Cooperation

Library Policies

Keystone, Schroeder Public Library

Reciprocal Borrowing

According to a contract agreed upon by the trustees of the Schroeder Public Library with the libraries of Benton County and the Benton County Board of Supervisors the Schroeder Public Library shall give service to any resident of Benton County living outside of the incorporated limits of any city or town of Benton County.

Waukee Public Library

COOPERATION WITH OTHER LIBRARIES

Overwhelming quantities of Information and recreational media available, the speed of change in our society, and limited public funding for libraries make networking and resource-sharing on many levels the only viable approach to providing satisfactory service to local patrons. This Library stands behind the Statewide Library Development Plan, and supports and participates in any library cooperative efforts seen to potentially Increase its effectiveness in serving its local patrons.

Cooperation may take such forms as interlibrary loan, cooperative buying plans for materials or supplies, expanded continuing education opportunities, shared cataloging, development of areas of specialty in different but related libraries, shared research or statistics, reference back-up, and many others.

Membership in the American Library Association, the Iowa Library Association, and active participation with Central Iowa Regional Library and the Dallas County Library Association are examples of such efforts.

Another example is the relationship between the Waukee Public Library and the Waukee School Media Centers. The Waukee Library Board believes that Waukee residents and the Library's purpose are best served by close cooperation and mutual support In that relationship. While their stated purposes are distinct, they are closely related and complimentary institutions. The Library Director and Trustees will seek ways to strengthen ties of cooperation and support through staff contact, resource-sharing, mutual promotion, etc.

Guthrie Center Public Library

Relationships and Cooperation with Other Libraries

The National Commission on Libraries and Information Science says that " ... the total library and information resource in the U.S. is a national resource which should be strengthened, organized and made available to the maximum degree possible in the public interest. This national resource is the cumulated and growing record of much of our nation's and indeed, the world's total cultural experience -intellectual, social, technological, and spiritual ... all people of the U.S. have the right, according to their individual needs, to realistic and convenience access to this national resource for their personal enrichment and achievement, and there by for the progress of society."

The Guthrie Center Public Library actively promotes cooperation with other libraries to ensure its users access to the information they need. Within limits set by policy and budget, the library's resources are available to any patron, even if she or he has access to other libraries, whether public, academic, school or special. Whenever possible, reciprocal arrangements are made with these other libraries so that the combined resources of the entire library community may be used to satisfy the information needs of the public.

The Library supports planning for and participation in networks of cooperating libraries to share resources and technology, exchange information and avoid unnecessary duplication of materials. The Library also makes available materials from other libraries through existing state and regional inter-library loan systems.

The Library is open to staffs of other libraries and encourages formal and informal continuing education of its own staff through field trips and workshops at other library facilities.

The Library believes that through cooperative efforts, a larger share of the public will better understand the function and value of library service, and libraries in general will benefit from a broader base of support.

Sioux City Public Library

Reciprocal Borrowing

WHEREAS, Reciprocal borrowing Is a service whereby a person, holding a valid identification or borrower's card issued by a public library, may borrow materials directly from any other participating public library on a personal, rather than an institutional (i.e., interlibrary loan) basis; and

WHEREAS, The philosophy of the Board of Trustees, of the Sioux City Public Library, regarding reciprocal borrowing rests on the principle that the patron's local public library--the library to which the patron pays a library tax or non-resident fee--is the appropriate primary service outlet for public library users; and

WHEREAS, The Library's philosophy grows from a belief that library service is a public service most people are willing to pay for, and the typical method of payment is by way of taxes collection to support a local public library; the majority of user needs should be meet in this manner; and

WHEREAS, The Library recognizes that supplemental services at other libraries are desirable to expand the availability of library materials; and

WHEREAS, The basic purpose of reciprocal borrowing is to increase the direct and convenient availability of library resources as a supplement to, not a substitute for, adequate local library service; and

WHEREAS, The benefits of reciprocal borrowing are many and varied, including, but not limited to, the following:

1. Patron access to larger, more varied, and more specialized collections;
2. Patron convenience, including proximity to place of work and to shopping; and recreation centers;
3. Good public relations, including a positive Image of public library services, a perception that tax dollars are going further, and better service to patrons;
4. Promotion of library cooperation; and
5. Promotion of community development.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Board of Trustees, of the Sioux City Public Library, encourages reciprocal borrowing among public libraries; and

That the Library will honor valid identification or borrower's cards issued by any public library; and That the Library expects the same courtesy in return.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Library encourages the development of multitype reciprocal access agreements, such as the Sioux City Library Cooperative, among academic, public, school, and special libraries.

© 1987

posted November 22, 1999