I. AN INTRODUCTION TO THE LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SERVICES OF A PROFESSIONAL INSTITUTION

The Library and Information department which I represent is a joint one of two professional Institutions, the Institution of Mining and Metallurgy, and the Institution of Mining Engineers. Both Institutions possess Royal Charters and were founded in the late nineteenth century, the former for the advancement of the science of economic geology, mining and extraction metallurgy of all minerals other than coal, and the latter for the advancement of the science of coal and iron ore mining and allied subjects. The Institution of Mining Engineers is slightly the older institution.