Rethinking Resource Sharing Policies Committee - On Hiatus for 2023-2024

Mission/Charge:

The Rethinking Resource Sharing Policies Committee is an outgrowth of the Rethinking Resource Sharing Initiative, whose work is coordinated by a Steering Committee. The Rethinking Resource Sharing Policies Committee is responsible for the Initiative's work related to library policy issues and the impact those issues have upon both the type of resource sharing services offered and the manner in which they are delivered to users. The Committee's goal is to develop a policy framework for a new and expanded resource sharing ideal.

Other goals include:

To develop and maintain policies and documentation related to the ongoing activities of the Initiative.
To manage all policy issues related to the Rethinking Resource Sharing Initiative and produce documentation as needed.
To facilitate communication and integration of Rethinking Resource Sharing Initiative effort across STARS, and with other Rethinking Resource Sharing entities, including the Rethinking Resource Sharing Steering Group.

Chair (2021-2022):

Name: Heather Hannan

E-mail: hannanhg@vmi.edu

Link to Current Roster

Please see the files below for more information about the work of the Rethinking Resource Sharing Policies Committee and the Rethinking Resource Sharing Initiative.

Current initiatives:

The Policies Committee is working on updating the ALA RUSA STARS Rethinking Resource Sharing STAR Checklist which is a list of best practice policies/activities/initiatives/services that might be followed by Resource Sharing departments. The STAR Checklist is designed to be aggressive, challenging library decision-makers to live on the front lines of rethinking resource sharing. Libraries rate themselves on whether they are currently following each practice or activity or have plans to implement it within the next twelve months or do not do so. Libraries that reach a certain rating level are listed as STAR libraries and receive a certificate affirming their commitment to following best practices in Resource Sharing. The Checklist was created in 2011 and is currently being updated to reflect developments since that point. Please see the Rethinking Resource Sharing Initiative’s website http://rethinkingresourcesharing.org/ for further information.

Commitments:

The committee meets at ALA Annual and ALA Midwinter with occasional emailed work between those meetings.