North Utah County library patrons have responded positively since the inter-library co-op agreement took effect July 1.

"It has gone really well. We are very excited to see the progress," said Pleasant Grove City Library Director April Harrison. "We haven't noticed a significant increase in our circulation. It really has gone extremely smooth. ... So far I haven't seen any down side to it."

"It hasn't been that overwhelming," said Kristi Seely, Lehi Library director. "It's only been a few a day. ... As far as I know it's just gone smoothly. We haven't had any problems."

She said her library has had people from all the different libraries, and the response from patrons has been favorable.

"They love being able to use all of the libraries," she said. Most of the outside patrons using the Lehi system are residents on the east border of Lehi from Highland or American Fork, or nonresidents who work in Lehi.

American Fork Library Director Sheena Parker said her library has seen 224 new registered borrowers since the first of July.

"I think that we expected there was going to be a goodly number that were going to take advantage of it. It hasn't been a surprise," Parker said. "It's gone well."

Even the Eagle Mountain Library director has seen patrons travel into Cedar Valley to use her facility.

"We have actually had patrons from the Lehi Library come out here for books," said Director Michele Graves. "I think what it is is that the new releases out here have a shorter wait list."

A few patrons have come in from the surrounding area and gotten their library card at Eagle Mountain's library so they could use the inter-library system. Those whose home library is the Eagle Mountain library pay $40 to use other libraries in American Fork, Lehi and Pleasant Grove.

"We've had some, not very many, of our patrons decide to participate -- a handful or two," Graves said. "Which is a good thing for us, because it lets me know that we are doing the right thing here. We're keeping up with the popular demand."

Harrison said there are couple of small issues about the system that need to be addressed. The library directors will meet at the end of the year to assess and tweak, if need be, the program. Parker said there are software issues that need to be fixed so that the program works better.

For example, programming on the system for the Lehi Library continues to be a problem. Each library purchased software so librarians could be on the same system and automatically know if a nonresident patron was in good standing with their home library before using another library's services in north Utah County. All work but Lehi's.

The company that provided the program is working on a solution and librarians can call home libraries for verification of a patron's good standing instead.

Seely said in spite of the initial inter-library loan success, she doesn't think that the patrons will see the agreement broadened to include Orem and Provo anytime soon. "Although it would be nice," she said.

"It gives all citizens the advantage of the four collections," Graves said. "If you can't find something at one library, you can find it at another library. That is one advantage."