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Library Resource Sharing and Library Consortia National and International

Needs of Resource Sharing

Library Network  (book) One

Library Network (lis link) Two

Definition

Pre condition for Networking

        Automation of the Member Library

        Hardware and Software

        Training Manpower

        Standardization

Advantages of Networking

        Cooperative Collection Development

        Meets Specialized User Demand

        Breaks Financial Constraint

        Reduces Unnecessary Duplication of Work

        Barrier Breaker

        Sharing of Hardware Resource

        Sharing of Software Resources

        Development of Union Catalogue

        Development of Database

        Document Delivery Service (DDS)

        Human Ware

Development of Library Network in India

Let Us Sum Up

INFLIBNET 

Developing Library Network (DELNET)

Abmedabad Library Network (ADINET) 1994

Madras Library Network (MALIBNET) 1993

Bombay Library Network (BONET) 1994

Research Libraries Information Network (RLIN) 1974

Joint Academy Network (JANET) 1984

Consortium of university Research Libraries (CURL)

Online Computer Library Centre (OCLC)

Library Consortia

INDEST - AICTE Consortium

UGC-Infonet 2003

                                                                                                                                                                       

 Library Resource Sharing and Library Consortia National and International                                      

 Resource sharing was first known as 'Library Cooperation'. 

 The basic Purpose of library cooperation was to pool the resources of a group of libraries and use them to their optimum level for the mutual benefit of all the participating (member) institutions. In fact, library cooperation did manifest itself in different forms such as cooperative acquistion centralised cataloguing and inter-library loan. 

 Resource sharing is nothing but sharing of library resources by certain partecipating libraries among themselves on the basis of the principal of cooperation. 

 Collaborative arrangements made between libraries for mutual assistance, by the sharing of resources or division of costs, which can be advantageous and efficient. 

 Encyclopedia of library and information science has defined two components of the term, i.e. "Resource" and  "Sharing". Resource refers to a person, thing or action to which one resorts to, when needed. Sharing implies allotting or contributing one's resources of or the benefit of others. 

 Allen Kent provides descriptions to some of the concepts associated with resource sharing in the following terms : "resource sharing in libraries is defined as a mode of operation where by functions are, shared in common by a number of libraries in its most positive effects : resource sharing entails reciprocity, employing partnership in which each member has something useful to contribute to others and in which every member is willing and able to made available when needed. The term "Resource" is used to designate any or all of the materials, functions, services and the expertise of the professional and non-professional staff. Resource implies a thing a person or an action to which one turns for aid and help in time of need. 

 Needs of Resource Sharing                                                                 

 i. Avoid unnecessary duplication of materials in a region or group. 

 ii. Multiply library materials purposively with in the constraints of a limited budget. 

 iii. Facilitate accountability to external agencies. 

 iv. Enhance the user base-access from the desktop of the users. 

 v. Place emphasis on access than ownership. 

 vi. Benefit the nation as a whole to increase the use of books and information cuts costs. 

 vii. Increased international cooperation. 

 viii. Proliferation of e-information sources/ sharing existing sources. 

 ix. Emerging new technological tools development  in network associated with electronic delivery, electronic journals and variety of web based facilities that provide access to wide range of other databases. 

 x. Economic, competition and information access and delivery, focusing more on electronic resources using leverage of a group and common funding sources. 

  Benefits / advantages of resource sharing                                         

 i. Quality of service is enhanced. 

 ii. Cost of service its reduced 

 iii. Duplication of stock is minimized. 

iv. More information is available with less payment. 

 Mayor methods of Resource Sharing 

 i. Regional cooperation in form of inter library loan. 

 ii. Document Delivery Services (DDS) 

 iii. Institutional membership. 

 iv. Consortia. 

  Library Network  (book) One                                                             

 The National Commission on Libraries and Information Science (NCLIS) gave definition of a library network in national programm document in the year 1975 as "Two or more libraries and/or other organisation engaged in a common pattern of information same functional purpose. A network usually consists of a formal arrangement where by materials, information, and services provided by a variety of libraries and other organisations are available to all potential users. Libraries may be in different jurisdictions but agree to serve one another on the same basis as each serves its own constituents. Computers and telecommunications may be among the tools used for facilitating communication among them". 

 Library network has been defined as a "group of individuals or organisations that are interconnected  to form a system to accomplish some specified goal."

   Library Network (lis link) Two                                                          

 Library networking is an arrangement or a structure that links a group of libraries which have agreed to work together and / or share their resources in an organized basis to a certain degree. It can be defined as a "two or more libraries engaged in a common pattern of information exchange through communication for some functional purposes". It is meant to promote and facilitate sharing of resources available within a group of participating libraries. 

 A. Definition                                                                                         

 The National Commission on Libraries and Information Science (NCLIS) in its National Programme Document (1975) defines a network as : "two or more libraries and or other organization engaged in a common pattern of information  exchange, through communications, for some functional purpose. A network usually consists of a formal arrangement where by materials, information  and services provided by a variety of libraries and other organisation are available to all potential users. libraries may be in different jurisdictions but they agree to serve one another on the same basis as each serves its own constituents. Computer and telecommunications may be among the tools used for facilitating communication among them"

B. Pre condition for Networking                                                          

 The agreements between library authorities  of different libraries, building or developing required infrastructure, maintenance of standardization in terms of classification  schemes, cataloguing schemes, uses of some common library management software and so on are some of the preconditions before developing any kind of network. Some other Preconditions are 

   i. Automation of the Member Library  

For the success of network in the long run, each of the member libraries must have a policy to automate every function of the library - acquisition, cataloging classification  serials control, circulation, SDL, current awareness services, etc. - in the shortest possible time. This helps the library to have a computer environment which is required to design, develop, maintain and to operate several databases to reduce the cost of library operations as well as network operations. 

   ii. Hardware and Software   

 The network should be able to recommend to participating libraries the type of hardware and software they need for their in house functions and for networking purposes. Hardware should be selected considering the number of entries the participating, libraries can generate within the next 3-5 years. 

   iii. Training Manpower    

If there is no adequate trained manpower in each of the member libraries, attempts should be made to train or/and recruit new skilled library personnel. 

   iv. Standardization  

For the purpose of  creating databases, it is essential to agree upon a standard. All libraries should follow a standard MARC format, AACR - II, a standard thesaurus like library  of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) etc. uniformly. Although efforts should be made to have one classification scheme for all participating libraries yet the use of different numbers should not become a hurdle as search requests are mostly about authors, titles, editors and subject descriptions. 

 Besides the above, it is preferable to have certain communication facilities such as Fax, Telex, Telephone etc. as a  part of the network system in each of the member libraries for the effective working of the network. E-mail, and internet facilities should be available with the libraries and they should be able to access international databases. preferably individually on through the network host to begin with. 

  C. Advantages of Networking                                                             

 The advantages of library networking are as follows :  

  i. Cooperative Collection Development   

 In the age of information explosion no individual library, however resource ful, can be self-sufficient in terms of documents. For a library, however rich it may be  impossible to acquire and store all the documents within its four walls. Networking will help to develop collection in terms of books, periodicals, patents, standards, audio-visual, CDs. etc. and share those resources. 

   ii. Meets Specialized User Demand   

User needs are varied and diversified. To meet the specialized need one has to approach such special collection or special service that are available in special libraries. Networking will help in the sharing of experience and expertise of the library personnel. 

   iii. Breaks Financial Constraint    

 The library budgets are decreasing with the provision of library networking a library can arrange for cooperative staff training can exchange the staff for performing some technical works. Sharing of the finance for cooperative acquisition and collection development, processing, etc can also be made. 

   iv. Reduces Unnecessary Duplication of Work  

 The networking will remove the efforts in duplication of classification, cataloguing and such others. 

   v. Barrier Breaker   

Library networking is needed to break the barriers of distance and time further, it will reduce the physical movement of materials. 

   vi. Sharing of Hardware Resource   

 Expensive computer equipment, microfilming equipment, digitizing devices for newspaper, reprographic systems, etc. can be procured by a networking  group for the benefit of all the libraries  of the network, Networking is also needed to connect personal computer with the mainframe or super computer for problem solving. 

 vii. Sharing of Software Resources 

 The software that is too expensive to procure by individual libraries can be procured and shared by the network for solving larger programmes, information retrieval and so on. The software can be installed in the central computer and all other computers can be used as client. 

 viii. Development of Union Catalogue  

 Network helps in developing union catalogue to refer the user to the documents in any the other participating libraries and it can be consulted by the user in order to know which document is available in which library. For example, union Catalogue of Social Science Serials was compiled and Published by the NASSDOC (ICSSR), New Delhi in 1980s. 

 ix. Development of Database 

 Library network helps in developing special database to meet some special need by the participatory libraries. Again, through networking the local information which is available over the network can be controlled locally that satisfies the accuracy. For example National Union Catalogue of Scientific serial in India (1988) was the result of the work of INSDOC in collaboration with several scientific libraries all over India. 

 x. Document Delivery Service (DDS) 

 Networks enable librarian, faced with clients information needs beyond their local resources, to identify and obtain materials and services for those clients. The interlibrary loan, Document Delivery Servic (DDS) provides the user the required documents irrespective of its location. 

 xi. Human Ware 

Manpower training and refresher course facilities - Stimulating, promoting  and coordinating research  and training programme for library  staff can be arranged by the network  members. 

   D. Development of Library Network in India                                   

 At international level Joint Academic NETwork (JANET), Online Computer Library Centre (OCLC), etc. are functioning properly. The examples of library networks in the western countries suggest that all networks based on a fee structure can be maintained without grant and are viable in the long run.

NICNET, established by National Information Centre (NIC) in 1977 was started in the late 1987's. It is one of the largest VSAT networks of its kind in the world. It was launched basically for getting and providing information from to district levels to facilitate planning process. It links for regional nodes at Delhi, Pune, Bhubneswar and Hyderabad and has established 32 nodes at state and union territory levels and 439 nodes at district headquaters.  

At national level INDONET is India's first  data communication and computer network that was started in March 1986 by CMC Ltd. It was launched as a solution so the growing need for providing timely, well processed data to various institutions. In the first phase, they have mainly network in Mumbai, Calcutta and chennai. Later, Delhi and Hydrabad gateway which provides access to the world wide pocket switched networks like USA's Global Networks Systems (GNS) and Internet. 

 Education and Research Network (ERNET) < http://eis. crnet. in /> was launched by the Department of Education (DOE), Gort, of India in late 1986 with f inancial assistance from United Nationals Development Programme (UNDP) by provide academic and research institutions with electronic mail facilities. It is currently used by DSIR labs, research centres and academic institutions. 

 Scientific and Industrial Research  Network (SIRNET) was established by INSDOC in late 1989 to interconnect all the CSIR laboratories and other R and D institution in India. 

 The success of the above networks and the initiatives taken by NISSAT, UGC, planning commission and other departments of Govt. of India have led to the establishment  and development of Library networks in India. 

 CALIBNET was established by NISSAT in 1986 in Calcutta. It was the first library network visualized. At present, it has become the centre for CD-ROM databases which are acquired from outside sources. DELNET was established in 1988, in Delhi by India international centre with the initial financial support of NISSAT. It is the first operational library network in India. INFLIBNET was established by UGC in 1988 and its operations began in 1991. It is a network of university and college libraries. MALIBNET is the result of the need for interconnecting libraries and information centres in chennai, which was visualized by INSDOC in 1991. INSDOC under took a feasibility study achick was completed in March 1992, MALIBNET was registered as a society in chennai in Feb 1993. Some other library networks in India are PUNENET (1992) in Pune, ADINET (1993) in Ahmedabad, BONET (1994) in Mumbai, MY LIBNET (1994) in Mysore (Chennai) and BALNET (1995) in Bangalore. 

 E. Let Us Sum Up                                                                                

According to Allen Kent "the success and survival of libraries will much depend on how much and to what extent the libraries cooperate with each other in future?" Further, tremendous explosion of information, financial constraints, information in different forms. etc, compelling the libraries to form network and consortia is an essential facet of modern library practices. 

 In library network the particular focus is forming online networks by using computers and linking members to the computer resources by means of telecommunication connections. When a group of libraries using computers decide to exchange information a network is developed. 

 The library network deals with the development of software for library automation, automation of the member libraries, retro-conversion of reconds, cooperative acquisition, creation union catalogue, development of database of the holding in member libraries, conducting training, workshops and seminar, providing DDS, Email, CD-ROM internet access facilities. It also provides reference service, referral service and provides technical problem. faced by the  member libraries. But till now except DELNET and INFLIBNET, most of the other library network have yet to develop databases of library holdings in a significant way. Even these two networks have to go a long way to cover in their  databases the entire holdings of all the participating libraries. Unless this is achieved, the networks would not be able to achieve significant resource sharing as well as retionalization in Library acquisitions. 

   INFLIBNET                                                                                                                      

 INLIBNET is an acronyn used for information and Library Network. Its a major national Programme of university Grants Commission (UGC) Started in the year 1991. 

 Information and Library Network (INFLIBNET) Centre is an autonomous inter university centre of the University Grants Commission (UGC) of India. It is a major National Programme initiated by the UGC in March 1991 with its Head quarters at Gujarat University Compas, Ahmedabad. Initially started as a project under the IUCAA, it became an independent inter university centre in June 1996. 

INFLIBNET is involved in moderning  university libraries in India and connecting  them as well as information centre in the country through a nation-wide high speed data network using the state of-art-technologies for the optimum utilisation of information. INFLIBNET is set out to be a major player in promoting scholarly communication among academicians and researchers in India. 

 Objectives 

 The primary objectives of INFLIBNET as envisaged in Memorandum of Association are: 

 i. To Promote and establish communication facilities to improve capability in information transfer and access that provide support to scholarship learning, research and academic pursuit through cooperation and involvement of agencies concerned.

ii. To establish Information and Library Netwronk for linking libraries and information centres  in Universities,deemed to be universities, colleges, UGC information centre, institution of national importance and R and D institutions, etc. avoiding duplication of efforts.  

iii. To facilitate academic communication amongst scientist, engineers, social scientists, academies,  faculties, researchers and students through electronic mail, file transter, computer / audio / video conferencing, etc. 

 iv. TO undertake system design and studies in the field of communications, computer networking, information handling and data management.  

v. To establish appropriate control and monitoring system for the communication network and organize maintenance. 

 vi. To collaborate with institutions, libraries information centres and other organizations in India and abroad in the field relevant to the objectives of the centre. 

 vii. To promote R and D and develop necessary facilities and create technical positions for  realizing the objectives of the centre. 

 viii. To generate revenue by providing consultancies  and information services and 

 ix. To do all other such things as may be necessary, incidental or conducive to the attainment of all or any of the above objectives. 

 Mayor Activities 

 The technology being a driving force in the contemporary education system, the UGC has taken-up a major initiative for the benefit of academic community in universities  under its purview. The initiative called "UGC - Infonet Digital Library Consortium" provides access to selected scholarly electronic journals and databases in different disciplines. The centre is responsible for execution and monitoring this initiative. 

 The centre also extends access to, e-resources to all Govt./ Govt-aided colleges under a project entitled "National Library and Information Infrastructure for Scholarly Content (N-LIST)" funded by the MHRD under its National Mission on Education through ICT. 

 The centre, on behalf of the UGC has taken up a number of new initiatives for the benefit of the academic community. These initiatives include : 

 i. Shodhganga : A reservoir of Indian Theses and Dissertations. 

 ii. Shodhgangobri : A repository of approved synopsis submitted to the universities for registration under Ph.D programme. 

 iii. OJAS @INFLIBNET : An open access journal Publishing Platform. 

 iv. Shibboleth : based access management system. 

v. Open Source Software R and D. 

vi. Info Part : A comprehensive gateway to all Indian electronic scholarly content. 

 vii. e-PG Pathshala: e-Content for PG courses. 

 viii. Measuring Research output of Indian universities. 

 ix. Indcast: online union Catalogue of Indian universities. 

 x. INFOPORT 

xi. NLIST: National Library and Information services infrastructure for scholarly condent. 

 xii. SOUL 2.0: Integrated Library Management System. 

 xiii. e- shodh Sindhu: Consortium for Higher Education Electronic Resources. 

 xiv. Vidwan database: VIDWAN is the premier database of profiles of scientists/researchers and other faculty members. 

 xv. Vidya mitra : Vidya - mitra is an online learning portal for all the e-content projects developed under the NME-ICT. 

 xvi. SWAYAM PRABHA: The SWAYAM PRABHA has been conceived as the project for using the (2) GSAT-15 transponders. 

 xvii. SWAYAM: SWAYAM is a programme initiated by Government of India. 

 Conventions : The Centre organizes major conventions namely international CALIBER and PLANNER on alternate years: 

 i. CALIBER: Convention on automation of libraries in Education and Research institutions. 

 INFLIBNET Centre Publications: The INFLIBNET centre publishes following publications regularly 

 i. Annual Report: Current Report  

ii. INFLIBNET Newsletter: It is a quarterly publication  on the INFLIBNET's activities. 

iii. Proceedings of Annual Conventions PLANNER and CALIBER: The articles published in these proceedings are available for free download at the website http://ir. inflibnet.ac.in 

iv. INFLIBNET Directory includes information about the UGC funded universities and inter-University  centres with year planner. The contact details of the universities and IUC's are also added with the contact person's name of the VC, Register, Librarian and the contract person of the UGC - Infonet one from library and one from computer science department. It also contains the staff list of the centre with contact details. 

   Developing Library Network (DELNET)                                                                         

 DELNET earlier known as Delhi Library Network till 2001 started in the year 1988. DELNET was started at the India International Centre Library in January 1988 and was registered as a society in 1992.

 It was initially supported by the National Information System for Science and Technology (NISSAT), Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Government of India. 

 It was subsequently supported by the National Informatics Centre, Department of Information Technology, Ministry of Communication  and information Technology Government  of India and the Ministry of culture. Government of India. 

 DELNET has been established with the prime objective of promoting resource  sharing among the libraries through the development of a network of libraries. It aims to collect, store, and disseminate information besides offering computerised services to users, to coordinate efforts for suitable collection development and also to reduce unnecessary duplication wherever possible. 

 Initially, it was sponsored by NISSAT, DSIR and currently is being promoted jointly by National Informatics Centre (NIC) Department of Information Technology, Ministry of Communications and information Technology, Government of India and India International centre (11c), New Delhi. 

 DELNET Convocation : National Convocation on Library and Information Networking (NACLIN) 

   Abmedabad Library Network (ADINET) 1994                                                                

 ADINET is established for developing cooperative mode of working amongst the libraries and information centres in and around ahmedabad. It was established in 1994 with the help of NISSAT. ADINET promotes sharing of resources and disseminates information among member libraries by networking them up. it is stationed in INFLIBNET centre, Ahmedabad.

  Madras Library Network (MALIBNET) 1993                                                                  

MALIBNET was established in 1993 with the support of Indian National Scientific Documentation Centre (INSDOC). It provides information to the users in and around chennai. Nearly 50 libraries in Madras are member contributing actively to the creation of various database on MALIBNET. 

   Bombay Library Network (BONET) 1994                                                                       

 Bombay Library Network (BONET) was established in 1994 with financial support from the NISSAT. It has 25 members in the city of Mumbai. Located in the National Centre for software Technology (NCST, now CDAC) a number of computers and software for shared use to the members. The services offered includes access to bibliographic databases, email, CD-ROM, ete The BONET conducts seminars and training programmes for member institutions. 

   Research Libraries Information Network (RLIN) 1974                                                  

 RLIN (Research Libraries Information Network) is a bibliographic information system developed by the Research Libraries Group (RLG) 

 RLIN was founded in 1974 with its headquarters in California. With the collections of research and learning of member institutions, RLG provides a framework for cooperation, problem solving and development of new standard products and services. 

  Joint Academy Network (JANET) 1984                                                                            

 JANET (Joint Academy Network) was established in the year 1984. JANET is an education and research network funded by UK Government. 

 All the higher education organisations and research councils are connected to this network. This network is operated and developed by UKERNA (United Kingdom Education and Research Networks). 

  Consortium of university Research Libraries (CURL)                                                     

 CURL (Consortium of university Research Libraries) was established in the year 1987 with the mission to "increase the ability of research libraries to share resources for the benefit of the local, national and international research community." 

  Online Computer Library Centre (OCLC)                                                                        

 In the year 1967, OCLC (ohio college Library Centre) was founded to develop a computerised system, where academic libraries of ohio state shared their resources so that the resource costs could be reduced. OCLC emerged as an international network from a regional computer system for 50 ohio colleges.  

*WorldCat is maintained by OCLC. 

 In the year 1981, the name of OCLC, was changed to "online computer Library Contre".  OCLC membership comprises more than 50,000 libraries (all types) in the US and 84 countries of the world. OCLC member libraries make up the world's largest library network and consortium. 

 OCLC is a global library cooperative that provide shared technology services, original research and community programs for its membership and the library, community at large. We are librarians, technologists, researchers pioneers, leader and learners.With thousands of library members in more than 100 countries, we come together as OCLC to make information more accessible and more useful.

 Important Services and Products of OCLC 

i. A mlib library management System. 

 ii.Bib control library statistics solution. 

 iii. BIBLIOTHEC A plus library management system. 

 iv. Bib report online analipsis service. 

 v. Cat Express Cataloging service. 

 vi. CCZ medical Library Catalog. 

 vii. Connexion cataloging tool. 

 viii. CONTENT dm digital collection management software. 

 ix. Dewey services. 

 x. Enquire virtual reference service. 

 xi. EZproxy access and authentication software. 

 xii. First search reference service. 

 xiii. GGC shared automated cataloging system. 

 xiv. GoNext library management system. 

 xv. IDM-Connector interoperability service. 

 xvi. ILLiad ressource sharing management software. 

 xvii. LBS library management system. 

 xviii. NCC-IBL resource sharing service. 

 xix. OAlster database. 

 xx. OCLC cataloging and Metadata subscription. 

 xxi. OLIB library management system. 

 xxii. Picarta database. 

xxiii. Question point virtual reference service. 

 xxiv. Relais Discovery to Delivery (D2D). 

 xxv. RFID collection tracking software. 

 xxvi. SISIS-Sun Rise library management system. 

 xxvii. SPIRIT union catalog. 

 xxviii. Syndeo 

 xxix. Tipasa 

 xxx. Touch point discovery service. 

 xxxi. Virtual international authority file (VIAF) service. 

 xxxii. Web junction community wise. 

 xxxiii. World Cat Digital Collection Gateway. 

 xxxiv. Metadata harvesting tool. 

 xxxv. Worldcat Discovery Service. 

 xxxvi. Worldcat.org global catalog. 

 xxxvii. WorldShare collection evaluation service. 

 xxxviii. ZFL - server resource sharing service. 

   Library Consortia                                                                                                              

 Library consortium is the most popular channel of resource sharing these days. As per oxford English Dictionary "Consortium means temporary  cooperation of a number of power, companies, etc. for a common purpose. It is an association of similar type of organization /institutions who are engaged for producing and serving the common things/fox providing services for specific purpose of its users." 

 A group of libraries or other organisations that form a partnership to achieve a goal, such as resource sharing that cannot be achieved by the individuals alone. 

 Institutional usage statistics is provided periodically, viz. Weekly, fortnightly and monthly. It was win-win situation for both publishers, and consortium participants in terms of the decreased cost of electronic access to e-journals and increased volume of sales for publishers. 

 Objectives of Consortia  

i. Increase the cost benefit per subscription. 

 ii. Promote the rational use of funds. 

 iii. Ensure the continuous subscription to the periodicals subscribed. 

 iv. Guarantee local storage of the information ocuired for continuous use by present and future users. 

 v. Develop technical capabilities of the staff in operating and using electronic publication  databases. 

 vi. Strategic alliance with institutions that have common interest resulting. 

 vii. Reduced information cost. 

 viii. Improved resource sharing. 

 Benefit of Consortium 

 i. Quality of service is enhanced. 

 ii. Cost of service is reduced. 

 iii. Duplication of stock is minimized. 

 iv. More information is available with less payment. 

 v. Scope for electronic archives. 

 vi. Availability and monitoring of usage statistics. 

 vii. Getting deep discounts through joint pricing negotiations - hence lower unit cost of information. 

 viii. Can be read anywhere in the world. at any time, by any number of people as long as the readers have an internet connection. 

 ix. Also allow the inclusion of audio-visual material as well as the other formats and technological innovations that are available on the Internet, such as keyword searching, articles include links to other cited journals, e-books and other supporting material making research more convenient. 

 x. Reduced storage costs. 

xi. Developing common resources database. 

 xii. Effective document delivery systems. 

 xiii. Consortium based subscription to electronic resources provides access to wider number of electronic resources at substantially lower cost. 

 xiv. Optimum utilization of funds. 

 xv. Facilities to build up digital libraries. 

 xvi. Helpful to provide better library services like CAS and SDI. 

 xvii. Cost sharing for technical and training support. 

 xviii. Electronic journals demand neither. library space now shelving costs nor can they be stolen from the library; and 

 xix Available 24 hours a day 7 days a week. 

 Some Indian Consortia 

 i. CSIR Library consortia, (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research) 

 ii. FORSA (Forum for Resource Sharing in Astronomy and Astrophysics) 

 iii. HELINET (Health Sciences Library and information Network) - 2003 start. 

 iv. ICICI knowledge park (Industrial credit and Investment corporation of India) 

 v. IIM's library consortia (The Indian Institute of Management) 

 vi. INDEST (Indian National Digital Library in Engineering Sciences and Technology) 

 vii. UGC - DAE Consortium for scientific Research. 

viii. UGC - Infonet (university Grants commission) 

   INDEST - AICTE Consortium                                                                                         

 As on October 11, 2008 thirty seven centrally funded Government institution including IIT'S, IISc, NITs,IIITS, IIMs, ISM, SLIET, NERIST and NITIE are core members of INDEST-AICTE. 

 Indian National Digital Library in Engineering, Science and Technology all India council for technical education consortia comprised of 773 members. consisting of core members, AICTE supported members and self supported institutes. 

 The consortium subscribe to over 6500 e-journals from a number of publishers and aggregators. 

 The INDEST-AICTE consortium has enrolled sixty additional members with f inancial support from the AICTE (as on October 11, 2008). More than 676 (as on october 11, 2008) engineering colleges and institutions have already joined the consortium under this proposition. 

 On the basis of care subject areas core members have divided into different groups/categories as detailed below: 

 Group1: IITs and IISc. 

 Group 2: NITs, ISM, SLIET and NERIST 

 Group 3: IIITM Gwalior and IIIT Allababad 

 Group 4: IIMs,IIITM and NITIE 

   UGC-Infonet 2003                                                                                                            

The ugc Infonet E-Journal consortium was initiated in 2003. It is a gateway to scholarly information available globally. 

 The programme is wholly funded by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and monitored by INFLIBNET (Information and Library Network) centre, Ahmedabad (Gujarat), IMFLIBNET centre is an autonomous Inter University Centre (IUC) of UGC involved in creating infrastructure for sharing of library and information resources and services among academic and Research Institutions. 

 E-Journals consortium has been set up by the University Grants Commission (UGC) to promote the use of electronic databases and full text access  to journals by the research and academic community in the country. 

 The UGC - Infonet project is executed in collaboration with ERNET. With the initiatives university campuses are being modermized with the state of the art campus-wide networks. The UGC is setting up its own communication network called, UGC-Infonet. A Joint Technical and Tariff Committee (JCTC) is the nodal agency for coordination of the UGC-Infonet and facilitates linkage between ERNET and the universities. UGC supports the cost on behalf of participating universities INFLIBNET centre. 

 The consortium covers all the disciplines like pure sciences, social sciences and humanities including management and language.

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