Our reality is twofold – 1) as in most academic libraries, our print collections are not circulating nearly as much as they used to, while continuing to occupy valuable space in the open stacks1. All the same, 2) our mission is to support scholars who require access to these important physical materials for their research.
How can we balance these two realities? Shared print programs!
Shared print is when libraries share responsibility for managing print materials by committing to retain specific materials for an agreed upon period. The goal is to document, preserve, and provide long-term access to print collections, while reducing duplication and ensuring more manageable collection sizes at member institutions2,3. In 2021 CRL reported that there are 750 academic libraries participating in 40 shared print programs across North America4.
In alignment with our strategic objectives, the University of Ottawa Library participates in multiple shared print programs dedicated to preserving the Canadian scholarly record.
- Keep at Downsview (K@D): Established in 2014, K@D is a collaboration between six university libraries in Ontario and Newfoundland. Library materials from all partners are preserved in a centralized, high-density storage facility located at the University of Toronto's Downsview campus.
- North/ Nord: is a pan-Canadian collaboration that coordinates shared print initiatives of national significance across public, academic, and government libraries in Canada. The University of Ottawa participates as a member of K@D.
- Membership led programs: The University of Ottawa contributes to several membership-led programs, both nationally and internationally, including the Centre for Research Libraries and HathiTrust. These programs support shared print initiatives by developing database and registry infrastructure, hosting forums for collaborative learning, collecting and digitizing materials, and establishing standards and governance. Our library supports these programs by contributing expertise and materials to address gaps in these collections.
Shared Print partnerships are one of the many tools we are using for The Morisset Collection Rightsizing Effort. For more information about how to borrow items from our shared print programs and to read our FAQ please visit the Library’s website - Shared Print Programs at uOttawa. You can also explore this infographic to learn how shared print partnerships preserve knowledge, expand access, and strengthen collaboration across institutions.
If you have any questions or would like to learn more about how shared print programs or the MRT Collection Rightsizing Effort might affect you or your faculty, please reach out to Mackenzie Kathmann, Collections Strategy Librarian, or Liz Hayden, AUL of Content and Access, at biblio.collections@uottawa.ca.
References:
1 - Rick Anderson, “Print on the Margins: Circulation Trends in Major Research Libraries,” Library Journal 136 (2011): 38-39.
2 - Partnership for shared book collections (2023). Shared print 101 for new program officers
3 - Shared print. In Shared Print Glossary, Shared Print Partnership.
4- Stearns, S., Weltin, H., Wohlers, A., and Wood, A. (2021, March 22). Inclusive Models to Sustain Shared Print and the Future of Print Collections. [Webinar]. Inclusive Models to Sustain Shared Print and the Future of Print Collections.