Gary noted at this point that a major issue to consider is how we might deal with existing delivery services when me make our recommendations concerning a statewide system. Cost and how to provide for non-TexShare partners will be major issues. Libraries in the area maintain close relationships and offer reciprocal borrowing privileges to students, faculty, and staff. Daily pickup and next-day delivery are features of the agreement. Items must be packaged by library staff, and only ILL materials are included.
Libraries maintain records of items being shipped.
A copy of UTEP's contract with Pony Express was distributed to the group. AHE is a longstanding organization of 56 academic institutions and businesses primarily in the Dallas-Forth Worth area, although it extends as far as Midwestern State University to the west, Baylor to the south, and ETSU to the east. The library component of AHE is an example of a classic multitype library cooperative program. Copies of the AHE courier service contract with MDH Couriers and of the courier schedule were distributed to the group. Some former members of AHE, such as the Dallas Public Library, are no longer members of the consortium but continue to participate in the courier program.