This contract strengthens the Tri-University Library initiative. We are now positioned to enable comprehensive delivery of shared resources and services to our user community. These meetings have led to several projects which are now underway as part of an effort to improve access to our collections, to manage collections more effectively, to provide enhanced reference service, and to conserve human resources and share expertise. Discussions about access to our local government documents collections through our OPACs have focused on commonalities and differences. As a result of this fruitful discussion, the TUG Government Documents Group will prepare a list of records to be added to the prototype database and will communicate with other groups involved in the new system implementation to ensure that our concerns and needs are addressed.
Explorations are underway to create and maintain a common web page for government information.
A prototype is being created at the University of Waterloo Library which will utilize the Virtual Approval Shelf to add electronic resources to an existing area shared by the three institutions. Responsibilities of each institution will be based on broad subject areas. Because the government documents collections vary in size among Wilfrid Laurier, Guelph, and Waterloo, this project provides an opportunity for each institution to make a significant contribution. More than most discipline areas, government information is increasingly being delivered over the Internet, which is becoming the favoured mode of delivery by many government bodies worldwide. This critical and labour intensive activity is an ideal choice for shared responsibility.