Description: Consortium of Private Academic Libraries in India (COPAL)
Privately managed universities, and other institutions of higher learning, account for nearly 60% of the industry in India. However, despite very fast growth, libraries in these institutions are deprived of the benefits of national resources that made available by the state for development of libraries in India.
In this context, librarians from major privately managed academic institutions in National Capital Region met at Shiv Nadar University, Greater Noida, on November 27, 2014, and resolved to join hands to form a consortium tentatively named, Consortium of Private Academic Libraries in India (COPAL).
During the brain storming session the following proposed objectives and activities, of COPAL were agreed upon by the participants:
1. Create opportunities and establish framework for mutual cooperation, and collaborations, in improving the quality of library services, collections, infrastructure, and human resources, that can help the parent institutions global standards.
2. To identify, review, develop and share best practices in managing the library services.
3. To share knowledge and experience in exploration of resources, particularly in open access and open source
4. To share library resources
5. To make available library resources print/digital and multimedia in a cost effective manner. And for this purpose, engage publishers and other bodies in a meaningful dialog for mutually beneficial pricing and business models for their products.
6. Acquire and develop new tools and mechanisms for collaborations and resource sharing on more equitable basis
7. Help the new and upcoming academic institutions in creating and developing quality library services in a cost effective manner
8. Collaborate with each other and with the Library Schools in a systematic manner to upgrade the skills of working librarians in the member institutions, and the graduating library science students, so as to equip them with the new technologies and knowledge.
9. Represent the member libraries in various governmental and inter-governmental forums, in order to influence policies to include privately managed academic institutions in various library development programmes.
A small group of participants are working to draft a Memorandum of Association for COPAL. In this connection views/ideas of the large professional community are invited through this forum on the following :
• Suggestions regarding proposed objectives and activities of COPAL
• A (better) name and acronym
• If you wish to organize the next meet
The draft MOA will be circulated to interested professionals and the final document will be released in a professional meet to be organized early 2015.
Please like/follow if you wish to join COPAL and leave your suggestions in the Comments.
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The initiative to bring publishers (books, journals, e-books) on a platform (BBB) to make books affordable is a great initiative and its help society in a big way
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