Published in ETTLIS 2010, India.

1. UNIVERSITY LIBRARY CONSORTIUM:
A TOOL FOR RESOURCE-SHARING AMONG
UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES
WHICH ARE COMING UNDER
THE GOVERNANCE OF
UNIVERSITY GRANTS COMMISSION,
SRI LANKA
T. Ramanan
Snr. Assistant Librarian/ Eastern University of Sri Lanka
(Mrs.) S. Jayasuriya
Librarian/ Central Library, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka

2. Brief of the Presentation
• Introduction
– Library Resources
• Objectives
• University Library Resources
• University Library Consortium & RS
• Conclusion – negatives
• Conclusion – positives
• Recommendation

3. Introduction (a)
• Sri Lanka – developing country
- small island
= good communications to
encourage networks
• 15 universities funded by UGC
• Reducing budget allocations; increasing
costs of service purchases & provision
• Pointers to need for increased co-
operation, rationalization of funds, sharing
of resources.

4. Introduction (b)
• In these situations individual univs’ and
national resources being wasted;
• IT developments encourage networking &
consequently resource-sharing
• However statistical evidence indicates that
these situations are not being exploited
• A concept paper (with no consequent
actions yet) suggests centralized
governance of resources allocated.

5. Objectives of Study
1. Current situation & problems faced
2. Analyze existing resource-strengths /
weakness of individual univ. libs.
3. Identify hindrances – human, political,
administrative, technological etc to
concept of consortia
4. Devise acceptable model for future
development.

6. Univ. Libraries – existing resources
• Monetary
• Collections’ strengths (& weaknesses)
• Expertise (HR)
• Automation capabilities
• Increasingly sophisticated user demands
• Services’ delivery shortcomings

7. Univ. Library Consortium - RS
• Elements observable in current practices
– Interlibrary Lending
– Sharing of achieved articles/ Doc. Delivery
– Searching Online Bibliographic data
– Transfer of technological advances
• Obstacles to introducing consortium practices in
libraries
– Absence of cooperative collection development
policies/ acquisition policies, least use of union
catalogues, etc.
• Barriers to establishing a consortium at
universities’ and national levels

8. Barriers to Consortia
• Ownership – challenged
• Size & status consciousness
• Egoistic barriers
• Physical/ geographical barriers
• Urgency of user needs
• Administrative barriers – audit issues &
• Traditional barriers

9. Something on Connection
• “To communicate with one another, even if
we know each other very well, is
extremely difficult. Understanding comes
when we meet on the same level at the
same time…”
- J. Krishnamurti
(‘The First and Last Freedom’; 10 p.)

10. Conclusions - negative
• Current financial resource allocations
inadequate to meet current user needs
• Lack of current resource-sharing practices
• Administrative obstructions
• Uncooperative human attitudes
• Fear of loss of autonomy / status consciousness
• Insufficient existing infra-structure

11. Conclusions - positive
• Libraries experiences exploiting existing subject
networks – AGRINET, HELLIS, etc.
• World Bank IRQUE / HE project - financial
support
• PERI/ INASP – making available of e-Resources
• National level support i.e. SCOLIS, UGC
• Slow realization of need for action
• Slow awakening appreciation that consortium
may provide solutions to problems.

12. Recommendation - Model
University of University of University of University of
Moratuwa Peradeniya Kelaniya Sri J’ pura
Librar Librar Librar Librar
y y y y
University of University of
Ruhuna Jaffna
Librar Librar
y y
Open University of University of
University of Colombo Sabaragamuw
SL Librar a
Librar Librar
y y y
University of Eastern
Wayamba, SL University, SL.
& Control
Policies
Librar Librar
y y
Univ. of Visual South Eastern
& Performing University of
Arts Librar SL Librar
SCOLIS -
y y
UGC
University of Rajarata
Uva Wellassa University of
SL
Librar Librar
y y

13. Any Questions....?
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