Academic Library Consortium in Jordan: An Evaluation Study Original Research Article

Due to the current financial and managerial difficulties that are encountered by libraries in public universities in Jordan and the geographical diffusion of these academic institutions, the idea of establishing a consortium was proposed by the Council of Higher Education to combine these libraries. This article reviews the reality of establishing a public university libraries consortium in Jordan through answering the following questions: 1. What are the reasons and motives for establishing a consortium? 2. What are the potential problems and challenges facing the library members when establishing a consortium? 3. Where the benefits regarding the economics of knowledge management achieved by the consortium? DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH Using a Descriptive Method of research, this case study examines the initial goals for establishing a consortium related to the benefits achieved four years after the consortium was launched. FINDINGS The consortium enriches the digital governmental university libraries network with information sources through a sharing mechanism. This mechanism allowed for the consortium to coordinate database subscriptions and to act as a lobby group when dealing with library vendors in an attempt to economize in subscription costs. ORIGINALITY/VALUE The paper focuses on the benefits of developing a library consortium and establishing procedures as a road map for other libraries especially in developing countries.