How PALCI Supports Members’ Missions

The PALCI Service Framework explains how our consortium organizes and delivers services so that member libraries can expand access to information, reduce costs, and collaborate more effectively.

PALCI offers two types of services:

• Common Services – included as part of annual membership dues

• Optional/Opt-in Services – available a-la-carte so that members can choose what fits their needs

In 2021, the PALCI Board determined that certain strategic services and programs should be included in PALCI dues to ensure equitable distribution of costs and to demonstrate a commitment to the organization’s mission and vision. The PALCI Future Framing Task Force and Implementation Team developed the PALCI service model framework as a way of describing the services and offerings PALCI provides to its members, some of which are held in common by all members and funded collectively, and others of which are optional, offered in an opt-in model. By and large, most PALCI offerings remain available on an opt-in basis. However, key services, like PALCI’s shared index and PALCI EZBorrow consortial borrowing program are now included in PALCI dues.

This structure ensures that strategic, high-impact activities are supported collectively, while allowing flexibility for individual priorities.

Common Services — Included With Membership

These services are included in membership dues and reflect shared investment in activities that benefit all PALCI partners. Members are not required to use every service, but all contribute to sustaining them.

Central Staffing & Operations

PALCI’s professional staff coordinate consortium programs, negotiate group agreements, and provide ongoing operational support so that member libraries can focus on local strategy and service delivery.

PALCI Shared Index (Reservoir) & Discovery + Fulfillment (EZBorrow), powered by ReShare open source software

A shared index and discovery platform makes it simpler for libraries to understand what is collectively held and shared, and for library users to search across member collections, improving access to more materials without added local infrastructure.

EZBorrow — Consortial Borrowing Made Easy

EZBorrow is a fast, easy resource-sharing service that lets students, faculty, and researchers request and receive books and other physical materials from more than 70 partner libraries. It expands access, extends consistent policy decisions and best practices consortium-wide to save staff time, and improves turnaround times compared to traditional interlibrary loan. In addition, PALCI is actively working to expand the power of this service to support digital sharing and cross-consortial collaborations that will further enhance the value of EZBorrow for members.

Collections Opportunity Fund

This small, targeted fund allows for limited, strategic support of collaborative initiatives that align with consortium priorities, helping members experiment with new or innovative approaches to collections and access without bearing the full financial risk alone.

Innovation Support

PALCI drives innovation on behalf of members, exploring emerging technologies, collaborative tools, and shared services that enhance libraries’ ability to serve their parent organizations now and into the future.

Optional / Opt-in Services — Customized Participation

The majority of PALCI offerings are those that libraries can elect to participate in based on their goals and budgets. Fees for these programs cover the full cost of delivery and allow libraries to tailor their engagement. Even many of PALCI’s current “PALCI-wide” collections initiatives were offered to members with an opt-in approach that reached sufficient participation to “unlock” access for all.

Subscription & Content Purchases

Members can join pooled negotiations for electronic resources and services, leveraging collective scale for better pricing and terms.

Digital Services & Projects

PALCI collaborates with members and other partners on digital initiatives, including technology pilots, shared infrastructure, and community-driven development projects. Offerings like the Hyku Commons Repository Service, which is provided jointly through a partnership with the PALNI consortium, are developed and hosted with selected development and hosted service provider partners, and then offered to members at cost recovery rates. These projects and services offer libraries choices in a highly consolidated library marketplace, and create channels for agency, empowering libraries to influence the direction of key infrastructures.

Innovation Support

In addition to innovation activities sustained through common resources, PALCI offers targeted innovation support for projects selected by participating members.

Why This Framework Matters

PALCI’s model blends members’ distinctive collective strength with choice:

• Equitable access: All members benefit from services that support core goals and promote a sustainable, healthy sharing ecosystem.

• Custom engagement: Libraries choose the optional services that best fit their local needs and strategic plans.

• Cost-efficiency: Shared investment and collaborative purchasing reduce duplication of effort, enhance staff capacity, share expertise, and amplify library bargaining power.

• Strategic innovation: Emerging needs in scholarly communication, technology, and collections are addressed collaboratively, not in isolation.

Who Benefits

PALCI members serve faculty, students, and researchers across a diverse range of institutions — from smaller liberal arts colleges to large public research universities. Through collaboration, members extend their reach and impact while focusing local resources where they matter most.

Learn More & Join Us

PALCI invites academic and research libraries seeking to enhance access, strengthen resource sharing, and participate in a vibrant collaborative community to explore membership.

• View full service descriptions

• See member testimonials

• Request information about joining

Visit palci.org/about/membership to take the next step.