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Memorial Library a Rethinking Resource Sharing Star

Posted 8/09/11

MADISON, Wis. – UW–Madison’s Memorial Library is a Rethinking Resource Sharing Star! The Office of Access Services reports that Memorial Library is engaged with 90% or more of the activities/initiatives/services represented in the Rethinking Resource Sharing Checklist.

The 117-point checklist is comprised of activities/initiatives/services that help fulfill the principles of the 2007 Rethinking Resource Sharing Manifesto:

  1. Restrictions shall only be imposed as necessary by individual institutions with the goal that the lowest-possible-barriers-to-fulfillment are presented to the user.
  2. Library users shall be given appropriate options for delivery format, method of delivery, and fulfillment type, including loan, copy, digital copy, and purchase.
  3. Global access to sharable resources shall be encouraged through formal and informal networking agreements with the goal towards lowest-barrier-to-fulfillment.
  4. Sharable resources shall include those held in cultural institutions of all sorts: libraries, archives, museums, and the expertise of those employed in such places.
  5. Reference services are a vital component to resource sharing and delivery and shall be made readily accessible from any initial "can't supply this" response. No material that is findable should be totally unattainable.
  6. Libraries should offer service at a fair price rather than refuse but should strive to achieve services that are not more expensive than commercial services, e.g. bookshops.
  7. Library registration should be as easy as signing up for commercial web based services. Everyone can be a library user.

Memorial Library’s engagement with 90% of the 117 checklist points demonstrates an alignment with the Manifesto’s principles, showing that the library is making strides to improve resource sharing for users.



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