{Note: All system staff that work on ILS-related activities are asked to complete this section of the survey individually}

There is some talk around the state about mergers between multiple ILS consortia or perhaps a statewide ILS. The next questions are going to ask you for your impressions of what the challenges and advantages might be, both from the library system perspective and the library perspective.

Question Title

* 1. Below is a list of identified challenges to larger units of service for an ILS. Please review the list and rate each challenge on two scales: your personal perception of the importance of the concern and how important you perceive the challenge to be to your member libraries.

  Your perception of importance How important you perceive the challenge to be to your member libraries
Availability of system staff to provide high-quality service
System staff reductions
Changes in delivery service (cost, changed logistics, sorting)
Consistency of policies and enforcement (lending new materials, meeting hold obligations, position of barcode, etc.)
Additional standardization required among participating libraries
Inability to move in a different direction once decision has been made
Loss of autonomy for libraries
Loss of identity of libraries
More time and resources needed to make decisions
More time and resources needed to enact change
Communication issues (communicating to a larger group of libraries consistently)
Change in governance models (decision-making models/formula, meeting logistics)
Loss of library ability to participate in governance (larger group, larger geographic area)
Additional time and resources needed to gather together groups/committees
Change in cost-sharing formula
Change in catalog (more difficult for patrons/new for patrons)
Different libraries having different ILS modules
Impact on staff at local library (more holds, more delivery)
Increased costs, either directly or through increased staff time to cope with additional delivery, etc.
Change in participants: addition of multi-type partners

Question Title

* 2. Below is a list of potential advantages to larger units of service for an ILS. Please review the list and rate the advantage on two scales: how likely the advantage is to occur with a larger unit of service and, if an advantage would occur, the positive impact on member libraries and patrons.

  Likelihood that the advantage would occur Positive impact on libraries/patrons
Ease of use/simplicity for patrons (one card for a larger geographic area, one catalog, enhanced discovery, potential for standardization over a larger area)
Easier access to more materials (larger collection, access to more local materials, less traditional ILL)
More library/system staff to tap for expertise and assistance (more libraries with expertise, more ILS staff at system level, more colleagues to approach)
More efficient use of system ILS staff (ability to specialize, more opportunity for database cleanup, solving problems once)
Improved training for library staff (more opportunities, more efficiencies in creation of materials)
Potential cost savings (savings through efficiencies, savings with vendor)
Expanding possibilities for innovation (innovative staff models, model for future collaboration/innovation, savings put into innovative services)
Improved bibliographic and patron database (more records for copy cataloging, more efficient database cleanup, single patron database for area)
More leverage/buying power (with vendors, with legislators)

Question Title

* 3. Describe your ideal ILS consortium. What are the physical characteristics (number of libraries, geographic area)? How are decisions made?

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