Ensuring equitable participation in a resource–sharing network: Gratisnet case study

Abstract

The GratisNet library community collaborates to achieve a cooperative benefit. Members gain access to a larger resource by sharing their own resources and committing to the additional workload in ILL fulfilment. Workload distribution techniques have been developed to address excessive workload for libraries with the largest collections. Participating libraries commit to supplying ILL requests at no charge and with no specific reciprocity, on the basis that an increase in demand on their library will be balanced progressively with a lower ranking in future ILL search results. Workload is also ameliorated by increasing use of open access and electronic subscriptions. Copyright 2007 Australian Academic and Research Libraries.