Abstract: Providing real time information on the availability of physical published works at a library available for check-out by patrons of the library. The method includes at a search engine service, receiving a search request from a user. The search request includes terms related to a published work. The method further includes receiving information from a library having a branch which patrons can physically visit and check out published works. The information includes information about the real time availability of the published work at the library. The method further includes identifying conventional Internet search results for the terms related to the published work. The method further includes providing to the user, in a common interface, conventional Internet search results together with the real time availability of the published work at the library branch where patrons can physically visit and check out the published work.

Abstract: Providing digital works to patrons. A method includes at a library check-out service for a library, providing a computer implemented user interface for library patron use. The method further includes at the user interface, receiving a check-out request for a digital work from a patron. Determinations are made that: the digital work is not available in the library's inventory of available digital works; funds are available to procure one or more copies of the digital work; the digital work is available from a catalog of purchasable items; and the one or more copies of the digital work meets the library's purchasing criteria. Based on these determinations, the method further includes automatically acquiring the one or more copies of the digital work. The digital work is then provided to the patron.

Abstract: Providing digital works to patrons. A method includes at a library check-out service for a library, providing a computer implemented user interface for library patron use. The method further includes at the user interface, receiving a check-out request for a digital work from a patron. Determinations are made that: the digital work is not available in the library's inventory of available digital works; funds are available to procure one or more copies of the digital work; the digital work is available from a catalog of purchasable items; and the one or more copies of the digital work meets the library's purchasing criteria. Based on these determinations, the method further includes automatically acquiring the one or more copies of the digital work.

Abstract: Providing electronic library resources. A method includes obtaining metadata about one or more electronic library resources from a library resource publisher. The metadata defines locations of the library resources. The metadata is normalized to a standardized format appropriate for a plurality of library resource systems.

Abstract: Acquiring resources for a plurality of customer or patrons. A method includes receiving a plurality of requests from different customers or patrons for the same groups or individual resources. The method further includes requesting a number of licenses for the groups or individual resources in a single purchasing transaction from a publisher. The method further includes receiving the number of licenses.

Abstract: Providing electronic library resources. A method includes obtaining metadata about one or more electronic library resources from a library resource publisher. The metadata defines locations of the library resources. The metadata is normalized to a standardized format appropriate for a plurality of library resource systems.

Abstract: Determining library usage patterns. The method includes accessing information, such as metadata from a plurality of libraries about patron access of physical resources at the libraries. The method further includes accessing information from the plurality of libraries about patron access of electronic resources. The method further includes accessing information about the plurality of libraries. The information is used to determine patron usage of electronic resources and/or physical resources based on library characteristics as determined from the information about the plurality of libraries.