In mid-2025 we recruited for a project group to investigate Digital Resource Sharing in the Alliance! In the past five years, there has been consistent member interest in developing the digital equivalent of the Alliance’s successful Summit physical resource sharing program. This interest was formally explored and documented in 2021 for the Approaching the Digital Summit whitepaper, and re-articulated in the Alliance’s current strategic plan as a strategic priority: “Optimize digital resource sharing through strategic use of tools and content.”

In order to provide a tangible model for deliberation and decision-making on next steps, the Digital Resource Sharing Project Group (DigPG) will explore opportunities, products, and workflows, and share their findings with the Alliance Board and Council in mid-2026.

Check back as we will post our findings and outcomes on this page as we continue our exploration.

Charge

The Digital Resource Sharing Project Group (DigPG) is charged with the following.

Activities:

• Describe and document the workflows, local policy considerations (including load balancing and staffing), and cost impacts of implementing Alliance-wide non-returnable resource sharing via Alma Resource Sharing
• Identify, describe, and document the workflows, local policy considerations, and staffing/cost impacts of implementing the most viable alternative to Alma Resource Sharing, including, but not limited to, ReShare.
• Using comparator consortia for reference, identify and describe possible shared practices and/or policies to improve digital resource sharing across Alliance members
• Examine workflows from Alliance members who are already using Alma for local digitization requests and identify potentials to extrapolate existing practices to Summit.
• Identify costs, restrictions, and requirements for developing and maintaining central storage of scanned materials
• Consider member hardware and software needs related to increased scanning requests and the potential for grants or awards that might improve our readiness for the expansion

Deliverables:

The DigPG will prepare a report for the Alliance Board and Council, detailing their activities, findings, and recommendations, to be delivered no later than June 2026, and to include:

• Considerations and recommendations for next steps in decision-making regarding an all-in approach to digital resource sharing via Alma Resource Sharing
• Considerations and recommendations for next steps in decision-making regarding an all-in approach to digital resource sharing via the best viable alternative to Ex Libris
• Recommendations for new shared practices and/or policies to improve digital resource sharing across Alliance members