Fogler Library expanding partnership, project through Maine Shared Collections Cooperative
The Maine Shared Collections Cooperative, founded by eight of Maine’s largest libraries including Raymond H. Fogler Library at the University of Maine, is expanding its partnership with Online Computer Library Center’s (OCLC) Sustainable Collection Services.
The groups will expand a project to analyze library collections throughout Maine and ensure that important print works are identified, retained and shared among state libraries.
“This shared-print retention project is important because all libraries are doing independent withdrawal and weeding projects, and we want to make sure that we don’t lose valuable content in the midst of that work,” says Matthew Revitt, Special Collections and Maine Shared Collections librarian at UMaine. “We protect titles for the patrons and users of libraries in Maine primarily, but obviously that means that patrons outside of the state will benefit as well.”
Fogler Library has made a vital contribution to the progress of the Maine Shared Collections Cooperative, both as one of its eight founding partners, and also as the administrative host for the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) grant that helped fund the program’s first four years.
In 2014, Fogler Library created a position to oversee the program’s day-to-day activities, recruit and work with new members, and plan for the 2019 group collection analysis project. UMaine also continues to act as the administrative host for the group analysis, signing the contract with OCLC on behalf of the participating libraries.