cooperative acquisition

library science

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Last updated

June 24, 2026

Quick Summary

Cooperative acquisition in library science refers to libraries working together to obtain and share resources. This can involve joint purchasing of materials, especially foreign publications, to ensure wider access for researchers. The Farmington Plan was an early example of this, where agents abroad purchased current publications for distribution among American libraries based on subject specialization.

Libraries also cooperate on storage, with centers like the Center for Research Libraries holding less-used materials from multiple institutions. This addresses the challenge of limited library space. Cooperative cataloging, facilitated by organizations like OCLC, allows libraries to share catalog records, improving efficiency and access to information.

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Cooperative acquisition and storage
An ambitious program for cooperative acquisition of foreign materials by American libraries was conceived in the Library of Congress in 1942. This was the Farmington Plan: it involved the recruitment of purchasing agents in many countries, whose task was to buy…
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An ambitious program for cooperative acquisition of foreign materials by American libraries was conceived in the Library of Congress in 1942. This was the Farmington Plan: it involved the recruitment of purchasing agents in many countries, whose task was to buy…
Read More