Best Practices Assessment Tools

The Best Practices Assessment Tools provide shared print programs (SPPs) and member libraries with an opportunity to review and reflect on their program's policies and procedures. The criteria used in these assessment tools are based on The Partnership for Shared Book Collections’ Best Practices.

The value of using these assessment tools is to start conversations about what SPPs and member libraries can do, and what they should consider, as they set policies. It is not expected that all criteria will apply to all SPPs or member libraries, as the questions in the various tools are based on criteria for Good, Better, Best, and Aspirational Practices. No matter what score your SPP or library receives, remember that rethinking policies and procedures as SPPs, libraries, user needs, and the information world evolve is the main reason for using these assessment tools. We will not share your scores with anyone. We may share aggregate information about how most SPPs handle various policies and procedures.


Choose and area below to access the tool for that area:

Community and Trust Building

For Libraries (pdf)

For SPPs (pdf)

Exiting a Shared Print Program

For Libraries (pdf)

For SPPs (pdf)


SPP: Facsimiles (pdf) 

Member Libraries:

Inventory (pdf)

Print to Digital Validation
for Libraries (pdf)
for SPPs (pdf)

Policy Development and Program Management

For Libraries (pdf)

For SPPs (pdf) 

SPP: Preservation (pdf) 

Shared Print Storage Environment

For libraries (pdf)

Succession Planning
for Libraries (pdf)

for SPPs (pdf)