Libraries of Union County Consortium

Libraries of Union County Consortium
Name	Libraries of Union County Consortium
Established	1975
Type	Public library consortium
Location	Union County, Ohio
Website	www.unioncountylibraries.org

Libraries of Union County Consortium is a cooperative system of public libraries serving the residents of Union County, Ohio. Formed in the mid-1970s, the consortium facilitates resource sharing, joint programming, and centralized technological services among its member institutions. This collaboration enhances the scope and efficiency of library services across the county, from Marysville to Richwood.

History and formation

The consortium was formally established in 1975 through a collaborative agreement among several independent public libraries within Union County, Ohio. This initiative was driven by the need to improve service efficiency and expand access to materials following the passage of key federal legislation like the Library Services and Construction Act. Early efforts focused on creating a unified catalog and implementing an inter-library loan system, modeled after successful cooperatives in other regions like the Cleveland network. The founding members included the Marysville Public Library and the Richwood-North Union Public Library, which were instrumental in drafting the original bylaws and securing initial funding through local levies and state grants from the State Library of Ohio.

Member libraries

The consortium comprises seven public library systems, each serving distinct municipalities and townships across the county. The anchor institution is the Marysville Public Library, which also houses the consortium's administrative offices. Other key members include the Richwood-North Union Public Library, the Jerome Township Public Library, and the Union Township Public Library in Milford Center. The network also encompasses branches in Plain City, Magnetic Springs, and Unionville Center. Each member maintains its local board of trustees and unique collection strengths, such as the Marysville Public Library's extensive local history archive or the Richwood-North Union Public Library's agricultural resource center.

Services and resources

The consortium provides a wide array of shared services, most notably a unified online public access catalog (OPAC) that allows patrons to search and request materials from any member location. This is supported by a daily delivery service for physical items between branches. The consortium also offers reciprocal borrowing privileges, granting cardholders access to collections across all seven libraries. Specialized resources include shared digital subscriptions to platforms like OverDrive for e-books and Ancestry.com for genealogical research. Joint programming initiatives, such as the annual Union County summer reading challenge and author visits coordinated with the Ohioana Library Association, are central to its mission.

Governance and funding

Governance is overseen by a board of directors composed of representatives from each member library's board of trustees, along with the consortium's executive director. This board meets quarterly to set policy, approve budgets, and coordinate strategic planning. Primary funding is derived from a combination of local property tax levies allocated to each member library, with additional support from the State Library of Ohio and federal grants administered through the Institute of Museum and Library Services. A portion of each library's operating budget is contributed to the consortium for centralized services like the shared catalog system and the delivery van fleet.

Technology and digital initiatives

A cornerstone of the consortium's operation is its integrated library system (ILS), currently the Evergreen open-source platform, which manages circulation, cataloging, and patron accounts across all locations. The consortium maintains a robust digital presence, offering access to streaming media via Hoopla and online learning courses through LinkedIn Learning. It has also implemented innovative projects like a county-wide Wi-Fi hotspot lending program and technology training labs funded in part by grants from the Gates Foundation. These initiatives ensure digital equity, particularly in rural areas of Union County, Ohio.

Community impact and outreach

The consortium plays a vital role in community development, providing essential services like notary publics, passport acceptance, and mobile library stops in underserved townships. Its outreach extends to partnerships with local institutions such as the Union County Board of Developmental Disabilities, the Memorial Hospital of Union County, and the Union County Farmers Market. Signature programs include early literacy initiatives in collaboration with Dolly Parton's Imagination Library and career counseling services tied to the Ohio Means Jobs center. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the consortium was critical in distributing PPE and providing internet access for students engaged in remote learning with local school districts like the Marysville Exempted Village School District.

Category:Library consortia in the United States Category:Union County, Ohio Category:Organizations based in Ohio Category:1975 establishments in Ohio