Subscription Clubs for E-journals: Indian Initiatives

Abstract

E-publishing has brought about a revolution in journal publication, subscription, access and delivery. While dwindling library budgets and the growing number of journals have forced libraries to form consortia for the purpose of accessing ejournals, other role players (primary publishers, vendors, etc.) have their own reasons to encourage the cause. Consortia can have its own structure of governance and can act as a corporate body on behalf of its members, with set goals and benefits: e.g. an increased user and access base, optimal use of funds, infrastructure development and adoption of IT, and an enhanced image of library services. Other by products include union catalogues, shared expertise and library systems, access to other electronic resources, archiving, development of standards and above all ILL. Consortia may be centralised or decentralised; participant-oriented or purpose-oriented or clientoriented.