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Unit 5: Resource Sharing and Networking

procedures discussed above provide the opportunity for analysis of usage and for making Notes
decisions on retirement of materials to a common storage facility. If such a facility is developed,
appropriate files and procedures must also be developed.

5.2.3 Technology

Since there is need to share data about acquisitions, holdings, inter library loan requests, and
completed transactions – and to share this data over distances – the technology of computers and
telecommunications becomes dominant in the design and operation of resource sharing systems.
The primary records containing such data can be recorded in machine-readable form to permit
cost-effective transactions to be concluded; to permit ready analysis; and to support, with consistent
and up-to-date data, decision processes that must be made in different geographic locations.
There is a whole spectrum of computers, which can be considered for resource sharing systems.
Small and inexpensive computers (microcomputers) to more expensive large scale computer
facilities are available for this purpose, libraries participating in resource sharing systems may
wish to utilise any of these to support local automation requirements.

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Caution Careful analysis is needed to ensure that equipment choices for local requirements
and/or to support consortium, are compatible.
If a network of participating libraries is envisaged, the process would be enhanced by
telecommunications networks. In such situations, libraries must recognise both the potential
and problems that result due to adoption of technology. Successful cooperation is closely related
to adherence of standards.

Self Assessment

Fill in the blanks:
4. The library will necessarily have some books and journals which are very much used by
its own ……………… and cannot be lent out of the premises.
5. …………………. is important in resource sharing systems as it is in individual libraries.
6. If a network of participating libraries is envisaged, the process would be enhanced by
……………….. networks.

5.3 Realising the Goals of Resource Sharing

It is, now known to every librarian that self-sufficiency is unattainable for any library, and there
is a consequent demand for the development of realistic, practicable, acceptable goals’ which are
in accordance with the current environment. At any given budget level, the library must assign
resources to each of three areas:
acquisition of materials
the bibliographic apparatus to permit accessing the local holdings
the apparatus to access the holdings of other participating libraries

The basic question is how much funds for each. The main problem to be addressed is that of
predicting need, or rather forecasting need, if there are persisting trends whose direction could
be envisaged. It is observed from literature that more than 50% of materials purchased for
libraries are not used. Also, 10% of books acquired represent that these were not circulated even

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