How does UKRR work?

 

The UKRR process is designed to ensure completeness of the principal research collection which is securely housed in the British Library Document Supply Centre at Boston Spa. In order to safeguard access, two further copies are retained within UKRR member libraries. Each stage of the process is carefully managed to ensure sufficient copies are retained before any disposal takes place.

 

A typical UKRR cycle follows this path:

 

• Having consulted with stakeholders about titles suitable for de-duplication, the member library completes a template spreadsheet with the details and holdings of titles they wish to de-duplicate, and the space savings that will be realised. These details are submitted to the UKRR Manager.

• Submitted holdings are simultaneously checked by the British Library against loanable holdings already in their collection, and by the member library for other UKRR holdings.

• Material missing from the British Library’s existing collection will be requested by them in order to complete their holdings. Whilst titles not already in the British Library collection will be assessed for suitability and may be requested by them in their entirety. Checks on the scarcity of a title within the UKRR collection inform decisions to retain the item at the member library, hold it pending a review of UKRR holdings of the title, or dispose of it securely.

• Requested items are then sent to the British Library, another UKRR member if their holdings are incomplete, or retained by the member library. Items identified as duplicating existing UKRR holdings can be sent for environmentally friendly disposal or donated to charity.

• Access to material held in the Research Reserve is provided via the British Library’s established document supply service, with UKRR members receiving a premium 24 hour branded electronic delivery service for all their document requests. Further information about the British Library’s document supply service can be found here

 

Each cycle of UKRR lasts for six months, and all parties work to ensure that the submissions offered within this period are completed before the next cycle begins. However due to the complexity of co-ordinating title de-duplication and retention across multiple libraries, members may sometimes be requested to retain material for review beyond the cycle whilst a final decision is reached.