Examines arguments now being presented in support of public library networking and resource sharing and suggests ways to obtain harder evidence that might serve to legitimize these beliefs: estimate benefits, build in evaluation, support estimates of benefits, seek cheaper alternatives for accomplishing same goal, consider alternatives to…

Membership in a library system, consortium, council, or network can affect a library's circulation in a number of ways that, in turn, impact on the library's space requirements. Reciprocal borrowing privileges may change the library use patterns of patrons, increasing traffic in an especially convenient, or well-supplied library. A reciprocal…

Discusses cooperation between public libraries and schools and describes programs developed by the Chandler (AZ) Public Library Youth Services department for teachers, including longer check-out periods for library materials and a telephone service to hold materials for pick-up. (LRW)

The London Borough of Hackney libraries faced many pressures in a time of increased demands for services and diminished resources. Declines in circulation from the adult and children's sections were compensated for by increased activity in the reference, archives, hospital and housebound readers services, interlibrary loan, and music departments.…

In order to make the information resources of New York State more accessible to researchers, the New York State Library instituted in April, 1967, a pilot experiment in compensated interlibrary loan, involving major public libraries and subject resource libraries. The collections of these libraries supplement the State Library in its service to…

The Metropolitan Cooperative Library System in California is a group of 17 autonomous community libraries which have joined together to provide better services to their patrons. This survey of the reference resources and services of the system was conducted by personal interviews at each of the member libraries. The focus is upon reader oriented…

Background information about Peninsula Library Automated Network member libraries and description of the circulation system of choice include basic components of this cooperative effort: Joint Powers Agreement and organizational structure; jurisdiction responsibilities and financial planning; database and policy areas requiring joint decision;…

The Black Gold Cooperative Library System, an affiliation of six public libraries in southern California, and the Total Interlibrary Exchange, a gorup of 31 private libraries of all types, have mutually pledged tp assist each other by sharing collections and by supporting a centralized information center. Member libraries are given access to the…

Describes a public library service that offers booktalks to middle school students in their classrooms and includes two sample booktalks. Discusses building good relationships with teachers and library media specialists; circulation statistics; ordering enough copies of books for the school and the public library; scheduling booktalks; teen…

An investigation of the interlibrary loan (ILL) borrowing patterns of six academic libraries and one large urban library--all members of the Colorado Alliance of Research Libraries (CARL)--analyzed data on transactions carried out through the OCLC ILL system during the 3 month period of March through May of 1988. The data and analyses focused on…

Describes automated library network developed when five municipal library systems entered into an equal partnership to create single database and to jointly own a computerized circulation and MARC records system. Highlights include use of microcomputers, the shared circulation system, costs, benefits, governance, equality, stability and financial…

This paper examines the barriers to cooperation among a group of librarians and trustees in the Bergen County Cooperative Library System (BCCLS) in New Jersey as the group explored the potential advantages of a cooperative automated circulation system. This network of public libraries shares reciprocal borrowing, direct access to borrowing, and…

A study of the Besore Public Library was conducted to determine if the library was meeting the needs of the Greencastle-Antrim area of Pennsylvania, to define areas of unmet needs, and to recommend improved programs and services. Information about the community--demographic characteristics, social structure, commercial characteristics, and future…

To determine on which levels of cooperation most media specialists and public librarians function, and whether or not the cooperation is satisfactory, a survey was conducted of libraries and school media specialists in the Atlanta-Fulton County and Gwinnett County (Georgia) areas. Questionnaires (152) were mailed to 115 school library and media…

Three articles present: results of survey of use of videocassettes and audiocassettes in academic and public libraries; (2) results of a survey of library collections of audiocassettes of books and their acceptance by patrons; and (3) a description of the operation of a videocircuit by a regional library system. (EJS)