RESOURCE SHARING AMONG LIBRARIES LIS 504 Building Library

RESOURCE SHARING AMONG LIBRARIES LIS 504: Building Library Collection By: Jennifer S. Cauyan

INTRODUCTION No library is able to satisfy all the needs of its clientele. This gave rise to the concept of Library Cooperation also known as Resource Sharing.

SOURCE & RESOURCE Library documents are called Information Sources as they provide information. A Source is one that makes something available. A resource helps in creating something new.

RESOURCE SHARING Mutual sharing of information sources among libraries Utilizing information resources of one library for generating services of another library Library Resources may include other resources, besides information resources, like staff and equipment. Thus Resource Sharing may mean sharing of all these resources for the mutual benefit of libraries and their users

LIBRARY CONSORTIA Consortium literally means “temporary cooperation of several powers or large interests to effect some common purpose” Library consortium is “a group of libraries that agree to pool their resources by allowing the user of each institution some type of access to resources of all other institutions”

OBJECTIVE OF CONSORTIA Basically consortia have been created for acquisition and sharing use of materials. It allows users of participating libraries to access or use the needed material from other participating libraries.

TYPES OF CONSORTIA By type of libraries covered – Consortia of multi-type libraries – Consortia of same type libraries By geographical area of coverage – Local level consortia – State level consortia – National level consortia – International level consortia

By subject/discipline covered – Single discipline oriented consortia – Multi-discipline oriented consortia By type of organizational structure – Loosely knit federation – Tightly knit organization

By basis of formation – Non-sponsored consortia – Sponsored consortia It is possible that a consortium fall in more than one category.