2008 Woodie Awards
TexShare offers choices as big as Texas
By Selina O. Affram
Issue date: 4/4/08 Section: News
Originally published: 4/3/08 at 6:32 PM CSTLast update: 4/4/08 at 9:12 AM CST
TexShare is an innovative strategy of sharing resources in academic libraries, public libraries and libraries of clinical medicine administered by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission, stated by the TexShare Web Site. Information on www.texshare.edu explains how TexShare enables libraries to share staff expertise, library resources in print and electronic formats including books, journals, technical reports and databases.
It also allows libraries to pursue joint purchasing agreements for information services.
The TexShare program was created under the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in 1994. The original members of TexShare included the 53 four-year academic and medical libraries.
TexShare membership has extended to include independent academic institutions, community colleges and public libraries.
Along with the card program, many libraries have purchased the database program through TexShare.
Stated by the Web Site www.texshare.org, the TexShare Database Program provides a wealth of electronic database resources to move more than 700 public, academic and clinical medical libraries throughout the state at a significant cost saving.
The databases are accessible 24 hours a day from the homes of registered patrons of participating Texas libraries. They provide full-text articles from journals, newspapers, magazines and other sources.
Entire books also can be read online. Topics include homework research, health, business, biography and genealogy, literature, and archival information.
Ralph Domas, reference librarian and professor said, "With the database, libraries pay a one-time fee through cooperative arrangement; this saves money for the college."
The www.texshare.org Web site states the TexShare program also offers the ILL/Courier program to promote resource sharing and improve services among member libraries and to provide faster, more cost-effective delivery of interlibrary loan material in Texas. The program offers a five-day-a-week pickup and delivery service.
To receive a TexShare card, students, faculty and staff must provide a San Antonio College ID and have no fines or overdue books, Domas said. The cards are accessible at the reference desk on the third floor of Moody Learning Center.
Here students, faculty and staff are eligible to participate in TexShare.
Students may use the free card during the fall and spring semesters, but they are not available between semesters.
Full-time staff may take advantage of the card year-round.
English Professor Patricia Portales has received benefits from using the card.
A few years ago, Portales was interested in borrowing a book from St. Mary's University through the alumni association.
"I tried to check out the books from the St. Mary's library, but I needed $100 alumni cost to use the library," Portales said.
With the TexShare program, she saved $100 and received the card for free.
Here students using the card may check out a total of four items for two weeks at a time.
With all participating libraries, those renting must abide by the policies, return materials and pay fines to that particular library.
He said this program helps to increase chances of finding needed resources, but not all libraries participate.
To learn about the libraries that participate in this program, visit the TexShare Web Site at www.texshare.org.
Local institutions:
Alamo Community College District
• Northeast Lakeview
• Northwest Vista
• Palo Alto
• San Antonio
• St. Philip's
Oblate School of Theology
Our Lady of the Lake
St. Mary's University
Trinity University
UT at San Antonio
University of Texas HSC
University of the Incarnate Word
It also allows libraries to pursue joint purchasing agreements for information services.
The TexShare program was created under the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in 1994. The original members of TexShare included the 53 four-year academic and medical libraries.
TexShare membership has extended to include independent academic institutions, community colleges and public libraries.
Along with the card program, many libraries have purchased the database program through TexShare.
Stated by the Web Site www.texshare.org, the TexShare Database Program provides a wealth of electronic database resources to move more than 700 public, academic and clinical medical libraries throughout the state at a significant cost saving.
The databases are accessible 24 hours a day from the homes of registered patrons of participating Texas libraries. They provide full-text articles from journals, newspapers, magazines and other sources.
Entire books also can be read online. Topics include homework research, health, business, biography and genealogy, literature, and archival information.
Ralph Domas, reference librarian and professor said, "With the database, libraries pay a one-time fee through cooperative arrangement; this saves money for the college."
The www.texshare.org Web site states the TexShare program also offers the ILL/Courier program to promote resource sharing and improve services among member libraries and to provide faster, more cost-effective delivery of interlibrary loan material in Texas. The program offers a five-day-a-week pickup and delivery service.
To receive a TexShare card, students, faculty and staff must provide a San Antonio College ID and have no fines or overdue books, Domas said. The cards are accessible at the reference desk on the third floor of Moody Learning Center.
Here students, faculty and staff are eligible to participate in TexShare.
Students may use the free card during the fall and spring semesters, but they are not available between semesters.
Full-time staff may take advantage of the card year-round.
English Professor Patricia Portales has received benefits from using the card.
A few years ago, Portales was interested in borrowing a book from St. Mary's University through the alumni association.
"I tried to check out the books from the St. Mary's library, but I needed $100 alumni cost to use the library," Portales said.
With the TexShare program, she saved $100 and received the card for free.
Here students using the card may check out a total of four items for two weeks at a time.
With all participating libraries, those renting must abide by the policies, return materials and pay fines to that particular library.
He said this program helps to increase chances of finding needed resources, but not all libraries participate.
To learn about the libraries that participate in this program, visit the TexShare Web Site at www.texshare.org.
Local institutions:
Alamo Community College District
• Northeast Lakeview
• Northwest Vista
• Palo Alto
• San Antonio
• St. Philip's
Oblate School of Theology
Our Lady of the Lake
St. Mary's University
Trinity University
UT at San Antonio
University of Texas HSC
University of the Incarnate Word
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