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BTAA achieves 99% fill rate with new consortial borrowing solution

One year after implementing OCLC Resource Sharing for Groups, the Big Ten Academic Alliance’s (BTAA) 19 member libraries are delivering faster turnaround times, higher fill rates, and more efficient workflows for staff and users.

Key outcomes

  • 99.01% fill rate overall, speeding delivery
  • 98.1% of requests filled by the first or second lender
  • Faster access to physical and electronic resources for students, faculty, and researchers
  • Custom automations that prioritize in-state and regional lenders
  • Smarter workload distribution across the consortium
Photo: University of Michigan campus
Photo courtesy University of Michigan

OCLC services used:

Smarter, faster sharing

By partnering with OCLC and Atlas Systems, the BTAA streamlined resource sharing across its member libraries. The system’s advanced automation routes requests to the most appropriate lender based on shelf status, format, loan policy, turnaround time, and retrieval time from shelving locations.

Benefits for library users

Generous loan terms, guaranteed renewals, and faster access have been especially popular with faculty and graduate students. Users can search the group’s collective collection and receive materials more quickly—often from the first lender in the queue.

Photo: Emily Campbell

“This system has allowed us to simplify workflows and provide faster access to materials, which is critical for our academic community. It’s exciting to imagine what we can accomplish next.”

Emily Campbell
Document Delivery Director, University of Michigan

Efficient workflows for staff

Automated routing reduces manual intervention, allowing interlibrary loan staff to focus on complex requests. Load optimization balances requests across libraries, ensuring the fastest service while avoiding bottlenecks.

November 2025