Idaho Commission for Libraries

Introduction

Libraries Linking Idaho (LiLI) is a cooperative project between the Idaho Library Community and the Idaho Commission for Libraries developed to strengthen library services. Idahoans know and love the LiLI Databases, and use them to find full-length magazine and newspaper articles via the web. Building on that success, Idahoans can now borrow any book they need with LiLI Unlimited.

• What is LiLI?
• What makes LiLI Unlimited different from the databases we use now?
• Will LiLI Unlimited replace the magazine and newspaper databases?
• How can LiLI Unlimited help me?
• Aren’t libraries already doing Interlibrary Loan?
• Who can sign up to use this?
• What's the total cost of the project?
• What does the requested funding pay for?
• How many libraries are taking participating at the advanced level?

What is LiLI?

Libraries Linking Idaho (LiLI) is an alliance of libraries and library consortia working together to develop quality information services for Idaho residents.

What makes LiLI Unlimited different from the databases we use now?

LiLI Unlimited is a tool to find books and other items, like audio tapes and videos, in libraries. It allows you to search all the libraries' catalogs at one time. Then a user can borrow those items, even if the book isn’t at their local library. Using Interlibrary Loan, libraries can borrow from each other to get what their customers need.

Will LiLI Unlimited replace the magazine and newspaper databases?

LiLI Unlimited will not replace the magazine and newspaper databases. In fact, they work together to bring a wider spectrum of library services to the user through the web. Magazine and newspaper articles are very helpful to get timely information for personal, business and education purposes. Yet Idahoans are increasingly in need of library books and other materials for both their research and recreational needs. This is clearly shown by the 21 percent increase in the number of materials checked out from Idaho’s public libraries over the past five years.

How can LiLI Unlimited help me?

LiLI Unlimited can help in a number of ways depending upon your needs. If your need is a book on economic development in rural America, it’s there. If your need is the most recently published book by your favorite author, you can find out which library has it using LiLI Unlimited. If your need is a Spanish-language video on workplace safety, you can find one. LiLI Unlimited makes it easy for Idahoans to borrow those materials.

Aren’t libraries already doing Interlibrary Loan?

Yes, many libraries have been using interlibrary loan for years. For most libraries, however, the ability to acquire items through interlibrary loan has been limited by lack of access to libraries outside their local area either for technological or financial reasons. By working together statewide, libraries are able to provide equitable access to all Idahoans, removing the barriers put in place due to geography or community size.

Who can sign up to use this?

Any Idahoan can use the LiLI Unlimited catalog through the LiLI Portal at www.lili.org. Any Idaho library – public, school, academic, or special – can get its own password to access the catalog and share that password with its library customers. There is no cost to access the catalog for Idaho libraries and their customers.

Libraries may choose to pay a reduced-rate fee to participate at an advanced level giving them access to additional interlibrary loan tools that make it even easier to provide access to library books for their users, including access to libraries worldwide. The additional tools give library staff the ability to process their new items more efficiently. It also allows them to easily add information about the items they have so interlibrary loans can be completed more quickly and easily.

What’s the total cost of the project?

The total cost of LiLI Unlimited access for Fiscal Year 2006/07 is $743,615.

What does the requested funding pay for?

The State Commission has requested $333,700 in State funds to cover the primary resource sharing portions of the program. Those costs cover the shared Idaho library catalog available to all Idaho citizens and basic interlibrary loan tools to make loaning quick and efficient.

The remaining costs are shared among libraries participating in at the advanced level using a formula that allows libraries to pay a fee proportionate to their size.

How many libraries are participating at the advanced level?

The LiLI Unlimited program is being rolled out to the library community in four phases. Each phase focuses on a different group of libraries based upon experience with the tools and geographic location. As of January 1, 2006, 115 libraries in Idaho are participating using the advanced tools. Those libraries represent all of Idaho’s academic libraries, two-thirds of our public libraries, and 29 public school libraries.

Participation numbers will increase as we enter into the final phase of our initial implementation. Upon completion of the initial implementation, libraries will have a chance, through open enrollment, to sign up for advanced participation in future years.