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Consortia from past to future

Frederick Nesta (University College London, Doha, Qatar)

Library Management

ISSN: 0143-5124

Article publication date: 2 October 2018

Issue publication date: 7 January 2019

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review the global history of library consortia from ancient times until the present and propose further development of consortia to address journal costs and research distribution.

Design/methodology/approach

The global history of consortia is reviewed, with a concentration on the early years of the American Library Association.

Findings

Consortia have proved their value in making libraries more efficient and in advancing research through combined efforts in developing indexes and catalogues.

Research limitations/implications

The paper encourages libraries to build on their history of cooperation and extend it by linking their repositories, using their own strengths to battle excessive subscription fees, and become publishers in their own right.

Practical implications

Consortia are encouraged to work together to build a global repository, to stand firm against predatory pricing and to take the lead in the dissemination of scholarship.

Originality/value

This paper proposes that libraries join in broad regional consortia to oppose unjustifiable prices imposed by the major publishers and that libraries, with their institutions, work regionally and internationally to take control of the distribution of research.

Keywords

Citation

Nesta, F. (2019), "Consortia from past to future", Library Management, Vol. 40 No. 1/2, pp. 12-22. https://doi.org/10.1108/LM-02-2018-0006

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited

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