Library cooperation in Bhutan: The Bhutan Library Consortium
Libraries the world over participate in collaborative arrangements in order to pool their intellectual, technical and financial resources to the benefit of the entire community.
The goals of the consortium include:
1. Enhancing the optimal use of resources by sharing access to library materials, information, and equipment
2. Building the expertise needed to successfully exploit available resources and technology, and encouraging the use of library best practices
3. Increasing advocacy for libraries in Bhutan
Projects and efforts to achieve these goals might include:
1. Ensuring efficient utilization of resources
• Interlibrary loan / document delivery
• Consortial purchase of databases and other electronic resources
• Coordinated journal subscription -- to prevent duplication of subscription of non-essential titles
• Digitization of resources and storage of digitized material
• Creation and management of a union catalogue and a serials union list
2. Building library expertise
• Provide training workshops on a variety of library operations, including cataloging, classification, collection management, library security, reference, database searching, research, customer service, personnel management, etc.
• Provide assistance with the implementation and maintenance of integrated library systems, to assure the existence of accurate and publicly accessible catalogues at every institution
3. Increasing library advocacy
• Coordinate efforts to improve support of or funding for libraries
• Funding for the Bhutan Library Consortium
Members of the Bhutan Library Consortium
1. Ugyen Wangchuck Institute of Conservation and Environment (UWICE) Library
2. Royal Thimphu College (RTC) Library
3. Royal Society for Protection of Nature (RSPN) Library
4. Samtse College of Education (SCE) Library
5. Royal Bhutan Police (RBP) Library
6. Gedu College of Business Studies (GCBS) Library
7. Institute of Language and Cultural Studies (ILCS) Library
8. College of Natural Resources (CNR) Library
9. Royal Institute of Health Sciences (RIHS) Library
10. Royal Institute of Tourism and Hospitality (RITH) Library
11. College of Science and Technology (CST) Library
12. Paro College of Education (PCE) Library
13. National Council Library
14. Election Commission of Bhutan (ECB) Library
15. Royal Institute of Management (RIM) Library (unofficial member)
16. Jigme Dorji Wangchuck Public Library
17. READ Bhutan (unofficial member)
Officers of the Bhutan Library Consortium
Three officers were elected by unanimous acclaim to serve as the first leaders of the Consortium. These officers are:
Chairman: Mr. Sonam Wangdi (UWICE)
Secretary: Mr. Yeshey Dorji (SCE)
Treasurer: Ms. Tshering Dema (CST)
