Orbis and Cascade will merge their already popular union catalogs to create a unified computer system that allows students, faculty, and staff to easily search and request library materials owned by member libraries: a database of 22 million books, sound recording, films, maps, and more. As an aid to quick delivery, the consortium will continue to administer a courier service providing daily pick-up and delivery of library materials at 60 libraries in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. The Orbis Cascade Alliance will strengthen cooperative purchase programs and bring shared expertise to the purchase of databases, electronic journals, electronic books, and other digital library materials. Through this alliance, member libraries will also sponsor conferences, seminars, and workshops for library staff.
Founded in 1993 with funds provided by the Meyer Memorial Trust, the Orbis library consortium has grown from five to 20 members in the last ten years. The Cascade consortium was founded in 1995 and offers similar services to Washington’s six public baccalaureate institutions. Although separate organizations, Orbis and Cascade have historically collaborated on a number of projects.
“Building on a decade of working together on an informal basis, it is wonderful to see Orbis and Cascade combine forces to form such a powerful collective,” said Ms. Cutright, Chair of the Orbis consortium. “Academic libraries in the Northwest have benefited greatly from these consortia,” said Ms. Steel, Chair of the Interinstitutional Council of Chief Librarians that oversees the Cascade consortium. “Working together will double the resources available to our patrons and set the stage for new collaboration on many fronts.”
Over the next nine months, representatives of the two consortia will
draft agreements and combine existing union catalog systems. The
Orbis Cascade Alliance expects to hold its first meeting of library directors
in spring 2003 and merge union catalogs later that summer. The new
consortium will serve faculty, staff, and the equivalent of more than 174,000
full time students enrolled at 26 member colleges, universities, and community
colleges.
“The Orbis Cascade Alliance is an outstanding example of the impact
made possible when private and public institutions collaborate on a regional
basis,” said John F. Helmer, Orbis Executive Director. “Libraries
are natural collaborators as well as early adopters of the best that informational
technology has to offer. Working together, we are building on collaborative
success to bring a broader base of print and electronic resources to faculty
and students in the Northwest.”
“This is a win-win situation for both Orbis and Cascade,” said Pam Mofjeld,
Cascade Coordinator. “More resources, delivered more efficiently
to more patrons throughout the region. This is a great step forward
for teaching and research in Oregon and Washington.”
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Orbis: http://libweb.uoregon.edu/orbis/
Cascade: http://cascade.lib.washington.edu/screens/wclpoverview.html
John F. Helmer
Orbis Executive Director
(541) 346-1835
jhelmer@darkwing.uoregon.eduPam Mofjeld
Cascade Coordinator
(206) 685-1607
mofjeld@u.washington.edu