Abstract
The paper presents a synthesis on resource sharing among polytechnic libraries in Ghana. It explores how resource sharing would provide opportunities for the consolidation of strengths and minimize weakness among the polytechnic libraries. The main objective of resource sharing is to maximise the availability of materials and services and to minimize expenses and duplication. The paper further exposed some of the factors which make resource sharing imperative among the polytechnic libraries. These concerns include the proliferation of knowledge on the World Wide Web, issues of distance education, open access and instruction service. It also highlighted some of the resources that could be shared among the polytechnic libraries which include personnel, electronic service, tools, professional activities, policies, etc. Finally techniques that would foster resource sharing activities among the polytechnic libraries were discussed and these include communication, increase in the use of information communication technology, resource mobilisation and capacity building on the part of librarians.
 Keywords: Co-operation; Information sharing; Consortia formation; Academic libraries networking.
Highlights
Nowadays, no individual or group can profitably remain an island by itself
No individual or group can profitably remain an island by itself. This explains the various forms of co-operation that exist among individuals and groups that share common cultural, economic and values, and among those that pursue different and sometimes contrary policies
Aina (2004) defined resource sharing as any activity shared by two or more libraries to facilitate, improve and develop library operations that would enhance the exploitation of library resources and services by their users
Summary
No individual or group can profitably remain an island by itself. This explains the various forms of co-operation that exist among individuals and groups that share common cultural, economic and values, and among those that pursue different and sometimes contrary policies. Aina (2004) defined resource sharing as any activity shared by two or more libraries to facilitate, improve and develop library operations that would enhance the exploitation of library resources and services by their users. No individual or group can profitably remain an island by itself This explains the various forms of co-operation that exist among individuals and groups that share common cultural, economic and values, and among those that pursue different and sometimes contrary policies. Resources such as electronic databases, personnel, service tools, bibliographical databases, collection management practices, professional activities, intellectual content, policies, etc can be shared in order to facilitate access. No library can claim bibliographic completeness in its collection development, resource sharing has become an important option out of the problem. This paper aims to highlight the stateof-the-art in resource sharing among polytechnic libraries in order to determine the level of sufficiency and effectiveness of this service. In this paper, factors militating against resource sharing within the polytechnic libraries are examined with suggestions on how such problems could be addressed
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