Building the Learning Environment: Resource Sharing

Update December 2020:
This web page is a companion to the 2016 version of the School Library Program Rubric. NYSED released an updated School Library Program Rubric in December 2020.

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Student Snapshot: Cooperative relations improve library media program services and provide better access for students to information, knowledge and learning.

According to Prevosk (2008), resource sharing, also known as interlibrary loan, is essential to the vitality of school library media centers of all types and sizes as a means of greatly expanding the range of materials available to users.Resource sharing should serve as an adjunct to, not a substitute for, collection development. Requests to borrow should be sent to the closest member school library media center, using good judgment and common sense, striving to as equitable a distribution as is fair and practical. It is important to note that in addition to traditional InterLibrary Loan, resource sharing can be done via eResources which may include video streaming, eBooks, online databases, OER (Open Educational Resources), websites. Please be sure to check any applicable licensing agreements. 

*Source: Prevosk, John. “SUNLINK Makes Interlibrary Loan Easier!” Florida Media Quarterly, 2008, vol. 33, no. 2, p. 21. 

Citation for the Photo: KOMUnews. Jefferson City students educate the public about the Constitution. 2014. Constitutional Rights Museum, Columbia, Missouri. Flickr.

This web page features a photo from KOMUnews, available under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.

In Practice

New York State Library - Guidelines for Resource Sharing 

Description: The Coordinated Collection Development Program has developed guidelines for resource sharing with the assistance of the Reference and Research Library Resources Systems. The purpose of this program is to enhance academic library collections thereby strengthening regional collections that are available via resource sharing.

Resource/Citation: New York State Library. “Guidelines for Resource Sharing.” New York State Education Department, 10 May 2012.

NYCRR Title 8-Education: §90.18 School Library Systems

Description: Per Commissioner's Regulations, each School Library System will provide a union catalog for their members. 

Resource/Citation: New York State Library. “NYCRR Title 8-Education: §90.18 School Library Systems”. New York State Education Department, 18 March 2010.

Rochester Region School Library Systems

Description: Multi-regional union catalog, representing the Rochester area (Monroe #1 BOCES, Monroe 2 Orleans BOCES, Genesee Valley BOCES, Wayne Finger Lakes BOCES and Rochester City School District), where school librarians can borrow materials from other schools.

Resource/Citation: Genesee Valley Board of Cooperative Educational Services. Rochester Region School Library Systems.

C.I.D.E.R. (Catalog for Information Discovery and Educational Resources): Gateway to Learning Resources

Description: Multi-regional union catalog, representing Central and North County (Jefferson-Lewis BOCES School Library System, Madison-Oneida BOCES School Library System, and Oneida-Herkimer BOCES School Library System), where school librarians can borrow materials from other schools.

Resource/Citation: CIDER.

Western New York School Library Systems Union Catalog (WNYSLSCAT)

Description: Multi-regional union catalog, representing Western New York SLS Union (Cattaraugus-Allegany, Erie 1, Erie 2 Chautauqua Cattaraugus, and Orleans/Niagara), where school librarians can borrow materials from other schools.

Resource/Citation: Western New York School Library Systems Union Catalog.

Talking Book and Braille Library

Description: A resource available to all NY residents who have a disability. Through the Talking Book and Braille Library, residents with disabilities are able to borrow, free of charge, large print, braille, and audio books from the NY State Library. 

Resource/Citation: New York State Library. “Talking Book and Braille Library”. New York State Education Department.

PBS Learning Media

Description: PBS LearningMedia NY is the go-to destination for instant access to tens of thousands of classroom-ready, digital resources including videos, games, audio clips, photos, lesson plans, and more! You can search, save, and share with ease. Best of all, the service is free for educators.  Over 87,000+ high-quality, curriculum-based, digital assets – videos, interactives, audios, images, and documents – contributed by over 90 stations, producers, and partners.

Resource/Citation: PBS. PBS Learning Media. PBS.

NOVELNY

Description: NOVELNY is an online library of literally  hundreds of magazines, newspapers, maps, charts, research and reference books that are available to every New Yorker, free of charge. Each school library can register for a free school wide account.  Includes Online Databases from Gale, Scholastic, and ProQuest. Contact the help desk at: nyslnovel@nysed.gov.

Resource/Citation: NovelNY. EngageNY.

Western New York Library Resources Council Library Access Guide: Infopass

Description: The InfoPass Program of the Western New York Library Resources Council allows member libraries and library systems to issue InfoPass cards to their library patrons who are in good standing. The InfoPass card allows patrons to borrow from or have on-site access to library materials at other participating WNYLRC member libraries.

Resource/Citation: Western New York Library Resources Council Library. “InfoPass”. Western New York Library Resources Council Library, Nov. 2014.

RRLC Access Card Program

Description: The RRLC Access Card Program is meant to provide serious library users with access to resources not available either in the library with which they are primarily affiliated or in other libraries open to the public.

Resource/Citation: RRLC. “Access Cards”. RRLC, 9 Sept. 2015.

Capital District Library Council Direct Access Program

Description: The Direct Access Program (DAP) of the Capital District Library Council (CDLC) allows library patrons in good standing to borrow materials directly from participating libraries throughout the Capital District.

Resource/Citation: Capital District Library Council. “Direct Access Program”. Capital District Library Council, Aug. 2014.

Metropolitan New York Library Council Referral Cards

Description: The METRO Referral Card system makes it easier for students and researchers to locate materials or research onsite at METRO member libraries.

Resource/Citation: Metropolitan New York Library Council. “Referral Cards”. Metropolitan New York Library Council.

Long Island Library Resources Council

Description: A list of member libraries that currently participate in the Research Loan Program (RLP).

Resource/Citation: Long Island Library Resources Council. “Research Loan Program Participants”. Long Island Library Resources Council.

In Theory

Nashville Public Library Partners with Local School Libraries to Boost Results for Students

Description: Nashville has seen tremendous success with Limitless Libraries, a program that leverages the Nashville Public Library system with school libraries to create a master library system throughout the city. Since the induction of the program in 2009, student performance and community morale have improved.

Resource/Citation: Bengel, Tricia. “Nashville Public Library Partners with Local School Libraries to Boost Results for Students.” School Library Journal, 17 July 2014.