NETWORKING AND RESOURCE SHARING IN LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SERVICES

Okeagu, G., Okeagu, B., (2008). Networking and resource sharing in Library and Information Services : the case for consortium building. United Kingdom : Information, Society & Justice. From www.fhpotsdam.de/~IFLA/INSPEL/01-1kasu.pdf

INTRODUCTION

The so-called “information Revolution” has made Libraries around the world to adopt new philosophies and technologies for science delivery and also reduce the cost of information. Maintaining the dept and depths of collection of a single greatest challenge confronting libraries, be it, academic, special, national, or public.

INTRODUCTION

Libraries have realized that no mo matter what they are well funded, it is difficult to acquire all the materials needed by the clientele. In fact partnership and cooperation in local, national and international have become enviable for all libraries. In achieving cooperation is through the establishment of consortium.

LIBRARY COOPERATION AROUND THE WORLD1. United Kingdom Burkyley (1996) explained the formal

cross sectional cooperation in 1930’s with setting of RLS for inter-lending and catalogue sharing.

60’s and 70’s- more local cooperatives not only concentrated inter-lending, encompassed sharing of information and training and facilitated personal contacts between librarians.

1. United Kingdom

1986- a LIP was launched with the philosophy:1. That LIP services are a national heritage

and require conscious national effort to maintain them.

2. The resources can’t be fully exploited unless provision is coordinated nationally and locally

3. Strategic planning will maximize existing library and information services, productivity and value.

4. Planning will be the most effective if first done at local level.

United Kingdom

•JANET- the development linked all higher education institutions

•OPAC’s- consortium purchasing of electronic materials inter-loans and

•e-mail- are part of its use by the academic community

•EARL- a project camp up in the consortium of Public Library Networking

•LASER- provides detail of services of 165 partners and gateways to specialist sites of interest to Public Library User.

1. South Africa

1992- South African Library and Information services sector was transformed w/ the establishment of the first formal Library consortium, (CALICO).

1992-1998, five academic library consortia were established.

1998- 2003, South Africa consortium consolidating their roles with the addition of new members.

Objectives of South Africa Consortia are:1. Promote formal relationship between

members to foster collaborations and networking.

2. Promote collection building and resource sharing.

3. Support optional access to information members through regional and national cooperation.

4. Improve information literacy skills and to share training resources and expertise

5. Provide support for the implementation and management of common Library system.

3. Nigeria

• Five Libraries are participating in the scheme out of the hundred that joined at inception.

2004- the committee of University of the Nigerian Universities (CULNU) formed the Nigerian University Libraries consortium (NULIC). The objectives includes:

1. Promote resource sharing among members Libraries.

2. Make the academic resources of each member library available to others.

3. Ensure that member institutions contribute meaningfully towards sustaining the consorsium.

Nigeria

•NUNET- is another initiative by the National Universities Commission to encourage Universities to network and share information for academic and administrative functions.

•NPI of CULNU and NADICEST aimed at providing access to current and retrospectives information on Science and Technology to Facilitate research.

ELEMENTS OF CONSORTUIM BUILDING1. Mutual Objectives Each of the partnering

entities needs to have a clear understanding to have a clear understanding of its objectives which must be developed and combine with those of the other partners.

ELEMENTS OF CONSORTUIM BUILDING2. Join decision making process All problems and decision whenever

possible must be jointly owned and resolved by the team.

3. Continuous improvement All partners must continue to receive

worthwhile benefits from the arrangement. This demands a continuous review of the partners’ performance over the life of consortium.

CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS OF CONSORTIUM BUILDING• A shared vision and Philosophies • A well focus org• Perceive cost effectiveness• Accessibility of the network’s

resources through local nodes• Staff skills, Attitudes and

Commitment• The quality of response provided• The depths and the range of

resources available

CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS OF CONSORTIUM BUILDING

• Network visibility and the image projected to the outside world

• An ability to adopt overtime

ADVANTAGES OF CONSORTUIM BUILDING

• A comprehensive collection is possible

• Avoidance of duplication of non core collection development among the participating libraries.

• Reduction in the cost of information services

• Quality of services is enchanced

ADVANTAGES OF CONSORTUIM BUILDING• Facilitation of the use of common

library system• Promotion of best practices• Implementation of staff skills

development programmers• Implementation of staff skills

development programmers.

CHALLENGES OF CONSORSUIM BUILDING

• Team Work Recognition of the value of each

team member and his specialty, respecting each member’s opinion and seeking understanding of each other’s views contribute to team members feeling being valued and part of the team

CHALLENGES OF CONSORSUIM BUILDING• Trust, openness and honesty Trust will be build over time with

each of the partners delivering their commitments. Trust will drastically cut down the cost of running a consortium where partners constantly cross check information from other partners constantly cross check information from other partners to avoid being advantage of.

CHALLENGES OF CONSORSUIM BUILDING• Trust, openness and honesty Trust also requires openness and

no room for hidden agenda. Libraries coming together to form consortium must make careful choice of partners. If every member is treated fairly then no one will need to waste time worring money issues.

CHALLENGES OF CONSORSUIM BUILDING• Win-Win Approach

All partners should receive an acceptable benefit from it rather than working for individual short terms gains, the benefit of the consortium as a whole is considered. Once the win-win is mindset is in place, the energies will be noticeable. The contributions of all members should be recognized and appreciated no matter how small is.

LIP- Library and Information PlansRLS- Regional Library SystemJANET- Joint Academic NetworkEARL- Electronic Access to Resources in LibrariesLASER-London and South Eastern Library Regional

Library SystemCALICO- Cape Library CooperativeCULNU-Committee of University Libraries

ConsortiumNULIC- Nigerian Committees ConsortiumNUNET-Nigerian University NetworkNPI- Nigerian Periodical IndexNADICEST- National Documentation and Library

Center for Science and Technology