TexShare
Encyclopedia
The TexShare program is a statewide resource-sharing consortium of hundreds of member libraries in Texas
, United States
administered by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission
(TSLAC). The TexShare program maximizes the effectiveness of library expenditures by enabling member libraries to share staff expertise, share electronic and print formats, pursue joint purchasing agreements on electronic databases, and encourage the cooperative development of Texas libraries statewide. TexShare is made up of Texas academic libraries, public libraries, and libraries of clinical medicine. TexShare is a member driven consortium that exists with the support and cooperation of Texas member libraries.
providing funds starting in fiscal year 1994.
The beginning years of TexShare were devoted to planning and starting cooperative resource sharing initiatives such as funding for Internet connectivity and interlibrary loan workstations, creating protocols, leveraging costs for online resources, fostering a statewide library card program, and offering grants. Administrative duties were contracted out to Amigos Library Services
and the University of Texas at Austin.
Between 1997 and 1999, legislative statute expanded TexShare membership to include independent academic institutions, community colleges, and public libraries. In 1999 the Texas State Library and Archives Commission assumed full administrative responsibility for TexShare, with Amigos and University of Texas at Austin continuing to provide vital logistical and technical support as Strategic Partners. Legislative statute again expanded TexShare membership in 2001 to include libraries of clinical medicine, and in 2005, another legislative statute granted the Texas State Library and Archives Commission authority to negotiate group purchasing agreements on behalf of Texas K-12 public school libraries.
TexShare Working Groups provide member input on the policies and operations of each TexShare program. The working groups are composed of librarians chosen to represent the various constituent groups and geographic diversity within TexShare.
Strategic partners provide unique and specific resource sharing expertise to TexShare. Current strategic partners are the University of Texas at Austin Libraries, Amigos Library Services, and Education Service Center, Region 20.
Other TexShare programs facilitate library resource-sharing initiatives that ultimately benefit the end-user, such as communications, education services, interlibrary loan / courier, K-12 library partnerships, the Library of Texas information retrieval service, and TexTreasures grants.
TexShare is a member of the International Coalition of Library Consortia
.
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
administered by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission
Texas State Library and Archives Commission
The Texas State Library and Archives Commission refers to the agency in the state of Texas that is charged with overseeing and assisting with state-wide library programs, meeting the reading-related needs of Texans with disabilities, and finally preserving and providing access to significant Texas...
(TSLAC). The TexShare program maximizes the effectiveness of library expenditures by enabling member libraries to share staff expertise, share electronic and print formats, pursue joint purchasing agreements on electronic databases, and encourage the cooperative development of Texas libraries statewide. TexShare is made up of Texas academic libraries, public libraries, and libraries of clinical medicine. TexShare is a member driven consortium that exists with the support and cooperation of Texas member libraries.
History
The idea of a statewide resource sharing project in Texas was first proposed by Texas academic library directors in 1988. The original group of TexShare members consisted of 53 publicly supported four year academic and medical libraries, with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating BoardTexas Higher Education Coordinating Board
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board is an agency of the Texas state government that oversees all public post-secondary education in Texas. It is headquartered at 1200 East Anderson Lane in Austin....
providing funds starting in fiscal year 1994.
The beginning years of TexShare were devoted to planning and starting cooperative resource sharing initiatives such as funding for Internet connectivity and interlibrary loan workstations, creating protocols, leveraging costs for online resources, fostering a statewide library card program, and offering grants. Administrative duties were contracted out to Amigos Library Services
Amigos library services
Amigos Library Services, Inc. is dedicated to serving libraries. Amigos began in 1974 in Dallas, Texas, as AMIGOS Bibliographic Council, when 22 libraries united to bring OCLC access to the southwestern United States...
and the University of Texas at Austin.
Between 1997 and 1999, legislative statute expanded TexShare membership to include independent academic institutions, community colleges, and public libraries. In 1999 the Texas State Library and Archives Commission assumed full administrative responsibility for TexShare, with Amigos and University of Texas at Austin continuing to provide vital logistical and technical support as Strategic Partners. Legislative statute again expanded TexShare membership in 2001 to include libraries of clinical medicine, and in 2005, another legislative statute granted the Texas State Library and Archives Commission authority to negotiate group purchasing agreements on behalf of Texas K-12 public school libraries.
Governance
The TexShare Advisory Board provides administrative guidance, and is composed of representatives from community colleges, private universities, publicly-funded academic institutions, public libraries, and two representatives of the general public.TexShare Working Groups provide member input on the policies and operations of each TexShare program. The working groups are composed of librarians chosen to represent the various constituent groups and geographic diversity within TexShare.
Strategic partners provide unique and specific resource sharing expertise to TexShare. Current strategic partners are the University of Texas at Austin Libraries, Amigos Library Services, and Education Service Center, Region 20.
Programs
Two of the current programs of TexShare available through Texas libraries are:- TexShare Databases - Registered users of Texas libraries have these online research tools available to them both inside the library and 24 hour a day access outside the library in their homes or offices. The TexShare online resources provide full-text articles from journals, newspapers, magazines, and many other sources, on-line books, and topics such as homework help for students, health information, business information, biography and genealogy, as well as literature and archival information. Library users can access these online resources a variety of ways, either through library specific interfaces or through the Library of Texas interface.
- TexShare Card – Eligible registered users of Texas libraries obtain this card to check out materials from the collections of TexShare member libraries across the State of Texas. Each library creates individual lending policies as guidelines for TexShare Card owners. Greater access to collections statewide is a major benefit to the user.
Other TexShare programs facilitate library resource-sharing initiatives that ultimately benefit the end-user, such as communications, education services, interlibrary loan / courier, K-12 library partnerships, the Library of Texas information retrieval service, and TexTreasures grants.
TexShare is a member of the International Coalition of Library Consortia
International Coalition of Library Consortia
The International Coalition of Library Consortia is an informal, self-organized group of primarily higher-education library consortia from around the world for the discussion of issues of common interest among the consortia members....
.