The Boston Library Consortium (BLC) and the Partnership for Academic Library Collaboration and Innovation (PALCI) are pleased to announce the joint release of the Consortial Collaboration Framework for Resource Sharing. This resource is designed to help BLC and PALCI, as well as other library consortia, establish sustainable and reciprocal partnerships that expand access to information resources through coordinated collaboration.
Library consortia are uniquely positioned to pursue collaborative approaches that improve access to collections while advancing cost-effective and scalable services. An analysis of BLC resource sharing activity from 2018-2022 revealed that approximately 30-40% of member borrowing requests were fulfilled by libraries affiliated with other consortia, highlighting an opportunity to transform existing borrowing patterns into intentionally developed partnerships.
In January 2026, resource sharing practitioners and staff from BLC and PALCI formed a joint working group to explore this opportunity. The resulting framework articulates the philosophical, policy, technical, and social foundations that support effective cross-consortial resource sharing, providing a practical model for developing reciprocal partnerships that seek to improve fill rates and enhance the patron experience through the intentional development of resource sharing networks.
Drawing on the expertise and operational experience of both organizations, the framework is accompanied by implementation resources to help library consortia assess readiness, establish shared practices, and build collaborative agreements that can evolve over time. This initiative reflects the shared commitment of BLC and PALCI to advancing collective solutions that strengthen libraries, expand access to information resources, and foster a more connected and resilient resource sharing ecosystem.
Read the full report here.
About BLC
Boston Library Consortium empowers a coalition of libraries in the northeastern United States to share knowledge, infrastructure, and resources at scale. Founded in 1970, BLC’s strength lies in its diverse membership network of public and private universities, liberal arts colleges, state libraries, public libraries, and special libraries united by a commitment to champion innovation through collaboration. For more information, visit blc.org.
About PALCI
The Partnership for Academic Library Collaboration and Innovation (PALCI) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) consortium of 82 academic and research libraries in Pennsylvania and the surrounding region. Together, PALCI members serve more than 800,000 students, faculty, and staff in five states by advancing cost-effective and sustainable access to information resources and services. Known for its applied innovation, high-impact group negotiations, and the widely used EZBorrow consortial interlibrary loan service, PALCI supports collaboration through shared collections programs, resource sharing services, and pioneering standards-based approaches to library technology. Founded in 1996 as the Pennsylvania Academic Library Consortium, Inc., PALCI continues to foster collective solutions that strengthen libraries and the communities they serve. See the full list of PALCI member libraries at https://palci.org/about/members/member-list