Increases in minicomputer capacities in the late 1970's led to the development of minicomputer-based turnkey systems large enough to support the activities of a number of libraries on one Central Processing Unit. Public libraries took the lead in grouping to take advantage of the economies of scale available to institutions able to share turnkey systems. Such academic consortia as were formed for library automation before this time had used mainframe systems. By 1980 some academic and public libraries had begun to share systems.
School libraries have until recently stood on the sidelines. In the last year, however, at least two high school libraries have begun to share automated systems with nearby public libraries.
The first school library to share a turnkey system is located in Egg Harbor (NJ) where a high school library began using a nearby public library's CLSI system in 1981. More recently the West Valley High School of Fairbanks, AK received an Alaska State Library grant to tie into the CLSI system of the Fairbanks North Star Borough Public Library. The Alaskan libraries are charged with sharing their experiences with other school and public libraries that may wish to consider similar arrangements. [Contact: Marvin Smith, Fairbanks North Star Borough Public Library, 1215 Cowles Street, and Margie Thomas, West Valley High School, 3800 Geist Road, Fairbanks, AK 99701).
