Looking at resource sharing costs

Abstract

Purpose -This paper is the result of a small cost study of resource sharing services in 23 North American libraries. Trends that have affected resource sharing costs since the last comprehensive study are discussed. Design/methodology approach -Selected libraries were approached for this phase of study. A pilot phase helped to clarify the cost and service definitions while revising the database which served as the data collection instrument. Findings -Immediate access to electronic items at point of use has resulted in user demand for faster turnaround for physical materials. This in turn has led to increased costs for ILL technology and shipping. Costs have decreased but continue to show a noticeable disparity between higher ILL Borrowing mean costs compared to ILL Lending. The data also clearly supports the perception that patron initiated Circ to Circ module transactions are lower than ILL. Originality/value -Libraries have been using cost data that is almost ten years old. While this study is small, the data provides an updated benchmark to assist libraries in making effective decisions regarding resource sharing. The study illustrates a range of costs which reinforce the need for libraries to investigate their own average costs for optimal decisions.

The Big Deal, Interlibrary Loan, and Building the User-Centered Journal Collection: A Case Study

“…84% of the titles in the Springer Big Deal were discontinued at the end of 2011, including 63% of the Library's Springer core titles. Subsequent to the Springer evaluation at ISU, new ILL cost data was published by Leon and Kress (2012). Although a limited study, it did provide for more granularity in such areas as copies versus loans and mediated versus unmediated requests.…”

Collection Development and Management

“…This shift is a change from the "just in case" model to "just in time," with the focus moving from collections to usage and the decisions moving from librarians to patrons. 5 Even if a purchased resource is used only by the patron who made the request, it is still considered as a circulation; historically, many books in library collections never get that initial circulation. 6 Additionally, subscribing to publishers' "Big Deal" bundles is a practice that is no longer viewed favorably.…”

“…39 E-books have the potential to alleviate some of the burdens of traditional ILL print lending, specifically the cost of shipping, the delay of lending caused by the need to physically move items, and the potential for materials to be returned damaged either from the shipping process or by a careless patron. 40 A partnership between Ingram Content Group and OCLC Online Computer Library Center allows for short-term lending of e-books using WorldCat Resource Sharing and ILLiad Resource Sharing Management Software, which are the same tools many libraries use for traditional ILL. 41 Some consortia, like TexShare and OhioLINK, make group e-book purchases rather than require each library to make individual purchases.…”

Revisiting interlibrary loan best practices: still viable?

“…The average cost for libraries to borrow using a circ-to-circ system in the Leon Kress Cost Study was $3.85 while the average cost for interlibrary loan borrowing was $12.11. The circ-to-circ system resulted in a study-wide average savings of $8.26 per request as compared with traditional interlibrary loan borrowing costs (Leon and Kress, 2012). Faster service at a lower cost is possible through the use of technology and staff commitment.…”