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Attempts to examine in detail the subject of book aid and its role in overcoming the problems associated with scarcity of information materials in developing countries. Highlights the pros and cons of book donation. Concludes that book donation can be beneficial in this part of the world only if national clearing houses are set up to co‐ordinate the in‐and‐out flow of these information materials.

Examines existing systems for the exchange of information materials in East Africa, and notes the lack of formal co‐operation. Considers the library and information infrastructure, and notes widespread informal arrangements for co‐operation and exchange within that infrastructure. Considers the factors required for a successful exchange programme.

Provides a detailed account of the predicament of exchange librarians in developing countries. Publishing activity is relatively underdeveloped forcing the majority of the states to rely on foreign book imports. While exchanges may prove an excellent option for the acquisition of overseas materials, it cannot be a substitute for direct purchase as not all overseas titles can be exchanged for local materials. Exchanges stand to succeed only if the institutions concerned either have regular publications of their own that can be used as media for exchange, or if sufficient funds are made available for the library to purchase local materials to facilitate such a programme. Highlights problems inhibiting the growth of exchanges and concludes that communication can pose a serious threat if not properly contained.

Reports the results of a case study undertaken as part of a doctoral research programme carried out to investigate the information needs of, and provision to, the legal community in Kenya. The case study, is based on data collected from a one‐man law firm in Kisumu, Kenya. Data were collected by interviews and observation. Although essentially a case study, the results reflect the kind of experiences and problems that lawyers in Kenya, working in single law firms, experience in accessing legal information. Concludes that the only practicable way lawyers can maximise the availability of legal information in the country is by setting up their own law library on a co‐operative basis. Reliance on court libraries is futile as the libraries are already over‐stretched by the needs of the Bench.

Examines the productivity of journals which published articles on library and information sciences on Kenya from 1961 to 1991 to determine the number of articles published by each journal, the core productive journals and authors, the language, subject and title dispersion of journals and the extent to which the journals are indexed and abstracted. The methods adopted were frequency distribution, percentages and the graphical application of Bradford′s law. Reveals that 74 journals published 414 articles on the subject. Maktaba was the most productive journal; Otike was the most productive author; dispersion of articles among journals and subjects was low; English language accounted for 95.7 per cent of the literature; indexing coverage of the journals is 39 per cent, while abstracting coverage is 44 per cent.