NATIONAL LENDING/REFERENCE LIBRARIES OR LIBRARIES OF FIRST RESORT Available to Purchase

The development of the BLLD is briefly described and the desire to set up similar institutions in the USA is discussed. The concept of a single national collection providing both reference and lending services is examined and apparent conflict of interests between visitors and remote borrowers is outlined in the light of the author's visits to Iran and Australia. The questions considered include simplified document retrieval, photocopy facilities and a fast service to remote borrowers on the one hand and the need for some duplication and a browsing capability on the other. It is generally concluded that remote borrowers must be properly serviced since they will form the majority of users.