Saturday, December 20, 2014

Academic Library Consortia and Networks – Part II P- 04. Information Communication Technology for Libraries

इस ब्लॉग्स को सृजन करने में आप सभी से सादर सुझाव आमंत्रित हैं , कृपया अपने सुझाव और प्रविष्टियाँ प्रेषित करे , इसका संपूर्ण कार्य क्षेत्र विश्व ज्ञान समुदाय हैं , जो सभी प्रतियोगियों के कॅरिअर निर्माण महत्त्वपूर्ण योगदान देगा ,आप अपने सुझाव इस मेल पत्ते पर भेज सकते हैं - chandrashekhar.malav@yahoo.com

Academic Library Consortia and Networks – Part II


P- 04. Information Communication Technology for Libraries *

By :Usha Munshi,Paper Coordinator

0. Objectives


This module is divided into two parts. This is the second part of the module that aims to impart knowledge on how to manage e-resources through a library network / consortium. It also describes initiatives taken towards library consortia in India. 

1. Introduction

The emergence of Internet, particularly the World Wide Web (WWW) as a new media of information delivery and the e-content environment is driving the emergence and popularity of newer and more effective models of information access and resource sharing around the world. With this welcome change, libraries are forming consortia of all types and flavours  at all levels with an aim to get access to electronic resources for its member institutions at discounted rates of subscription. However, besides purchase of electronic resources, there are several other related activities that a consortium is required to take up to achieve economies of scale and optimal use of electronic resources subscribed by it. Copy right, access on multiple IPs, sustainability and optimum use of electronic resources are the biggest concerns for consortium. Library network / consortium requires continuous assessment, collaboration and proper management.

This module is divided into two parts.  This is the second part of the module which elaborates steps involved in managing e-resources through library network / consortium. It also elaborates on initiatives taken towards library consortia in India. The first part of the module defines library network / consortium and outlines its needs and benefits. It also describes types and models of library consortia, prevalent pricing model offered to the library consortia and services and activities of a library network / consortium beyond licensing of electronic resources. 

2.1 Selection and Procurement of Information Resources

Resource selection for consortial purchase requires considerable care, effort and judicious involvement of the members. A policy framework should be developed which operate as blueprint for the selectors and helps them to ensure uniformity in procedures and appropriate balance in selection of e-resources. The selection of any e-resource is a three-step process, which includes identification/discovery, evaluation and finally the decision. The process map is as follow:

Alternate Text


2.2 E-resources Negotiation and Purchasing

Carrying out negotiations with the publishers is one of the most important tasks of a library consortium. It begins when the consortium decides subscription to or purchase of an electronic resource. It is also necessary for consortium to make decisions regarding negotiation policies and specific licensing terms. Before starting negotiation, consortia negotiation committee and agreement signing authorities should thoroughly review RFP submitted by the publisher. The main considerations for consortia-based subscription to electronic resources is pricing and the other important issues includes coverage, journals offered, subscription rate, dependency of subscription rates on print subscription, increase in rates of subscription in subsequent years, rates applicable for additional members, rates applicable for additional titles, backfiles, archival access, resource sharing, open access policy, provision of inclusion of associate members prorate basis/ non- calendar year basis subscription, trial access, acceptance of terms and conditions of subscription as per RFP, platform fee in case of cancellation of subscription, etc. 

2.3 Procurement Policy and Procedures

The procurement procedures followed by a consortium can be institutional or consortia specific governed by the standards and norms stipulated by the funding agencies or those followed by the parent organizations of the consortium headquarters. If a consortium is formed out of a diverse group of member organizations, evolving a common policy for procurement and management could be a challenging task. Openness, transparency, protection of the interest of all the members and other stakeholders, and respect for fair-trade practices should form the basis for evolving the policies and procedures for consortial purchases.

2.4 Consortia Licensing and Agreements

The business in electronic environment is conducted through licenses and agreements.  The publishers use licensing as a legal method for controlling the use of their products and services since technology and legislation are still evolving and the existing copyright provisions are inadequate to tackle access issues. Most e-resource subscriptions require library consortia to execute a license agreement as part of the consortial contract with their publishers or aggregators. It is critically important to ensure that all issues concerning consortia licensing of e-content and particularly the licensing terms that go into publisher / vendors’ licensing agreements are reviewed and understood thoroughly by the consortia negotiation committee and the agreement signing authorities.  Since it is practically impossible to enforce all the publishers to agree for a common model of licensing agreement, it is desirable to provide a checklist to the publishers / vendors of “must-be-present terms” and “not-at-all-agreeable clauses” as mentioned below, if any to avoid delay in execution of licensing contracts.


i)               Simultaneous Users: Preferably there should not be any limit on number of simultaneous user on any of the resources subscribed by the Consortium. Unrestricted number of users should be able to access e-resources including e-journals and bibliographic databases at any given time.

ii)             Walk-in Users: Walk-in users who are physically present at the subscribing university should also be allowed to use the resources.

iii)           Print-independent Subscription: Subscription to e-resources should preferably be print-independent. As such, beneficiary members are free to drop subscription to print copy of journals accessible to them through the Consortium.

iv)           Inter Library Loan: Licensee is allowed to fulfill ILL requests from non-authorized users using electronic copy of article downloaded from the licensor’s Web site.

v)             Usage Statistics: Publisher is required to submit ‘COUNTER’ compliant usage / statistics on number of downloads (both full-text and abstracts) in a given month, previous month and cumulative for one year.

vi)           Inclusion of additional Titles: The publisher would provide access to new journal titles that are added during the contract period at no additional cost.

vii)         Electronic Link: Publisher may provide electronic links to the licensed materials from Licensee’s Web page at journal level or at article level and publisher should provide help in doing so.

viii)       Print Copy of Journal: Publisher should provide a print copy of each journal (if agreed in license agreement) to the consortium headquarter.

ix)           Protection on Increase of Price: The Publisher would provide protection on increase in price of subscribed resources. The increase should not be more than 5%.

x)             Perpetual Access and Archival Rights: In case of termination of the agreement or on the expiry of the agreement, publisher should extend perpetual access to e-resources for the paid period of subscription along with their backfiles offered during the subscription period without charging platform fee. Alternatively, the publisher should provide full-text of e-resources with back volumes (e-journals / e-databases) for each year on prevalent formats, i.e., CD-ROM / DVD-ROM with the retrieval software for access on the network. In case of change in archival technology, the state-of-art archival technology should be made available by the Licensor to subscribers at no extra cost for archival of full-text data of e-journals to higher version of technology.

xi)           Awareness and Training: The publisher or its representative should conduct “Users Awareness Programme” on campuses of members at no-charge. The publisher should provide publicity material, brochure, posters and user-support material in both prints as well as on CD form.

xii)         E-print Archive: Members should be allowed to download bibliographic records, abstracts and full-text articles published by their faculty, researchers, students and staff from publisher’s site and import them in their local database and Institution Repositories.

xiii)       Jurisdiction: The governing law clause of the agreement may become contentious in case licensor and licensee are in different jurisdictions. Agreement should be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of licensee's jurisdiction.

xiv)       Arbitration: All disputes arising under the agreement should be settled under the rules of the international arbitration court by one or more arbitrators in accordance with the said rules.  


2.5 Funding

Consortia vary to a great extent in their funding arrangements. Library consortium can be self-funded, funded through grant from the Government, through membership fees, etc. Each consortium funds its different programs and activities differently. Moreover, within consortia there could be different structures for funding different aspects of projects and initiatives. It is desirable that the consortia device innovative ways of generating and managing funding to sustain its activities and projects.  The funding models that exists for consortia initiatives in India are as follows:

i)        Self-funded Model: The funding requirements is small as most of members focused on cross-sharing which required a small additional sum in the range of 10-15% of the current print spending on the selected resources. Earlier consortia initiatives like FORSA, IIM etc., were self-funded by member libraries from their own resources.

ii)      Government-subsidized Model: In this model partial funding is provided by parent institution, e.g. National Knowledge Resource Consortium is funded partly by the CSIR Headquarters, while individual CSIR laboratories pay for the print, CSIR headquarters paid only for the electronic version. 

iii)    Government-funded Model:  The consortium is fully funded by parent institution, e.g. the funding for the UGC-Infonet Digital Library Consortium comes completely from the UGC.  This made it possible for the consortium to go for e-only model.  The Government funds the INDEST-AICTE Consortium for its e-only subscriptions, however, for print-based models, the Govt. pays for the surcharge for e-access while individual libraries pay for print subscriptions.

iv)    Cost-sharing Model:  In this model, the central agency promoting the consortium funds for infrastructure and service component of the consortia, the e-journal licensing cost comes from the participating members. HELINET works on a cost-sharing model. 

2.6 Promoting Use of E-Resources and Membership of the Consortium

The Consortium needs to take steps to promote usage of subscribed resources amongst the members.

2.6.1        Consortium Web Site


A separate, dedicated website should be maintained which provides detailed information about the Consortium including i) search and browse interface for subscribed journals; ii) Classified index to journals covered under the Consortium; iii) Search interface for member institutions; iv) E-resources Access Management System (E-RAMS) designed to provide access to usage statistics to members and for monitoring their complaints; v) Detailed tutorials on each e-resource; vi) Licensing and fair use of e-resources; vi) Associate membership programmes and information on how to join the Consortium; and vii) Guidelines for the Consortium.

2.6.2        Users Awareness Training Programmes


Users Awareness Training Programmes is a crucial requirement, a consortium has to fulfill to facilitate optimum use of subscribed electronic resources. Training programmes act as a bridge to facilitate better communication amongst members of consortium and find answers to common problems. Such programmes are essential both for the user as well as for the library staff. Such programmes  make users competent to conduct their own searches more effectively. The Consortium provides financial assistance to members for conducting one or two-day user awareness programme with an aim to increase usage of various e-resources. These programmes help faculty members, research scholars and students to get acquainted with resources, their features, functionalities and advanced options.

2.6.3         Specialised Publications


The consortium should prepare, design, print and distribute posters, brochures, user’s manual and detailed guideline amongst member institutions for effective and efficient use of electronic resources. Moreover, soft copies of these tutorials should also be made available through the consortium Web site.

2.6.4        Annual Meets


Annual convention should also be organized every year to discuss and deliberate on various issues related to effective use of e-resources. 

2.7 Establish Communication amongst Members

Continuous communication amongst members of a consortium is considered its lifeline. Effective communication motivates members to cooperate, commit to the cause of consortium and align members toward a shared vision. Continuous communication is necessary to link each member with the practices of the consortium and to involve them at policy and operational level as a team. Communication amongst member institutions can be promoted at the following two levels:

2.7.1        Communication at Consortium Level

The Consortium is required to keep a close liaison with its members. It requires feedback and information from its members regularly and at times urgently. A mailing list with archives can be put in operation to facilitate communication amongst members. While all technical and administrative contacts of each member institutions should be members of the mailing list by default, other authorized users in member institutions should be able to subscribe to the list on request.

Besides, consortium may hold annual meets and workshop for the benefit of its member institutions. Consortium should keep in constant touch with its member institutions through e-mails, letters, etc.

2.7.2        Communication at Institutional Level

All member institutions may be advised to hold user convention and training programmes in their respective institutions. Local representatives and vendors of the publishers should impart training at institutional level in such training programmes. 

2.8 Usage Monitoring and Web-based Support for Troubleshooting

Electronic Resources Access Management System (ERAMS) should be developed that i) helps users to lodge their complaints and offer their comments regarding usage of e-resources; ii) facilitates publishers to record action taken on the complaint; iii) view or tract status of complaint made by members; iv) facilitate systematic hosting and delivery of statistics of usage of e-resources to members; and v) facilitate users to view IP ranges communicated to the publishers for accessing e-resources.  

2.9 Copyright and IPR Issue

Several publishers block access to their e-resources in case of excessive or systematic download of articles causing interruption in access to their e-resources. It is, therefore, imperative that the users as well as librarians are sensitized on issues of licenses and agreements that consortium signs with the publishers. Users need to be told what, as an authorized user, they are allowed and what they are not allowed. While most of the publishers allow inter-library loan, electronic delivery of articles are not allowed. Similarly, while there is no limit on number of articles that can be downloaded from a resource, systematic downloading of articles is not allowed. Issues of copyright and license agreements can be addressed in detail on the Consortium web site. The issue of copyright and licensing issues can also be addressed during the users awareness programme to ensure un-interrupted access to e-resources.

2.10 Technology Support to Member Institutions

It is a major challenge for libraries to select from several technological alternatives that are now available in the market place. All libraries invariably require consultation and expert advice in implementing new technologies. The consortium, with its collective expertise, can help libraries to select technologies based on their requirement ensuring use of open system, standards and interoperability of library systems and digital archives.  Following are some important technological solutions where in member institutions may require support of a library consortium.

2.10.1        Federated Search Engines and Web Discovery Tools

The users are increasingly demanding for implementing a common search interface for all e-resources across the libraries in the consortium. Development and deployment of federated search engines and Web Discovery Tools becomes a crucial requirement to provide seamless and coherent access to all resources that the library subscribes to as well as those that can be accessed through open access channels.

2.10.2        OpenURL and Linkresolver

OpenURL is a versatile linking scheme that uses metadata  for generating dynamic link by passing metadata about a resource to a resolver program. OpenURL link allows access to multiple information services from multiple resources, including full-text repositories, abstracting, indexing, and citation databases, online library catalogues, document delivery service and other web resources and services. Consortium can setup a resolution server with information on full-text journals accessible to the member with their link as well as link to local print holdings and other local services.

2.10.3        Web 2.0 and Beyond

With the wider community adoption of social media and other Web 2.0 applications, librarians must embrace new technologies that assist users and promote libraries to be in the forefront of changing information technology scenario. The consortium can also provide web 2.0 services such as RSS Feeds which facilitates users to read the current contents of desired journals subscribed under the Consortium.

2.10.4        Mobile Devices

Since mobile devices are more or less ubiquitous among library users it is becoming increasingly crucial to ensure that online resources such as e-book platforms, federated search tools, library catalogues and library web pages are compatible to mobile devices.

2.10.5        Usage Portal

The consortium can either develop or help libraries to develop Usage Portal for automatic harvest of usage data directly from publisher’s website and provide title level COUNTER reports to member institutions by using Standardized Usage Statistics Harvesting Initiative (SUSHI) Protocol. The consortia can manage usage data in easier way by integrating usage data from various sources into a single repository.


2.11 Bench Marking Outcomes

Providing access to e-resources to the faculty and researchers is not a purpose in itself. It is only a means to trigger a stronger research and academic culture in the institutions recipient of this benefit. Science Citation Index (SCI), Social Science citation Idex (SSCI) and Arts and Humanities Citation Index (A&HCI) are considered to be a filtering mechanism that indexes qualitative research output based on citations received by it. All three indices can also be searched to find-out qualitative productivity on institutions. The source articles appeared in these indices for all member institutions can serve as a yardstick to measure their current research output which can then be compared with their output after five years to measure the impact of e-resources provided through the Consortium on the research productivity over a period of five years.

However, the number of publications in all the three indices cannot be considered as sole criteria for measuring productivity of institutions. Other criteria that may also be considered include: patents, research projects, research reports, honours and awards, etc. 

2.12 IT and Network Access Infrastructure

Networks are basic necessity for services like electronic document delivery, e-journals and a variety of web-based facilities that provide access to a wide range of other databases and information resources. Availability of IT and Internet access infrastructure is a crucial requirement at institutional level for the members of a consortium. From the access point of view, most electronic resources are accessible on the Internet from the web sites of their respective publishers. Member institutions are expected to have Internet-enabled PCs accessible to the faculty and researchers in the Institute and sufficient connectivity to the Internet to make optimal use of e-resources accessible to them. It is convenient for the libraries to access e-resources from the publisher’s site without botheration of hosting and maintaining high-end IT infrastructures like content servers, expensive software resources, etc.

However, an Intranet mode for local hosting of contents can also be adopted with agreement of publisher specially where security is a serious concern, or where organizations can afford to invest in a completely local digital library infrastructure. Such institutions qualify to be consortium’s nodal centre or hub.  Consortium can assign these centres the responsibility for developing and providing specialized services like developing and hosting union catalogues, access gateways, etc.

2.13 Feedback and Corrections

Feedback and correction mechanism is essential for a consortium. This activity involves closer interaction with the users, evaluation and consolidation of user-feedback on the usage of subscribed resources. Resources subscribed by the consortium need to be reviewed periodically. It is crucial to evaluate all subscription critically considering the fact that consortium subscribes to the multiple number of resources for its members. A resource need not be continued just because it was subscribed after evaluation. Real test of a resource is the extent of its usage. Moreover, a resource useful to one set on institutions may not be useful for the other set of institutions.

3.1 UGC-INFONET Digital Library Consortium (http://www.inflibnt.ac.in/econ)

The UGC-INFONET Digital Library Consortium was launched by A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, the then President of India, in December 2003. The consortium provides differential access to e-resources to 206  universities  and 204 institutions covered under associate membership prgramme. These e-resources covers almost all subject disciplines including arts, humanities, social sciences, physical sciences, chemical sciences, life sciences, computer sciences, mathematics, statistics, etc.  It provides current as well as archival access to more than 8,500 core and peer reviewed electronic journals and ten bibliographic databases from 28 publishers, scholarly societies and aggregators, including university presses in different disciplines. 

3.2 INDEST-AICTE Consortium (http://paniit.iitd.ac.in/indest)

The Indian National Digital Library in Engineering Sciences and Technology (INDEST) Consortium was set-up by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) in year 2003 to provide access to selected electronic journals and databases to technical institutions including IISc, IITs, NITs, IIMs and a few other centrally-funded Government institutions. It provides differential access to 20748 peer reviewed journals and 10 bbilographical database to its member institutions to 65 core member institutions.  


3.3 National Knowledge Resource Consortium (NKRC)


The National Knowledge Resource Consortium (NKRC), established in year 2009, is a network of libraries and information centres of 39 CSIR and 24 DST institutes. NKRC's origin goes back to the year 2001, when the CSIR set up the CSIR Electronic Journals Consortium to provide access to 1200 odd journals of Elsevier Science to all its users. Over a period of time, the Consortium not only grew in terms of the number of resources but also in terms of the number of users as more like-minded institutes evinced interest to join the Consortium. Currently, NKRC facilitates access to 8000+ e-journals of all major publishers, patents, standards, citation and bibliographic databases. Apart from licensed resources, NKRC is also a single point entity that provides its users with access to a multitude of open access resources.

3.4 MCIT Consortium (http://www.mcitconsortium.nic.in)

The Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (MCIT) Consortium caters to the information requirement of 9 institutions including NIC, CDAT and CDOT (with its offices in multiple locations). Set up in 2005 with funding from the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (MCIT), the Consortium subscribes to 5 electronic resources including IEL Online, ACM Digital Library, Indian Standards, Science Direct and JCCC. Other activities of the Consortium include establishing institutional repositories, Union Catalogue of books, journals and resources available in the member libraries, creation and maintenance of library automation software called e-Granthalaya. It   provides access to 1818 e-journals and 14,000 e-books to its member institutions.

3.5 DAE Consortium

The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) Consortium, set up in 2003, caters to the information requirement of 36 institutions including BARC, TIFR and SAMEER. Funded by the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Govt. of India, the Consortium subscribes to 2,000 e-journals from 4 publishers including Science Direct, Springer and MathSciNet. The Consortium is administered by one of the DAE intuitions by rotation.

3.6 ERMED Consortium (http://ermed.jccc.in/)

Electronic Resources in Medicine (ERMED) Consortium, set up at 2008, is an initiative taken by Director General of Health Services (DGHS) to develop nation-wide electronic information resources in the field of medicine for delivering effective health care for all. The Consortium is being coordinated through its headquarter set up at the National Medical Library (NML). DGHS provides fund for purchase of electronic resources under the ERMED consortium for Government medical colleges and institutions. Private medical colleges and institutions can join the consortium under its self-supported category. ERMED e-journal consortium has 98 members including ICMR, DGHS, AIIMS, NTR Health University and government medical colleges / institutes across the country. Currently consortium is defunctDRDO E-journal Consortium (www.dsl.drdo.gov.in/ejournals)

Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO), Ministry of Defence is the largest government-funded research and development organization in India with a chain of over 50 laboratories and establishments spread across the country. DRDO e-Journal Consortium was established on January 2009 to provide access to e-resources to S&T community of DRDO. The Consortium is governed by a Monitoring Committee having the representatives from different subject clusters and headquarters. It provides access to 568 full-text e-journals to 50 DRDO Labs. JCCC service was added to facilitate access to contents of all the journal titles subscribed by 20 major DRDO labs.


3.7 DeLCON (http://delcon.gov.in)

DBT e-Library Consortium (DeLCON) is funded by the Department of Biotechnology.  Established in 2009, the Consortium provides access to more than 682 journals and bibliographic database to 33 member institutions which includes 14 DBT institutions and 18 institutions located in North Eastern Region (NER) and Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Programme (BIRAP). 


3.8 CeRA (Consortium for E- resources in Agriculture) (http://cera.iari.res.in & http://cera.jccc.in)

CeRA (Consortium for e- resources in Agriculture), an ambitious initiative from IARI, aims to provide scholarly information in the broad spectrum of agricultural sciences to foster  academic quality research amongst its institutes and other agricultural  universities.  It was established in 2008 by ICAR as a sub-project of NAIP, funded by the World Bank. The Consortium is managed by IARI and promoted by ICAR. It covers around 3,000 scholarly journals (comprising consortium- subscribed, Library-subscribed and open access journals) from seven major publishers. The Consortium has 142 member institutions comprising of  deemed universities, national research centres, agricultural institutions, national bureaux, ICAR institutions, etc. 

3.9 NLIST (http://nlist.inflibnet.ac.in/)

The National Library and Information Services Infrastructure for Scholarly Content (N-LIST),launched in 2010 as aNME-ICT funded project has graduated as college component scheme of UGC-INFONET Digital Library Consortium. It provides access to more than 6,000 e-journals and 97,333 e-books to all Govt. /Govt. aided as well as non- aided colleges except colleges imparting courses in management, medical, nursing, agriculture, engineering, pharmacy.

3.10 Forum for Resource Sharing in Astronomy & Astrophysics (FORSA) Consortium

The FORSA is a group of different libraries from Institutions where astronomy is one of the main areas of research. The FORSA was launched in 1980 with an objective to compile union catalogue of scientific serials, annual and other irregular publications, reference tools, compile theses holding, holding of duplicate issues of journals, directory of libraries and facilities available in each member libraries. The FORSA started subscribing to e-journals on cross-sharing and cost-sharing basis. The Forum has 11 members as on now. The Forum is administered by the member libraries by rotation. Currently consortium is defunct.

3.11 IIM Consortium

The IIM Consortium is an initiative from libraries all the six IIMs in India. The Consortium commenced its activities in 2002 with subscription to electronic resources on cross-sharing and cost-sharing basis. Resources subscribed by the IIMs on cross-sharing basis includes journals from Wiley InterScience and Springer Journals. Currently consortium is defunct.

3.12 HELINET

(http://www.rguhs.ac.in/HELINETHOSTCONSORTIUM/homehelinethost.htm) 

HELINET stands for Health Science Library and Information Network. The consortium was started in 2003 by Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences with a vision to improve the quality of education and research in the Health Science institutions of the state through enhanced access to high quality medical information. It provides access to  600+ core international e-journals, 2000+ e-books and 1500+ videos to all affiliated colleges of RGUHS.


3.13 MoES E-Journal Consortium

Ministry of Earth Sciences has subscribed 129 journals from Science Direct as well as Scopus and Web of Science database to its member institutions. Access to e-resources is available through IntraMoES Portal.


4. Summary

Library consortium requires continuous assessment, collaboration and proper management. Selection and procurement of information resources, negotiating licensing and agreements, funding, activities for promoting use of e-resources and membership of the consortium, monitoring usage, technological support, copyright and IPR issue are the biggest concerns for managing e-resources through consortium.

References and Readings

Arora, Jagdish and  Agrawal, P. (2003). Indian Digital Library in Engineering Science andTechnology (INDEST) Consortium: Consortia-Based Subscription to Electronic Resources for Technical Education System in India: A Government of India Initiative. In T.A.V. Murthy (Ed.), Mapping Technology on Libraries and People. CALIBER-2003: Proceedings of the First International Convention on Mapping Technology on Libraries and People. 10th CALIBER, 13-14 February 2003, Ahmedabad, 271-290. Ahmedabad: Information and Library Network

Arora, Jagdish and Agarwal, Pawan. Building digital libraries in a consortium mode: Towards a national consortium. In: International Conference on Digital Libraries, 24th-27th February, TERI, New Delhi: Conference papers, vol. 1. New Delhi, The Energy and Resources Institute, p. 292-311, 2004. (Republished in the Proceedings of the Symposium on Consortia Approach to Resource Sharing: Issues and Policies (ed. Dr. Devika P. Madalli). Bangalore, DRTC, Paper E, 29 p., 2004.

Balakrishnan, N. Final Report of the Committee of Experts on Consortia-based Subscription to Electronic Resources for Technical Education System in India, submitted to the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD). New Delhi, Deptt. of Secondary and Higher Education, Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), Sept. 2002.

Bostick, S. L. (2001). The History and Development of Academic Library Consortia in the United States: An Overview. Journal of Academic Librarianship, 27(2), 128–130.

Ching, S.H., Poon, W.T. and Huang, K.L. Managing the effectiveness of the library consortium: A core values perspective on Tiawan e-book net. Journal of Academic Librarianship, 29, 304-315, 2003.

Harloe, B. & Budd, J. (1994). Collection development and scholarly communication in the era of electronic access. Journal of Academic Librarianship, 20(2), 83-87.

Hiremath, U. (2001). Electronic resource: sharing in the consortia digital age. Collection Building, 20(2), 80-87.

INDEST Consortium. INDEST Consortium Annual Report, April, 2004 to March, 2005. New Delhi, INDEST Consortium, 2005.

International Coalition of Library Consortia (ICOLC). Guidelines for Technical Issues in Request for Proposal (RFP) requirements and Contract Negotiations. (January 1999).http://library.uwsp.edu/aschmetz/Accessible/CIT2001/ICOLC.htm

International Coalition of Library Consortia (ICOLC). Statement of Current Perspective and Preferred Practices for the Selection and Purchase of Electronic Information. 1998.http://www.library.yale.edu/consortia/statement.html

International Coalition of Library Consortia (ICOLC). Statement of Current Perspective and Preferred Practices for the Selection and Purchase of Electronic Information. Update No. 1 : New Developments In E-Journal Licensing
http://www.library.yale.edu/consortia/2001currentpractices.htm

Okerson, Ann. In today’s e-information marketplace: Am I a swan or ungainly duckling? Library and Information Sciences. In: Library and information services in Astronomy III. ASP Conference Series, Vol. 153, 1998.  

Sathyanarayana, N.V., Krishnan, S. and Arora, Jagdish. Library consortia and resource sharing initiatives in India: A white paper. Bangalore, Rajiv Gandhi University of  Health Sciences, 2004. 54 p.
Sathyanarayana, N.V., Krishnan, S. and Arora, Jagdish. Library consortia and resource sharing initiatives in India: A white paper. Bangalore, Rajiv Gandhi University of  Health Sciences, 2004. 54 p.

Websites

  1. http://www.inflibnet.ac.in/
  2.  http://paniit.iitd.ac.in/indest/
  3. http://www.niscair.res.in/ActivitiesandServices/MajorProjects/majproj.htm#ejournalconsortia
  4.  http://www.tifr.res.in/~libws/
  5. http://www.rguhs.ac.in/HELINETHOSTCONSORTIUM/homehelinethost.htm
  6. http://mcitconsortium.nic.in/
  7. http://dsl.drdo.gov.in/ejournals/drdo.html
  8. http://www.nmlermed.in/
  9. http://www.iimk.ac.in/libportal/iimconsortium.htm
  10. http://delcon.gov.in

Academic Library Consortia and Networks – Part I P- 04. Information Communication Technology for Libraries

इस ब्लॉग्स को सृजन करने में आप सभी से सादर सुझाव आमंत्रित हैं , कृपया अपने सुझाव और प्रविष्टियाँ प्रेषित करे , इसका संपूर्ण कार्य क्षेत्र विश्व ज्ञान समुदाय हैं , जो सभी प्रतियोगियों के कॅरिअर निर्माण महत्त्वपूर्ण योगदान देगा ,आप अपने सुझाव इस मेल पत्ते पर भेज सकते हैं - chandrashekhar.malav@yahoo.com

Academic Library Consortia and Networks – Part I


P- 04. Information Communication Technology for Libraries *

By :Usha Munshi,Paper Coordinator

Glossary

A

Access
Ongoing usability of a digital resource, retaining all qualities of authenticity, accuracy and functionality deemed to be essential for the purposes the digital material was created and / or acquired for.
Aggregators
A content aggregator is an individual or organization that gathers or license web content from different online sources on a given subject or discipline for reuse or resale. For example EBSCO’s Business Source Premier (BSP) and ABI / Inform Complete are two aggregator for management sciences.
Application Service Provider (ASP)
A business-model where-in a company hosts software and / or hardware platforms / systems and then makes them available to other companies on a rental and or lease basis.
Archive
i) An organisation whose function is the preservation of resources, either for a specific community of users, or for the general good; ii) The collection of resources so preserved.

B

Bandwidth
See “Internet Bandwidth”
Bibliographic Databases
A bibliographic database is a database of bibliographic records of books, chapters from books and articles in journal or magazine with links to its full-text. Bibliographic database allows the user to identify publications by author, subject, title, or other search terms. It generally provides full citation to the item, and abstracts and assigned subject headings. SciFinder Scholar, COMPENDEX, INSPEC, are examples of bibliographic databases.

C

Copyright
Copyright is a set of exclusive rights granted by Government to its creator for a limited time to protect the particular form, way or manner in which an idea or information is expressed. Copyright may subsist in a wide range of creative or artistic forms or “works”, including literary works, movies, musical works, sound recordings, paintings, photographs, software, and industrial designs. Copyright is a type of intellectual property.

D

Digital Archive
A collection of digital objects stored for preservation purposes (also called a repository).
Digital Materials
A broad term encompassing digital surrogates created as a result of converting analogue materials to digital form (digitisation), and “born digital” for which there has never been and is never intended to be an analogue equivalent, and digital records.
Digital Preservation
Refers to the series of managed activities necessary to ensure continued access to digital materials for as long as necessary. Digital preservation refers to all of the actions required to maintain access to digital materials beyond the limits of media failure or technological change.
Digital Resources
See Digital Materials

F

Federated Searching
Federated searching aggregates multiple sources of information into a single searchable point. The federated search blends e-journals, subscription databases, electronic print collections, other digital repositories and the Internet.
Full-text Databases
Full-text databases contain the electronic version of entire contents of a document (journal articles, report, paper, etc.) that is available for printing or downloading.

I

Internet Bandwidth
Internet bandwidth is the transmission speed or throughput of your connection to the Internet.
Interoperability
Interoperability is ability of digital library components and services to be functionally and logically interchangeable by virtue of their having been implemented in accordance with a set of well-defined publicly known interfaces.

L

License
A license is an agreement between the publisher and the user wherein the publisher transfers the non-exclusive and non-transferable rights to use materials to the user or licensee. The publishers use license agreements as legal method for controlling the use of their e-resources.
Live Reference Service
See “Real-time Reference Service”

O

Open Access
An alternative method of scholarly publishing wherein the cost of publishing and dissemination of scholarly content is charged from the authors, their affiliated institutions or funding agencies instead of libraries or its users.
Open System
A system that employs modular design, uses widely supported and consensus based standards for its key interfaces, and has been subjected to successful validation and verification tests to ensure the openness of its key interfaces. An open system is a solution that is non proprietary.

P

Perpetual Access
Refers to the right to ongoing access to electronic resources. In situations where digital materials are licensed, access to these materials is often lost after the licensing agreement has expired, unless “perpetual access” to digital material is agreed to by the publishers.

R

Real-time Reference Service
Refers to delivery of personalized real-time reference service to the users outside the boundary of library. Several libraries have started experimenting with offering real-time digital reference service, using chat software (MSN Messenger, Yahoo Messenger, etc.), call counter management software, web contact software, bulletin board services, interactive customer assistance system or related technologies.
Resource
An online service (bibliographic or full-text database) accessible to user.

U

Usage Statistics
Statistics provided by the publishers for use of e-resources by subscribers that shows number of search conducted and number of articles downloaded.

W

World Wide Web
The World Wide Web (WWW) is the most popular services of Internet. It consists of a network of web pages. Users may view web pages by using a web browser program such as Internet Explorer or Netscape.

Z

Z39.50
Z39.50 is a national standard defining a protocol for computer-to-computer information retrieval. Z39.50 makes it possible for a user in one system to search and retrieve information from other Z39.50 computer systems without knowing the search syntax used by other systems. Z39.50 is an American National Standard that was originally approved by the National Information Standards Organization (NISO) in 1988.

0. Objectives

This module is divided into two parts. This is first part of this module which aims to impart knowledge on the following aspects of academic library consortia and networks:

  • Introduction to library network / consortia
  • History, growth and developments of library network / consortia
  • Library networks in India
  • Definition, needs and benefits of library network / consortia
  • Types and pricing models of library network / consortia
  • Activities and services of a library network / consortia

1. Introduction

Cooperation amongst institutions for sharing the library resources is being practiced for decades to provide cost-effective and efficient services to its users that the libraries individually could not afford. Traditionally, primary purpose of establishing a library network was to share physical resources including books and periodicals amongst members. As collaboration flourished, the networks and cooperatives were focused on automation coupled with the increased use of computers in bibliographic processing activities and database searching. Library cooperatives that were  created primarily for the purpose of a joint catalogue or shared integrated library system  include WALDO (1983), WISPALS (1989), LOUIS (1992), Orbis Cascade Alliance (1993), SUNYConnect (1998), and MOBIUS (1998), etc.

The mode of cooperation has gone under a transformation with infusion of new information technologies from print-based environment to digital environment. The Internet, particularly the World Wide Web (WWW) has emerged as a new way of information delivery which triggered proliferation of web-based full-text online resources.  These revolutionary web based technologies have been driving the emergence and popularity of newer and more effective models of information access and resource sharing around the world. The post-Internet era is witnessing a significant jump in the access to and usage of information. While on one hand, increasing number of publishers are offering electronic access to their publications to the international community of scientists and researchers using Internet technology, on the other hand, libraries and library networks are keeping pace with evolving technologies by redefining their functions and services. These new technologies are continuously driving the library resources to new peaks of usage, significantly beyond the library’s subscribed content. To fulfil high demand of electronic journals and online database with diminishing or at the best static financial allocations, libraries are considering possible ways to consolidate global resources amongst them in order to maximize their resources. The combination of these developments has resulted in development of “Consortia-based subscription” to electronic resources everywhere in the world. 

Consortia-based subscription to electronic resources, on the one hand, permits successful deployment and desktop access to electronic resources at highly discounted rates of subscription, on the other hand, it meets with the increasing pressures of diminishing budget, increased user demands and rising cost of research. The library consortia, on the basis of sheer strength of numbers of institutions, offer healthy business growth opportunities to the electronic publishers and thus attract the best possible price and terms of agreement. With this welcome change, the libraries, all over the world, are forming consortia of all types and flavour at all levels with an objective to take advantage of current global network to promote better, faster and more cost-effective ways of providing electronic resources to the information seekers.

This module is divided into two parts.  The first part of the module defines library network /consortium and outlines its needs and benefits. It describes history, growth and development of library networks /consortia. It also describes types and models of library consortia, prevalent pricing model offered to the library consortia and services and activities of a library network /consortium beyond licensing of electronic resources. The second part elaborates steps involved in managing a library network /consortium and e-resources. It also elaborates on initiatives taken towards library consortia in India.

2. History, Growth and Developments

Library networks and cooperatives were formed as early as the 1930s essentially to provide better and faster services to its users.  The real drive for cooperation was seen during the eighties when the focus of cooperation shifted towards resource sharing and number of initiatives were taken to achieve collective objectives of libraries by working together” (Sewell 1981). The biggest impetus for the development of formal library network occurred after 1960 when automating library processes became a possibility. For many libraries, forming or joining cooperatives was the only way that they were able to afford expensive integrated library systems. In 1967, OCLC (then known as the Ohio College Library Centre) was established, which, in turn, led to development of several regional library networks in USA such as NELNET, ILLNET, PALINET and SOLINET,   etc which were primarily established to extend shared cataloguing services of OCLC to libraries in a given region or state in USA. At the time when OCLC developed in USA, other networks grew in Canada, UK and Australia essentially to share MARC catalogue records.

Owing to inadequate communication facilities in India, library networks were almost non-existent in India until the end of 1980. The growth of library Networks in India can be traced to the initiatives taken by NISSAT in the year 1986. The CALIBNET was established in 1986 followed by the DELNET in 1988 with initial funding from the NISSAT. Establishment of the INFLIBNET by the University Grants Commission (UGC) in 1991 as a national-level network can be considered as a major turning point in the evolution of library networks in India. The table given below provides detailed information on Library Networks in India.

Library Networks in India
Sr. No.
Name of Library Network
Title
Website
Year
Supporting Agency
Services / Activities
1
ADINET
Ahmedabad Library Network
1993
NISSAT
Database of current periodicals
Inter Library Loan
Conducting lectures and seminars
Specialized training to fresh qualified librarians


2
BONET
Bombay Library Network

1994
NISSAT
Online catalogue
Inter Library Loan, Document Delivery Services
Dissemination of Information



3
CALIBNET
Calcutta Libraries Network
 
1986
NISSAT
Databases Services
Inter Library Loan, Document Delivery Services
Union List of Conference Proceedings
Index to Asiatic Society Journals
Specialists Database
Institutions Database
Union Catalogue of Social Science Serials


4
DELNET
Developing Library Network
1988
NISSAT
Access to union catalogues and databases
Interlibrary Loan and Document Delivery Services
Retro-Conversion
Professional Training
Technical Support



5
INFLIBNET
Information Library Network
1991
UGC
Software development (SOUL)
Automation of University library
Database development
Human Resource Development
Inter Library Loan
Access to scholarly, peer-reviewed electronic resources
Setting-up of open access digital repositories
Digital content creation


6
MALIBNET
Madras Library Network
1993
INSDOC
Directory Database of Journals Since 1993 in and around Chennai
Contents Database
Document Procurement Services
Consultancy Services


7
MYLIBNET
Mysore Library Network

1994
NISSAT
Union Catalogue of Database
Food patents
Library bulletin
E-journals
Public services


8
PUNENET
Pune Library Network
 
1992
DSIR
Catalogues of holding of all member libraries
Union catalogue of current periodicals in Pune libraries and information centres



9
BALNET
Bangalore Library Network

1995
JRD Tata Memorial Library


The pace of creation and development of library consortia has accelerated in past two decades because of availability of e-resources and offerings made by the publishers to library consortia. Some of the important library networks at international level include TexShare (Texas), VIVA (Virginia), PALCI (Pennsylvania), GALILEO (Georgia), and OhioLINK (Ohio).  In India, the National Knowledge Resource Consortium (2002), INDEST-AICTE Consortium (2003), UGC-INFONET Digital Library Consortium (2004), DAE Consortium (2004), NLIST (2010) are major library consortia with emphasis on identification, acquisition and management of electronic resources for the member libraries. Besides, library consortia that emerged with primary motive to license e-resources for their member institutions, several existing library networks have also taken-up the task to license e-resources for their members. Demarcations between library consortium and library network, if any, are disappearing. 

3. Definition, Needs and Benefit of Library Consortium

A library consortium refers to a group of libraries that are interconnected to form a system to accomplish some specified goal.

A consortium refers to cooperation, collaboration and coordination between and amongst libraries for the purpose of sharing information services. (Nfila, et al., 2000).

A library cooperative constituted by a group of libraries, preferably with some homogeneous characteristics by subject, or institutional affiliation, or affiliation to funding authorities, who join together with the primary objective of providing expanded access to information resources needed by its user community through a process of pooling and sharing of information and infrastructure resources with due adherence to copyright compliances.

Library consortia are association of libraries established by formal agreement, usually for the purpose of improving services through resource sharing among its members.


In nutshell, a library consortium, variably termed as cooperatives, networks, collectives, alliances or partnerships etc performs the following major activities and services:

  • facilitates the libraries to get the benefit of wider access to electronic resources at affordable cost and at the best terms of licenses.

  • with the collective strength of resources of various institutions available to it, is in a better position to address and resolve the problems of managing, organizing and archiving the electronic resources.

  • provides a platform to members to share their knowledge, skills and experiences amongst participating libraries. 

  • works as a catalyst to trigger other activities that require collaborative efforts, such as cooperative collection development, education and training, preservation, centralized services and network alliances featuring library automation services, system support, inter-library lending, union listing, retrospective conversion, consultation and cooperative purchasing.   

4.0 Types and Models of Consortia

There is a great deal of variety in types and model of library consortia in terms of their size and flavour. They range from informal gathering of librarians gathered for negotiating licenses for accessing e-resources to formally organized operations either sponsored by one institution or by all member institutions. Consortium model depends upon types of libraries participating, parent organisation, purpose of partnership and subject area they cover. Some models are as follows:

  • Allen & Hirshon Model: It categorise consortia that are based predominantly on the governance structure of the consortium, whether it is a formal or informal, centralized or decentralized structure. Types of categorization are – loosely knit federations, multi-type/ multi-state networks; tightly knit federations, centrally funded state wide consortia.
  • O’Connor Model: It provides four models that are predominantly based on how the consortia are  funded – Off the Top, Get on with It, Let’s Help Ourselves, Do it our Way.
  • Helmer Model: It identifies a wide variety of models of library consortia such as – those formed by the Government mandate, license electronic resources, offer other services, has legal status, has central office with or without staff, with or without central funding.
  • Haavisto Model: It categorizes consortia in terms of how a consortium is managed and what needs to be looked at when entering into a consortial agreement. Consortium can be managed by – a member of the consortium, a new legal entity founded by the partners, an outside agent.
Library consortium can also be grouped by sector, by funding source, by governance or organizational structure, by degree of integrity or affiliation, by specific interest, by geographical location, etc. Some examples are as follows:


4.1 Library Consortium by Geographical Regions

4.1.1        City or Metropolitan Library Networks confine their activities and membership to a given city or metropolitan, for example ADINET, MALIBNET, BONET in India;

4.1.2        Regional Library Networks are founded by the member institutions for specific purposes in a given region, for example HELINET in Karnataka;

4.1.3        National Library Networks are spread over the entire country, for example INFLIBNET.

4.1.4        International Library Networks are spread over different countries, for example OCLC can be considered as international network with 16,737 libraries as its members from different countries.


4.2 The Library Networks / Consortium Based on Activities Undertaken by Them

4.2.1        Umbrella or Supermarket: It covers all subject fields and offer multitude of services, for example OCLC;

4.2.2        Bibliographic Utility Networks consist of a large union bibliographic database of member libraries, accessible online to members for copy cataloguing or for creation of new bibliographic records for new books. The OCLC, as the largest bibliographic utility network, provides a database consisting of two billion bibliographic records created by member libraries, these records are used for copy cataloguing, inter-library loan and other functions;

4.2.3          Online Search Service Networks: It hosts a number of databases in machine-readable form which are accessible online through Internet. A user can directly interrogate the databases mounted on host's computer through Internet in two-way interactive mode.

4.2.4        Networks or Consortium for Subscription to Electronic Resources: It takes group licensing / purchasing of electronic resources as one of its major activities, for example, INDEST-AICTE and UGC-INFONET Digital Library Consortium in India.

4.3 The Consortia by Types of its Member Institutions

The consortium is formed by types of its member institutions, such as UGC-INFONET Digital Library Consortium is a consortium for University Libraries. Like wise INDEST – AICTE Consortium is a Consortium for Technical Institutions.

4.4 Library Consortia based on Source of Funding

4.4.1        Open-ended Consortia

Open-ended Consortium do not have a fixed number of libraries as its member, instead any library can join the consortium within a defined time framework. Open-ended consortia provide flexibility to the libraries to join the consortium based on their need, convenience and will. The publisher may define a minimum number of libraries that are required essentially to take-off the consortium. This type of consortia are generally driven by small homogeneous group who have a need to cross-share the resources in a specific subject area.  The cost of subscription per library and the benefits of sharing become evident once more libraries join the consortium. The model is self-funded as each member pays his part of the cost. This model has an opportunity to expand and widespread consortia development on a wider scale. UGC-INFONET Digital Library Consortium is open for private universities and other institutes to join the consortium at their own cost.

4.4.2        Closed Group Consortia

The membership in a closed group consortia are defined by certain criteria and its membership remain closed to a predefined group of members who fulfil these criteria. Closed-group consortium are formed either by affiliation of its member institutions to the funding agency, for example National Knowledge Resource Consortium and DAE Consortium in India . Such consortia are easier to evolve and administer. The funding could come partially or fully by a central agency to which the members are organizationally affiliated to or the consortium may decide to share the cost of resources subscribed through the consortium on mutually agreed terms.

4.4.3        Centrally-funded Consortia

It is an efficient management and co-ordination model where central funding agency provides fund to operate the consortium. Individual member libraries are not required to make any financial contribution to subscription of resources. A serious problem of this model is the long-term sustenance of central funding over a long period of time. The model may result in duplicated spending, if the members do not drop subscription to print resources where e-resources fully paid by central funding act as reliable and guaranteed substitutes. Library consortia in India including UGC-INFONET Digital Library Consortium, INDEST-AICTE Consortium, NLIST are centrally funded library consortia.

4.4.4        Shared-budget Consortia

Shared-budget model is the only alternative where central funding is not forth coming.  HELINET is examples of this model but the fund management does not have a central authority.

4.4.5        National Consortium

The national consortium acts as a central agency to coordinate acquisition, creation and access to information in digital format for institutions of higher education and research. The national consortium can get financial and administrative support from various ministries and departments of the Government of India for subscription to core electronic resources. A national consortium can greatly reduce duplication of efforts and provide greater purchasing power. National consortium would be in a better position to handle archival issues. 

5.0 Pricing Models and Access Rights

Pricing models in e-environment are still in the process of experimentation and evolution. There are a number of models, which are largely a permutation and combination of two basic models, i.e. print-based and electronic only. Prevalent pricing models are briefly discussed below. 

5.1 Print + E Model

Print + electronic model was evolved by the publishers as a natural extension of their print subscription model. The publisher provides electronic access to all subscribed as well as un-subscribed titles or part of un-subscribed titles on a given subject collection on additional payment of certain % on their current print spending. The additional percentage payment may vary from publisher to publisher in the range of 5% and 30%. It is obligatory on the part of the member libraries to maintain their print subscription that existed at the time of signing-up the consortia deal. A member library in the consortium may have liberty to drop subscription to the journal but should replace it by another journal of same or higher value. Managing this model 

may pose significant operational problems to both consortia and the publishers because of print retention clause. The print + electronic model also provide access to back-files in addition to the current year access. Moreover, depending on the deal, the publisher may also allow cross sharing of subscribed titles across members of the consortium. Archiving rights in such cases are generally limited to titles that are subscribed in print. 


5.2. E-Only Model

The e-only model offer electronic access to journals irrespective of their print subscription. Under such offers, publishers offer a pre-defined set of journals at a pre-determined cost to the members of a consortium. Generally, publishers develop consortium-specific offers taking into account current print spending by the member institutions to ensure that there is no loss on revenue from print cancellations. The proposal is made more attractive by offering discount to those members of consortium who wish to maintain print subscription. Responding to the demands from libraries and library consortia, publishers are moving gradually towards e-only model. E-only model grants consortia-wide archiving and perpetual access rights for the subscribed years’ content. Access and archiving rights for back-file content is offered either as an inclusive value of the offer price or for a one-time additional payment.


5.3. Full-Time Equivalent Model

Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) model is offered based on population of total number of potential user per site. Generally entire population of the organization including students, faculty, researchers and employees of an organization are counted for FTE. Publishers like Nature and Science who had several multiple subscriptions across the campuses follow this model considering that online access could lead to extinction of their print version over time.  

5.4. Concurrent-Users Model

The concurrent user model provides a fix number of concurrent user accesses to all the members of consortium treating all members of the consortia as one single entity or site.  The database providers such as web of Science use this model predominantly. Universities having multiple sites and national consortium can negotiate this kind of model. 

5.5. Perpetual Access V/s Annual Lease

The libraries and library consortium are increasingly demanding perpetual access to the content based on subscription model followed by the libraries in print environment.  However, the cost that is charged for perpetual access, specially by aggregators like Ovid and OCLC is prohibitive. Annual lease model, on the other hand, offer significant cost advantage. Increasingly, publishers are offering models of subscription to e-resources with perpetual access to e-resources built-in for the period of paid subscription. 


5.6. Back-file Access

Access to back-file of journals is a critical necessity especially for scholarly journals. Several leading publishers have already digitized their complete back-files of journals launched their archival back-files. These publishers include Elsevier Science, Springer ACS, IOP, SIAM, CUP, OUP, etc.

While several publishers, like ACM and IEEE offer free access to their entire back-file collection, as part of the current electronic subscription, a number of publishers, however, offer online access to only the current year’s content + a few year back file as part of the electronic subscription and back-file access is charged separately. Most publishers, who have created back-files from volume 1, offer the back-files on “one-time purchase and perpetual access” basis. 

5.7. Document Delivery and Pay-Per-View Model

Document delivery is an extension of inter-library-lending practice for resource sharing which has been widely practiced world over as exchange of photocopy of articles among libraries. The emerging pay-per-view model, made available by several publishers and third-party aggregators, is likely to replace the old document delivery model.

The pay-per-view model charge US$10-50 per article, but offer the benefit of instant access to full-text and economic advantages over subscription models. In this model, the library does not subscribe to the complete journal but pays for what is used.  This is an ideal model for the contents of non-subscribed journals. Consortia negotiations can look at the opportunities for using this model for less used journals and engage the publishers for advance purchase of articles for a more consortia affordable lower fee per article. Pay-per-view model is driven and promoted by the publishers. It may replace document delivery completely in future. 


6.0 Activities and Services of Library Consortium

Library consortia are being formed increasingly with an aim to arrange access to electronic resources for its member institutions at discounted rates of subscription. However, consortium is not just a buying club. Besides purchase of electronic resources, there are several other related activities that a consortium is required to take up to achieve economies of scale and optimal use of electronic resources subscribed by it. Moreover, it can also be used as a platform to take-up activities that may not be associated either with the purchase of electronic resources or their usage but with completely different sets of activities that requires collaborative efforts, infrastructure and platform that consortium can provide and act as a catalyst. Some of the activities that a library network / consortium may take-up are given below:

6.1 Consortium Purchase

Consortia-based subscription to e-resources is a way of maximising access to e-resources at minimum cost. The consortia-based subscription can be successfully deployed to meet the pressures such as diminishing budget, increased user’s demand and rising cost of journals.

The library consortia, on basis of sheer strength of numbers of institutions, offers healthy business growth opportunities to the electronic publishers and thus attracts the best possible price and terms of agreement in a win-win situation for both. The collective strength of consortia members facilitates the libraries to get the benefit of wider access to electronic resources at an affordable cost and at the best terms and conditions. Consortia based services helps library networks to:

  • Increase the cost-benefit per subscription for participating institutions;

  • Promote the rational use of funds;

  • Ensure continuous and long-term subscription to the subscribed resources;

  • Provide opportunities of local storage and hosting of subscribed information resources;

  • Help in developing local expertise in operation and handling of electronic resources;

  • Prompt institutions with common interest to come together and purchase e-resources in a consortia mode at reduced cost and better terms and conditions; and

  • Improved resource sharing amongst member institutions.

6.2 Collective Acquisition of Resources

The goal of a library network /consortium is to share equitably the collective resources of member libraries. While the existing resources can be shared through inter-library loan, library consortia can achieve greater benefit by implementing centralized resource acquisition programme and by rationalization its acquisitions. While multiple copies of frequently used documents can be acquired at discounted rates, inadvertent duplication of expensive resources can be avoided. Collective acquisition of resources through library networks not only brings-in transparency and accountability but also demonstrate a commitment to greater collaboration. The collaborative building and distribution of information resources provides the best solution for improving the quantity of, and access to resources essential for conducting research, teaching and in rendering service.

The process and operations where collaboration can be achieved includes: i) pre-order searching; ii) integration of new bibliographic records in OPAC; iii) account keeping; iv) maintenance of address file for supplier / publisher name, etc; v) negotiations for purchase of multiple copies of books ; and vi) updation of databases when the documents are withdrawn.

6.3 Cooperative Cataloguing

Catalogue of a library is an index of its collection. Likewise a union catalogue of libraries in a network serve as an index to combined collection of libraries in the network. The union catalogue was, therefore, taken up as one of the first activity by most of the resource sharing initiatives. The sharing of cataloguing services began with centralized cataloguing and distribution of printed catalogue cards by the Library of Congress in 1901. The British National Bibliography (BNB) was launched in 1950 accompanied with catalogue card service though on a more limited scale than that of the Library of Congress. Fully automated library networks offer interfaces for online cataloguing that allow member libraries not only to access the database but also create bibliographic records online for new books or download records for books that already exist in the union database. The centralized cataloguing saves times, avoid duplication, encourage inter-library loan and facilitates downloading of cataloguing information directly into the local library catalogue. Some of the important catalogue-based services that library networks can take-up include:  

  • Shared cataloguing of monographs, serials, and non-book materials
  • Union catalogue of books, serials, theses & dissertations, non-book materials
  • Online catalogue access for shared cataloguing and location identification
  • Catalogue production on magnetic tapes and CD-ROM / DVD ROMs
  • Retrospective conversion
  • Preparation of authority files

6.4 Database Services

The library networks can subscribe to electronic resources (including bibliographic databases, full-text electronic resources and reference sources) on behalf of member institutions on cost-sharing basis, host them locally on their own computer infrastructure and provide access to resources hosted locally to their member libraries on payment basis. Besides being economic, local availability of international databases make the access faster and reliable, reduces transpacific network traffic and bandwidth congestion, and cost incurred on it. Depending upon the licensing arrangements, local hosting of databases also ensures availability of archives of databases locally. The local hosting of databases was practiced regularly by several library networks in developed countries before advent of the Internet and availability of web-based electronic resources. It is still practiced by several library networks and library consortia like CALIS (China), CONCERT (Taiwan) and OhaiLink and OCLC (USA). 

The library networks can also build value-aided services around subscribed resources including retrospective searches for member institutions, citation analysis for individual researchers and institutions, current awareness, alert services, etc.  


6.5 Resources Sharing

Resource sharing through formal and informal partnerships helps a library to deliver wider range of services. Technological advancements offer new dimensions to resource sharing with shift from sharing bibliographic information to sharing full-text electronic resources. Most electronic publishers allow inter-library loan wherein a library subscribing to a given electronic resource in full-text can take a printout of a paper and send it to the requesting library. Fully automated comprehensive inter-library loans and document delivery management system like VDX (Virtual Document eXchange) and ARIEL are available that facilitate resource sharing between libraries and deliver documents directly to users.

The J-Gate Custom Content for Consortium (JCCC) has been specifically designed for the UGC-INFONET Digital Library Consortium to facilitate resource sharing and document delivery amongst participating institutions.

6.6 Shared Technology Systems

The consortium can help libraries to share expertise, save costs and enable library staff to concentrate on providing services to their users rather than developing computing infrastructure. The library consortium can take up the role of an Application Service Provider (ASP), which manages and distributes software-based solutions to its customer across a wide area network from a central data server. Library automation package may be offered as an application for smaller member institutions, which, in turn, may use server infrastructure offered by consortium in a wide area network without bothering for maintenance and upgrade their own infrastructure.

Shared technology System may also include common database hosting infrastructure for hosting full-text and bibliographic databases.

6.7 Joint Archives and Storage Facilities

Cooperative storage of documents is a recent trend, whereby a group of libraries finances the construction of a high-density facility with advanced climate-control systems. Sharing of documents is in-built in the concept of cooperative storage since there is a little point in storing multiple copies of commonly owned documents. Dedicated remote-storage facilities have the potential for superior storage conditions because, in the absence of user interaction, the environment is much easier to control. Cooperative storage facilities need not be necessarily a repository for discarded or duplicate materials, it may also be an active facility that organize, house and disseminate materials too expensive or perhaps too little used to justify acquisition in an individual institution.

Besides printed documents, members of a library network can also have joint computer storage facilities that can be used for hosting archives and backfiles that can be made accessible to the members of the consortium. Such joint facilities may also be implemented for setting up e-print archives across members of a library network. The responsibility of digital archives can also be taken-up in a distributed mode by members  of a library network. 

6.8 Shared Core Collections

Besides subscription to full-text electronic resources and bibliographic databases, the consortium may invest in purchase of backfiles, electronic books and reference sources. It may be noted that several publishers, including Elsevier Science (Science Direct), Wiley Interscience and Institute of Physics (IoP) offer their backfiles that may be loaded locally onto Intranet servers for local access. 

6.9 Shared Digital Library Project Development

As mentioned before, the consortium may take up activities that may not be associated either with the purchase of electronic resources or their usage but with completely different activities that require collaborative efforts wherein consortium with its infrastructure can be used as platform. These activities may relate to content creation, development and hosting. Z39.50 protocol facilitates a new form of collaboration, namely the virtual union catalogue. A number of consortia have developed with an idea of linking their catalogues using Z39.50 protocol. Even systems that are not complaint to Z39.50 have been accommodated using interface programs.

Setting-up interoperable digital repositories of e-prints and electronic theses and dissertations, web-based union catalogue of journals and other serial publications, virtual union catalogue of books, etc. are some of the important activities that a consortium can take up.


6.10 Shared Digital Reference / Real-time Reference Service

Reference service and imparting instructional training to the library users are key areas of activities for any library.  The technology now allows reference librarians to reach out to the users using the network instead of waiting at the reference desk for users to come by.  Besides, imparting instructions on mechanisms of using a library, a reference librarian is also involved in delivering reference service that require deep intellectual understanding of subject.

Digital reference service, also called “Ask-A-Librarian” services are Internet-based question and answer service that connect users with individuals who possess specialized subject knowledge and skill in conducting precision searches. A library network can offer digital reference service involving reference librarians from member libraries to answer questions depending upon their expertise. Once a question is received, it can be assigned to an individual expert from a member library for answering.   

7. Summary

Consortia are resource-sharing organizations formed by libraries. Variably termed as cooperatives, networks, collectives, alliances or partnerships etc., the library consortia are association of libraries established by formal agreement, usually for the purpose of improving services through resource sharing among its members. Activities and functions undertaken by a library network / consortium may vary to a great extend, but often consist of buying access to e-resources, cooperative collection development, education and training, preservation, centralized services and network alliances featuring library automation services, system support, inter-library lending, union listing, retrospective conversion, consultation and cooperative purchasing, etc.  

References and Readings

Allen, B., & Hirshon, A. (1998) Hanging together to avoid hanging separately: Opportunities for academic libraries and consortia. Information Technology & Libraries, 17(1), 36.

Arora, Jagdish and  Agrawal, P. (2003). Indian Digital Library in Engineering Science andTechnology (INDEST) Consortium: Consortia-Based Subscription to Electronic Resources for Technical Education System in India: A Government of India Initiative. In T.A.V. Murthy (Ed.), Mapping Technology on Libraries and People. CALIBER-2003: Proceedings of the First International Convention on Mapping Technology on Libraries and People. 10th CALIBER, 13-14 February 2003, Ahmedabad, 271-290. Ahmedabad: Information and Library Network

Arora, Jagdish and Agarwal, Pawan. Building digital libraries in a consortium mode: Towards a national consortium. In: International Conference on Digital Libraries, 24th-27th February, TERI, New Delhi: Conference papers, vol. 1. New Delhi, The Energy and Resources Institute, p. 292-311, 2004. (Republished in the Proceedings of the Symposium on Consortia Approach to Resource Sharing: Issues and Policies (ed. Dr. Devika P. Madalli). Bangalore, DRTC, Paper E, 29 p., 2004.

Balakrishnan, N. Final Report of the Committee of Experts on Consortia-based Subscription to Electronic Resources for Technical Education System in India, submitted to the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD). New Delhi, Deptt. of Secondary and Higher Education, Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), Sept. 2002.

Bostick, S. L. (2001). The History and Development of Academic Library Consortia in the United States: An Overview. Journal of Academic Librarianship, 27(2), 128–130.

Ching, S.H., Poon, W.T. and Huang, K.L. Managing the effectiveness of the library consortium: A core values perspective on Tiawan e-book net. Journal of Academic Librarianship, 29, 304-315, 2003.

Haavisto, Tuula (1999): Shared licenses. The Finnish Library Journal. V.12, Oct. 1999. (More information available at: http://www.fla.fi/fljtuula.htm)

Harloe, B. & Budd, J. (1994). Collection development and scholarly communication in the era of electronic access. Journal of Academic Librarianship, 20(2), 83-87.

HELMER, JOHN F (1999): Epidemiology of the consortial spore. Information Technology and Libraries. V.18 (3), p.119-120.

Hiremath, U. (2001). Electronic resource: sharing in the consortia digital age. Collection Building, 20(2), 80-87.

INDEST Consortium. INDEST Consortium Annual Report, April, 2004 to March, 2005. New Delhi, INDEST Consortium, 2005.

International Coalition of Library Consortia (ICOLC). Guidelines for Technical Issues in Request for Proposal (RFP) requirements and Contract Negotiations. (January 1999).http://library.uwsp.edu/aschmetz/Accessible/CIT2001/ICOLC.htm

International Coalition of Library Consortia (ICOLC). Statement of Current Perspective and Preferred Practices for the Selection and Purchase of Electronic Information. 1998.http://www.library.yale.edu/consortia/statement.html

International Coalition of Library Consortia (ICOLC). Statement of Current Perspective and Preferred Practices for the Selection and Purchase of Electronic Information. Update No. 1 : New Developments In E-Journal Licensing
http://www.library.yale.edu/consortia/2001currentpractices.htm


Nfila, Reason. Baathuli., & Darko-Ampem, Kwasi.(2002). Developments in academiclibrary consortia from the 1960s through to 2000: A review of the literature. Library Management, 23 (4/5), 203-212.

O’Connor, Steve (1999): Beyond cooperation in Australia. LibraryHiTech, V.17 (3), p.265-271.

Okerson, Ann. In today’s e-information marketplace: Am I a swan or ungainly duckling? Library and Information Sciences. In: Library and information services in Astronomy III. ASP Conference Series, Vol. 153, 1998.  

Sathyanarayana, N.V., Krishnan, S. and Arora, Jagdish. Library consortia and resource sharing initiatives in India: A white paper. Bangalore, Rajiv Gandhi University of  Health Sciences, 2004. 54 p.

Sewell, Philip H. (1981). Resource Sharing: Cooperation and coordination in library and information services. London: Deutsch. 
Sewell, Philip H. (1981). Resource Sharing: Cooperation and coordination in library and information services. London: Deutsch.