Document delivery as an aspect of co‐operation: the British Library’s Co‐operation and Partnership Programme

Following the British Library’s 1998 Strategic Review a unit was set up to develop and co‐ordinate the Library’s Co‐operation and Partnership Programme in the areas of collection development, collection management and access. The unit co‐ordinates existing and new BL co‐operative activities and provides an external focus and point of contact relating to co‐operation. A new fund, administered by the unit, was established to support practical co‐operative and partnership activities and projects. The article describes the activities of the Programme, including the review of existing co‐operative activities, the establishment of dialogue and communication mechanism, and the pursuit of co‐operative and partnership initiatives with other organisations, both at a level of strategic frameworks, and on a bilateral or multilateral basis, including through the funding of projects.