SOME GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SPECIAL LIBRARIES IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN THE UK

Special libraries in science and technology constitute a vital link in the process of information transfer. A study of how special libraries in the UK are functioning at present is essential to any planning for a general improvement in their services and to heighten their contribution to the country's scientific and technological progress. This paper records the partial findings of a recent survey and is concerned with the identification and analysis of the essential elements of the framework within which special libraries work: such as, the nature of their management, major activity of the parent organization, subject‐specialization of the library's holding, documentation activity, staff‐structure, budget‐provision, size of library stock, and its growth rate, weeding‐out policy, etc. It brings out the wide variation in the behaviour pattern of special libraries in science and technology, belonging to different categories, e.g. libraries in private firms vis‐à‐vis government libraries, or basic research vis‐à‐vis applied research libraries. It also draws attention to areas of deficiency where action is needed.