What is Resource Sharing?
At WOU, the term Resource Sharing typically refers to Summit and/ or Interlibrary Loan (ILL). While both services facilitate the borrowing and lending of materials among libraries, they differ from one another in some meaningful ways. Here is a brief description and comparison of the two services.
This is intended to be informational.
When you place a request, you do not need to choose one service or the other. The system will automatically route your request for the greatest efficiency.
Summit is the borrowing system for member libraries of the Orbis Cascade Alliance-- a consortium of academic libraries in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. To maximize efficiency and predictability, these libraries agree to basic shared policies and procedures.
For example:
- All books in a library's general collection circulate through Summit. Individual libraries may choose to allow additional physical collections to circulate, such as audio/visual items.
- Only physical items may be requested through Summit. Digital copies of articles or bookn chapters
- The maximum number of Alliance items that an individual patron can have out on loan is 200.
- All materials circulate for 12 weeks and are eligible for one renewal of 6 weeks unless the item is requested locally.
- Summit Materials may be returned to any Alliance member library.
- You find and request materials through Primo.
Interlibrary Loan (ILL) is a service which allows you to borrow books, journal articles, and occassionally other items from libraries acrocss the world. If an item is not available from Hamersly Library or a another library within Summit, it may be requested through ILL. There are standards of practice, but no shared policies or procedures which participating libraries must adhere to.
- While all participating libraries will generally loan books from their main collection, each one individually decides whether they will loan additional such as DVDs, maps, etc.
- ILL can supply physical items, as well as digital copies of articles and book chapters. Full-text ebooks and digital videos are not available.
- The owning library sets the due date for a physical item loan. When you receive an electronic copy, it is yours to keep. Renewals are at the discretion of ther owning library.
- ILL items must be returned to Hamersly Library. If your item came with any paperwork, please make sure it is returned with the item as well.
- If you're unable to locate the item you need in Primo, you may request it using the ILL form in your My Library account.
