Bibliotek Norrbotten's resource sharing : A study about resource sharing within a library collaboration

The focus of this bachelor’s thesis are the strategies, goals, and guidelines for the sharing of digital resources and library materials of the collaborating libraries “Bibliotek Norrbotten”. The questions asked were; What goals do Bibliotek Norrbotten want to achieve with their resource sharing? How can resource sharing look in connection to services and media? What kind of strategies are there that apply to all libraries in the collaboration? Which challenges, if any, have been encountered and how did they work through them? The theoretical framework consist of Kaufman, P(2012) theory about how a successful collaboration is built up, Kanter, R. M(1994) theory on how a rewarding collaboration is similar to human relationship and Rowley, J(2011) theory about innovative strategies within libraries. The method that was used to collect material was in the form of interviews and supportive documents. Five informants were interviewed. This study concludes that it is not easy to create a collaboration with resource sharing, but Bibliotek Norrbotten is a god example of a successful collaboration. Libraries within Bibliotek Norrbotten have created common goals when it comes to their resource sharing and that their resource sharing is linked to these goals. The goal is to have the users in focus and to offer an improved library service. This study also shows that for collaborations to achieve their goals and to improve the library service, the collaboration must develop common strategies and guidelines