# /programs/shares/benefits.htm

originally: http://www.oclc.org/programs/shares/benefits.htm

# Benefits of SHARES Participation In these tough economic times, every institution must look closely at the value derived from each expediture on external relationships. The SHARES Executive Group has prepared a SHARES Value Statement template (.doc: 61KB/4 pp.) to help you in making the case for continued RLG Programs affiliation and SHARES participation to your institution's administration. SHARES participants enjoy these benefits and more: Comprehensive, expedited access to partners' collections. Access to restricted, noncirculating, and special collections materials that partners would not normally lend. "SHARES has a very long tradition, and joining automatically opens up a lot of doors at other libraries. There are so many very good collections, and you can get materials that wouldn't normally be shared. There's also a willingness to be cooperative outside of the standard protocols—if I have a problem, I can pick up the phone and talk to someone." —Tom Delaney, former head of interlibrary loan and document delivery, Columbia University Costs of interlibrary loan and document supply held to minimum through agreements to supply one another at fixed below-market prices. Only net borrowers compensate net lenders in a monthly, low-overhead balancing of the books. On-site access for one's constituency: partners give each other's visiting faculty and scholars the same degree of access to collections and services that they provide for their own communities. "SHARES is one of the highlights of being an RLG Programs partner. Binghamton is an active, high-volume ILL institution. And our faculty are ecstatic about on-site access to other SHARES libraries." —Susan Currie, associate director for public services, Binghamton University Direct input and influence on new technology. "Through RLG Programs, partners look at how we can better share our special collections with one another, how we can improve electronic delivery, how we can do business differently. The partnership helps us continually improve all areas of the ILL process." —Kimberly Sweetman, head of access services, Bobst Library, New York University