Although spiraling costs and reduced budgets require that small academic libraries form clusters to share resources and services, consortia and library networks so far have taken only tentative or shallow steps in this direction. Real and meaningful steps can and must be taken to develop joint acquisition policies, effective and timely…

The objective of this study was to provide the background necessary for a statewide system of interlibrary cooperation to be developed in a Phase II study. Interviews were held with nearly 70 individuals throughout the state and research was conducted to gather data on Oregon in general, on Oregon libraries, and on examples of interlibrary…

This comparison of online searching cost figures from several of North Suburban Library System's public libraries notes search costs for 1984, average costs for public library computer searches, cost discrepancies, barriers to integration of online searching as a reference tool, searching data, and philosophical decisions. (EJS)

Libraries will play a key role in providing access to machine-readable data bases by functioning as the interface or broker between the users on campus and these regional and special processing and distribution centers. High cost will prohibit libraries from acquiring and managing data bases. (6 references) (Author)

The Cost and Funding Studies project of the proposed Western Interstate Bibliographic Network began activities in July 1975. The goals of the project were to: (1) determine representative costs of present library services in the West, (2) estimate future costs of library services in the West with proposed network support, (3) evaluate and compare…

Describes the growth, rationale, and operation of a no-charge cooperative formed in 1982 by group of small Australian health science libraries to combat rising costs of interlibrary loans (GRATIS), and its South Australian equivalent (GRATISSA). Membership, coverage, features, problems, applications, and future developments are noted. Nine…

The problems confronting the interlibrary loan (ILL) librarian and the costs of ILL services, based on a survey of twenty libraries, are reported. (NH)

The Cost and Funding Studies project of the proposed Western Interstate Bibliographic Network began activities in July 1975. The goals of the project were: (1) to determine representative costs of present library services in the West; (2) to estimate future costs of library services in the West with proposed network support; (3) to evaluate and…

Examines online searching done for public libraries during October 1984 at The System Reference Service of the multitype North Suburban Library System. Highlights include total requests searched online, total public library requests searched online (by subject category), samples of successful and unsuccessful public library searches, databases…

Online database searching experiences of nine Illinois public libraries--Arlington Heights, Deerfield, Elk Grove Village, Evanston, Glenview, Northbrook, Schaumburg Township, Waukegan, Wilmette--are discussed, noting search costs, user charges, popular databases, library acquisition, interaction with users, and staff training. Three sources are…

Discusses academic and public libraries that expand the range and type of their services via fee-based information services and private information businesses that charge fees. Questions of billing the total cost to the patron versus part of the cost are considered; and the impact of such fees on library cooperation and networks is described. (six…

This report examines the costs of and services provided by the three major bibliographic utilities, OCLC (Online Computer Library Center), RLIN (Research Libraries Information Network), and WLN (Western Library Network). The services examined include acquisitions, cataloging, interlibrary loan, and reference. To examine costs, the format of the…

The growth and development of library networks increased the need for more rapid interlibrary communication. This survey describes the history, costs and recent developments of various means of interlibrary communication. Extensive references are provided for each area. The communications systems discussed are: surveys, mail, telephone, facsimile,…

Describes framework for library networking which consists of six interdependent dimensions to be used for decision making by libraries: functions to be performed, type of access information, types of materials, products and services, networking configurations, and communications means. Use of a series of cost models describing activities within…

Compares the effectiveness of five online systems in facilitating interlibrary services. The OCLC Interlibrary Loan (ILL) subsystem, the Research Libraries Group (RLG) Message System, the University of Toronto Library Automation System (UTLAS), and two others are evaluated with respect to the request verification, location, request transmission,…