Expanding User Access to E-Journals through Electronic Consortiums by Academic Libraries

Abstract

Amidst escalating subscription costs and evolving user expectations, academic libraries are facing the imperativeness to enhance their services, to enable their users to access scholarly literature, particularly e-journals. Using a literature review approach, the article explores the role of electronic consortia as a strategic mechanism to expand user access to e-journals. To achieve the aim of the study, the nature of academic libraries was presented, the concept of electronic journals (e-journals) was explored, the advantages of e-journals were highlighted, the meaning of electronic consortium by academic libraries was offered, the reasons/justification for electronic consortium by academic libraries were postulated and how user access to e-journals are expanded through electronic consortium by academic libraries was discussed. However, the article concludes by stressing that forming a consortium offers a bridge of technical competencies, geographical coverage and partnerships that have the potential to implement resilience building among the participating libraries. Hence, e-consortium by academic libraries could be affirmed to be the best strategy to be utilized for expanding user access to e-journals in academic library environments.