Elektronik Dergiler ve Veri Tabanlarında Ulusal Lisans Sorunu

The idea that Turkish libraries should cooperate in the use of electronic journals and databases by setting up a consortium came into being for the first time some 10 years ago when the National Academic Network and Information Center (ULAKBİM) was founded in 1996. Since then, the Consortium of Anatolian University Libraries (ANKOS) was set up. Currently, more than 80 libraries get access to electronic journals through ANKOS and download more than 10 million articles annually. Developed some five years ago, a national site license has been in use to negotiate the license terms with vendors and publishers of databases and electronic journals. Despite the fact that the majority of university libraries get access to electronic journals and databases through consortial agreements, a national site license covering all university libraries has yet to be signed with publishers. Therefore, the development of policies pertaining to the nation-wide access to and the permanent storage of electronic information resources has been hindered. This paper summarizes the developments in Turkey with regards to the consortia and discusses the major issues.