1999: Creation of the Couperin consortium, under French law (loi 1901, that is an equivalent to voluntary association) by four founding French universities. First contract with a publisher.

2001: More than 100 academic institutions are part of Couperin including Public Scientific and Technical Research Establishments.

2005: The first nationwide grouping of order is organized, signed by CNRS, INSERM and Couperin, among others. 

2007: The "Shared ERMS project" (Electronic Resources Management System) is launched. Its goal is to share the management of electronic resources within Couperin and its members.

2007: A perpetual archiving solution is settled in partnership with ABES/CINES and CNRS/INIST.

2008: Creation of the website http://www.couperin.org/archivesouvertes/. It displays tools and advice to pass the implementation of Open Archives, either individually or through an institution.

2008: Creation of the E-book Division. Its main goals are to negotiate and forecast e-books offers.

2009 : hosting of the 11th Fall meeting of ICOLC (International coalition of library consortia) in Paris, in October.