Neighborhood Networks Consortia

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A consortium is a group of centers in the same geographic region that collaborate to expand opportunities for their users. Some consortia are independent organizations with their own staff.

Others are informal groups of centers that meet monthly to exchange ideas and information. Many consortia also have partners that provide them with an array of resources. A consortium can launch a broad range of activities, such as sharing information and resources, coordinating fundraising efforts, and developing partnerships.

Although they are diverse in their organizational structures and memberships, consortia can provide the following services to their members:

	Shared resources such as staff, programming materials, and information.
	Access to funding opportunities and partnerships that otherwise are not available to single centers.
	Networking.
	The ability to offer joint programming.
	Opportunities to secure or provide training that otherwise might not be available to a single center.
	The ability to combine resources for marketing and media outreach.