NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Tennessee's public libraries will soon be able to share books cheaper and faster thanks to a new interlibrary loan service.
According to the Secretary of State's office, the Tennessee State Library and Archives has been paying about $200,000 a year to help libraries mail books to each other, but that only covered about half the postage costs.
With the new Firefly Courier service, a courier will drive to each of the state's 177 public libraries twice weekly. The state will pay about the same amount, but there will be no cost to the local libraries.
Also, the loan program will expand to link public libraries with those at colleges and universities.
The nonprofit Tenn-Share helped develop the service. The organization also helps libraries make group purchases.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
