Resource Sharing

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Overview

Colorado has a long and rich history of resource sharing because all libraries are stronger when they work together. Colorado libraries are collaborative in many ways, not just within the public library sphere, but also with school, academic, special libraries, and community organizations.

As libraries encourage our patrons to be independent in their library transactions, it is important to consider how to empower them in that process. Libraries that work cooperatively and participate with others in statewide, regional and consortial programming, share resources locally and strengthen the availability of services for all Coloradans. Besides borrowing materials from others through the state’s Interlibrary Loan (ILL) services, it is important to make the library’s own materials discoverable to join others as a lender as well.

Statewide Resource Sharing

1. Participate in statewide resource sharing programs and services, and actively promote these programs to library users.
2. Contribute resources and/or staff to support statewide resource-sharing programs.
3. Participate in and promote the Colorado Libraries Collaborate program, offering reciprocal borrowing to cardholders of other Colorado libraries.
4. Participate in the statewide courier service.
5. Adopt and implement the Colorado Interlibrary Loan Best Practices.
6. Use an Interlibrary Loan delivery system for requesting and/or supplying ILL materials.
7. Provide access to databases or electronic collections in compliance with licensing agreements.

1. Offer patrons the opportunity to initiate ILL requests online.
2. Participate in a shared bibliographic database, when appropriate, regardless of the automation system used.