User:Cafefrog/nylink sandbox

Introduction
Nylink is a non-profit totally member supported collaborative serving libraries and cultural heritage organizations of all types. Based in Albany, New York, Nylink members are located in New York state and surrounding areas. Nylink’s 300 plus member institutions include academic libraries, public libraries, library systems, corporate libraries, court and government agency libraries, gardens, museums and other cultural heritage organizations. Additionally, Nylink has more than 2,000 affiliate institutions who participate in or acquire services Nylink offers.

History
Nylink was founded in 1973 as the SUNY/OCLC Network providing access and support to OCLC’s core services (cataloging and resource sharing) for New York State Libraries. Nylink is one of fifteen regional service providers (RSPs) for OCLC developed to provide personalized support to a suite of OCLC services. In April 1999, the SUNY/OCLC Network changed its name to Nylink, to reflect its more diverse membership and services.

Collaboration
Nylink’s mission is ”Supporting Libraries through Collaboration and Innovation.” Nylink accomplishes this through working with other NYS library organizations, other regional service providers as well as working for Libraries to provide training, support, and advocacy.

  2000: Nylink secured an IMLS grant to start Nylink's IT Fluency Institute. The Fluency Institute has developed into a year round continuing education program. Nylink’s professional development is available to institutions and staff any where and offers face to face and online classes.

 2001: Nylink was a voting member of the NISO standard Z39.85-2001, “Dublin Core Metadata Standard”. The Dublin Core metadata standard has become a mainstay in the library community to describe digital objects. 

 2006: Nylink and eleven other OCLC Networks joined together to form the Network Education Exchange (NEE). Through this agreement, Nylink members can take training classes at any other OCLC Network at member rates. 

Nylink has partnered with the Northeast Document Conservation Center, ENY/ACRL the Eastern New York division of the Association of College and Research Libraries , and Association for Library Collections and Technical Services (ALCTC) among others to provide training for librarians and information professionals.

Nylink works with the New York State Library Association participating on the Conference Program Committee, in NYLA Sections and filling the seat of publicity officer.

Nylink works with the New York State Higher Education Initiative (NYSHEI) recently negotiating the Elsevier contract for NYSHEI and Nylink to provide a substantial cost saving for New York libraries.

Nylink works with New York’s 3Rs Councils (NY3R’s) to support NYS Libraries, foster community, collaborate on training, and to provide access to databases and cataloging.

Resource Sharing Across New York
LAND, a statewide ground delivery service for transporting materials between participating libraries was created and is administered by Nylink. LAND participants are guaranteed pick up and delivery each day with a maximum delivery time of two days. For a flat rate, LAND participants can send and receive an unlimited number of items.

In January 2004, Nylink joined with SUNY Geneseo to start the IDS pilot program. The IDS Project is a cooperative resource sharing system designed to implement and evaluate a set of common transaction objectives, policies, and procedures among participating libraries that will help optimize mutual access to the information resources contained within those libraries. The foundation of the project is based upon each participating library meeting the performance standards outlined in the IDS Project contract, using the OCLC ILLiad Resource Sharing Management System and the LAND Delivery System. IDS has gained attention Nationwide through the ATLAS ILLiad conferences.

In June 2007, members of New York’s library community came together in Saratoga Springs to discuss and share ideas regarding the future of resource sharing in New York State. New York Resource Sharing Summit: Moving Ahead http://nylink.org/sharing/nyrss/default.cfm resulted in the formation of many groups:  Discovery Working Group Delivery Working Group Working Groups Charge Creation of a Discovery Working Group and a Delivery Working Group.</li></ul>

Additional Services
Nylink offers databases, E-book and journals, online encyclopedias, and other electronic resources to libraries at discounted rates. Nylink serves as the administrator on behalf of libraries, working with vendors, and providing the libraries with fiscal services and support. Nylink also offers consulting services on a wide range of subject areas.

Additional Links:
Nylink Blog:

Nylink Webpage:

OCLC:

De.lic.ious Links for Libraries:

IDS Project: