Resource sharing among ARL libraries in the US: 35 years of growth

Abstract

Purpose This paper aims to identify the factors that have led the USA to be one of the few countries in the world that has seen interlending and document supply continue to increase. Design/methodology/approach The factors are identified, reviewed and assessed. Findings It was found that the effectiveness of resource sharing facilitated by intra‐ and inter‐state cooperatives using OCLC as a framework is a major factor, others being the improvement in discovery tools, requesting processes and the more recent improvements in the delivery process. Finally, the widespread subsidizing of access and delivery enables cheap or even free use of document supply. Originality/value This paper is the only study so far that addresses the current puzzle of US “exceptionalism” for interlending and document supply.