About us
In the past twenty years, eresources and digital lending has rapidly grown to become a major part of the NSLA library services, assuming a critical role during COVID-19 restrictions. From the beginning, the NSLA eResources Consortium has also been building skills, experience, networks and relationships with vendors to secure affordable and sustainable access for the benefit of all Australians.
In recent years, the Consortium has secured savings of over $1 million each year in licensing fees and during COVID-19 lockdowns negotiated vital remote access conditions. It also provides an information sharing role, helping members to keep informed of new products, implement value for money licenses and closely monitor usage to ensure the maximum reach for our collective users. Through its buying power and shared expertise, NSLA libraries are ensuring that users, wherever they live in Australia, can easily tap into a rich and diverse range of eresources from across the world.
Quotes from NSLA Visitor Experience customer enquiries report
- Thank you for your email and the good news. …As I have now discovered e-resources, the whole world awaits! Best wishes and stay healthy and safe.
- Thank you for the membership confirmation. I have reviewed the resources available and I am absolutely amazed by the quality and content of the material. Looking forward to enjoying more of the great offerings.
Partnerships and collaboration
The Consortium was established in 2001 by the Australian members of the National and State Libraries Australasia (NSLA). While a member of NSLA, the National Library of New Zealand is not a member of the Consortium. The National Library of New Zealand is the lead agency of Electronic Purchasing in Collaboration (EPIC), New Zealand’s national consortium. The NSLA Consortium collaborates with EPIC and the CAUL Electronic Information Resources Consortium on areas of mutual interest.
The Consortium is a member of the International Coalition of Library Consortia (ICOLC) an informal group currently comprising approximately 200 library consortia from around the world. ICOLC supports participating consortia by facilitating discussion on issues of common interest.
As a member of COUNTER (Counting Online Usage of Networked Electronic Resources) the NSLA Consortium is part of an international initiative serving librarians, publishers and intermediaries by setting standards that facilitate the recording and reporting of online usage statistics in a consistent, credible and compatible way.
Governance and Management
Strategic Plan and Terms of Reference
The Consortium Terms of Reference set out the purpose, objectives, governance, management and membership of the Consortium. They are reviewed annually with the Consortium Strategic Plan which sets out in more detail the agreed priority activities.
Consortium Terms of Reference [PDF]
Consortium Terms of Reference [RTF]