Consortia-Indian Library's perspective

Abstract: Library consortia are a method of resource sharing among libraries, aimed at increasing coordination and collaboration. They can be established on a subject-based, functional, or formal basis, and can be established at local, regional, national, or worldwide levels. The main characteristics of library consortia include pooling resources without compromising each library's uniqueness, assisting patrons with scholarly research through consortium libraries' collections, focusing on employee training and engagement in service excellence, improving library services by accessing new resources, increasing interlibrary searching at a lower cost, and addressing legal uncertainties with greater assurance. Library consortia are beneficial due to factors such as the book explosion, limited funding, user demand, and professionalization. In India, consortia include INDEST Consortium, CSIR, FORSA, and IIM Consortium. These consortiums provide access to various electronic resources, enabling better service to patrons and maintain a robust collection of information resources.