Purpose: This paper documents an exploration of an innovative approach to the sharing of documents and information among the members of the National Alliance of Academies of Sciences (NAAS) in China, based on the practice initiated by the National Science Library of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (NSLC).

Design/methodology/approach: Through interviews and user surveys, we analyzed the general information demands of users from provincial academies of sciences (PASs) and problems of their document and information service teams. Based on our findings, we designed targeted services to help Alliance members support their document resources, information services for science and technology (S&T) decisions, and their knowledge transfer achievements. Furthermore, we offered training courses for provincial service teams, researchers, and administrators, to improve their information skills. These activities represent a new collaborative model for professional library consortia.

Findings: To date, our service has been extended to all Alliance members, covering 19 provinces in China, and the NSLC service covers all aspects of knowledge services of Alliance members, from basic document delivery services to subject information analyses.

Research limitations: Different PASs have different understandings of the role of the document and information services in the process of scientific research. These differences limit information service sharing of the NSLC with the PASs, and affect the service performance. For the sake of convenience, the original survey was conducted in only three provinces, which may not fully reflect the information needs of users in each Alliance institution. In addition, quantitative and qualitative analyses have been limited by the coverage of the sample.

Practical implications: Document and information sharing has not only taken advantage of the NSLC knowledge service system and cooperation model, it has also enhanced the range of services of the NAAS in China.

Originality/value: Based on knowledge service enhancements, the NAAS in China has formed a new kind of library consortium, which has broken the traditional library alliance model that was based mainly on the sharing of resources and services.

Purpose: This paper documents an exploration of an innovative approach to the sharing of documents and information among the members of the National Alliance of Academies of Sciences (NAAS) in China, based on the practice initiated by the National Science Library of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (NSLC).

Design/methodology/approach: Through interviews and user surveys, we analyzed the general information demands of users from provincial academies of sciences (PASs) and problems of their document and information service teams. Based on our findings, we designed targeted services to help Alliance members support their document resources, information services for science and technology (S&T) decisions, and their knowledge transfer achievements. Furthermore, we offered training courses for provincial service teams, researchers, and administrators, to improve their information skills. These activities represent a new collaborative model for professional library consortia.

Findings: To date, our service has been extended to all Alliance members, covering 19 provinces in China, and the NSLC service covers all aspects of knowledge services of Alliance members, from basic document delivery services to subject information analyses.
 

Research limitations: Different PASs have different understandings of the role of the document and information services in the process of scientific research. These differences limit information service sharing of the NSLC with the PASs, and affect the service performance. For the sake of convenience, the original survey was conducted in only three provinces, which may not fully reflect the information needs of users in each Alliance institution. In addition, quantitative and qualitative analyses have been limited by the coverage of the sample.

Practical implications: Document and information sharing has not only taken advantage of the NSLC knowledge service system and cooperation model, it has also enhanced the range of services of the NAAS in China.

Originality/value: Based on knowledge service enhancements, the NAAS in China has formed a new kind of library consortium, which has broken the traditional library alliance model that was based mainly on the sharing of resources and services.