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Most all of SUNY is now using the same LMS. The SUNYConnect Union catalog is receiving regular updates and will be augmented with the last campus catalogs as soon as possible. What's next for SUNYConnect?

Universal borrowing.

That is clear from the original SUNYConnect plan, from the memoranda of understanding signed by the library directors, and, arguably from years' long history of SUNYConnect libraries working together.

Let's figure out a way to streamline the process of getting SUNY library materials to our students and faculty wherever they are. The SFX inter-library loan service will be one of the components (in addition to your local catalogs, the union catalog and OCLC resource sharing tools) to allow this to happen.

On February 8th and 9th inter-library loan representatives from around SUNY met to discuss the process and to come up with agreed-on standards of performance for these services. That particular SUNY-wide group was comprised of

Nancy Alzo - Potsdam
Barbara Brand - Stony Brook
Terri Goodall - (Consultant)
Helen Insinger - Binghamton
Gregg Kiehl - Cobleskill
Barbara Kittle - Fredonia
Martha Lollis - Cayuga CC
Michelle Parry - Oswego
Ann P. Penwarden - Monroe CC
Ed Rivenburgh - Geneseo (Resource)
Dorothy Sayre - Upstate
Karen Senglaup - Buffalo
Harriet Slegs - Geneseo
Suzanne Turner - Albany
Rick Winant - Downstate (Convener)

Here are some of the results (and related notes) from that meeting:

ILL Goals to be Recommended to the SAC – 2/9/06

• to get materials for patrons quickly, reliably and efficiently
• to provide universal, unmediated borrowing

Question: What do we need to accomplish this within the SUNY collection?

Performance Goals --

1. 72 hour loans (from time user places request until time user is notified that material is ready to be picked up)
2. 48 hour articles
3. 144 hour research category
4. Management statistics
5. Collection / selection statistics

The above performance goals can only be achieved if the “must have’s” below are achieved.

Must have’s --

• Automated request
• ILLiad
• Equipment to support technology
• User-group development: ongoing training, development & support (technology & other)
• Reliable delivery system with tracking
• One comprehensive, accurate catalog including serial holdings & monographs
• Task Force to establish this landscape with representation including ILL expertise
• SUNY database administrator with direct access to each ILLiad database to collect statistics

Requirements --

• Form University-wide selection committee (collection)
• Negotiate licensing agreements for electronic databases to include SUNY ILL component
• “Purchase on Demand” if not within SUNY
• Work toward common lending policies

Nice to have’s --

• Reward for performance & volume

Benefits --

• Increased ability to get faster turn-around, better access to materials
• Common platform; ease of use, esp. with transfer students
• Reduce in cost of transactions
• Maximized use of staff
• Selection of items for the university-wide system collection
• Standardization
• Recruitment / retention benefit
• More data for informed decision making
• Community of practitioners working together; higher level of interaction and cooperation

Brainstormed ideas of the Ideal – 2/8/06

Process related --

• Common lending policies
• Provide accurate catalog holdings
• Create common policies / agreement / for liberal loaning
• Analyze statistics to document progress and identify areas that need improvement
• Set up custom holdings / practices to use University / Medic Libraries as last requestor within SUNY Libraries; encourage usage of 4-year and community college libraries first)
• Basic lending policies for all campuses
• 28-day loan
• lend non-print material

Collection related --

• Identify and secure funding for an enriched research collection
• Coordinated collection development should be a higher priority
• If item unavailable in SUNY shared collection, get item through SUNY shared “Purchase on Demand”
• Centralize NetLibrary collection and make it accessible to all SUNY students, etc.

Technology related --

• All SUNY institutions should be at a compatible level of hardware and software compatibility
• electronic article transmitted
• patrons submit requests electronically
• support for all who want / need it
• Agree on a common technology platform
• Provide technical support (from Nylink) for ILLiad/Resource sharing; electronic article delivery; direct request
• Provide policy and coordination support from the S.A.C. and the OLIS

Delivery related --

• Identify effective electronic and physical delivery mechanisms
• Tag Union Catalog holdings in Worldcat as SUNYConnect to alert borrower that SUNY holds the item; i.e., influence borrowing choices prior to processing

Staff related --

• Provide staff development, “Webinars”, cooperation

The S.A.C. are evaluating the group's proposals as well as seeking input from SUNYLA, SCLD and others. It is likely that a phased approach to achieving these goals will be utilized.

All of this tasks us to look beyond our own campuses and at the information needs of all SUNYConnect students, faculty, staffs and communities. Capable people from around SUNY will be working on this project. If problems occur they will be dealt with. We should all strive to be constructive and not conjure up problems before they actually occur. This way we can reach the full potential of SUNYConnect.