National Cooperative Collections for South Asian Studies
Wisconsin-Cornell Pilot
The University of Wisconsin and Cornell University Libraries propose a formal
cooperative arrangement in a new thrust to develop better resources for South Asian
research in this country. We seek to develop deeper, more unique South Asia library
collections at individual institutions, and thus to develop broader, more diversified
resources at the national level. At present, emerging technologies on the one hand and
economic considerations on the other are pushing our libraries into a paradoxical
situation. Interlibrary loan and electronic delivery have become easy and efficient
realities, but the collections of lending and borrowing partners are becoming
increasingly homogenized. Since discovery and sharing are now expedited, it makes
sense for individual institutions to diversify and cooperate rather than reduplicating one
another’s efforts. While this collaboration builds upon local strengths and current
research areas, it will also serve the national South Asia scholarly community; in addition
to the sharing of resources, we envision this collaboration to inspire and encourage our
South Asia library colleagues to join us in creatively and productively using our efforts to
pursue deeper and more unique resources for South Asian research.
This arrangement is based upon the following premises:

South Asian collection budgets are declining (in comparison to STM, in light of
increased costs of South Asian materials, in response to the decline in the dollar,
etc.) which leads to increased homogenization of our collections (striving to
maintain the “core”).

An increased reliance on approval plans/particular vendors has lead to a lack of
control over individual collection development and a homogenization of our
national collections.

The increased possibilities for and technologies of ILL (both increasingly efficient
and digital) facilitate such collaboration.

No institution extensively collecting on South Asia has the requisite staff fluent
in all things South Asian; we are already comfortable with our reliance on others
in selection and/or processing.
Institutional Collection Commitments
In this collaboration, intellectual and access commitments are prioritized over monetary
commitments. We are seeking to expand intellectual coverage of the South Asian area
rather than one-to-one dollar commitments across institutions (although internal
reallocation of budgets may occur). We therefore commit to the collecting, preservation
and access of particular collecting areas:
Cornell
Cornell is already building a body of Himalayan materials unique in the EuroAmerican world and will continue to further build upon its strength in materials
from Nepal, particularly those in the languages specific to the region (namely,
Nepali and Newari). In addition to active participation in the Library of Congress’
Cooperative Acquisitions Program (LCCAP) for Nepal, Cornell will pursue unique
and relevant Nepali materials. Furthermore, as Wisconsin gives up its active
Nepali language collection program, Cornell will pick up Nepali serial
subscriptions formerly maintained by Wisconsin:

Abhilekha

Asmitā

Astha

Pūrnimā

Bahāḥ jarnala

Ratnaśrī

Madhuparka

Samakālīna sāhitya

Mānavaadhikāra varsha pustaka

Samudaya

Nepālī

Vicāra

Paryatanako sānkhyikīya vrttānta

Prācīna Nepāla: Purātattva
Vibhāgako mukhapatra
Wisconsin
The University of Wisconsin will embark on a new collection focus: theatre.
Scholars of South Asian theatre are scattered throughout the US, but no
institution has so far dug deeply into the full range of materials in this multidisciplinary field. Wisconsin’s foray into this area will not be bounded by
language or format; rather all materials related to South Asian theatre will be
pursued, including but not limited to play-scripts, recordings of performances,
serial publications, secondary sources, etc. Among other areas, this new focus
will encompass the areas of language, literature, performance studies, and
anthropology and will span all time frames (classical to contemporary).
Collecting will be assisted by but by no means limited to LCCAP profiles.
Technical Considerations
Interlibrary Loan
All materials acquired in the above mentioned categories will have their item
status set to “circulating” thereby making them readily available for interlibrary
loan requests (this extends to any borrowing library, thereby encouraging the
national collection). For materials within this formal arrangement (i.e., Nepali
and theatre collections) this circulating status would include serial subscriptions
at the volume level. Although Cornell and Wisconsin do not currently have
reciprocal borrowing/lending arrangements, we do actively and regularly borrow
and lend from each other (on a fee-based system); we do not anticipate any
changes within that system. However, both Wisconsin and Cornell participate in
the “Rapid ILL” program for document delivery, thereby making delivery of
articles fluid, fast, and low-cost. This is particularly noteworthy for the Nepali
language periodicals noted above for which Wisconsin will maintain the back
files while Cornell develops the future holdings.