Request It: Collaborative Acquisitions

Kansas City Public 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

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