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SHARES Introduction

As institutions evolve toward a notion of “collective collections,” resource sharing partnerships that expand access to collections are of primary importance. SHARES, the resource sharing consortium of the OCLC Research Library Partnership, unites trusted partners that provide low-cost access to their diverse collections. SHARES also supports resource sharing innovation and best practices.

What we do

  • SHARES supports active collaboration among its partner libraries and a generous resource sharing program, which provides onsite use and interlibrary loan of the SHARES libraries’ strong, rich, diverse, and unique collections.
  • SHARES partners explore and recommend current and innovative technologies, policies, and practices to facilitate this enhanced sharing. Recent SHARES working groups have explored packaging and shipping, ILL unit costs, collection-sharing best practices, and reciprocal onsite borrowing.
  • An international sharing partnership, SHARES expands and enhances local collections with materials owned by partners around the world. 

SHARES is managed by the SHARES Executive Group. Affiliation with the OCLC Research Library Partnership is a prerequisite to joining SHARES.

Current Activity

The SHARES community has come together throughout the COVID-19 pandemic crisis to share information, navigate unprecedented disruption, experiment with new strategies for service provision, and plan for having staff and patrons return to the physical library.

SHARES 2021

This year the SHARES Executive Group invites all SHARES members to participant in a suite of conversations and activities focused on four themes of vital interest to the consortium and to the entire resource sharing community.

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Share Special Collections

The SHARES Sharing Special Collections Working Group has the tools you need to sensibly borrow and lend special collections materials.

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Policy Rethink

In 2018 and 2019, the SHARES Executive Group engaged with all SHARES participants in rethinking SHARES policies and values.

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SHARES Project Team

SHARES is managed by the SHARES Executive Group

SHARES OCLC Lead

Dennis Massie

Contact Us

Please use this form for all your SHARES questions, including inquiring about SHARES, reaching out to a SHARES admin, updating contact details, seeking guidance from an ILL expert, or requesting to be paired with a SHARES buddy.

Ask SHARES