Over the past several years, our consortium has focused on making our shared system more consistent and easy to manage. By aligning settings and simplifying configuration across member libraries, we've reduced complexity, improved data quality, and made the system more intuitive for both staff and patrons. Areas of focus were: Reducing and standardizing collection codes Establishing standard loan periods Moving to automatic renewals consortium-wide Implementing a two-month or less embargo period for new items Reducing patron codes and expanding use of statistical class codes Consolidating fine codes for libraries still using them We'll discuss how these changes were proposed, evaluated, and implemented across diverse member libraries, along with the challenges, lessons learned, and benefits realized. Attendees will gain insights into how standardization can enhance efficiency, improve reporting, and deliver a more consistent patron experience.
