Transcript
Page 1: European University Institute Library

European University Institute LibraryLibrary

Consortia Structure and governance

in Europe

Tommaso Giordano

Deputy Director, EUI Library, Florence

Thessaloniki 3 October Thessaloniki 3 October 20022002

4th E- ICOLC 4th E- ICOLC International Coalition of Library International Coalition of Library

Consortia in EuropeConsortia in Europe

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In this presentation In this presentation

Emerging consortia models in Europe Key factors influencing their evolutionMain organisational components affecting their

structure and governance

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Consortia:

transitory solution or a model for a long term prospective?

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ScopeScope

Survey on consortia initiatives in 28 European countries:18 countries in Western Europe and the European

context10 countries in Central and Eastern Europe

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Consortia for e- resource Consortia for e- resource

Consortia as library networks for sharing resource (union catalogues, ILL, e-resources)

Consortia for purchasing and management of e- licenses, established by the libraries

Consortia for selling e-services to the libraries organised by information providers

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General TrendsGeneral Trends

• Persistence of the gap between the different areas (North, Central Eastern and South)

• Discrepancies are arising in the same area and/or countries

• Situation at initial stage in several Eastern European countries

• Fragmentation of the initiatives in some countries

• Convergence of the initiatives at national level

• Emergence of broader alliances at international level

• The relevance of OSI/ e-IFL programme in Eastern Countries

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Influential Factors in the European ContextInfluential Factors in the European Context

Different political systems (centralised/decentralised)Different economic and social situations (West/East)Different size of the countriesDifferent library practices and policies (i.e. co-

operation, investments)Different educational/university systems and policyScarce availability of e-publications in non English

languages

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Key Aspects Key Aspects

• Scope and Geographical Dimension• Mission and Policy • Core Programme• Infrastructure• Financing• Structure and Governance

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Scope and Geographical DimensionScope and Geographical Dimension

• Consortia conceived and developed at national level • Or: Started at local level with a later shift to the national level • Regional consortia (Spain, Germany &c.)• Involvement of national and public libraries mainly in small

countries• General tendency toward larger strategic alliances

(interconsortia initiatives at national and international level)

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Mission and Policy Mission and Policy

• Few consortia articulate a clear vision or strategy

• Some provide a wide range of library services

• Some are just ‘buying clubs’

• Few have developed their own licence model

• Focus on big international publishers

• In some cases (mainly in Northern Europe) consortia are strongly connected with larger national digital programmes

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Core programmeCore programmecataloguing ILL and EDDinfrastructure (i.e. IT) collections developmente-licensesportals and user interfaceTOC’straining programmese-resource preservationacademic e-publishingdigital conversion………..

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InfrastructureInfrastructure

• Most consortia have a minimal infrastructure

• Some have central staffing

• In other cases, support is provided by one of the participating libraries

• In some cases administrative and technical support is provided by a central body involved in the programme (i.e. national library or central agency)

• Most consortia outsource services (technical support and expertise)

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FinancingFinancing

• Very few are completely self- financed by participating libraries

• Most are partially supported by special funds

• Others are strongly supported by central funds

• Special funds are provided by national, regional or research agencies

• Different invoicing and accounting procedures

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Structure and Governance Structure and Governance

• Library networks and “new consortia”

• Variable dimensions (from 5/6 to 100 and more libraries)

• Few consortia as corporate legal entities

• Most based on memoranda of understanding/ informal agreements

• Governance and decision-making mechanisms in many cases are extensive (complex) and ‘participative’

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Models Models

Centralised

National Regional

Decentralised

loose federation (informal)

highly structured (legal entity)

governmental agency

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GovernanceGovernance

COUNCIL

(Policy)

Mangement Board

Subject

Groups

Admistrative &

Technical supportIT

InfrastructureConsultants

SPONSORING

BODY

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Emerging ModelsEmerging Models

National centralised model • National strategy (and/or involvement of national library)

e.g. FINELIB, COBISS

National decentralised model• Begun as a limited group with gradual development at

national level; e.g. COUPERIN

Regional model (centralised or decentralised) • Regions (eg: land, canton, regione &c.); e. g. University Library

Consortium of Catalunya (CBUC)

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ConclusionConclusion(strategy)(strategy)

• Political systems (centralised-decentralised) have a strong influence on library co-operation policies

• Fragmentation in the absence of national strategies

• Central/special funding support and policies are key factors for consortia development

• Little consideration of using consortia as publishing partners for university research output

• Emergence of transnational alliances (e-IFL, Gasco, SELL)

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ConclusionConclusion(structure)(structure)

• Legal status as prerequisite for long term ( and larger) programmes

• Decision procedures are slow in many cases

• Significant overheads and management costs

• Centralised solutions appear more cost effective

• Increasing devolution of responsibility from libraries to consortia

• Many consortia seem transitory in nature

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T. Giordano. “Library Consortia Models in Europe: a Comparative Analysis”. Alexandria, 14 (1), 2002, p.41-52

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….finally my favourite consortium...


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