Chapter 5 - Western Europe

Abstract

This chapter highlights many developments in Western European national libraries in recent years that have made an important contribution to the goal of universal access to information. In all, 13 Western European national libraries replied to questionnaires issued with the support of the Conference of Directors of National Libraries. In a study described in the chapter, the contributions of three national libraries to national and international library and information systems were surveyed in some detail. This illustrated the widely different roles of national libraries and the way in which their deficiencies are covered by other organizations. The British Library was selected because of its very wide range of services, its international lending services, important program of research and development, and development of computer-based services. The international collections normally collected by national libraries are the concern in the Federal Republic of Germany of two state libraries recognized as of national importance plus the libraries recognized by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinshaft as having special responsibilities in certain fields.