Abstract During the 1998 session, the Minnesota State Legislature passed a bill giving libraries in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MNSCU) System an additional $3 million annually for library collections, and issued a mandate that the money be spent cooperatively. With proactive planning and strong communication among libraries, the additional money was used in ways that addressed the interests of both libraries and the legislature. Four years after the initial funding, MNSCU libraries can point to solid accomplishments and continuing collaboration.