The difficult decision was made to discontinue SRCS, the Statewide Remote Circulation Service, after nearly eight years. Through SRCS, nearly 200 libraries were able to borrow and share materials via interlibrary loan. Beginning Sept. 1, 2024, these material requests should be sent through Indiana Share, the Indiana State Library’s mediated service hosted by OCLC, as SRCS will cease operations on Sept. 30. Indiana State Library staff will review and process each request received, and requests can be sent to local, Indiana or even out-of-state libraries upon a borrower’s request.

While SRCS was in place, there was a limit to the number of requests that could be sent through Indiana Share. To help with the transition back to Share, all fees for the program will be eliminated and there will be no caps on the number of transactions that libraries can request for the first year. The Indiana State Library will evaluate the feasibility of continuing those changes to the Share program going forward.

The Indiana State Library also encourages libraries that are heavier interlibrary loan users to consider subscribing to OCLC First Search, which allows libraries to place their own requests for materials, as well as lend their own items. The State Library holds a First Search license for the state and provides a subsidy to offset the cost. Interested libraries should contact Stephanie Asberry by Sept. 1, 2024.

A training on Indiana Share is scheduled for Aug. 19, 2024, at 10 a.m. Eastern Time to go over the system. Libraries can register for this Zoom training here. A recording will be made available for those unable to attend.

This blog post was written by Jen Clifton, Library Development Office.