Special Library Consortia: A Resource Sharing Approach in an Electronic Milieu

Introduction

Libraries today are facing increasing demand for services while concerned with the challenges such as the remarkable rise in managing information resources, elevated cost of library materials, high expectations from users, budget cuts and much more. The solution to these crises is to establish library consortium especially in relation to the acquisition of electronic resources. Library consortia are created to help libraries obtain better prices by buying joint access for a greater number of users, expanding access to print and electronic collections and developing new services to meet the customers' needs.

Consortia approach has come into view as the hallmark of libraries in order to feat electronic resources effectively. As noted by Vasishta and Jyoti (2007), Allen Kent stressed that, “the success and survival of libraries will much depend on how much and to what extent the libraries cooperate with each other in future”. A consortium is said to be a cooperative array among groups, institutions, association or society (Bansode, 2007). Huarng & Yu (2011) shared that library consortium “refers to co-operation, co-ordination and collaboration between, and among, libraries for the purpose of sharing information resources”. Consortium among the libraries is useful in various ways. It will be beneficial for getting cooperation among its member libraries in acquiring electronic databases, communication of information and inter-library loan. It will be supportive for balanced use of library funds that even small libraries can also derive benefits out of their tight budget. Consortium provides an effective information infrastructure to its member libraries.

According to Varaprasad & Madhusudhan (2010), there are different kinds of consortium:

• 1.

  Open Consortium: In this type, libraries are free to join and leave when they please. Member libraries are usually homogeneous in nature and require cross-sharing of the resources in a specific subject area. For example, INDEST-AICTE Consortium.

• 2.

  Closed Consortium: As the name indicates, this type of consortium is formed by coalition, affiliation, and collaboration among exclusive member libraries. For example, CSIR, DAE, and IIM Consortium.

• 3.

  Centrally-funded: In this type, a parent body or the coordinating agency will have the financial responsibility for running the consortium. For example, CSIR, INDEST, UGC INFONET, and ICMR Consortia, etc.

• 4.

  Special Library Consortium: Consortium formed by corporate libraries, law libraries, medical libraries, museum libraries, news libraries, and non-profit libraries.

• 5.

  Shared Budget: In this type, management of funds and other aspects are handled individually by the member libraries. For example, IIM, and Forum for Resource Sharing in Astronomy and Astrophysics (FORSA).

• 6.

  Publishers’ Initiative: Certain publishers are also encouraging consortium formation by giving a deep discount in prices to the member libraries. For example, Emeralds’ Publishing Group.

• 7.

  National Consortium: This is a model perceived at national level which includes member libraries from one country. For example UGC INFONET Consortium.

• 8.

  International Consortium: The end of this model is international level. For example ICOLC (International Coalition of Library Consortia).