Quick Summary
MNLINK, Minnesota's statewide interlibrary loan service, has relaunched with a new, user-friendly platform. The updated system provides access to millions of items from libraries across the state. The new platform will enable Minnesotans to easily borrow books, movies, articles and more for many years to come.
Minnesota libraries offer one of America's best interlibrary loan services. It’s online, it’s easy to use, and best of all, there’s no cost to use it. All that’s necessary is a library card, and a visit to mnlink.org. Through MNLINK, Minnesotans have access to the catalogs of most libraries in the state. The combined collection of MNLINK has tens of millions of items for library patrons to choose from, including books, music, movies, articles, and more. Requested items are delivered to the local library; article copies are delivered directly to email.
The people of Minnesota know they have something special in MNLINK. The benefit from it every day. “As a professional writer and researcher,” said one patron from Southeastern Minnesota, “I am immensely grateful for MNLINK.” Another patron, from the Twin Cities Metro, commented simply, “MNLINK is a treasure that has greatly enriched my life.”
MNLINK is a treasure, but it cannot be static. After twenty years, it needs to shift and grow with its participating libraries and with advances in technology. That’s a tall order: MNLINK weaves together the collections of more than 500 libraries from 25 individual library systems across Minnesota, as well as digital resources from the Minnesota Digital Library and Ebooks Minnesota. It’s an endeavor that relies upon the efforts of libraries all across Minnesota. Just this year, MNLINK was completely remade and relaunched. As a result, Minnesotans will have access to MNLINK’s massive combined collection for many years to come.
All the work that led to the relaunch started two years ago when Minitex, the organization that runs MNLINK, learned that MNLINK’s software would be retired by its vendor. Minitex immediately began planning for a replacement by establishing the MNLINK Transition Task Force, ten library staff from eight libraries, to lead the search. In June 2023, they recommended an open-source platform, Project ReShare, to do the job. In the year that followed, Minitex and its partners in the library community, in collaboration with service provider Index Data, implemented the new software. The result is an interlibrary loan service that preserves features from the old system and adds some new ones, too.
MNLINK’s move to the ReShare platform has set Minnesota’s interlibrary loan service on a firm foundation for the future. “The new MNLINK is easy to use, fast, and efficient,” says Gerri Moeller, Minitex Associate Director. “Everybody at Minitex is excited to offer MNLINK on a modern platform that’s going to serve us well for a long time.”
The new system works well for patrons. You can log into MNLINK with the same credentials you use at your local library. After that, it only takes a quick search and a few clicks to send your request to the owning library. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, you can share what you know, and send that request to interlibrary loan staff who can use their expertise to make additional searches on your behalf.
MNLINK is well-suited to library staff, too, thanks to full integration into workflows at participating libraries and Minitex. Minitex and MNLINK member library staff will work with other Project Reshare members to develop and grow the software. By joining the community, Minitex has become part of an international group of library consortia working together to shape the future of collaborative infrastructure for libraries.
About Minitex
Minitex is an information and resource sharing program of the Minnesota Office of Higher Education and the University of Minnesota Libraries. Its mission is to strengthen libraries, cultural institutions, and their communities by connecting them with information, ideas, and experiences that enrich lives and strengthen communities.
About Project ReShare
The ReShare Community is a group of libraries, consortia, information organizations, and developers with a shared vision of creating a user-centered, app-based, community-owned resource sharing platform.
