Digital resource acquisition

1. In a library computing environment a method of providing digital works to patrons, the method comprising:

providing, by a computer, a user interface that performs a library check-out service for patron use;

receiving, by the computer, a check-out request for a digital work from a patron through the user interface;

determining, by the computer, that the digital work is not available in the library's inventory of available digital works;

accessing, by the computer, a defined purchasing criteria for the library defining criteria for the library to follow when purchasing digital works;

determining, by the computer, at least one of a characteristic of the library, a characteristic of the patron, or a characteristic of the digital work;

determining, by the computer, that funds are available to procure one or more copies of the digital work based on at least one of a characteristic of the library, a characteristic of the patron, or a characteristic of the digital work;

determining that the digital work is available from a catalog of purchasable items;

determining that the one or more copies of the digital work meets purchasing criteria for the library;

based on:

determining that the digital work is not available in the library's inventory of available digital works;

determining that funds are available to procure one or more copies of the digital work;

determining that the digital work is available from a catalog of purchasable items; and

determining that the one or more copies of the digital work meets the library's purchasing criteria, and automatically acquiring the one or more copies of the digital work to loan to patrons of the library; and

checking-out the digital work to the patron.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein funds for acquiring one or more copies of the digital works are allocated to different branches of the library and wherein determining that funds are available to procure the one or more copies of the digital work comprises determining that a particular branch has funds available from an allocation.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein funds for acquiring one or more copies of digital works are allocated for different genres or classifications and wherein determining that funds are available to procure the one or more copies of the digital work comprises determining that funds are available for a genre or classification to which the digital work belongs.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein funds for acquiring one or more copies of digital works are allocated for different periods of time and wherein determining that funds are available to procure the one or more copies of the digital work comprises determining that funds are available for a period of time in which the digital work was requested.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein funds for acquiring one or more copies of digital works are allocated for different demographics and wherein determining that funds are available to procure the one or more copies of the digital work comprises determining that funds are available for a demographic to which the patron belongs.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein funds for acquiring one or more copies of digital works are limited on a per patron basis and wherein determining that funds are available to procure the one or more copies of the digital work comprises determining that the patron has not reached a limit for the patron.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein funds for acquiring one or more copies of digital works are allocated based on groups and wherein determining that funds are available to procure the one or more copies of the digital work comprises determining that funds are available for a group to which the patron belongs.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein funds for acquiring digital works are allocated for different sub-libraries within a library system and wherein determining that funds are available to procure the one or more copies of the digital work comprises determining that funds are available in a sub-library allocation.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein funds for acquiring digital works are allocated to a patron based on the patron's contribution to the library and wherein determining that funds are available to procure the one or more copies of the digital work comprises determining that funds are available for the patron based on the allocation to the patron.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining that the digital work is available from a catalog of purchasable items comprises checking inventory of an aggregator, distributor, or publisher.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining that the one or more copies of the digital work meets the library's purchasing criteria comprises evaluating a number of licenses already owned by the library for the digital work.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining that the one or more copies of the digital work meets the library's purchasing criteria comprises evaluating age restrictions established for the library.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining that the one or more copies of the digital work meets the library's purchasing criteria comprises evaluating fine or fees that might make a patron ineligible to request digital works.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining that the one or more copies of the digital work meets the library's purchasing criteria comprises evaluating content restrictions for the library for digital works.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining that the one or more copies of the digital work meets the library's purchasing criteria comprises evaluating a black list.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining that the one or more copies of the digital work meets the library's purchasing criteria comprises evaluating a whitelist.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining that the one or more copies of the digital work meets the library's purchasing criteria comprises evaluating formats restrictions on available digital works.

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining that the one or more copies of the digital work meets the library's purchasing criteria comprises evaluating licensing restrictions on available digital works.

19. In a library computing environment, a non-transitory physical computer readable storage medium, comprising computer executable instructions that when executed by one or more processors cause one or more processors to perform the following steps of:

providing a user interface that performs a library check-out service for patron use;

receiving a check-out request for a digital work from a patron through the user interface;

determining that the digital work is not available in the library's inventory of available digital works;

accessing a defined purchasing criteria for the library defining criteria for the library to follow when purchasing digital works;

determining at least one of a characteristic of the library, a characteristic of the patron, or a characteristic of the digital work;

determining that funds are available to procure one or more copies of the digital work based on at least one of a characteristic of the library, a characteristic of the patron, or a characteristic of the digital work;

determining that the digital work is available from a catalog of purchasable items;

determining that the one or more copies of the digital work meets purchasing criteria for the library;

based on:

determining that the digital work is not available in the library's inventory of available digital works;

determining that funds are available to procure one or more copies of the digital work;

determining that the digital work is available from a catalog of purchasable items; and

determining that the one or more copies of the digital work meets the library's purchasing criteria, and automatically acquiring the one or more copies of the digital work to loan to patrons of the library; and

checking-out the digital work to the patron.

20. In a library computing environment a system for providing digital works to patrons, the system comprising:

one or more processors;

one or more non-transitory physical computer readable storage media, wherein the one or more non-transitory physical computer readable storage media comprise computer executable instructions that when executed by one or more of the one or more processors cause one or more of the one or more processors to perform the following steps of:

providing a user interface that performs a library check-out service for patron use;

receiving a check-out request for a digital work from a patron through the user interface;

determining that the digital work is not available in the library's inventory of available digital works;

accessing a defined purchasing criteria for the library defining criteria for the library to follow when purchasing digital works;

determining at least one of a characteristic of the library, a characteristic of the patron, or a characteristic of the digital work;

determining that funds are available to procure one or more copies of the digital work based on at least one of a characteristic of the library, a characteristic of the patron, or a characteristic of the digital work;

determining that the digital work is available from a catalog of purchasable items;

determining that the one or more copies of the digital work meets purchasing criteria for the library;

based on:

determining that the digital work is not available in the library's inventory of available digital works;

determining that funds are available to procure one or more copies of the digital work;

determining that the digital work is available from a catalog of purchasable items; and

determining that the one or more copies of the digital work meets the library's purchasing criteria, and automatically acquiring the one or more copies of the digital work to loan to patrons of the library; and

checking-out the digital work to the patron.