Abstract: This paper reviews the history of American library consortia, and analyzes the crisis they are facing in the new era, such as continuous huge profits of the traditional publishing industry, open access movement, and changes in user demand. The reform path in promoting open science, coordinated sharing and long-term preservation of resources across consortia, new generation library service platforms, alliance-led business model innovation, and shared local digital archives and special collections are elaborated. On this basis, it points out the reference and inspiration to the development of library consortia in China from five aspects: demand-driven, strengthening cooperation, actively integrating into the open science movement, co-building and sharing service facilities, as well as changing roles.