RESEARCH PRIORITIES, 1979–81: THE APPROACH OF THE BRITISH LIBRARY'S R&D DEPARTMENT Available to Purchase

The British Library's R&D Department was founded in 1974 on the transfer of the. Office for Scientific and Technical Information to the Library from the Department of Education and Science. This change coincided with a growth of interest, especially among librarians and information scientists, in having important issues of principle and practice tackled with the help of research when practicable. The Department has, therefore, given increasing attention to the possible scope for research of this kind and, with its limited funds, has had to give increasing attention to priorities. In doing so it is aided by several bodies, above all by its Advisory Committee (known as ACORDD), one of five such committees advising the Library on its various activities.