The post of systems librarian is still relatively new in libraries and information services (LIS). From October to December 1991 a postal survey of UK libraries was carried out with the help of a grant from the BLR & DD, to investigate the job duties of systems librarians, their education and work experience, and their professional activities. This paper reports on the preliminary findings of one section of the questionnaire, and examines how far the organisations in which systems librarians are most frequently found can be distinguished from others in terms of LIS sector and use of automation