# GASCO

> international organization

**Wikidata**: [Q1484641](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1484641)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/gasco

## Summary
GASCO is an international organization established by treaty between governments. It was founded in 2000 and operates within the librarianship industry. The organization's full name is the German, Austrian and Swiss Consortia Organisation, and it serves as a platform for strategic cooperation among libraries in the German-speaking region for the joint acquisition of electronic resources.

## Key Facts
- **Instance of:** international organization (a class defined as an organization established by treaty between governments).
- **Inception Year:** 2000.
- **Industry:** Librarianship.
- **Full Name/Aliases:** German, Austrian and Swiss Consortia Organisation.
- **Primary Language of Documentation:** German (`de`).
- **Wikidata Sitelink Count:** 1.
- **Official Description:** "Die GASCO bündelt die regionalen Konsortialaktivitäten im deutschsprachigen Raum. Sie bildet eine Plattform zur strategischen Zusammenarbeit der Bibliotheken beim gemeinsamen Erwerb von elektronischen Zeitschriften, Datenbanken und E-Books." (Translation: GASCO bundles regional consortia activities in the German-speaking region. It forms a platform for the strategic cooperation of libraries in the joint acquisition of electronic journals, databases, and e-books).
- **Google Knowledge Graph ID:** `/g/122mqrjn`.

## FAQs
**What is the purpose of GASCO?**
GASCO's primary purpose is to act as a collaborative platform for libraries in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It facilitates the strategic joint acquisition of electronic resources, including journals, databases, and e-books, by bundling regional consortia activities.

**When was GASCO founded?**
GASCO was founded in the year 2000.

**What does the acronym GASCO stand for?**
GASCO is an acronym for the German, Austrian and Swiss Consortia Organisation.

## Why It Matters
GASCO plays a critical role in the modern library landscape by enabling strategic collaboration among major consortia in the German-speaking world. It addresses the challenge of rising costs for electronic resources by pooling the purchasing power and negotiating leverage of its member institutions. This cooperation ensures that libraries can provide patrons with broader access to essential digital academic and research materials, thereby supporting education and scholarship across the region.

## Notable For
- Being a dedicated international consortium for library cooperation within the German-speaking region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland).
- Focusing specifically on the strategic joint acquisition of electronic resources.

## Body
### History and Inception
GASCO was established in the year 2000. It was founded as an international organization based on a treaty between governments.

### Mission and Function
The core mission of GASCO is to bundle regional consortia activities across the German-speaking area. It functions as a central platform for strategic cooperation among its member libraries. Its specific operational focus is the joint acquisition of electronic information resources.
- **Primary Activities:** Coordinating the collective purchase of electronic journals, databases, and e-books.
- **Strategic Goal:** To enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of library consortia negotiations and acquisitions.

### Organizational Structure and Classification
GASCO is formally classified as an international organization. It operates within the broader industry of librarianship. The organization's name is an acronym for the German, Austrian and Swiss Consortia Organisation, which defines its geographic and institutional scope.

### Online Presence and Documentation
The organization's key descriptive information is documented in a single Wikidata entry. The primary language for its official description is German. An archived description from April 16, 2017, provides a concise summary of its purpose and activities.