National TKN Resource Sharing Network Project

When a transportation library belongs to a sharing network, more people find the information they need, loan requests are distributed more evenly across multiple libraries, and all libraries involved realize increased collection use. Increased resource sharing through formalized library-to-library sharing arrangements is one reason regional transportation knowledge networks (TKNs) formed. The NTL and leaders of the regional TKNs seek to elevate the state of the practice of resource sharing through automated software, documented procedures, and more formalized communication among participants. The regional TKNs are thus engaging in their first national TKN project, forming a National Resource Sharing Network of nearly 50 transportation libraries and information centers.

Project Contributors

Without the following contributors, the NTKN National Resource Sharing Network would not be possible:

The pilot phase of this project (1 September 2008 – March 31, 2009) was made possible by a grant from the Transportation Library Connectivity Pooled Fund Study.

Two of the largest transportation libraries in the United States are true net lenders – they almost never borrow and almost always lend. Northwestern University Transportation Library and the Institute of Transportation Studies Library at the UC Berkeley have each agreed to contribute to the success of this project by making significant contributions:

• Northwestern University Transportation Library will lend any item to any transportation library.
• Institute of Transportation Studies Library at UC Berkeley is a lender for unique items in their collection.

The VDOT Research Library has created a TKN ILL Library Catalog using VDOT OneSearch federated search tool specifically for this project to assist those libraries not in OCLC.

View TKN participating libraries (Please be sure to use the TKN ILL form for libraries who are not lenders in OCLC or libraries not using OCLC).

Borrowing Guidelines

OCLC users:

1. Use OCLC WorldCat Resource Sharing to place and respond to all requests.
   1. List as TKN request in the Borrowing Notes field.
   2. Identify TKN library affiliation.
   3. Display holdings by LSTR group to limit lenders to NTKN resource sharing participants
      NOTE: contact Jennifer Boteler, FHWA Library, for assistance using LSTR to request materials
2. Use the TKN ILL Request Form to request items from a library not in OCLC.

Non-OCLC users:

1. Search for requested item in the TKN ILL Library Catalog (user name: VDOT; password: library)
2. Identify a TKN library that has the requested item and use the TKN ILL Request Form to request the item from that library
   1. NB: Select Institute of Transportation Studies Library at UC Berkeley if they are the only library that holds the item.
   2. NB: Northwestern University Transportation Library will lend any item to any library.
3. If the TKN library cannot supply the requested item, repeat Steps 1 and 2 to request the item from another TKN library.
4. If no TKN library has the item, search WorldCat.org and use the ALA Interlibrary Loan Request Form to request the item from a non-TKN library.

Please contact your TKN chair if you need assistance.

Lending Guidelines

OCLC users:

1. Use OCLC WorldCat Resource Sharing to place and respond to all requests possible.
2. Check your email daily for requests sent from the TKN ILL Request Form (subject: TKN ILL request)
1. To fill the request: respond directly to the requestor that you are filling it and specify how (e.g., email, fax, mail)
2. If you cannot fill the request: respond directly to the requestor that you are unable to supply the item.

Non-OCLC users:

1. Check your email daily for requests sent from the TKN ILL Request Form (subject: TKN ILL request)
1. To fill the request: respond directly to the requestor that you are filling it and specify how (e.g., email, fax, mail)
2. If you cannot fill the request: respond directly to the requestor that you are unable to supply the item.

Please contact your TKN chair if you need assistance.

Metrics

Monthly statistics on borrowing and lending for each participating library will be collected. If needed, use this statistics log to track your ILL transactions for each month. The following metrics should be collected and emailed monthly to the NTL:

Please enter the total number if items requested during the month.

Please enter the total number if items lent during the month: