[ILL-L] another LVIS booster. :)

[Melissa Jackson]

We had to pay a one-time fee of $26 to join LVIS, according to SOLINET.  But since we made that money back in savings the first two weeks we were members, no problem!   :)  

Joining LVIS and publicizing that we are in SoLINE, SIXX and GOLD cut our borrowing costs by roughly 80%.  I highly recommend joining any and all reciprocal groups you can if money is an issue.  It's well worth it.


Melissa Jackson
ILL Librarian
Armstrong Atlantic State University


>>> 
From: 	Julia Graham <jlg7001 at humboldt.edu>
To:	<ill-l at webjunction.org>
Date: 	10/8/2007 3:44 PM
Subject: 	[ILL-L] another LVIS booster. :)

Since Collette brought this up (and no, Collette, I don't think 
you've set a record...yet ;-) ).

I would *strongly* encourage all the libraries out there that cannot 
pay to join LVIS (Libraries Very Interested in Sharing).  There is no 
cost, repeat, NO COST to join and it opens up thousands more 
libraries to borrow from for free!  Depending on your collection, it 
may increase your lending stats somewhat (ours went up about 10% when 
we first joined, but I think that's more due to our being near the 
top of the alphabet, when OCLC holdings used to go strictly in 
alphabetical order - ILLiad now does a random sort, not sure about 
WRS), but it's made SUCH a difference in our charges.  We do pay, but 
we prefer free, since we're a State University that keeps getting the 
budget axe due to our enrollment figures.

I've never understood why a library that can't pay won't join LVIS, 
but I do know that sometimes there are extenuating 
circumstances.  But I would hope that all free libraries out there 
would join.  More for them to borrow from, more for us LVISers to add 
to our custom holdings!
It really will make a huge difference, especially to those poor 
beleagured, underfunded public libraries.

Julia