Resource Sharing and an Appraisal of Library Networks in Developing Library Collection

Abstract

The collection building in a library is a primary activity, the rest of all being secondary as these are directed towards making the collection more accessible. Several factors compel the libraries to go for resource sharing for building their collections. Networking is one of the most effective ways of sharing the resources among a group of libraries / information centres, to provide maximum service to the users. The authors have listed several reasons why the libraries should go for networking of resources. In the context of collection development, networking facilitates cultivation of specialized areas, cooperative storage, electronic publications, and rationalisation of documents. Networking facilities have totally revolutionised the methodology of resource sharing and its impact is now being greatly felt.