Electronic resources and documentary consortia

Abstract

Reports results of a questionnaire and telephone survey of 48 French research libraries, affiliated associations, commercial outlets for electronic scientific documentation (83 per cent response rate), conducted during Q2 2000, to assess the development of consortia and documentary purchasing groups for electronic library and information materials within higher education and research institutions. The results of May 2000 show that associative or affiliated library structures tend not to be currently involved in coordinated purchasing of printed or electronic resources. Nevertheless, a variety of actions at different levels are highlighted (product institutional, regional and subject levels). Of the 30 respondents comprising libraries of the EPST, EPIC, higher education establishments and other types of bodies, 13 are already involved in purchasing groups for printed resources, 16 are already involved in purchasing groups for electronic resources, and six have no experience of group purchasing. Concludes that the field of documentary consortia in France is not very organized and the absence of a determined policy concerning electronic scientific documentation at national or any other level has resulted in a constructivist approach, often leading to reorganization of equipment that may culminate in wasted energy, time and money. Nevertheless, consortia for the purchase of electronic scientific documentation are being created in France but this process continues to lag behind many European countries.