The History of WiLS, 1970-2008
by Kathy Schneider (WiLS Director, 3/1980 – 6/2011)
Wisconsin Library Services (WiLS) was the creation of the Council of Wisconsin Libraries (COWL) an organization representing the collective wisdom of the major Wisconsin library leaders in the late nineteen sixties. COWL itself was incorporated in 1970 as a not-for-profit corporation devoted to library cooperation and resource sharing. The Wisconsin Interlibrary Loan Service was COWL’s first venture into direct service. It was COWL’s intent to develop additional service programs in the future; thus the distinct name for their new service
The impetus for the creation of COWL came from the Coordinating Council on Higher Education (CCHE) which had recommended that a permanent group of librarians be appointed to continue studying library needs in Wisconsin. It was intended that this new organization would parallel the work of the statutory Council on Library Development which represented the interests of public and school libraries as an advisory group to the Division for Library Services in the Department of Public Instruction.
Participants in the first organizational meeting in October 1970 were those people who had served as an advisory body to the CCHE. The stated purpose of the new organization was “coordinating library activities of interest to librarians, especially with respect to cooperative activities.” The first areas singled out for study were creation of a cooperative interlibrary loan service and investigations into development of a statewide union list of serials.
November 1972 – COWL establishes WiLS to “provide access to the extensive resources available in the UW Madison campus library collections.” Operating out of space in the Memorial Library, WiLS began with two employees, four student assistants, a budget of $45,000 and forty-six participating libraries. Participants included twenty-seven UW campuses and nineteen private colleges & universities. In 1973/74, WiLS signed a resource sharing agreement with MINITEX (Minnesota Teletype Exchange – the WiLS counterpart in Minnesota and the model upon which WiLS was based), and a contract with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction to extend services to Wisconsin public libraries. For this first full year of operation, with a budget of $122,435, WiLS handled 48,795 interloan requests with a fill rate of 78%. Most libraries sent requests via the mail but there were eleven libraries using teletype transmission.
1976 – COWL takes on the role of contracting agent for the Ohio College Library Consortium (OCLC) on behalf of Wisconsin libraries, a role initially played by the UW Board of Regents, creating Wisconsin Library Consortium (WLC). This change allowed non UW libraries access to OCLC services. Twenty libraries joined the original nine UW libraries using OCLC for cataloging over the next year assisted by funding from LSCA and Kellogg Foundation grants. WLC operated side-by-side with WiLS under the same director, in the same office, and governed by COWL. With the increase of participating libraries and the anticipated growth from all types of libraries, COWL expanded its own organization in order to be “truly representative of the Wisconsin Library Community.” This included the addition of representation for public libraries and library systems, school and special libraries bringing the total group to twenty-one. (Appendix 1: COWL Changes in Membership)
1981/82 – COWL votes to combine Wisconsin Library Consortium (WLC) and Wisconsin Interlibrary Loan Services (WiLS) into one identity – Wisconsin Library Services (WiLS) – following years of general confusion regarding the two programs. At the same time COWL undertakes a complete overhaul of its By-Laws and another expansion of its membership. This time the group grew to twenty-eight voting members through the addition of one representative each for the Reference & Loan Library (DPI), Public Library Systems, Public Libraries, School Libraries, UW Centers/Extension, Vocational/Technical Colleges, and Health Science Libraries. COWL also changes the terminology of “permanent” member to indicate representation for Wisconsin’s major resource libraries as having permanent representation.
When WiLS interloan was established, participants paid fees based on their percentage of the total ILL traffic, averaged over two years, applied to the total operating budget. After a few years libraries sought a change in the fee structure to allow a more immediate response to changes in their usage. COWL approved a unit price per request to be effective in 1982/83 and at the same time created a Referral Credit program for libraries that filled requests referred to them by WiLS.
COWL completes a three year project adding serials holdings of twenty-eight Wisconsin libraries to the Minnesota Serials database enabling production of a microfiche Wisconsin Union List of Serials. An LSCA grant supported the production and distribution of the fiche and purchase of microfiche readers for two hundred and twenty-eight libraries as well as statewide training on union listing and the OCLC Serials Control Subsystem.
1982/83 – OCLC proposes a new contract for WiLS and all other comparable organizations across the country changing the nature of the relationship and attempting to establish ownership of the cataloging records of libraries. OCLC also files a copyright claim for their database. This is the beginning of a long and hostile battle.
WiLS completes a study comparing WiLS ILL with commercial document delivery services finding the latter to have a seven day turn-around-time at an average cost of $10.00 while WiLS shows a nine day turn-around-time with an average cost of $1.50.
1984/85 – WiLS returns $55,000 to members from COWL’s Fund Balance accumulated during high interest earning years. Following a member evaluation survey done in 1982/83, a new financial structure is created. The new structure establishes a Reserve Fund (for close of business), a Contingency Fund (for emergencies) and a Project Development Fund (for special projects).
WiLS produces the first OCLC-based Union List of Serials on microfiche representing holdings of three hundred and fifty libraries and establishes a Network Deposit account with the UMI Article Clearinghouse for use by member libraries.
1986/87 – COWL creates a New Technologies Information Service as a two and a half year pilot using Project Development Funds. Intended to examine new technology with potential application in and for libraries, the service offered on-demand research, product reviews and a newsletter NEW TECH NEWS. Some of the initial topics included CD-ROM drives, fiber optics, ways to project computer screens for large audiences and alternatives to OCLC for small libraries. At the same time COWL participated in a joint program with UW Madison focused on preservation education and training – Wisconsin Preservation Program (WISPPR).
WiLS begins brokering databases for members with the signing of a partnership agreement with SilverPlatter, Inc.
1988/89 – COWL authorizes creation of a Cooperative Purchasing Program as a distinct service of WiLS and signs agreements with additional database vendors. WiLS receives an HEA Title II D two year grant to “improve UW communications through email and fax.” The project included selection and purchase of equipment for major resource libraries with COWL funds subsidizing purchases for non UW libraries. As it nears its twentieth anniversary COWL re-focuses attention on its role of “planning and development” by creating five ad hoc planning committees: OCLC Future Directions, Marketing for School and Special Libraries, Changing Network Patterns & Electronic Information, Preservation Planning, and a New Technology Advisory Committee. The goal is to move beyond simply governing WiLS.
1990/91 – WiLS receives an Apple Library of Tomorrow grant of $29,000 of Apple equipment and development of software for tele facsimile transmission. The intent was to demonstrate the potential use of the internet for document delivery.
Considerable attention was given to WISCNET, the emerging state telecommunications network, during the year by the Technologies & Resource Sharing Committee.
WiLS produces the first Cooperative Purchasing Catalog offering a variety of databases from SilverPlatter and the Information Access Company plus 3M Tattle Tapes, CD-ROM drives (697 were sold) and member discounts from Highsmith and DEMCO. The growth of Cooperative Purchasing brought a significant growth in WiLS membership.
1991/92 – From the Annual Report overview of this twentieth anniversary of COWL:
“A look through the records and papers of the last twenty years shows that although WiLS now has a larger staff and a wider range of services than twenty years ago, we have remained true to the mission which was outlined in our original promotional brochure – to provide maximum and equitable multiple use of Wisconsin library resources with a minimum of effort and without conflict of interest. A program such as WiLS helps libraries in the state by supplementing local resources and enabling these libraries to provide service which they could not offer independently. Initially this mission was fulfilled through a statewide Interlibrary Loan Program. Over the years, four additional service programs have been added. The OCLC Training and Support Service was a mechanism for facilitating interloan and enhancing cataloging and resource sharing. The creation of both the New Technologies Information Service and the Wisconsin Preservation Program approached resource sharing from a somewhat different perspective. That is the sharing of expertise and combined efforts to address common library problems, specifically, coping with the future and preserving the past. The Cooperative Purchasing Program has brought resource sharing down to a more practical level with an emphasis on group buying power to contain costs.”
WiLS & UW Madison sponsored two day conference: Preservation of Electronic Formats/Electronic Formats for Preservation. Submitted joint grant proposal with Illinois State Library and MINITEX on Preservation Education & Training; proposal was not funded
1992/93 – Set up Gopher server and first email list for Wisconsin Libraries called WisLib and WiLSWire as internet connection for library staff offering dial-up access for email and listservs. This was a major step into new territory for WiLS. As stated in the Annual Report: “Members increasingly see WiLS as more of a gateway than a service provider…..must remember we are in the Resource Sharing business, not the business of interlibrary loan, OCLC, Etc. “
1993/94 – First WiLS training sessions offered via compressed video as result of the work of the COWL Distance Learning Planning Committee. First WiLSWorld Conference – conference focused on technology for libraries; two hundred and fifty people attended. Initial pilot project having WiLS serve as the lending agent for UW Madison. Membership jumped to two hundred and forty-six libraries mostly due to schools joining for New Tech News.
1994/95 – WiLS began using the South Central Library System delivery service as faster, and ultimately less expensive, than UPS. There is increased focus on union listing as sixty-three libraries began using WiLS for Local Data Record creation and maintenance. COWL approved a new “Vision of Resource Sharing” asserting “COWL’s role as an organization is to identify leading edge developments within the library community and encourage and facilitate other libraries following this lead.”
1995/96 – WiLS expands its physical footprint moving the interloan operation to newly remodeled space in the basement of Memorial Library and assuming responsibility for supervision of Memorial’s shipping and receiving. WiLS expands options for membership with the creation of three member categories: Basic Member (including New Tech News and access to Cooperative Purchasing), Resource Member (Basic services plus use of WiLS for interloan), and Full Member (access to all WiLS services including OCLC training and support).
COWL approves new Strategic Goals: (1) Facilitate implementation of a virtual statewide database of library holdings and information that includes circulation status and access policies and reduces the barriers to borrowing and disseminating materials among libraries; (2) Facilitate statewide access for library users to information/reference services and expertise through any library location in the State; coordinate statewide licensing arrangements with vendors of electronic information; if appropriate, negotiate licenses and/or arrange for central or regional access to electronic databases for Wisconsin users; (3) Improve the efficiency, cost effectiveness, and accessibility of interlibrary loan through the coordination and/or development of statewide courier/delivery options, and policies to move library resources between and among Wisconsin libraries; (4) Assure participation of Wisconsin libraries in emerging community networks as suppliers, producers, and users of electronic information; (5) Coordinate, develop, or facilitate the development of programs to assist libraries in providing user education to facilitate their role in teaching information-seeking skills to their users. Coordinate staff development programs for libraries, including technical support and training for libraries in accessing electronic resources, and assistance for libraries in meeting the challenges of providing services for distance learners; (6) Communicate to funding agencies and the citizenry of Wisconsin the societal, economic, cultural and educational value of libraries and promote the vision of libraries as an essential interface between people and information.”
1996/97 – First web-based Annual Report produced. WiLS completes a major consulting project for the Eastern Shores Library System designed to test the effectiveness of FirstSearch and OCLC ILL as a union catalog and resource sharing network within a public library system environment. This was intended to gather data that could be applied to the larger question of OCLC as the online statewide database for Wisconsin.
The COWL Electronic Reference Committee, charged with selecting electronic indexes and full text services for negotiation of statewide contract based on guidelines established the previous year, conducted a survey and provided two days of demonstration ultimately choosing to initiate negotiations with Information Access Company (IAC) for Expanded Academic Index ASAP, and for Britannica Online.
The COWL Public Relations Planning Committee wrote and produced an audiocassette on library issues that was distributed to Wisconsin legislators on WLA Legislative Day. COWL also contributed funds to the WLA Public Relations campaign to develop public service announcements for television.
WiLS worked with library staff at UW Milwaukee to test OCLC FirstSearch as a research tool for students in distance education class.
1997/98 – A year of great celebration as OCLC successfully loaded 133,833 serial records for UW Madison (preliminary discussions for this effort began in 1986), and, WiLS was named as one of three Best Lenders following a study conducted by the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) comparing lending and borrowing costs, turn-around-time, fill rate and user satisfaction. The average cost for lending across study participants (97 ARL libraries, 22 colleges) was $9.50; WiLS cost was $4.80.
Preservation program staff completes a two year LSCA funded project designed to develop and test a process for identifying, locating, assessing, and treating works of Wisconsin authors owned by Wisconsin libraries.
In May, 1998, COWL created a COWL Review Committee to “re-assess the purpose of the organization and identify its future directions.”
1998/99 – This was the first full year of WiLSWorks, internally developed program to automate interloan request processing and tracking. Seven UW campuses “turned on” OCLC ILL Direct offering unmediated borrowing for their patrons. Following extensive discussions with all of the various constituencies represented on COWL, focus groups and surveys of members and of neighboring state library agencies, the COWL Review Committee completed its work making the recommendation to eliminate itself as a separate entity making WiLS the official organization. Giving up its “statewide planning” role, the future would be focused solely on planning related to WiLS, WiLS services and WiLS members. A new governing board (reduced from twenty-seven to twelve) was designed to specifically represent the WiLS membership with positions determined by use of WiLS services within each type of library community. In writing a new mission the Committee assured that the organization is “still a cooperative of libraries concentrated on resource sharing to achieve a common goal of ever-improving and expanding information access and services for Wisconsin library users.”
1999/00 – This final year of COWL focused on the legal requirements for the transition from “COWL” to “WiLS” including election of new board members. As stated on March 2000 press release:
Nearly thirty years ago the Council of Wisconsin Libraries (COWL) developed a program office to provide services to Wisconsin Libraries. This program was initially named Wisconsin Interlibrary Loan Service (WiLS), later changed to Wisconsin InterLibrary Services as the service expanded. The Council served as a governing and planning body while WiLS has been the service organization operating under the direction and guidance of the Council. Following a yearlong review of mission and organization the Council determined that the interests of resource sharing in the state would be best served by merging these two identities under a single name. As it was believed that “WiLS” was more recognizable than “COWL,” the decision was to retain this identity under the full name of Wisconsin Library Services.
To follow through on the work of the COWL Distance Learning Committee WiLS worked with UW Stout’s Industrial Technology and Human Services Administration certificate programs and UW Whitewater’s School Media program as well as the Collaborative Nursing Program based at UW Madison to offer library services to these distance learners.
The Academic Library Consortium, inspired, facilitated and administered by WiLS, “went live” with its first shared collection of 536 ebooks through NetLibrary.
2001/02 – WiLS provides hosted or facilitated delivery of content to members via compressed video, satellite and direct to the work station web-based programming.
2002/03 – WiLS created a virtual reference consortium of Wisconsin libraries – Ask Wisconsin Libraries – through the QuestionPoint virtual reference service hosted by OCLC. Participants included academic and technical college libraries. WiLS also hosted a series of workshops on digital preservation beginning with “Developing and Managing Digital Projects.”
2003/04 – Six major publishers accuse WiLS of “unauthorized document delivery” and ordered WiLS to “cease all document delivery within the next ten days.” The UW Madison library director and the UW legal services work with WiLS to investigate (discovered that .19% of requests over a thirteen month period were from organizations without a clearly identified library) and write a response. Several procedural changes resulted: clarified language on the website that WiLS “only serves libraries,” ceased accepting requests via telephone and email, and stopped all service to commercial document delivery services.
WiLS, along with UW Madison, sponsored a working conference on how to coordinate access to Wisconsin’s digitized historical resources and identify options for linking of the various digital library collections. Participants voted to create a Digital Exploratory Committee, to be a joint effort between WiLS and the Department of Public Instruction, with a goal of building a “self-submit” register of digital projects.
WiLS created an OCLC WorldCat group as a virtual statewide union catalog.
2004/05 – “Dogs of Wisconsin Libraries” began as a model for sharing digital content. Initiated as a way to showcase the OCLC CONTENTdm digital management tools, the Dogs website quickly became an extremely popular site.
2005/06 – The OCLC’S WorldCat group catalog is dubbed “BadgerCat” with holdings of nearly five hundred libraries. WiLS Digital Planning Committee launches Wisconsin Heritage Online (WHO) including preservation recommendations, a collection development policy, selection criteria and marketing plans. The virtual reference consortium merged with several public library systems to create a single virtual reference service for the state now to be known as “AskAway.” Both the Academic Ebook Consortium and the Wisconsin Public Library Consortium ceased purchasing content from NetLibrary as a result of new rules requiring purchase of multiple copies of titles for shared collections.
2006/07 – The WiLS Board went through a Scenario Planning exercise and brought in a consultant to conduct a survey of the membership. Fifteen hundred individuals in WiLS member libraries and cultural heritage institutions were included. Key finding was: 84% of respondents found WiLS services to be “essential.”
WiLS purchased an online billing system to allow libraries to receive invoices electronically and to monitor their deposit accounts on the web.
2007/08 – Early in the year OCLC issued a new framework for the future relationship with WiLS and other comparable organizations. Key components included end-user pricing (organizations such as WiLS could no longer put a surcharge on OCLC services), OCLC assuming responsibility for on-going support for their products and services (traditionally a major role for WiLS), elimination of geographic boundaries for relationships (historically WiLS only served Wisconsin), and member access to a national calendar of training events provided by OCLC-certified trainers. WiLS and its peers were offered a role in limited areas of billing, marketing, implementation services for certain products, and possibly training. The Board spent considerable energy debating any continuing relationship with OCLC including discussions with member libraries. Ultimately it was decided to continue working with OCLC as in the best interests of members.
