Managing Consortium Finances – the Case of CARLIGH

Joel Samjsam@csir-insti.org/egy28@yahoo.co.uk

Background

• Economic downturn from the 1980s to the early 1990s

• Inadequate financial, human and material resources

• Serious problems - access to and delivery of relevant information

• 1993 – ILLDD Section of IFLA discussion

• 1996 – Informal cooperative network (GILLDNET)

Background, cont.

• 2002 - access to online databases through INASP

• Resources were very useful - ‘life’ into the libraries

• GILLDNET informed DANIDA support to cease - 2004

• Idea to establish a Consortium

Background, cont.

• Open to academic and research libraries

• Full and Affiliate members (40)

• Three tier governance structure

• Five Working Groups (Bibliographic services, ICT, Training and Human Resource Development, Advocacy and Marketing, E-Resources)

– E-resources negotiations, training, advocates for increased funding

Financing (1)

• Seed money of $40,000 - National Council for Tertiary Education

• Annual membership fee • Payment for e-Resources• Levies – periodic• Grants• Workshops and Conferences• Investment of funds– Fixed Deposit of Six Months/91-Day Treasury Bill

Financing (2)

• Formula for payment – – simple; equal payment irrespective of size and

usage– 12 databases (Ebsco Host, Emerald, Wiley, Taylor

and Francis, Sage, Credo) used by all consortium members

– Total amount divided by the number of members• Subscriptions for E-resources shared equally• Annual membership fee – equiv. of $220

Challenges

• Late payment of e-resources by members

• Members required to pay between November and March

• For 2015 – 1st Payment (25/11/14); Last Payment (14/09/15)

• Payment in local currency instead of US Dollars

Overcoming Challenges

• Investment of funds over the years• Transparency in management of finances• Reminders to head of institutions• Publish list of members not in good standing

(extreme case)• Call for proposals