1. Librarian & National Coordinator INDEST-AICTE Consortium
Managing Electronic Resources through Library Consortia Examples from INDEST-AICTE Consortium
Jagdish Arora
Librarian & National Coordinator
INDEST-AICTE Consortium

2. What is a Library Consortium?
A Library Consortium consists of a number of libraries, preferably with some homogeneous characteristics by subject, institutional affiliation, or affiliation to funding authorities, that come together with an objective to do certain job collectively. These jobs may include:
Subscribe e-resources
include resource sharing
Shared cataloguing of resources
Shared Technology Solution
Shared core / peripheral collection
Shared cataloguing (or copy cataloguing) in network environment is still operational and relevant;
30 March, 2007
ISI Kolkata

3. Need and Relevance of Library Consortium [1]
Proliferation of Web-based Full-text Resources
+ 40,000 e-journals
+ 10,00,000+ E-books
Aggregators: NetLibrary; E-brary, 24x7;
Springer, Wiley, Elsevier, T & F and others
Hongkong University Library has access to 1 million e-books
+ 5,000 Online Databases, etc.
Publishers-backed Initiative
Support from users: Convenience
Libraries
30 March, 2007
ISI Kolkata

4. Need and Relevance of Library Consortium [2]
Diminishing Print-based Subscription
Threats from E-print Archives and Open Access Journals
Technology-driven Revolution: Publishers and Users
Decrease in Scientific Productivity Across the Country in India
Libraries are already Committing Larger Portion of their Budgets on Electronic Resources
Rising Cost of Journals, Diminishing Budget & Increased Users Demand
30 March, 2007
ISI Kolkata

5. 30 March, 2007
ISI Kolkata

6. Managing E-resources through a Consortium
Selection and Procurement of Information Resources
Resource selection for consortia purchase requires considerable care, effort and judicious involvement of the members.
Some of the criteria for selection of e-resources used for the INDEST-AICTE Consortium are:
Well-established multi-disciplinary resources with broad coverage were preferred over highly specialized sources targeted for specialists.
30 March, 2007
ISI Kolkata

7. Selection and Procurement of Information Resources
The resources already on subscription were preferred over those which were not being used in any member institutions;
Resources that are ‘electronic-only’ were preferred over those that were print-based unless completely unavoidable;
Resources that are very important but highly cost-intensive were preferred over those that are less important or less-used but low cost;
Resources where electronic versions are made available free on subscription to their print versions were avoided as far as possible; and
Selections were made on their usage / suitability to their respective institutions, e.g. Proquest Science for category I & II institutions while Web of Science for category I institutions.
30 March, 2007
ISI Kolkata

8. E-resources Negotiation and Purchasing
(Lowest) rates of subscription for all consortium members
Requirement of maintenance of print subscription; if yes, is cap on increase in print subscription offered?
Extent of coverage of back-files with current subscription
Journal level (or article level link) through the Library’s OPAC
Permission for inter-library loan
Archival backup or perpetual access to e-resources
Annual increase in rates of subscription
Terms of license agreement
30 March, 2007
ISI Kolkata

9. Consortia Licensing and Agreements
The publishers use licensing as a legal method for controlling the use of their products and services
It is important to ensure that all issues concerning consortia licensing of e-content that go into publisher / vendors’ licensing agreements are reviewed and understood thoroughly by the consortia negotiation committee and the agreement signing authorities.
Develop a checklist of “must-be-present” terms and “not-at-all-agreeable” clauses, to avoid delay in executing the licensing contracts.
ICOLC site provides is a very useful reference point in understanding the recommended practices.
30 March, 2007
ISI Kolkata

10. Promoting Use of E-Resources
Use innovative marketing techniques and out-reach programs in the form of:
posters, case-study sessions, user conventions
Ensure that all resources get equal and adequate attention, and the newer resources receive greater attention.
Training programmes and Annual Meets (both at institute level and consortium level)
Consortium Users Group in each member institution
Users Convention in member institutions
30 March, 2007
ISI Kolkata

11. Promoting Use of E-Resources
Consortium web site should have features like:
Computer and Network Infrastructure Requirements
Tutorials on each E-resource
IPR and License Agreements: Do and Donts
Downloadable List of Journals with URLs
Searchable Database of Journals and their URLs
Searchable Database of Members with their
Contact details
Library Web Sites
Library OPAC
Resources accessible to them & their URLs
Subscription Period / Status / Renewal Due
30 March, 2007
ISI Kolkata

12. Establish Communication Amongst Members
Communication amongst members of a consortium is considered its lifeline.
Effective communication motivates members to cooperate, commit to the cause of consortium and align members toward a shared vision.
Communication is necessary to link each member with the practices of the consortium and to involve them at policy and operational level as a team.
Communication at Consortium Level
Communication at Institutional Level
30 March, 2007
ISI Kolkata

13. Usage Monitoring
Most publishers maintain detailed usage statistics for resources offered by them to the consortium
The consortium headquarters can maintain and deliver usage statistics to member institutions through their web site
Members may be request to optimize the usage and check misuse, if any
The usage statistics for several resources are also accessible to the member institutions through web-based interfaces from the publisher’s site
Usage statistics can also be used to determine factors that can be used to project economic viability and cost-effectiveness of consortia-based subscription to e-resources:
Cost Avoidance; Cost Recovery; Cost Savings; Average cost of downloaded articles
30 March, 2007
ISI Kolkata

14. Training of Users and Library Staff
Training programmes act as a bridge to facilitate communication amongst members and find answers to common problems
Essential for users as well as for the library staff
Make users competent to conduct their own searches more effectively
Proper training would make library staff more competent enabling them to provide qualitative services.
“On-the-job” training programmes are better for benefits users but it also solve localized technological problems that can be solved with the availability of experts at the time of imparting training.
Imparting training to members of consortium is a decentralized activity in case of INDEST-AICTE Consortium.
30 March, 2007
ISI Kolkata

15. Technology Support to Member Institutions
Provide help to member libraries to select technological alternatives available in the market place.
All libraries invariably require consultation and expert advice in implementing new technologies.
The consortium, with its collective expertise, can help libraries to select technologies based on their requirement ensuring use of open system, standards and interoperability of library systems and digital archives.
Development and deployment of federated search engines is a crucial requirement as the e-resource base increases in the libraries acquired either through consortia initiatives or through local library budgets.
30 March, 2007
ISI Kolkata

16. Copyright and IPR Issue
All consortium members including potential users as well as librarians should be sensitized on issues of licenses and agreements that consortium signs with the publishers.
Users need to be told what, as an authorized user, they are allowed and what they are not allowed. While most of the publishers allow inter-library loan, electronic delivery of articles are not allowed.
30 March, 2007
ISI Kolkata

17. Allowed
Not Allowed
Viewing, downloading, copying, printing and saving a copy of search results
Viewing, downloading, copying, printing and saving individual articles
Using e-resources for scholarly, educational or scientific research, teaching, private study and clinical purposes
Sending a copy of an article to another authorized user (i.e. current faculty, students or staff)
Posting the URL to the publisher's version of the article on a class website (publisher links will allow only authorized users access)
Use of robots or intelligent agents to do systematic, bulk or automatic downloading
Systematic downloading or printing of entire journal issues or volumes, or large portions of other e-resources
Using e-resources for commercial gain (i.e. reselling, redistributing or republishing of content)
Transmitting, disseminating or otherwise making online content available to unauthorized users
Posting the publisher's version or PDF of an article to an open class website is not permitted
30 March, 2007
ISI Kolkata

18. Troubleshooting and Complaint Monitoring
Users may face problems in access to resources. These problems have to be monitored and solved by the Consortium
Maintain publishers contact
Web-based instructions to handle troubleshooting for different resources
Server-end problems (rare)
Client-end problems (more often): cookies, IP Addresses, sites blocked, virus problems, etc.
Web-based Complaint Monitoring Interfaces INDEST)
IP-based Access: Educate Institutions
Authorization and Authentication Mechanisms: Proxy, Athen’s login & Shibboleth, etc.
30 March, 2007
ISI Kolkata

19. INDEST-AICTE Consortium
. . . Networking people and resources
INDEST-AICTE Consortium
30 March, 2007
ISI Kolkata

20. INDEST Consortium: Basic Model
The MHRD provides funds to the INDEST consortium:
For subscription to electronic resources for institutes funded by it; and
For operational cost of the Consortium.
Benefit of Consortia-based Subscription is passed on to other educational institutions. These institutions may subscribe on their own. 503 institutions have already joined the Consortium.
30 March, 2007
ISI Kolkata

21. INDEST Consortium: Members
Core Members
(Funds for e-resources through MHRD)
Members with AICTE Support 60
Self-supported Members 503
Total
30 March, 2007
ISI Kolkata

22. Increase in Membership in the “Self-supported Category”
30 March, 2007
ISI Kolkata

23. INDEST Consortium: E-resources
Full-text Resources
ABI / INFORM Complete
ACM Digital Library
ASCE Journals
ASME Journals
ASTM Journals & Standards
Capitaline
CRIS INFAC Ind. Information
EBSCO’s Business Source Premier
Emerald Insight
Euromonitor (GMID)
IEL Online
Indian Standards
Full-text Resources
INSIGHT
Nature
Proquest Science
Science Direct
Springer’s Link
Bibliographic Databases
COMPENDEX
INSPEC
Web of Science
SciFinder Scholar
MathSciNet
JCCC
30 March, 2007
ISI Kolkata

24. 30 March, 2007
ISI Kolkata

25. 30 March, 2007
ISI Kolkata

26. 30 March, 2007
ISI Kolkata

27. 30 March, 2007
ISI Kolkata

28. 30 March, 2007
ISI Kolkata

29. 30 March, 2007
ISI Kolkata

30. Establish Communication
30 March, 2007
ISI Kolkata

31. 30 March, 2007
ISI Kolkata

32. Resource Sharing
30 March, 2007
ISI Kolkata

33. Resource Sharing: 7716+ articles exchanged during 2005 – 2006
IIT Delhi: 4910
Others: 2806
30 March, 2007
ISI Kolkata

34. Archival Solution
30 March, 2007
ISI Kolkata

35. INDEST-AICTE Consortium: Archival Solution
Perpetual Access to Electronic Resources for period of Subscription
Science Direct
Springer Link (Springer + Kluwer)
Nature
Emerald Xtra
CD / DVD ROM along with Online Access
ABI / Inform Complete
Proquest Science (Formerly ASTP)
Local Host at IIT Delhi
ACM Digital Library
30 March, 2007
ISI Kolkata

36. INDEST-AICTE Consortium: Archival Solution
CD / DVD ROM Backup to the Consortium Headquarters
IEL Online
Web of Science
ASCE / ASME
ASTM Journals & Standards
CD / DVD ROM Backup on Termination of Subscription (to all Members)
Springer Link (-Kluwer)
COMPENDEX / INSPEC
SciFinder (CA on CD at 50% cost)
30 March, 2007
ISI Kolkata

37. INDEST-AICTE Consortium: Archival Solution
No Archival Offer
MathSciNet
Intranet Products
JCCC
Indian standards
CRIS INFAC Information Services
30 March, 2007
ISI Kolkata

38. Economics of INDEST-AICTE Consortium
30 March, 2007
ISI Kolkata

39. 30 March, 2007
ISI Kolkata

40. 30 March, 2007
ISI Kolkata

41. 30 March, 2007
ISI Kolkata

42. 30 March, 2007
ISI Kolkata

43. Total No. of Records Downloaded (38 Core Members)
From full-text E-Resources 3,50,53,698
From Bibliographic Databases ,87,197
Total ,01,40,895
Average Cost per Article Rs. 6.17
30 March, 2007
ISI Kolkata

44. Regular Subscription Rate Consortium Subscription Rate
Lower Rates for Print Subscription
Item
Regular Subscription Rate
Consortium Subscription Rate
Discount %
In Rupees
IEL - ASPP Package
62.44
ASCE Journals
4,64,048.00
1,29,950.00
72.00
ASME Journals
3,19,332.00
1,28,800.00
23,71,760.00
8,90,790.00
Cap on Annual Increase on Print Subscription: 5 to 6%
30 March, 2007
ISI Kolkata

45. Persistent Increase in Usage
30 March, 2007
ISI Kolkata

46. 30 March, 2007
ISI Kolkata

47. 30 March, 2007
ISI Kolkata

48. 30 March, 2007
ISI Kolkata

49. 30 March, 2007
ISI Kolkata

50. 30 March, 2007
ISI Kolkata

51. 30 March, 2007
ISI Kolkata

52. Transforming Consortium from Buying Club to Centrally Organized Service Delivery Organization
30 March, 2007
ISI Kolkata

53. Transforming Consortium
Consortium provides a platform for member libraries to work together for activities that require collaborative efforts
Economics of a consortium suggest that it should perform more and more activities
Loose Federations
and
Buying Clubs
Centrally Organized
Service Delivery
Organizations
30 March, 2007
ISI Kolkata

54. Consortium Services E-resources purchasing
20 full-text resources & 8 bibliographic databases
Resources sharing (during 2005 – 2006)
Total number of requests: 7700+
IIT Delhi: requests
Other IITs / IISc: 2800+
30 March, 2007
ISI Kolkata

55. Consortium Services
Educational programmes: Training of users / training the trainees
Training programmes (decentralized: All IITs / IISc to organize training programmes at various levels: training programmes during and three national seminars)
Four Annual Meets
30 March, 2007
ISI Kolkata

56. Consortium Services: Near Future
Technology support to member institutions
Computerization, Digitization
Shared technology systems
Federated Search
Application Service Provider (ASP)
Union Catalogue
Joint storage facilities
Journal Archives
Shared core collections
30 March, 2007
ISI Kolkata

57. Consortium Services: Near Future [5]
Add More E-Resources
Individual Institutions may Contribute to Subscribe More Resources instead of Looking for Central Fundings
AIP Journals (added in 2007 – cross sharing)
Wiley InterScience (added in 2007 – cross sharing)
ASTM Standards and Journals (already implemented)
Taylor & Francis
Jstor
IOP Journals
SIAM Journals
ACS Journals
30 March, 2007
ISI Kolkata

58. Consortium Services: Near Future [6]
Add Electronic Books
Purchase Model: One-time Payment, Perpetual Access
Springer Books (100+ books at IIT Delhi)
Wiley InterScience (100+ books at IIT Delhi)
Ebrary (at IIT Delhi)
A Sub-committee has been set-up to to identify e-books and negotiate rates
The committee may look-up for other resources on “one-time payment” and perpetual access basis.
30 March, 2007
ISI Kolkata

59. INDEST Extended Activities
30 March, 2007
ISI Kolkata

60. INDEST Extended
Activities under “INDEST Extended” approved by the IIT Council
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Union Catalogues of Journals
Union Catalogue of Books
Setting-up OAI-complaint E-print Archives
First Workshop-cum-Meeting of “INDEST Extended” held on October, 2003;
A Workshop on Setting-up OAI-Complaint Digital repositories at member institutions held in July, 2004 at IISc Bangalore: 24 participants, another workshop in June 2006 at IIM Kozhikode
30 March, 2007
ISI Kolkata

61. INDEST Extended: Open Source Archives
IISc Bangalore
IIT Delhi (
IIT Bombay (
IIT Kharagpur (intranet)
IIIT Allahabad (eprints.iiita.ac.in/)
IIM Kozhikode (
NIT Rourkela
IIIT Allahabad
30 March, 2007
ISI Kolkata

62. 30 March, 2007
ISI Kolkata

63. 30 March, 2007
ISI Kolkata

64. INDEST Consortium: Open Source Archives
Two Layered Proposition
Individual members of INDEST (I.e. IITs and NITs) to establish E-print Archives and acts as Content Providers;
Authors deposits a soft copies of their publications and associated metadata into institutional archive in their respective institutions.
30 March, 2007
ISI Kolkata

65. INDEST Consortium: Open Source Archives
IIT Delhi to act as Service Provider
Cross-archive searching and metadata harvesting from INDEST member Institutions
Provides alerting services
Supplement functions of data providers
Facilitate e-print submission for member institutions who could not establish their own archives
30 March, 2007
ISI Kolkata

66. IIMs IISc / IITs NITs OAI-Complaint Repositories
IIT Delhi as Service Provider
User
30 March, 2007
ISI Kolkata

67. Conclusion Consortia Should Work Together for same resources;
Benefit of number; and
Consortium extend should be large enough to attract publishers;
Increased in inter-institutional cooperation, coordination and collaboration amongst beneficiary institutions should be one of the goal of the Consortium
Providing e-resources to scientists in not a goal in-itself
The goal is to increase productivity of scientific and research output both in quantity and quality; and
Trigger stronger research and academic culture in member institutions.
30 March, 2007
ISI Kolkata

68. Thank You
30 March, 2007
ISI Kolkata