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Foundation of Library and Information Science

Notes once in last 7 years; but a small portion of any collection is in such heavy demand, that these
titles are unavailable when wanted. These data, if confirmed in a local environment; can be
extremely important in making purchase and/or resource sharing decisions.
In other words, resource sharing denotes a mode of operation, whereby all or part of library
functions are shared in common among several libraries. The basic functions may be classified
as acquisitions, processing, storage, and delivery of service. There is no single system in which
all these functions are shared, although networks which might become “full service” are being
planned in some of the systems. The significant aspects of resource sharing till now have been in
the areas of processing and delivery of service. There have been important activities in the areas
of centralised storage and acquisitions. Many commercial organisations have started offering
bibliographic access to journal literature via, national computer-time sharing systems.

It should be mentioned here, that the availability of materials which resource sharing seeks to
maximise, implies certain trade-offs of time and accustomed ways of utilising library material.

Example: If there is a delay in obtaining a particular item because it is not held locally,
but the money saved from that non-acquisition could well represent an investment in access to
a larger universe of material than the particular local library can afford.
Availability through resource sharing also implies new ways of evaluating libraries and using
the resources of recorded knowledge. The collections of a particular library are not an important
criteria to judge the value of a library as much as the access facilities that the library is able to
provide for larger quantum of recorded knowledge by virtue of its membership in a resource
sharing network. The effectiveness of resource sharing depends on the availability of appropriate
communications, technology and delivery systems. The computer has been an extremely effective
device for processing and locating materials quickly–and conveniently regardless of distance.
The delivery services, till now, have mostly relied on mail service or private delivery systems.
If resource sharing systems are to be operated in parallel with, systems–aiming toward
self-sufficiency, the cost effectiveness may not be possible. On the other hand, if more integrated
systems of resource sharing are developed, more benefits will be realised from such efforts.

Self Assessment

State whether the following statements are true or false:
7. Resource sharing denotes a mode of operation.

8. If less integrated systems of resource sharing are developed, more benefits will be realised
from such efforts.
9. The delivery services do not rely on mail service or private delivery systems.

5.4 Networking

Networking is information/resource sharing through computers and telecommunication links
which transmit information or data from one library to another. According to Smith and Parker,
as quoted by Zhang (1990), “Networking is more structured type of cooperation in which definite regions
or areas or definite organizations are connected by electronic or other means to promote inter-library
loaning of materials, in-service training and other sharing of resources.” It can be stated that library
cooperation and resource sharing have been replaced by the modern term networking with the
same connotation except technological application for achieving the objectives of resource
sharing. Networking has become a very powerful link in the coordination and dissemination of
library resources.

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