A plan for the establishment of a library network or consortium of Management & Engineering libraries (MELC) in western India: Preliminary investigations and formulations

This article (presented at CALIBER 2003) explores the possibilities of establishing Management and Engineering library consortia of two western Indian states - Gujarat & Maharashtra. It gives an overview of the current status of management and Engineering libraries of the region and examines the possibilities of building up information sharing system which is of great importance and central to the formation of any consortia. Proposals are made here for a model of library consortia of the 21st century in two western states of India. It focuses on the joint purchase of the resources by IIT Mumbai, IIM Ahmedabad and other engineering and management institute libraries of the region. The theoretical and practical advantages and disadvantages of this form of collaborative approach between management and engineering libraries are described