"The most important resource of the TriUniversity Group of Libraries is its staff. It is their expertise, dedication and commitment to service that have made the collaboration both possible and successful."
- The University Librarians

TUG PROGRAMS
“Sometimes you gotta create what you want to be a part of.” - Geri Weitzman

The 1995 TUG partnership agreement set a general goal that the three libraries should work towards integrated access to collections and services. We identified three specific areas of collaboration:

• A joint storage facility for little used library materials
• An integrated online library system
• Collaborative information resources and services development
  

1. The TUG Annex, located in an industrial park in Guelph, provides secure, high-density accommodation for little used volumes transferred from the three university libraries. Guelph University Library manages the TUG Annex.

2. Intercampus article and book delivery service, which provides a twice-daily delivery of books and journal articles among the three libraries and the TUG Annex. This service enables faculty, students, and staff of the University of Guelph, University of Waterloo, and Wilfrid Laurier University to request books and journal articles available within TUG but not at the home site. The transportation service is contracted to Central Stores at the University of Waterloo and is cost effective.

3. TRELLIS, the combined online catalogue of the University of Guelph, the University of Waterloo, and Wilfrid Laurier University libraries is a major example of co-operation. TUG members developed a plan for the selection of one library computer system for three that had grown obsolete. The three libraries examined the marketplace and decided together to implement a common system. The libraries and, especially the users, have derived many benefits from operating one system, with the regular exchange of experience and enhancements. TRELLIS is housed on servers located and maintained at UW, managed by a TUG/IST group; a single database provides the foundation from which other TUG services are enabled.

4. Common lending and borrowing policies across TUG. In anticipation of an integrated system, the libraries developed ways to harmonize circulation policies so that borrowers could access collections located in any of the libraries without needing to be familiar with three different sets of policies and regulations. The resultant lending policy became effective in May 1998 and is revised periodically.

5. Staff development. When possible, joint sessions for the library staff of the three universities and other invited librarians are organised. Regular communication on potential programs is a feature of TUG co-operation. Co-operative staff-development ventures have included: Managing Change in Collaborative Environment, Collection Development and Co-operation, and Cognos PowerPlay Training. See Appendix A for a list of collaborative learning opportunities.

6. Resource sharing services:
   
   1. Data Resources Service (TDR) Members of the centres for data resources on each campus and representatives from University of Guelph Computing and Communications Services and University of Waterloo Information Systems and Technology joined forces to create a centralized on-line data service. TDR allows users to access and process large data files over the Internet. This data includes a large collection of survey results from Statistics Canada, a number of surveys from international sources, and data collected by local researchers. The main focus of TUG’s centralized service is a joint web site where all shared data is mounted and maintained on a single web site. Individual libraries maintain data licensed for the local community and offer support and service to their community of users. Overviews of each data centre including services offered and hours of operation can be found at:
      • University of Guelph Data Resource Centre
      • University of Waterloo Electronic Data Service
      • Wilfrid Laurier University
        

      Background documents related to the creation of this joint venture may be found by following the PUBLICATIONS link on the “About TDR” web page.

   2. The TUG Interlibrary Loan/Document Delivery (ILL/DD) Web Page provides users with information on Interlibrary Loan Borrowing policies. The site also provides institution-specific electronic request forms. Each ILL/DD site works on behalf of its own users to borrow books or obtain photocopies of items not held in the TUG Libraries. The Lending side of the Web site (“External Institutions” link) provides policy and contact information to the libraries and research centres that make requests from our collection. In anticipation of the OCUL implementation of VDX, the three ILL sites continue to work on harmonization of ILL/DD policies and procedures.

   3. Journal Index Database Services including CSA and ERL. Content coverage includes the life sciences, environmental and aquatic sciences, computer sciences, materials science and engineering, aerospace, social sciences, and humanities.

   4. The TUG Full Text Electronic Journals (ejournals) Web Page provides users with a dynamically delivered searchable Web interface to almost 6,000 ejournals available to TUG users. The Web interface allows users to view ejournals licensed to their institution or choose to view lists of ejournals available at other TUG institutions. The site provides various searching options to help users identify ejournals of interest, including quick title keyword or phrase searching, combining keywords in an advanced search, or a browsable subject or alphabetical list. Staff at the 3 sites cooperatively develop and maintain both the underlying database and Web delivery mechanism. Ejournals are also listed in the online catalogue, TRELLIS.
      

   5. The Electronic Reference Collection is a quick reference that points to a range of major, general-level sources, some of which have been purchased and some of which are freely available on the Internet. In the collection you will find links to:
      
      • Encyclopaedias
        
      • Quotations
        
      • Scientific Data & Measurement, and much more

      This site is developed and maintained by the TUG Electronic Reference Collection Group.
      

   6. TUG Information Resources Group works towards achieving rationalized collections and harmonized electronic information resources, which meet the needs of and can be accessed for, the greatest benefit of TUG users. Each university has unique program needs, and collaborative collections work will occur when there is mutual benefit.
      

   7. The TUG Home Page provides basic information about TUG collaborations and directs users to the individual library web sites as well as to major TUG resources that are accessible to the public (e.g., TRELLIS). Each TUG library has its own home page that is the main gateway to library resources for that university's community.