Plan For Cooperative Collection Management

RPLS LONG RANGE PLAN

Communication and a history of working together, have created a climate for cooperation among RPLS libraries and library agencies. Increasingly, the sharing of library materials and services is stressed to enlarge the range of services made available and to increase cost effectiveness in providing these services. Cooperative collection development among libraries is one example of cooperation that has gained wide acceptance. Rolling Prairie Library System is committed to the exploration of ways in which to participate in sharing alliances and to assist and support its members in their efforts to create cooperative linkages.

COOPERATIVE COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT

A cooperative collection plan is an agreement among a group of libraries to build a collection of materials in a specified subject area with the express purpose of equitably sharing the collective pool of materials for the mutual benefit of the users of all participating libraries.

A cooperative collection development LSC grant given to four rural RPLS member libraries in 1990-91 serves as a model for other RPLS libraries wanting to work together to pool limited resources to better serve their communities. Public libraries in RPLS entered into cooperative collection agreements with other libraries as a result of the 1992 Per Capita grant requirements. These agreements built on the strengths of the libraries and focused on local needs. Many of these plans and agreements are still in use.

Rolling Prairie Library System plans to encourage continued development of cooperative collection management collections and promote their usage within RPLS and statewide. Currently 140 of our member libraries participate in the LLSAP. Their participation will facilitate CCM projects among any subgroup of those libraries.

Cooperative collection development is an evolving process designed to bring about lasting change in Illinois libraries.