Application of Total Quality Management to Library and Information Services in Indian Open Universities

Abstract

PCF1 // The Indian Higher Education System comprises 210 conventional universities and a single mode open universities. The conventional universities have more than a hundred years of tradition and many have international recognition as centres of excellence in specific disciplines. In this competitive educational environment, open universities in India are thriving to establish reputation by way of imparting quality education to the distance learners. The DEC, the apex body in open and distance education in India has initiated several projects to ensure quality in higher education through distance mode. It is in this context that the study of Total Quality Management (TQM) of library and information systems and services becomes crucial. // This paper intends to study the application of TQM to the provision of library and information services. //