Library and technical information services: the Water Research Centre

The Water Research Centre (WRC) provides the major part of the research needs of the British water industry. The history, present structure, source of finance and scope of research of the Centre are presented. The Member Services Division communicates the results of research work to the members of the Centre through library and information services, technical liaison, publications and by organizing conferences and other events. The Technical Information Section staff are located in two laboratories and the Section produces the weekly abstracts journal WRC Information, in addition to providing library services, technical enquiry services and computerized SDI and literature‐searching facilities. The WRC is using ASSASSIN to carry out these functions and to create a specialized water data base, and emphasis is given in the paper to the importance of exchange agreements with equivalent organizations overseas. The Centre complements its own data base by using the commercial on‐line searching services. Staffing, financial budgeting and performance monitoring are considered.