I-Share is an integrated library system that now serves as the online catalog for 76 CARLI member libraries. I-Share runs on the “Voyager” software from The ExLibris Group and provides participating libraries with an online catalog of their own collection as well as a merged, union catalog of the holdings of all I-Share libraries. I-Share also supports library collection management functions including circulation, cataloging, acquisitions, serials control, course reserves and reporting.
One of the key features of I-Share is its support for resource sharing among participating libraries. The I-Share member libraries agree to share their resources with other I Share libraries. Items not available at the local library can be located and borrowed from other I-Share libraries by using I-Share. Requested items are sent from the lending library to the borrower's library. Additionally, I-Share’s reciprocal borrowing policy allows people who are registered borrowers at an I-Share library to visit any other I-Share library and borrow items onsite.
I-Share employs the Voyager components “Universal Catalog” and “Universal Borrowing” to provide library users the ability to locate and request materials from any I-Share library, and to provide librarians with a shared source of cataloging data.
The I-Share database contains over nine million unique bibliographic records and more than 32 million item records, representing the holdings of the (currently) 76 CARLI I Share member institutions. The combination of this enormous consortial collection with I-Share’s resource sharing services means that I-Share library patrons have ready access to a collection that is larger than most of the world’s greatest research libraries.
As of August 2008, 76 institutions use I-Share. The list of participants is on the CARLI website at http://www.carli.illinois.edu/members_i-s.html
The I-Share Universal Catalog and the local catalogs are all accessible to the public at https://I-Share.carli.illinois.edu. No login is required to search and view. A valid ID from an I-Share library is required to place requests. Additionally, many Illinois libraries (including public and school libraries) make use of I-Share borrower IDs assigned to their library to supplement their interlibrary loan services. Illinois libraries interested in getting an I-Share library ID for interlibrary borrowing should contact their regional library system headquarters for more information. Access to the staff-use modules (circulation, cataloging, acquisitions, etc.) and related documentation is available only to I-Share libraries per contractual requirements. Libraries considering participating in I-Share that would like to view the staff components of Voyager may wish to contact a current I-Share library to arrange for a site visit.
Cost savings
Unless your library is not automated at all, it’s likely that you would save money on your online catalog/library management system by participating in I-Share.
Resource sharing
Your library users would gain ready access to the resources of all I-Share libraries. Currently this combined collection totals over 9 million titles, and over 32 million items.
Technical support
CARLI staff run the I-Share servers, provide training and support for librarians using the system, manage software upgrades, and manage the contracts and payments to the vendors. Your library would still be responsible for the PCs in your library, network connectivity, and maintaining your data (bibliographic and patron records, etc.).
Collaboration
The I-Share community works together with the CARLI staff to provide a wide range of opportunities to learn from each other through best practice documents, user forums, training materials, and more.
Robust infrastructure
In addition to the main production version of I-Share, CARLI has additional servers running separate copies of I-Share for testing, training and running reports as well as a remote backup for disaster recovery.
Resource sharing
I-Share libraries agree to honor requests from any valid I-Share library patron for their circulating materials, and to fill those requests in a timely fashion.
Maintenance of collections and data
I-Share libraries are expected to develop and maintain a core collection of materials that serves the fundamental needs of their patrons. Records describing the collection and its status, and records describing borrowers, are expected to be accurate, current, and in compliance with library standards and consortial best practices.
Fiscal responsibilities
I-Share libraries are required to maintain a current governing membership in CARLI and to pay promptly their CARLI membership fees and I-Share assessments. I-Share libraries are responsible for the costs of all equipment in their library necessary to their use of I-Share (PC’s, printers, barcode readers, labels, etc.) and are responsible for the costs of sending their staff to I-Share training and continuing education events as needed. The library or its parent institution is also responsible for acquiring and maintaining an adequate network connection to I-Share.
Active participation in the consortium
I-Share libraries are expected to participate in CARLI meetings and training events, and to encourage staff to serve on CARLI committees. Broad participation by member institutions is an essential component in the success of CARLI and I-Share.
All I-Share libraries are required to be CARLI Governing Members. Information about CARLI membership is available at http://www.carli.illinois.edu/about/about-memcat.html
Libraries will be expected to complete an application form for I-Share providing information about their collection size, current automation status, and the ways their library expects to contribute to and benefit from participation in I-Share.
I-Share libraries are expected to abide by CARLI I-Share resource sharing policies, including promptly filling requests and maintaining current and accurate catalog and borrower information.
I-Share management decisions are ultimately made by the CARLI Board of Directors, with advice and recommendations from subcommittees and the CARLI staff. The Board relies on the CARLI staff and the I-Share Users’ Group (which is a subcommittee of the Board) to carry out the operational details of I-Share. The Board typically keeps its involvement at administrative-level fiscal decisions such as setting the annual I-Share assessments and approving applications from prospective participants. The Board also may act on substantial system changes that have broad impact or fiscal implications. The Board would also be charged with acting on any major replacement of the underlying software (currently Ex Libris Voyager) or major changes to I-Share resource sharing policies.
The I-Share Users’ Group and its subcommittees coordinate a variety of work related to I-Share, including continuing education events, reviews of emerging changes that affect integrated systems, and development of consortial best practices.
I-Share runs on a group of computer servers at the University of Illinois at Chicago, along with disaster recovery servers in Urbana that are maintained by CARLI staff. All participating libraries’ data are stored on these servers. In addition to managing the computer servers, the CARLI staff also run the Voyager batch maintenance jobs that perform basic tasks such as bulk loading of records, creating circulation notices, and providing some management reports (although most I-Share libraries supplement these with additional reports that they run themselves on their own collection.)
I-Share libraries are responsible for providing and maintaining the PCs that library staff and patrons use to connect to I-Share. Public access computers will need to run an Internet browser such as Internet Explorer or Firefox. Each computer where staff will perform circulation or use I-Share for catalog maintenance or managing your collection through the online acquisitions and serials control will need to run one or more of the Windows-based Voyager staff clients.
The Voyager staff client programs are included in the fee each I-Share library pays to be added to CARLI’s Voyager license. The library may install as many Voyager staff clients as it needs. There is no additional fee to add staff clients to additional PCs or to provide access from additional public access PCs.
The library will also need to provide an adequate number of barcode scanners and printers to support staff activity at circulation points and in technical services. It is also the responsibility of the library or its parent institution to provide an adequate network connection to I-Share.
Note: Fees for participating in I-Share are in addition to, and not included in, the annual fee a library pays to be a member of CARLI. Also, please note that several other CARLI products and services have costs that are not covered in the CARLI membership fee including CONTENTdm, SFX, WebFeat, and brokered electronic resources.
There are one-time costs and ongoing costs to participate in I-Share.
One-time Costs
One-time costs cover extending CARLI’s Voyager software license to your institution and the costs of migrating your current catalog data to I-Share. These fees are assessed by the Voyager vendor, Ex Libris. Libraries will pay these fees to CARLI, and CARLI passes them on to Ex Libris. No CARLI surcharge is added.
The license fee is based on the size of your library collection. The Voyager data migration fee covers the cost of migrating your bibliographic, holding, item, circulation status, and patron records, and optionally, at extra cost, data from acquisitions systems and more. These costs are based on the number and type of records being migrated. A special pricing model applies to libraries that are already Voyager sites.
Ongoing Costs
Ongoing costs cover the library’s annual governing membership in CARLI and an annual I-Share assessment. These fees are established by the CARLI Board, typically two or more years in advance, and are paid to CARLI.
Current CARLI membership fees are posted at http://www.carli.illinois.edu/about/about-memcat.html
Current I-Share assessments (for Fiscal Years 2009 - 2012) are posted at: http://www.carli.illinois.edu/reports/board/FY09_12Assess.pdf.
Cost Estimates
One-time and ongoing costs are based on a number of factors (e.g., student enrollment, size of collection, etc.). To obtain a cost estimate for your institution, contact CARLI at: support@carli.illinois.edu.
That has not yet been decided.
Send any CARLI or I-Share-related questions to CARLI at support@carli.illinois.edu