Scientific and Technical Literature and Information

Abstract

AMONG the important suggestions made in the editorial in NATURE of November 25 is included the desirability of establishing a new organization which would, among other things, "establish a system of co-ordination among the various provincial libraries of the university and research types". Although it is stated that "the National Central Library is still functioning as a clearing-house for demands for books on loan", it is apparently not realized that this Library is already acting as the national centre for the inter-library lending of books and periodicals, not only between libraries of "the university and research types", but also between libraries of all types, among which must be included our larger public libraries, which frequently contain—and lend—scientific and technical books not available in any other library in the British Isles.