What is IFM?
OCLC ILL Fee Management (IFM) allows users of OCLC ILL to pay and be paid for ILL borrowing and lending charges via the library's OCLC bill. You'll eliminate invoices and check writing to individual lending partners, and on average save more than $30 (U.S.) on each request.

You may see three additional line items on your monthly Network or OCLC bill:

• IFM Library to Library borrowing debit--charges your library incurred for borrowing items
• IFM Library to Library lending credit--credits your library receives for supplying items
• IFM administrative fee--a small fee OCLC charges your library for completed borrowing transactions

How do I sign up to use IFM?
If your library wishes to become an IFM participant, there are a couple of steps you need to take. Most steps are optional but recommended.  The list below has (R) next to the one required step and (O) next to the optional steps:

1. Discuss IFM your accounting department to see if your becoming an IFM participant would cause a problem in your internal financial workflow. Some internal workflow adjustments may be needed. (O)
2. Read Chapter 18 of the ILL Manual. This has full details on how to implement and use IFM on an ongoing basis. (O)
3. Create a Constant Data Record that indicates you participate in the IFM. (O)
4. Check the box for IFM in your WorldCat Resource Sharing request. (R)

IFM and the MAXCOST Field
When entering a statement in your MAXCOST field in WorldCat Resource Sharing, keep several things in mind:

1. The MAXCOST field can only have one number in it. However, the MAXCOST is, by nature, an implied range. So a MAXCOST value of 10 really means that the library is willing to pay between 0 and 10 dollars for the material being requested.
2. Although the Maxcost field and IFM can handle certain situations where there is additional information such "@M 10", keep such additional text to a minimum. Some things you should not add to the Maxcost field:
   • Do NOT add multiple $$$ signs
   • Do NOT insert more than one dollar amount
   • Do NOT use a period at the end of the statement
   • Do NOT add the term "IFM" -- this is now handled by a check box!
3. The same rules for checking the IFM box apply to the lender when answering a request.
4. When both the borrower and the lender have checked the IFM box, you will see an IFM Information Supplied notice display on your screen. If you do not see this message, IFM did not work.

To find out more about the benefits of using IFM, contact Deb Ehrstein (x816) at the MLNC office.