What is TexShare?
TexShare is a consortium of libraries in the state of Texas, administered by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. As of April 2005, it includes 535 public, 158 academic, and 4 medical libraries. TexShare was started in 1994, but has grown significantly since then. Many services have been added over the years and the membership of libraries has increased. |
Sharing is the main goal of TexShare. Member libraries share:
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How does it work?
The TexShare Advisory Board proposes policies to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission, which is in charge of running the consortium. The Strategic partners to TexShare include Amigos Library Services and the University of Texas general libraries, both of which provide specialized services and expertise.
The member libraries participate by using and providing services, as well as by supporting their employees who are part of the TexShare working groups. The working groups review current issues and ideas for change and pass their suggestions to the Advisory Board for further discussion. There is a working group corresponding to each TexShare service and program.
TexShare Programs & Services
Database Program
The program offers free access to many databases for all TexShare member libraries. In addition, libraries can use 23 "select" databases at a discounted subscription rate. The program was partly funded through a TIF grant, which is not available any longer. That is why access to some of the databases were discontinued in 2005.
The TexShare Databases are supported in part by funds granted to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
Card Program
Anyone in Texas can get a TexShare card from a member library and use it in libraries that participate in the consortium. The card program makes the borrowing of library materials very convenient across the whole state.
Communications Program
Because TexShare is intended to benefit libraries across Texas, the communications program focuses on promoting awareness of what TexShare can contribute to any community. It creates and distributes outreach materials with a special focus on supporting the use of TexShare programs by rural communities.
Courier Service
Amigos Library Services offers unlimited pick-up and delivery of interlibrary loan materials 5 days a week. Any member library can benefit from this service by paying an annual fee, part of which is covered by the TexShare consortium.
Education Services
TexShare supports training for staff members in person and through teleconferences. It also offers links to instructional materials online, to library and information science resources, and to database tutorials.
InterLibrary Loan Program
This program tries to improve and standardize the sharing of library materials among member libraries. Inter-library loan can be centralized through the use of the preferred delivery methods: TExpress for print materials and Ariel for electronic documents.
Library of Texas
The service is a one-stop way to search the catalogs of multiple libraries in Texas, as well as the TexShare databases. With one search you can locate relevant items no matter which library owns them. The library of Texas service also allows you to easily request an inter-library loan.
TexTreasures
To promote the Texas Heritage Digitization Initiative, TexTreasures offers annual grants amounting to a total of $100,000. Specific digitization projects can receive up to $20,000 from this program. Unfortunately, the future availability of funds is a bit uncertain at this point.
For More Information...
You can find details about the history of TexShare, its current activities, and its services by visiting the TexShare official web site at http://www.texshare.edu.
This page was written by Mariela Hristova in Spring 2005.
INF 382S: Library Instruction and Information Literacy, taught by Dr. Loriene Roy
School of Information,
The University of Texas at Austin