Regional interlibrary loan network of Arabian Gulf academic libraries

All six Arabian Gulf countries are signatory to the Arab Bureau of Education for the Gulf States Interlibrary Loan Code developed in 1983, but rcsource sharing and library cooperation among Gulf academic libraries is still minimal and of great concern. This article discusses the background, as well as the present resource sharing situation in the Arabian Gulf. Based on the results of a survey obtained through a questionnaire airmailed to heads of thirteen Gulf academic libraries, the article looks into the feasibility of establishing an interlibrary loan network (ILLN). In addition, it discusses the networking requirements and suggests an ILLN plan for consideration and irnplcmentation by the Arabian Gulf academic libraries to encourage, strengthen, and streamline resource sharing.