IRIS: a resource‐sharing initiative in Ireland

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to document the history, development and current status of the IRIS Consortium in Ireland.

Design/methodology/approach

This article provides a summary of the early history of IRIS.

Findings

The environment within which IRIS operates has changed significantly since its beginnings in the early 1990s. The worldwide web and open access repositories have introduced new modes of information delivery and access. The development of a knowledge‐based economy as a natural strategic imperative for Ireland has placed a much greater emphasis on research in the third‐level sector. This is a context that encourages cooperative library solutions, consortial approaches to information resource development, and joint development of new services, in all of which IRIS has a central role to play.

Originality/value

This article provides an insight into planning, developing, managing a consortium and resource sharing to other consortia.

Citation

McGoldrick, F. (2005), "IRIS: a resource‐sharing initiative in Ireland", Interlending & Document Supply, Vol. 33 No. 4, pp. 208-211. https://doi.org/10.1108/02641619510635678