Prospector Resource Sharing 

CONTACT  AND COMMUNICATION

• Prospector Contact List
• Meeting Recordings/Minutes 
• Prospector Resource Sharing Listserv
   

TECHNICAL DOCUMENTS​

• Prospector Mobius Ptypes & Itypes
• INN-Reach Circulation Status Codes
• Prospector Contribution Codes

POLICIES

• Prospector Loan Rules
• Prospector Reconciliation Policy
• Prospector Replacement Policy
• Lending New Items through Prospector
• Eric Microfiche Agreement
• Visiting Patron List

RECONCILIATION PROCESS

• Prospector Reconciliation Policy
• 2021 Master Reconciliation List 
• Oct 2023 Reconciliation Instructions and Timeline for 2022 Institutional Overdues

BEST PRACTICES

• Best Practices Document
• Anythink's Prospector & Courier Best Practices

PAGING SLIP TEMPLATES

Basic Instruction on print templates (Shad Harder, Carla Myers-UCCS)

• 101: http://libguides.uccs.edu/c.php?g=117509&p=764715
• 102: http://libguides.uccs.edu/c.php?g=117510&p=764853

Paging Slip Template Examples

• Paging Slip Template (customized by Sarah Vaughn, UNC)
• Paging Slip Template (customized by Brandon Cole, Marmot)

PROCEDURAL DOCUMENTS

• Processing Prospector Items
• INN-Reach Reports Detailed with Screen Shots 
• INN-Reach Reports Description and Handling 
• Prospector & Courier Best Practices (Anythink Libraries)
• Springer Ebooks-Lending Library Instructions
• Springer Ebook Contacts (See column "Q" on list)

DIGITAL LENDING

• Providers and Lending Libraries
• Digital Lending FAQ
• SILLVR FAQ 
• SILLVR Contacts (Column "Q" on list)
• Springer Ebooks-Lending Library Instructions
• Springer Ebook Contacts (column "R" on list )

MOBIUS RESOURCES

• ​MOBIUS pickup location codes
• MOBIUS library contacts
• Peer-to-Peer with MOBIUS

Prospector Training and Marketing Materials

Marketing

• SILLVR logo 
• Prospector FLC Brochure
• Prospector Logo (horizontal banner)
• Prospector gold miner image

Presentations 

Short Videos

• Requesting E-Resources through Prospector
• Prospector staff page (Doc Delivery)
• Encore versus Classic

Prospector is a union catalog of  nearly 200 academic, public and special libraries in Colorado and Wyoming. Prospector gives library patrons and staff access to more than 30 million books, journals, DVDs, CDs, videos and other materials held in the Prospector member libraries. With a single search, patrons can find materials and request free delivery to their local library via the Colorado Library Courier. 

Prospector Lending Policy

There are some exceptions, but most items in Prospector follow these lending policies:

• 21 day loan period (1 week for most DVDs, CDs, and videotapes)
• 1 renewal (No renewal for most DVDs, CDs, and videotapes)
• Up to 70 requests/check-outs per person. However, local library limits may be more restrictive and take precedence over Prospector limits. 
• Overdue fines and fees will be determined by your local library (the library whose card you used to check-out the item) 
• If all copies of materials are checked-out a hold may be placed although books may not be recalled
• Springer and Elsevier ebooks are requestable through Prospector and have the same checkout period as print books.  They are downloadable as PDF files. Other ebooks from publishers or vendors are not available through Prospector.
• Some streaming videos may also be available through Prospector.  Lending policies for these items are dictated by license agreements and may be shorter than 21 days and don't allow renewals.

Technical Information

Prospector runs on the Innovative Interfaces, Inc. (III) software module called INN-Reach, which is administered through III but maintained locally by Alliance staff. Libraries who use a non-III system can still join Prospector. For more information, contact help-at-coalliance.org.  

History

Prospector was originally developed with funds awarded through a state technology grant in 1999. Prospector went live with 19 libraries and has more than doubled in members over the last several years.

Governance

The Prospector Directors Group consists of Alliance and non-Alliance deans and directors of Prospector member libraries. There is an Annual Prospector Director's meeting held in November.  There is also a Prospector preconference each year at the Colorado Interlibrary Loan Conference .

There are two standing Prospector committees: Catalog Reference and Document Delivery that meet regularly to discuss policies and procedures.  Committees are chaired by staff from member libraries.  A representative from the Alliance sits on both committees helping to oversee activities and organize meetings. 

Brief History

The Colorado Alliance of Research Libraries is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that began in 1974 and was formally incorporated as a non-profit in 1981 by Ward Shaw, the founding executive director. From the beginning, the consortium was designed to help research and educational institutions share information resources and reduce operating costs by working together.

In 1982, the organization began development of the CARL integrated library system (ILS) to replace the traditional card catalogs at the Alliance member libraries. In 1988, CARL formed “CARL Systems Incorporated,” a for-profit subsidiary whose purpose was to market the CARL ILS. The organization also launched an article request and delivery system called “UnCover” in 1988.

In 1995, the consortium sold CARL Systems, Inc. and UnCover, plus the “CARL” name, to Knight-Ridder Information, Inc. With that sale, the consortium legally became “The Alliance.” There is no current affiliation between The Alliance and these historical products, and The Alliance no longer uses the "CARL" acronym.

An early history of CARL was published by Steve Fisher, University Historian at the University of Denver, in a 2009 article in Collaborative Librarianship.  Alan Charnes became the second executive director in 1991 until his retirement in 2011 (a tribute to Alan was published in Collaborative Librarianship in 2011).  Alan was succeeded by George Machovec who remains as the current executive director.

The Colorado Alliance of Research Libraries (The Alliance) increases, enhances, and facilitates cooperation among libraries. The Alliance achieves its mission in the following four strategic areas:

Library Services
Facilitate, develop, and improve library services to students, faculty, and the general public.

Library Resources
Share, leverage, and expand library resources.

Access to Information
Promote information creation, collection, access, preservation, storage, and distribution.

Collaboration
Engage in cost-effective collaboration among participating libraries.

The Colorado Alliance of Research Libraries is managed by its Board of Directors and Member Council. The Board focuses on fiscal matters related to the consortium. Member Council (library deans/directors) provide guidance and direction related to the projects and activities offered by the consortium.

Board of Directors

The business affairs of the Alliance are managed by the Board of Directors, according to the provisions of the Alliance Bylaws. The Board meets on a quarterly basis to manage the financial interests of the organization and provide broad oversight of the consortium's activities. 

Members of the Board of Directors

Last updated October 2023

Member Council

Operating within the general policies established by the Board of Directors, the Alliance Member Council meets every two months to discuss the mission-related activities of the Alliance. The Alliance Member Council is composed of the Dean or Director of each Alliance member institution library (or their representatives). From time to time, the Council will establish task forces or committees to examine topics of interest to the members.

Member Council Members

Last updated October 2023

Address

We are located on the fifth floor of the Belcaro Place office building. Our address is:

• 3801 E Florida Ave, Suite 515
• Denver, CO 80210

Parking

There is free two and four hour visitor parking located around the building. There is also short-term parking along Jackson Street.

Current Members

Contact the Executive Director for more information about membership in the Alliance.

• Colorado College
  • Tutt Library
• Colorado Mesa University
  • Tomlinson Library
• Colorado School of Mines
  • Arthur Lakes Library
• Colorado State University
  • CSU Libraries
• CU Boulder
  • CU Boulder Libraries
• Denver Public Library
• Regis University
  • Regis Libraries
• University of Colorado Colorado Springs
  • Kraemer Family Library
• University of Colorado Denver
  • Auraria Library
• Metropolitan State University of Denver
  • Auraria Library
• Community College of Denver
  • Auraria Library
• United States Air Force Academy (USAFA)
  • McDermott Library and the Base Library
• University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
  • Henry Strauss Health Sciences Library
• University of Denver
  • University of Denver Libraries
• University of Northern Colorado
  • UNC Libraries
• University of Wyoming
  • UW Libraries
• Western Colorado University
  • Leslie J. Savage Library
• Colorado State University-Pueblo
  • CSU-Pueblo University Library

About The Alliance

The Colorado Alliance of Research Libraries, commonly referred to as "The Alliance," is a consortium of sixteen libraries located in Colorado and Wyoming. Founded in 1974 to consider ways of sharing resources, the consortium continues working toward that objective. The driving force is cooperation and the sharing of purchasing power, materials, and ideas.

Member-Driven Services

The Alliance helps member libraries work together to stay ahead in the rapidly changing world of libraries and information management.

Membership is not limited to Colorado or to academic institutions. Many Alliance services extend beyond the formal membership and are available to any library in the Rocky Mountain region or even across the U.S.

The regional nature of the consortium makes the Alliance large enough for a diversity of perspectives and nimble enough to meet changing needs with practical, achievable solutions developed by groups of committed libraries.

Working Together

Individual libraries can multiply their influence by working collaboratively with their peers. By negotiating on behalf of groups of libraries, the Alliance influences publishers, vendors, and software providers to provide lower costs and better functionality.

Software and Infrastructure Solutions

At the core of many of the Alliance's services are software products designed, enhanced, or maintained by the Alliance. We offer hosting for open-source software on locally managed infrastructure so our members can focus on content and services to their customers.

Staying Current

The Alliance offers conferences, vendor presentations, and round tables to help members stay current with developing trends. Examples of past programs include:

• Copyright and fair use
• Discovery interfaces
• Digital preservation and data curation
• Library assessments and metrics
• Presentations and workshops from vendors such as Credo Literati, ArtStor, BiblioBoard, and Springer.