Save time and money on your interlibrary
loans….
Improve service to your patrons
Interested in improving your interlibrary loan service and
saving money at the same time? It’s not impossible, it’s
TExpress, a program now
available that permits unlimited courier service to participating
libraries throughout Texas for one low annual fee.
TExpress is a program
of TexShare, the statewide
library resource sharing program. The program was formerly
available only to academic libraries in Texas, but recent
legislation that expanded TexShare membership has made this
successful and money-saving program available to all Texas
public libraries.
Whether your primary interlibrary loan activities are lending
or borrowing, the TExpress courier service can streamline
your shipping, speed up your turnaround time, and save money.
What’s the catch?
Well, the courier service only picks up and delivers from
participating TExpress libraries. So who are the participating
libraries?
- All of the TexNet Interlibrary Loan Referral Centers are
using TExpress.
- All of the major academic libraries in Texas are using
TExpress.
- Many libraries in Oklahoma, New Mexico and Arizona are
beginning to use the Trans-Amigos Express, which connects
with TExpress at no extra charge!
- Many public libraries in Texas are signing up.
- Both TPLS and NETLS have regional couriers that TExpress
members can send a receive items to libraries in these areas.
If your library is typical, these libraries account for the
bulk of your interlibrary loans. By joining TExpress, you
not only make sending materials easier and less expensive
for your own library, but for all of the other TExpress and
Trans-Amigos libraries as well.
What’s the cost?
TExpress has three options for delivery:
- 5 day a week $4,400
- 3 day a week $3,000
- 2 day a week $2,375
How do you determine if subscribing
to TExpress makes sense for your library?
- Take a look at how much you currently spend on interlibrary
loan postage. For many libraries, a TExpress membership
more than pays for itself in just a few months.
- Count the number of interlibrary loans you do in a year.
It’s estimated that you would have to mail approximately
12 books a week to recover the annual cost of your TExpress
fee.
- How much time do you spend packing, labeling, and shipping
interlibrary loan materials? Packaging and labeling is simpler
with TExpress, saving valuable staff time. You don’t
even need to weigh or count the packages!
- What is your usual turnaround time for interlibrary loans?
Because the TExpress courier comes to your library five
days a week, deliveries in Texas usually take only two days!
- Call your TexNet Interlibrary Loan Center to hear about
their experience with TExpress.
- Contact TexShare: texshare@tsl.state.tx.us.
How do you sign up?
To sign up for the service, contact the
Amigos Help Desks at 800-843-8482 or e-mail: tae@amigos.org.
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