HIT: cooperation among libraries

[Bruce Sannes <sannes@digitmaster.com>]

Thanks you "Netters" for you help.  I was requested to give a hit and
apologize for being a week late.

The question was: "I am currently trying to find ways to increase
cooperation among libraries that are located in the same geographic area
(30-100 miles).  Even different types of libraries within the same town or
city seem to have trouble cooperating on collection development or simple
sharing of materials.  Does anyone know of good sharing plans,
configurations, or incentives that are working?"


(1) Most answers included a system that had a shared database/catalog.

(2) Most systems are organized on a large geographic basis... state, region,
or county.

(3) Two cooperative systems were local or city and even they shared a
database for sharing of materials.

Some practical sharing ideas or comments:
(1) A state system that handles the decision of "Where to place the last
remaining copy of a work".   Great help in weeding!

(2)Florida "SunLink" system coordinates a system of helps for weeding in K12
libraries.  "Weed of the Month" and "How to feed your collection".

(3)A minimum for cooperation would be a small list-serve of participants.

(4)Grants may be the way to get funding for startup.  e.g.. MN Library
Services Technology Access Grants.

(5)Each participating library needs a "carrot".  If it doesn't help a
library in some way, it will not continue.

(6)One large library had "adopted" an impoverished library.

Thanks again for all your help.

Bruce Sannes
Minnesota Media Specialist (Retired)
Digital Photographer/Videographer
Library Consultant
sannes@digitmaster.com

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