Tyranny of distance: the challenges of coordinating a multinational consortium

Purpose - This study aims to evaluate and report on the challenges faced by a multinational academic library consortium with a heterogeneous membership and widely varying collection resources. Design/methodology/approach - The author uses a case study approach based on direct experience obtained with coordinating the word of such a consortium, from its nascent stages to its fully functional present-day form. Findings - Coordinating the work of an academic library consortium that spans the globe presents challenges such as an inability to set a meeting time - and place - that is agreeable to all and copyright laws that vary from one country to the next. Cataloging practices may affect the system's ability to select an appropriate supplier based on reported journal holdings, but this problem is easily solved by a careful review of local practices and the system's search algorithms. Originality/value - This article is of interest to anyone involved in a library consortium, regardless of its geographic boundaries.