Stephen Strohl – Associate Director, Member Services

Rose Nelson – Assistant Director, CO Alliance of Research Libraries

From Mountains to Plains: the Rewards and Challenges of INN-Reach Sharing Across States

• Nonprofit 501(c)(3) library consortium based in Columbia, MO.• Our primary purpose is to promote resource sharing across

Missouri and beyond. • We manage Sierra systems for 64 libraries in Missouri, primarily

academic and an INN-Reach system. • Our union catalog has more than 27 million items with over 10

million unique items serving over a million users in the state.• We have one out-of-state member in Oklahoma Tulsa City-County

Library.• Altoona Public (Iowa) will be joining us in Q4, 2015.

• Nonprofit 501(c)(3) library consortium based in Denver, CO with 14 member libraries.

• Our primary purpose is to promote resource sharing across Colorado and beyond.

• Primary initiatives: Prospector Union Catalog (INN-Reach), E-Resource Licensing, Gold Rush ERMS & the Library Catalog Comparison Tool.

• The Prospector union catalog has 44 libraries (half academic and half public) more than 34 million items with over 19 million unique items. 58% of materials are uniquely held.

• One out-of-state member, University of Wyoming.

INN-Reach – What Is It, Exactly?

Real-time Resource Sharing System• Extension of the library catalog• Physical materials and electronic resources• Design based on the circulation model

Components• Physical union catalog• Discovery application• Requesting and circulation system• Statistics module

INN-Reach – Distinctive Competencies

Physical union catalog• Highly configurable de-duping, overlay algorithms• Real-time and automated updates from all members• As a result, more accurate search results, very high “first to

fill” rates (over 90%)

High-levels of integration• Seamless patron and staff experience• An extension of local catalog and circulation• As a result, very inexpensive to operate

INN-Reach Environment

Sierra

Millennium

INN-Reach Catalog

DCB(Alliance)

Sierra

Sierra

Sierra

Peer-To-Peer Environment

MOBIUS Prospector

Peer-To-Peer Requesting

• Both systems maintain their own union catalog.• Local branding and identity remain (very important).

• All patrons can request equally from either union catalog.• A link from each union catalog allows patrons to move to the

other system transferring searches.• Patrons can use their local library card to authenticate in the

other system.• Staff receive and process requests from both systems in the same

way.• MOBIUS has PUA / The Alliance does not.

Why INN-Reach & Peer-To-Peer?

• Working with trusted regional partners.• Familiar patron-initiated requesting.• Low cost borrowing in recent study at Colorado State University

($0.45/item) .• Includes all materials that libraries want to share no matter what

the source of cataloging records (OCLC, SkyRiver, vendor supplied, etc…).

• Can include catalogs of any brand not just the Innovative products (Sierra, Millennium, Polaris, VTLS).• Can be the umbrella tying a heterogeneous region together.• Forthcoming API will allow easier and less expensive non-

Innovative integration.

Software Implementation – Easy As…

You know, it’s just called Peer-2-Peer software…

Implementation = Acceptance

• Politics—Buy-in and approval from our member libraries

• Alliance and MOBIUS Directors and ILS Coordinators meet to discuss basic policy & procedures between the consortiums

Our relationship—contract? Membership dues?

Implementation = Acceptance

Your Formula for Success MUST Include:

1. Well Established and Different Systems +

2. Well Established and Different Models of Doing Things +

3. Well Established and Different Courier Models +

4. Well Established and Different Ways in Which We All Handle Materials

= Lots of Fun!

Implementation Blues…Why Can’t You Be Just More Like ME? (Or Me Like You?)

• We agree to accept each other and each of our “unique” policies…• 2 renewals vs. 1? Really?• Do we collect money or not? (It is nothing personal I assure you,

but we really want our money!)• What about non-bibliographic material?• How does stuff get there?• How do we get it back?• Do we form a committee?

• Really, we need to form many committees, right?!?

Peer-To-Peer Sychronicity

• Synchronized settings that are reflected everywhere…PTYPES, ITYPES, Loan Rules, etc…

• Shared codes of all types on each INN-Reach server• Now please do this on 40+ servers for nearly 200 libraries…all the

while not taking either system down to do it!• MOBIUS manages 11 clusters plus INN-Reach – nearly everyone in

Missouri with a few notable exceptions…• The Colorado Alliance manages their INN-Reach system –

everyone else is locally managed…• It is a delicate dance.

Time For the Details…

• Circulation Issues—length of checkout, renewals, timing of notices, billing & lost book issues, blocks, number of items allowed for checkout, collections available.

• Design of pass-thru buttons on each other’s union catalogs (for now).

• Joint publicity materials for our libraries.• Discussion lists, ongoing communication between our libraries.• FAQ’s, policies, procedures for our libraries.

Implementation – Package & Delivery

• If only…

What’s A Few (Minor) Differences Among Friends?

•Different couriers in three states for Colorado and Missouri•What’s The Matter With Kansas?• 5 day per week service or less?•Gas prices – a variable•Go Greyhound? Are you kidding me? How would that work?• The drop-off point is where? In what state?• Tracking would be nice, but we don’t wanna pay for it, of course.•Communication before or after the fact?

•MOBIUS – RFP for Courier– Transition from 1st Choice to STAT Courier in July, 2015.

One of the great issues of our time…

We’re Not Done Yet…

Obligatory photo of cute kittens to offset controversial green book band…

Seriously, who knew book bands could be so controversial?

Implementation – It’s ALL About Results!

• From August, 2014 – February, 2015:

– Prospector Borrows - 2,821- MOBIUS Lends– Prospector Lends – 3,014 – MOBIUS Borrows

Implementation – Lessons, you know…

• Keep it Simple (but not too simple).• Better understand staff workflow at different sized

libraries.• Expect to compromise and prepare your libraries for

the inevitable.• Communicate frequently during your implementation

phase• Don’t rush—remember those staff who need extra

time to adapt.• Put a personal “face” to the partnership for your

members.• And remember….it’s all about the courier & workflow!

Implementation – Lessons, you know…

• Compromise is essential.• Involve the circulation staff at your libraries as much

as possible.• Establish regular conference calls with the couriers

and consortium offices.• Test, test, test before going live.• Visit your courier’s sorting facilities to be clear about

how shipments will be moved and handled.• Find a city that all couriers already go to exchange

materials, so you reduce costs.• Negotiate a fair price based upon number of stops and

weight (and yes, since you are dealing with multiple couriers, so you can create a pricing war).

This is Only the Beginning…

Outreach, Everywhere!

• Testing a courier connection with Illinois-over 1800 stops.

• In Negotiation with Kansas Library Express – 300+ stops.

• Outreach to all contiguous states - we are still talking with Tennessee, Nebraska, Kentucky.

Ultimate goal is to drive down the cost of traditional ILL

Prospector – Future Outlook

Consolidation within state• API will make connecting with different systems more seamless and

affordable• Regional pockets that make sense—e.g.  Douglas county, Colorado

Springs, Adams county, Weld County• Opportunity to partner with State Library as they sunset VDX

Potential out of state partners• New Mexico-already have courier in place• Kansas State University-may be a consideration down the road

CO Alliance is exploring new pricing model

Questions?

Thank You!

Stephen Strohl – Associate Director, Member Services

Rose Nelson – Assistant Director, CO Alliance of Research Libraries