DPI's role in resource sharing, the Wisconsin-Minitex cooperative interlibrary loan network, interlibrary loan statistics, funding, state and national interlibrary loan guidelines, best practices, lender responsibilities, borrower responsibilites, patron privacy, limitations to interlibrary loan requests, searching WISCAT, requesting materials and electronic copies of materials through WISCAT, book club kits and requests, the WISCAT request manager, WISCAT participant record settings, and how to navigate WISCAT resources.
Request a WISCAT Training for Your Library – Use this Microsoft Bookings link to schedule a virtual 90-minute training session with the WISCAT Technical Coordinator and ILL Coordinator. Prior to the training session, please watch the entire WISCAT Introduction video above and review the Participant Record Highlight videos below. Public library staff should also contact their library system to receive training on the system's interlibrary loan practices and ILS training for systems that use their ILS to manage ILL workflow.
Statewide Delivery Network – The South Central Library System (SCLS) manages the statewide delivery network that connects resource sharing materials across Wisconsin public library systems and to the Minitex network. Public library systems manage their own local delivery to member libraries and other institutions. From SCLS: “The statewide delivery network is made up of Wisconsin public libraries, UW System libraries, private university and college libraries, Wisconsin Technical College libraries, public and private K-12 school libraries, government and institutional libraries, corporate and other special libraries. In addition, via a connection with Minitex, the Wisconsin network connects with libraries in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Any member of the Wisconsin Libraries' Delivery Service Network can send and receive library materials to any other member of the same network using the statewide backbone delivery service operated by the South Central Library System (SCLS).” See the SCLS Delivery News & Information page for more information. For lost or missing items, please see the SCLS Lost in Delivery page for more information.
Interlibrary Loan Acronyms and Abbreviations – This document provides some of the acronyms, abbreviations, and brief descriptions of those acronyms and abbreviations library staff may encounter when working in interlibrary loan in Wisconsin.
WISCAT Account Settings and Troubleshooting
Request Manager – The Request Manager is the main screen where libraries manage ILL requests within WISCAT. This document describes how to access and use the Request Manager and the status definitions for borrowers and lenders.
Participant Record Highlight Videos – Access the Screencast collection of WISCAT Participant Record Highlight videos that includes walkthroughs for the following Participant Record settings: Holiday List; Days Requests are Processed; Preferred Lender List; Requesting Options; Contact Fields; Days to Respond, Supply, and Return; and Patron and Staff Notices
Setting up Staff Notifications – This document provides WISCAT participating libraries with more information about setting up staff notification emails based on borrowing and lending status updates in WISCAT.
Due Dates and Lending Policies – This document provides WISCAT participating libraries with more information about setting item due dates and lending policies based on material type.
Inter-System Sharing Initiative (ISSI) Details and Best Practices – The Inter-System Sharing Initiative (ISSI) allows for resource sharing between different implementations (other states) of Auto-Graphics’ SHAREit platform, which in Wisconsin is WISCAT.
Patron Initiated ILL Setup and ILL Request Limits – This document provides information to configure WISCAT to allow patrons to initiate ILL requests, enable guest users to submit ILL requests, setting ILL limits for guests and patrons. establishing Patron Categories in WISCAT and assigning patron accounts to those Patron Categories, and using the Activity and Request Report to track ILL usage. Libraries should follow their local policies and written procedures when establishing ILL request limits in WISCAT. Library users can contact their local public library with questions about ILL request limits.
Setting up Patron Notifications – This document provides WISCAT participating libraries with more information about setting up and customizing patron notification emails based on borrowing status updates in WISCAT.
Resolutions to Common Resource Sharing Issues – This resource documents the process for resolving common issues that libraries encounter when sharing resources through interlibrary loan across systems/networks in the WISCAT platform.
Adjusting Requests with NCIP Checked Out Error – This document provides information on how to address the NCIP Checked Out Error in WISCAT.
Requesting Materials in WISCAT
Requesting Journal Articles and Photocopy/Scans – This document provides WISCAT participating libraries with more information on how to complete a Non-Returnable (copy) request in WISCAT. - Copyright Compliance – This document provides WISCAT participating libraries with more information on complying with copyright law and guidelines when requesting non-returnable (copy) materials.
- Genealogical Materials – This document provides WISCAT participating libraries with more information about requesting genealogical materials through interlibrary loan.
- Blank ILL Requests Form – This document provides WISCAT participating libraries with more information about how and under what specific circumstances to use the Blank ILL Request form in WISCAT.
- Open Access Resources – This document provides WISCAT participating libraries with more information about finding information from free, accessible resources online.
- ILL - Early Literacy Kits – This workbook provides a listing of early literacy kits that can be requested from libraries using WISCAT for interlibrary loan.
Book Clubs
ILL Book Kits are perfect for public library books clubs, K-12 classrooms, and reading circles. The kits contain multiple copies of a single title and often include a discussion outline. Many titles can also be used with BadgerLink resources such as TeachingBooks and NoveList.
- Check here for Book Club Kits available through WISCAT interlibrary loan
- The ILL Book Kits - How to Request and How to Update the ILL Book Kits List technical assistance document provides more information on requesting book kits and updating your library's available book kits
- Multi Copy Requests - Multi Copy Requests can be used to create requests for multiple copies of a title in WISCAT
WISCAT User Group Meetings
WISCAT User Group Meetings are quarterly meetings where the WISCAT Technical Coordinator and ILL Coordinator share out information on what’s new with the WISCAT platform, share relevant reminders or best practices, and demonstrate processes or functionalities in the WISCAT system. WISCAT users are invited to the virtual Microsoft Teams meeting through the DPI WISCAT ILL email list.