For Some Library Consortia Members, Bigger Not Necessarily Better

SWAN

Elmhurst library drops out of large sharing network.   Officials opt for smaller consortium. (Chicago Tribune, 8/26/2013)

Excerpt:   Elmhurst Public Library leaders felt like the library was giving more than it was getting and have withdrawn from a 77-member library consortium that enables patrons to borrow books and other materials from other libraries. 

The library no longer holds membership in System Wide Automatic Network (SWAN), a consortium of public, specialty and academic libraries that has a combined catalog of 6 to 8 million items.

The library plans to join LINKn, what the article describes as a smaller, resource-sharing partnership of libraries ... that includes the Naperville Public Library, Arlington Heights Memorial Library, Cook Memorial Public Library, Deerfield Public Library, Gail Borden Public Library in Elgin and Skokie Public Library.

Elmhurst has signed a 3-year contract with LINKn.

Not clear to me how this consortium works, as each library has a stand-alone system.

Here's Elmhurst's game plan:

• NOW-AUGUST 31: If you want to keep your Reading History and/or Wish Lists, download it before August 31. Directions: How to: Download Your Reading History How to: Download Your Wish Lists 
• AUGUST 19-SEPTEMBER. 5: Holds: You will still be able to check out and request materials, however you will need to contact staff directly and they will manually enter requests. 
• SEPTEMBER. 3: You will need to register your Elmhurst card with any other library you visit after this date. 
• SEPTEMBER 3-5: You’ll need to bring your EPL card to the Library in order to check out materials. 
•  SEPTEMBER 6: EPL’s new stand-alone catalog goes live.