Broadly, library consortia can be classified using three categories: geographic region, membership participation, and governance framework.
[5] Library consortia are also established in Canada, Asia, United Kingdom, South America, Middle East, Australia, Africa, and New Zealand.
While some consortia exist at the national level, groups are often initially formed to address concerns within a network of geographically associated libraries.
Library consortia can be established informally or formally, with few or many staff, and with widely differing procedures, funding models, and strategic mandates.
[4] The most prevalent governance frameworks can be classified by the underlying funding model of the consortium,[6] which commonly include: Library consortia perform a variety of functions, typically focused on a few key activities, intended to serve their members and the wider community.
When negotiating with publishers, consortia staff focus both on obtaining a better price for their content and better licensing terms that are agreeable to the libraries.
[13] Libraries choose to work through consortia because they receive more resources for their money while expending less staff time in vendor negotiations.
Many consortia internally develop in person or online programming[23] and often host their own regular meetings and/or conferences to encourage networking and skill sharing amongst their members.
[25] Library consortia help coordinate shared print programs, allowing institutions within certain geographic regions to maintain a practical number of copies of scholarly monographs.
Library consortia often cover many different activities not mentioned above, including, but not limited to consulting services, grant funding, and industry research.
Consortial licensing became a primary activity for many consortia as libraries transitioned from print-focused collection development to providing access to a growing number of online indices, databases, and encyclopedias.