How library consortia remain models for collaboration and sustainability

For Immediate Release
Mon, 11/10/2014

Contact:

Rob Christopher

Marketing Coordinator

ALA Publishing

American Library Association

312-280-5052

rchristopher@ala.org

CHICAGO — No library stands alone. A long-standing tenet of the discipline, library cooperation predates the founding of ALA. Although these are times of crisis and uncertainty for library consortia (by one count, more than 65 consortia have closed since 2008), the collaboration that consortia offer helps libraries extend the value of every dollar spent. With over 35 years of experience managing five different library consortia between them, Valerie Horton and Greg Pronevitz are uniquely qualified to show how consortia have been transforming themselves, offering new services and products while growing ever more important to the library community. “Library Consortia: Models for Collaboration and Sustainability,” published by ALA Editions, covers the history, current landscape, management approaches, critical trends and key services that define today’s library consortia. In this collected volume, editors Horton and Greg Pronevitz and their contributors:

  • highlight the current trends impacting consortia and the fiscal difficulties many have experienced since the 2007-2009 Recession;
  • present conclusions drawn from 16 case studies and the results of a recent survey on consortial environment and priorities;  
  • look into current management practices and provide an overview of consortia activities, such as e-book technology and delivery methods;
  • discuss the Discover to Delivery continuum, a key trend that allows libraries to maximize services.

Horton has been director of Minitex since December 2012. Minitex serves Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota libraries with a large resource-sharing network, databases, continuing education, remote storage and many other services. Previously, she was the first director of the Colorado Library Consortium (CliC), a statewide library service organization. The co-general editor for Collaborative Librarianship, she is also the coeditor of “Moving Materials: Physical Delivery in Libraries.”

Pronevitz was appointed founding executive director of the Massachusetts Library System (MLS), which serves more than 1,500 multitype members with physical delivery, shared e-content, training and professional development, consulting, mediated interlibrary loan and document delivery services. Previously he managed the provision of services to libraries in consortial environments at the Northeast Massachusetts Regional Library System, and as assistant director at OHIONET.

ALA Store purchases fund advocacy, awareness and accreditation programs for library professionals worldwide. ALA Editions publishes resources used worldwide by tens of thousands of library and information professionals to improve programs, build on best practices, develop leadership, and for personal professional development. ALA authors and developers are leaders in their fields, and their content is published in a growing range of print and electronic formats. Contact us at (800) 545-2433 ext. 5052 or editionsmarketing@ala.org.