Development of a Library Consortium for Engineering Colleges

Present day libraries are facing the problems of space, standardization, shrinking budget, impact of changing technologies, information explosion, ever increasing subscription charge of journals, changing needs of users etc. With the result, consortia have emerged as an essential necessity for libraries. The study was conducted to assess the existing conditions of the libraries of the engineering colleges in Kerala, India. It is found that information resources -traditional as well as digital- of engineering college libraries are below the expected level and most of the libraries are not providing sufficient electronic information resources and services. Based on the findings of the study, the author suggests a blueprint for the development of a library consortium for engineering colleges that would solve many of the present problems and issues of the engineering college libraries under study. The study will also add values to the existing information infrastructure of technical education in Kerala, India.