Emerging Functions and Activities of Library Consortia with reference to Best Practices in LICs of Higher Education in Assam

Abstract

When the question of library resource sharing arises, it primarily indicates the books and journals, but why not share the other resources used for resource sharing. During the last century a lot of changes have taken place in the field of library cooperation starting with the production of union catalogues to shared integrated library systems. Library consortium is a terminology evolved to encompass all sorts of cooperative activities by modern libraries. Subscription of electronic resources is not the only function of a library consortium; it can provide many valuable and indispensable services to the member of libraries. A properly planned library consortium with good leadership can go a long way in serving the libraries by proving value added services. Many factors are responsible for consortia formation and many a times consortia are formed by the libraries by looking only on its benefits. The paper highlights the emerging areas of resource sharing among libraries through library consortia and discusses the issues and challenges faced by the library professionals of LICs of higher education in Assam in the digital era. It also highlights the application of ICT for digital library, the role of NAAC, NKC, and at the end a few suggestions are given for the betterment of college library services in Assam. It is the need of the hour that all college libraries of Assam must go for automation, which will lead towards the digital initiatives of Govt. of India towards Digital India movement.