Managing javascript / css dependancies?
This is pretty much what hook_library is for.  You define your library

function mymodule_library ()
{
    $path = drupal_get_path("module", "mymodule");

    $libraries = array();

    $libraries["mymodule_util"] = array(
        "title" =&gt; "MyModule Utilities", 
        "version" =&gt; "0.0",
        "js" =&gt; array(
            $path . '/UTIL.js' =&gt; array(),
        ),

        'weight' =&gt; -10,
    );

    return $libraries;
}


You can add CSS and declare dependencies, if needed.

Then you say you want to use it

drupal_add_library("mymodule", "mymodule_util", TRUE);


This ensures all of the dependencies get loaded exactly once.

Check out drupal_add_library for more details.  The core jQuery UI components are loaded this way, too.  The module is system and the names all begin with ui., eg ui.scroller.

I would also check out jQuery Update to upgrade things so you stay in sync with that other jQuery plugins need.