ASSIGNMENT No. 1

“A term used to describe organized attempt by libraries and Information Centres to share materials and services cooperatively so as to provide one another with resources that might otherwise not be available to an individual institution. It represents an attempt to expand the availability of specialized, expensive, or just plain not-owned resources beyond the bounds of a single institution.”

Supplementing your local collection through resource sharing is a smart way to ensure your library has the resources to satisfy the needs of your users. Marshall Breeding’s new Library Technology Report explores technologies and strategies for sharing resources, helping you streamline workflows and improve resource-sharing services by covering key strategies like interlibrary loan, consortial borrowing, document delivery, and shared collections. You’ll also learn about such trends and services as: OCLC WorldCat Resource Sharing, and other systems that facilitate cooperative, reciprocal lending; system-to-system communications that allow integrated systems to interact with resource-sharing environments; technical components that reliably automate patron requests, routing to suppliers with tools for tracking, reporting, and staff intervention as needed; specialized applications that simplify document delivery, such as Ariel, Odyssey, or OCLC’s Article Exchange; how the NISO Circulation Interchange Protocol (NCIP) can enable borrowing among consortial libraries using separate integrated library systems; and the Orbis Cascade Alliance consortium, examined using a case study.

In computing, a shared resource, or network share, is a computer resource made available from one host to other hosts on a computer network. It is a device or piece of information on a computer that can be remotely accessed from another computer, typically via a local area network or an enterprise intranet, transparently as if it were a resource in the local machine. Network sharing is made possible by inter-process communication over the network. Some examples of shareable resources are computer programs, data, storage devices, and printers (e.g. shared file access, shared printer access, shared scanner access).

Importance and objectives of library resource sharing

In the library world, resource sharing means that you are collaborating with one or more libraries to maximize access to a larger array of resources by sharing the collections of the cooperating libraries or pooling funding to purchase shared digital resources. In this day of shrinking resource dollars, most libraries participate in some type of resource sharing, even when they may not be aware of it. Resource sharing provides the cooperating libraries with an opportunity to access materials from other libraries, which should result in a cost savings. Example: If academic library A has a strong Latin American history collection and academic library B a strong Russian history collection, the two libraries could form a partnership so researchers have priority access and library A does not have to spend money on Russian history materials. Public libraries can also get together and negotiate a cost reduction for digital resources, benefiting both libraries and vendors.

Sharing Collections – prerequisites

How would you go about sharing collections? First, you would need to decide if you have something worth sharing and whether you are willing to share it. This isn’t the time to consider ways to cut costs on best sellers, but you can look at collections to see what you have that wouldn’t often inconvenience your own patrons to have checked out to others. Example: the Hancock County Public Library may have an extraordinary collection of works of hometown author James Whitcomb Riley, and Indianapolis Public Library could have a collection of local author Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. Could some type of collection sharing arrangement be made?

There are a number of institutional variables to consider: type of library, location to support efficient transfer, and equity in contributions. Libraries that share resources should have some degree of equity in what they offer. Although often without formal arrangement, public libraries cooperate with school libraries to supplement curriculum needs. In the age of information explosion, no library however big or rich can satisfy all the needs of its users. Resource sharing is nothing but sharing of library resources with other participating libraries who need it. According to Chatterjee “it will not merely mean mutual sharing of information sources available in different libraries, it will mean utilizing the information sources of one library for generating services by another library”. The goal is to maximize the availability of materials and services at minimum expense.

Goal of Resource Sharing in Library

• Facilitating users to have better access to library collection and services.
• Reduction in all round cost.
• Exchange of library resources and information to benefit users.
• Enabling users to be more aware regarding the resources not available in their own library.
• Advocated support creative use of library information resources.
• Create positive effect on library budget in term of cost or more services at lesser cost than can be undertaken individually.
• Avoidance of unnecessary duplication of information resources and their processing and maintenance costs.
• Provision of greater access to information resources to a wider category of users.
• Development of specialised areas of collection building, each library concentrating on areas of its own concern.

Areas of Resource Sharing in Library

• Inter-library loan.
• Cooperative acquisition.
• Specialised purchasing program.
• Centralized processing of library collection.
• Shared cataloguing.
• Sharing of bibliographical data.
• Cooperative microfilming of library materials.
• Preparation and maintenance of union catalogue and union list of serials.
• Exchange of publications.
• Exchange of library expertise and personnel.

Requirements / Pre‑requisites for Resource Sharing

• There should be a communication link or system between the cooperative libraries.
• Most of all the libraries are willing to join with this resource sharing activities.
• Necessary technology and equipments should need to be available in the library.
• Standardised library software, hardware and database for sharing of library resources.
• Operating policies on the type of information and archives which users can access.
• There should need an agreement, upon which the whole resource sharing activities may run.

The bilateral exchange model, the pooling model, the dual service model and the service center model are the four types of resource sharing models in vogue today.

• Bilateral exchange model: materials are exchanged between two participating libraries, often based on a proportional value (e.g., one for one, two for one).
• Pooling model (multilateral): more than two libraries contribute to and draw from a pool of materials.
• Dual-service model: two or more libraries take advantage of the facilities of one participant to produce a common output, e.g. a union list. All participants contribute to the common output.
• Service-center model: a number of libraries employ the services of a facilitating participant to process materials for individual purposes rather than for a common output. The facilitator may be a service bureau.

The time has arrived when the concept of resource sharing would envelope all basic library functions. From acquisition to storage and issue of material, co-operative action is feasible. Joint action should be practiced in acquisition and utilization of information resources; ownership and use should be on a joint basis. Subscription to journals can be co-ordinated to avoid duplication. Duplicate holdings should be freely exchanged. Catalogues can be prepared co-operatively to produce union catalogues of books, serials, etc. Co-operation is necessary in the realms of abstracting, current awareness service, and selective dissemination of information. Interlibrary loan should be a regular exercise between participating libraries. There should be an information highway between member libraries. Reference and referral services should be part of a resource sharing programme, and document delivery through electronic media would form part of such a program.

Resource sharing is an important concept of library collection development. It has played an important role in the formation of consortia in library management. It has replaced the earlier traditional concept of space, limited budget, and highest cost. An independent library cannot satisfy the needs of users. So this problem has been overcome by resource sharing. Resource sharing of the library involves co-operative acquisition which includes access to the catalogue, in a process and on order information of participating libraries; interlibrary loan which comprises determining the location of required resources, verifying availability and physical transfer; and common storage for materials used. The services and procedure include bibliographic access to holding catalogues for cataloguing and classification. Sufficient speed is required so that the client receives the desired resource before the need evaporates.

Seven common areas of resource sharing:

1. Inter-library loan: a library gets a book/document from another library on loan for a certain period. The most common and traditional form.
2. Cooperative acquisition: libraries coordinate purchase of materials to avoid duplication, share costs, and benefit from discounts.
3. Shared cataloguing: co‑operative creation of bibliographic records, often resulting in union catalogues.
4. Union catalogue / union list of serials: combined lists of holdings of multiple libraries, facilitating location of materials.
5. Centralized processing: shared technical services (cataloguing, classification, physical preparation) to reduce effort and cost.
6. Exchange of publications: systematic exchange of duplicates or specialised materials among libraries.
7. Sharing of infrastructure and expertise: including hardware, software, networking, and professional skills (manpower sharing).

Factors driving resource sharing include the growth of knowledge, high-speed growth of literature (about three million documents published yearly), increasing specialization, fund limitations, rising cost of publications, and expanding user populations. Forms of resource sharing: cooperative acquisition, cooperative processing, cooperative storage, and interlibrary loan.

In today‘s climate of rapid societal and technological change, coupled with economic consortium constraints, participation in a library consortium is essential for individual library to provide better and greater variety of information services. Therefore, cooperative strategy has become crucial part of library policies. However, before implementing a cooperative strategy, every organization joining a consortium should have a clearly articulated business theory that sums up the assumptions constituting the core values of the organization (Steve, Paul and Ken, 2003). Academic Librarians and consortium staff members involved in planning, administering and delivering reference services are living in interesting times (Peters, Thomas A, 2002). Delivery of a wide range of services to members‘ patrons is one of the main objectives of a consortium. Scientific and research-based information has a significant contribution to research, education and development. It saves human effort, financial input, and physical/logistic resources. Success in exploring new means of resource sharing can help overcome the financial constraints faced by most Pakistani libraries. The ongoing process of digitization would ultimately reduce dependence on physical presence, allowing users to search and access library resources remotely at nominal cost (Tanvir, 2005).

Concepts and development of library consortium

The concept of consortia is based on the principle of cooperative arrangement among groups or institutions. A library consortium provides a way for its participating member institutions to conduct business in a competitive manner. The basic premise is that members can collectively achieve more than they could individually. A consortium is “an agreement, combination, or group formed to undertake an enterprise beyond the resources of any one member”, and it “usually involves horizontal collaboration among direct competitors” (Aldrich, Bolton and Sasaki, 1998, p264). Library cooperation is not new; there have been instances among monastery libraries in the 13th century, and resource sharing agreements among universities in the 18th century. Driven by circumstances, sharing of resources is the only option left for information managers. Earlier this concept was limited to acquisition and interlibrary loan, but information technology and networking have opened new vistas of resource sharing faster and cheaper.

Cooperation and sharing of resources

Cooperation and sharing have always had an important role in libraries. We share resources of many kinds: library materials, metadata, computer resources, best practices, and expertise. Resource sharing is nothing but sharing of library resources by certain participating libraries among themselves based on cooperation. This is applicable to use of documents, workforce, facilities, services, building space or equipment. Through resource sharing, libraries can improve the total collection, consolidate technological capabilities, improve information dissemination tools, and extend services to a larger user community (Mahesh V Mudhol and Vasanth N, 2005). Partnerships maximize funding opportunities and streamline information resources. Costs of electronic journals and databases continue to escalate, and consortia provide joint solutions.

Advantages for academic libraries in Pakistan

• Cost reduction: shared subscriptions to expensive databases and e‑journals become affordable for universities with limited budgets.
• Enhanced access: students and researchers gain access to a wider range of resources across member institutions.
• Avoiding duplication: libraries can coordinate acquisition of specialized materials, saving funds for other needs.
• Improved infrastructure: consortia can invest jointly in high-speed internet, digital libraries, and resource-sharing platforms (e.g. PERN).
• Capacity building: training programmes, workshops, and exchange of expertise among library professionals strengthen the sector.
• National strategy: consortia can contribute to a national information policy and support research and higher education goals.
• Digitization momentum: collaborative digitization projects preserve rare materials and make them accessible online.

a) Resource sharing systems

In the present era of Information technology, the information needs of users have increased so enormously that no single library on its own can meet them. This has necessitated effective linkages and cooperation between libraries for sharing resources through networking. The consortia for libraries can be considered a major step towards library cooperation in sharing electronic resources. The term “resource” applies to a thing, person, or action to which one resorts in times of need; “sharing” indicates allotting or contributing something owned to benefit others. Resource sharing therefore refers to reciprocity, implying a partnership where each member has something useful to contribute and is willing to make it available when needed. Resource sharing is an empty concept but for the approach that entails having resources to share, willingness to share them, and a plan for accomplishing it.

Resource sharing is an integral part of modern library services. In the developed countries, no library service can be thought without sharing of resources. In the past, RS was limited to interlibrary loan. In the modern age, with databases, information networks, and online sharing facilities, resource sharing has become easier. When resource sharing is agreed upon, the following aspects must be planned: identify and locate major collections; assemble and distribute collective information; work out the basis for sharing (reference, lending, copying, delivery); establish means of sharing ideas via a newsletter; plan for new developments in the knowledge of what others are doing; and develop a national information policy. Benefits include easy access, extending limited resources, staff specialization, improved services, avoidance of duplication, and improved working relationships.

b) OCLC (Online Computer Library Center)

OCLC Incorporated d/b/a OCLC is an American nonprofit cooperative organization “dedicated to the public purposes of furthering access to the world’s information and reducing information costs”. It was founded in 1967 as the Ohio College Library Center. OCLC and its member libraries cooperatively produce and maintain WorldCat, the largest online public access catalog (OPAC) in the world. OCLC is funded mainly by fees that libraries pay for its services (around $200 million annually as of 2016). OCLC also maintains the Dewey Decimal Classification system. OCLC began in 1967 through a collaboration of Ohio university presidents and library directors who wanted to create a cooperative computerized network for libraries. Frederick G. Kilgour was hired to design the shared cataloging system. The first library to do online cataloging through OCLC was the Alden Library at Ohio University on August 26, 1971 – the first online cataloging by any library worldwide. OCLC provides bibliographic, abstract and full-text information. Services include WorldCat, the Dewey Decimal Classification, QuestionPoint (reference management), and historically the OCLC Preservation Service Center (sold in 2009). In 2015 OCLC printed its last catalog cards.

c) PERN (Pakistan Education and Research Network)

The Pakistan Education and Research Network (PERN) connects universities and research institutes through high-speed Internet bandwidth. The main purpose of this network is to facilitate researchers and students in sharing data and to coordinate with each other through video conferencing. PERN provides a dedicated infrastructure for academic and research collaboration, enabling universities to access digital resources, participate in national/international research projects, and share knowledge efficiently. By providing reliable, high-speed connectivity, PERN supports resource sharing among Pakistani academic libraries, making it possible to access e‑journals, databases, and library catalogs across institutions.

d) Rationale of resource sharing

• Everything is not on the Internet: The Internet consists of a small percentage of what’s published. ALA reports that only 8% of all journals and even fewer books are on the Internet. Reliable scholarly information is mainly in books and journals, which resource sharing makes accessible.
• The Internet is not organized: There is no system that catalogs all Internet resources. Searches on search engines are often not relevant and cause wasted time. Resource sharing through libraries provides organized access via catalogues and databases.
• The Internet doesn’t have quality control: Open source information can be misleading; anyone can publish a website. Library resource sharing relies on vetted, authoritative collections.
• Sources on the Internet are harder to identify and cite: Web information can change overnight. Resources obtained through libraries (print or licensed databases) have stable locations and clear documentation, supporting academic integrity and proper citation.
• Additional rationales: economic efficiency (reducing costs through cooperation), equity of access, preservation of materials, and strengthening of library networks to support education and research.