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Request It: Collaborative Acquisitions

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Request It: Collaborative Acquisitions

Kansas City Public Library

Library Operations & Management | 2023 | Top Innovator

Innovation Synopsis

Request It reimagines two patron-driven acquisition models, Suggest a Purchase and Interlibrary Loan. It fosters participation, builds relevant and diverse collections, streamlines processes, and decreases costs. It features holdable non-owned items, purchase requests within user accounts, and Interlibrary Loan as a last means of acquisition.

Challenge/Opportunity

Replace the reactive and inefficient Suggest a Purchase (SP) and Interlibrary Loan (ILL) models with one responsive and efficient service:

  • Create one-stop shop for requests
  • Make it easy to use
  • Decrease wait time
  • Expand eligible materials
  • Have a consistent lending policy
  • Allow self-pickup and checkout
  • Provide equitable access through user account
  • Increase unique users
  • Streamline selection
  • Identify diverse titles
  • Streamline SFP and ILL processes
  • Reduce high cost per use
  • Automate data capture

Key Elements of Innovation

Patron participation creates accessible and efficient services.
Request It has 3 elements:

1. CATALOG UNOWNED TITLES
• Catalog discoverable and holdable unowned titles
• Buy on demand
• Increase titles without expense
• Streamline selection

2. BUY ALL APPROPRIATE REQUESTS
• One-stop shop
• Minimal cataloging/processing reduce wait time
• Equitable access from user account
• Reduce staff time across library
• Lower overall cost
• Increase diverse content
• Identify user interest

3. INTERLIBRARY LOAN AS A LAST RESORT


Achieved Outcomes

CATALOG UNOWNED ITEMS - 12 mos.
• 1,518 titles added
• 574 unique holds placed

BUY ALL APPROPRIATE REQUESTS - 8 mos.
• 2,429 requests - 150% increase
• 1,295 unique users - 700% increase
• Avg 21 day turnaround – 7 day decrease
• Reduce staff SP time 25%

STAFF/COST
• Reallocate 1 FT ILL staff
• Reduce avg ILL $110 cost per use to $20 per item
• Insignificant increase in SP cataloging

COLLECTION
• Noticeably more diverse titles suggested by patrons
• Staff initiated merchandising opportunity
• Supports DEI initiative