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Unit 4: Library Cooperation

4.1 Meaning of Library Cooperation Notes

Cooperation is a social activity as old as human civilization itself. The aim of any cooperation
activity is to achieve what the members of the group cannot achieve individually. So library
cooperation may be defined as a combined effort of two or more libraries to share their resources
for providing better services to their user community.
Library Cooperation is a reciprocal beneficial sharing of resources; developed or pre-existing
by two or more libraries. Library Cooperation is an umbrella term for a wide spectrum of
cooperation processes and mechanisms. Cooperation and sharing have been transformed by
information technology and the move from a print to a digital environment. There has been a
proliferation of web-based, full-text resources. Nearly all publishers have moved to web-based
delivery platforms, and libraries and information centres are benefitting. The high cost of
electronic information products has put pressure on libraries, which have committed larger
portions of their budgets to these resources.
An interchange is usually between two or more institutions involving a temporary exchange of
resources, while an exchange will involve cooperation on a wider scale, to include exchange of
all kinds of materials, exchange of information, user access to participating libraries, sharing of
bibliographic Catalogues, union lists, and other bibliographic utilities, and cooperative training
Programs of personnel of participating libraries.

The term “Library Cooperation” is defined as,
“the creation and operation of equitable, that is mutually ‘fair’, collaborative arrangements between libraries
and information providers which enhance the common good through making information available to all
potential users (without obstacle to access by reason of cost) which is more extensive or more valuable to the
user and/or is of lower cost to the collaborating providers.” Currently it represents “(a) … a comparatively
small, but vitally important, part of total library and information activity and that, while adherence to the
concept of library cooperation forms part of the value system and organizational culture of those who work
in library and information services, its place in terms of actual activity seems overstated; (b) …the utilization
of information technology has reached a threshold and... industrial societies are about to experience radical
changes which will fundamentally alter the context within which library and information services will be
provided. However, the proximity of these changes is not generally fully understood, particularly in public
libraries.”

Did u know? It may refer to “Partnerships”, which is used increasingly for cooperative
activities between and among two or more libraries, or it may be an umbrella term for a
wide spectrum of cooperation processes and mechanisms for libraries.
A related term commonly used now is coined “Library Linkages.” The future of library
cooperation is best characterized as a movement from the sharing of “things” to the sharing of
“people and expertise.” This is possible because of the current environment for sharing traditional
library resources. The library council is actively seeking ways to become more intrinsically
involved in the discussions and plans of teaching, learning, and technology initiatives.
Library cooperation has to be based upon the following four “musts”:

Create a common will;
Develop common goals, simple and convincing also for the paymasters;
Find out organisational structures which help in crossing the administrative boundaries;

Develop and agree on an efficient agency, or possible agencies.

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