Q.3. Why resource sharing is necessary in libraries? How an academic library can cooperate in collection development?
Resource sharing is necessary in libraries for several reasons. Firstly, it allows libraries to provide a wider range of resources to their users than they could individually afford to acquire. By sharing resources, libraries can offer a larger, more diverse collection of books, journals, databases, and other materials.
Additionally, resource sharing helps libraries fill gaps in their collections. Not all libraries can afford to purchase every resource that their users may need or want. Through resource sharing, libraries can borrow materials from other libraries to meet the needs of their users.
Furthermore, resource sharing promotes cost-effectiveness. By sharing resources, libraries can reduce duplication of materials and optimize their budgets. This is particularly important for academic libraries, which often have limited funding.
In terms of collection development, academic libraries can cooperate by forming consortia or networks. These are partnerships between multiple libraries that work together to share resources and collaborate on collection development efforts.
Consortia can pool their resources to buy expensive resources, such as databases or electronic journals, that individual libraries may not be able to afford on their own. Consortia can also negotiate better licensing terms and access to resources by leveraging their collective bargaining power.
Libraries within a consortium can also engage in cooperative collection development. This involves actively coordinating their acquisitions and collection policies to avoid unnecessary duplication and ensure that resources are distributed effectively. For example, libraries can divide subject areas or focus on specific collections to avoid duplicating efforts and maximize the scope and depth of their overall holdings.
Academic libraries can also engage in interlibrary loan (ILL) programs to facilitate resource sharing. Through ILL, libraries can request materials from other libraries that they do not have in their collections. Interlibrary loan networks allow libraries to borrow resources from each other, significantly expanding the range of materials available to users.
In summary, resource sharing is necessary in libraries, including academic libraries, to provide a wider range of resources, fill gaps in collections, and promote cost-effectiveness. Academic libraries can cooperate in collection development through consortia, cooperative acquisition efforts, and interlibrary loan programs.