About Suburban Library Cooperative

44750 Delco Blvd. Sterling Heights, MI 48313

Who We Are

The Suburban Library Cooperative is a network of public libraries in the Macomb County area which have joined together to secure services which can be performed more effectively and economically as a group. Established in 1978 under Michigan Public Act 89 of 1977, the Cooperative provides member libraries with several important services, ranging from automated circulation of library materials to access to the Internet. The Suburban Library Cooperative also assists member libraries in a variety of ways in their efforts to better serve the public. Libraries in the following communities are members of the Suburban Library Cooperative: Armada, Center Line, Chesterfield, Clinton Township, Eastpointe, Fraser, Harper Woods, Lenox, Macomb Township, Mount Clemens, New Baltimore, Ray Township, Richmond, Romeo, Roseville, Shelby, St. Clair Shores, Sterling Heights, Troy, Utica, Warren, and Washington. The Cooperative offices are located at 44750 Delco Blvd., in Sterling Heights, Michigan. For more information, please call (586) 685-5750.

What We're About

Administrative Services The Suburban Library Cooperative administers broad, cooperative-wide services and programs, allowing member library directors to attend to library issues at the local community level. Planning and budget preparation are two major activities of the Cooperative. Another important function is fiscal responsibility for the Macomb Literacy Project and the Macomb Region of Cooperation. In addition to general administration of its own operations, the Cooperative also writes and administers many grants each year. Monies received from member libraries, state funds, grants and donations must be carefully managed to operate the computer system and other ongoing cooperative services. The Cooperative provides centralized bookkeeping and accounting for programs of member libraries, supplies financial reports for members of its board of trustees, and prepares statistical reports for the state. Group Discounts Buying books as a group allows member libraries to receive discounts with book vendors greater than most of them could manage individually. This enables the local library to purchase more books and materials with its tax dollars. OCLC The OCLC database holds millions of records for materials available in libraries all over the world. If you are looking for a specific book that is not available within the Cooperative, your local library can request that a search be initiated on this database by the Macomb County Library. This service is provided to fill patron needs that may not be met within the cooperative boundaries. Special Collections Many member libraries have special collections of books and other materials. Included are the Macomb County Library's Consumer Health and Information Center, St. Clair Shores and Mt. Clemens Public Library's Michigan Collections, Romeo and Sterling Heights Public Library's CD-ROM collections and Troy Public Library's business collection.

The Computerized Library

Circulation The Suburban Library Cooperative manages the SIRSI Unicorn online system for its members. A shared database of over 2,000,000 items provides close to 400,000 registered patrons with easy access to information sources. The Cooperative has been online with this system since June 2001. By using this system, libraries throughout the cooperative can access the holdings of all of the participating libraries, check out items to patrons, place holds on items, process library materials, and access online databases. Patron Access Library patrons are able to access the Suburban Library Cooperative's online catalog from outside the library. The catalog is available through the world wide web at http://catalog.libcoop.net Internet The Suburban Library Cooperative provides access to the Internet through computers at each of the participating libraries. SVA SVA (Sirsi Voice Automation) is the Suburban Library Cooperative's automated telephone circulation system. It is an interactive voice messaging system that allows library patrons to call in and renew materials, list the items that are checked out on the patron's card, find out library fines, and cancel holds for materials that are available for pickup. SVA will also call patrons that have overdue materials to remind them to return these items, thus stopping the accumulation of fines. Patrons must have a valid library card from one of the Cooperative's participating libraries and a PIN. These may be obtained at the library circulation desk.