1. 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

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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

5. 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

6. INN-Reach Environment Sierra Millennium INN-Reach Catalog DCB (Alliance) Sierra

7. Peer-To-Peer Environment MOBIUS Prospector

8. 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.

11. 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.

12. Software Implementation – Easy As… You know, it’s just called Peer-2-Peer software…

13. 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?

14. 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!

15. 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?!?

16. 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.

17. 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.

18. Implementation – Package & Delivery If only…

19. 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 1 st Choice to STAT Courier in July, 2015.

20. One of the great issues of our time…

21. 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?

22. Implementation – It’s ALL About Results! From August, 2014 – February, 2015: –Prospector Borrows - 2,821- MOBIUS Lends –Prospector Lends – 3,014 – MOBIUS Borrows

23. 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!

24. 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).

25. This is Only the Beginning…

26. 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

27. 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

28. Questions? Thank You! Stephen Strohl – Associate Director, Member Services Rose Nelson – Assistant Director, CO Alliance of Research Libraries