Central/Western Massachusetts Automated Resource Sharing, Inc. (C/W MARS) is a library consortium dedicated to efficient resource sharing and rapid access to information. C/W MARS was formed in 1982 to promote resource sharing among 28 public and academic libraries through a shared library automation system. In 1984 the Network was incorporated as a 501(3)(c) not-for-profit corporation and the first member libraries began circulating on the shared system.
C/W MARS is governed by its member libraries in the form of a User’s Council which approves the annual budget, establishes C/W MARS policies and elects officers to the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee works to develop and recommend policies, budget and membership. C/W MARS has a professional staff for support of its integrated library system (ILS), network functions and the Digital Treasures library.
Currently C/W MARS has more than 140 members, including public, academic, school and special libraries and two regional library systems. C/W MARS offers a shared online computer system and combined collections of more than nine million items.[1]