Importance of Sharing Resources in Academic Libraries: An Analysis of Recent Research Studies

Abstract

The goal of resource sharing in academic libraries is to maximize the availability of materials and services at the minimum cost. In this article, the researcher has considered the research done after 2000 to analyze. Some of the common areas of resource sharing in academic libraries that the researchers have identified are inter-library loan, exchange of publications, cooperative acquisition, cataloguing and classification, sharing of bibliographical data, preparation and maintenance of union catalogue and union list of serials, networking, exchange of library expertise and personnel etc. Later on, building up consortia made it convenient for academic libraries to share their resources. Even though there are barriers to resource sharing such as technology/infrastructure barriers, financial challenges, manpower limitations and legal, political and administrative barriers, the researchers have emphasized the importance of resource sharing among academic libraries.