Consortial Purchasing: Small Colleges Working Together Can Get a Break Beth Avery

DEFINITION An agreement, combination, or group (as of companies) formed to undertake an enterprise beyond the resources of any one member. »Merriam-Webster Dictionary

Why? Basic philosophy of librarianship –Cooperation is in our blood – Sharing Economy of scale It works –180 on International Coalition of Library Consortia website

History Advocated in LJ in the 1880s Traditional –Purchasing agreements –Resource sharing –Systems OCLC

Types (from Kopp, 1998) Large concerned primarily with computerized functions Small concerned with user services Limited purpose by subject area Limited purpose by service

TYPES Formal or informal Single or multi-type libraries Local, regional, state, or multi-state Voluntary or state Decentralized or centralized

Western Colorado Academic Library Fort Lewis College Mesa State College Adams State College CMC-- Leadville, Steamboat Glenwood Western State College Add Your Text

THE PROCESS Delicate balance Discontents Demanding Compromise

SELECTION Interest Trial –Product evaluation –Work out bugs – authentication –License agreement Discussion Buy-in –Renewal cycles

COSTS Allocation Models –FTE –Combination –Equal % –Use –Bids Administration

LICENSE AGREEMENT What rights are being acquired Copyright issues Liability for misuse Confidentiality of users Notice of misuse by licensor Authentication Notification of changes Termination rights

The Good Collaborative – everyone contributes Flexibility Share expertise Creates an increased sense of community Expands professional connections Find out about new resources Reduce redundancy and duplication of effort The Intangibles

The Challenges Overlapping consortia Home library culture and policies Introducing new technologies and methods Strained budgets Sustainability Staff Shortages Inter-consortia cooperation Retreat

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