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Introduction Recent changes in subscriptions to the Northern Regional Library System, together with certain alterations in the constitution, have led academic libraries to consider alternatives. We investigated two main factors: the cost of borrowing through the region as opposed to directly from the British Library, and the quality of service of each. No attempt has been made to estimate possible rises in postal or BLLD form charges. No administrative costs have been guessed for such things as notifying the NRLB of acquisitions and withdrawals. We have not forecast how Boston Spa would cope with extra business. Our efforts have been directed to a relatively unsophisticated comparison.

ABOUT TEN YEARS ago were born a number of colleges of advanced technology, based on technical colleges of the highest quality and intended to begin a revolution in higher education. About five years ago the CAT'S became universities, and are now carefully working their way towards respectability in the university sector. From the ashes have arisen the polytechnics, made up of another batch of colleges, but with certain differences. The polytechnics, surprisingly enough, are less committed to science and technology. The ex‐CAT'S grew from single technical colleges whereas the polytechnics have usually risen from an amalgamation of colleges of technology, art, commerce and, occasionally, of education. A result is that many polytechnics are cursed with split sites and as one wanders around Bristol or Portsmouth, it is easy to understand the problems of fragmentation. There is a lack of cohesion because of the immense difficulties of effective integration. Libraries possibly suffer most having to duplicate all sorts of services, to employ extra staff, to buy additional books, and to make time‐consuming selection decisions.

IT WAS THE then Duke of Gloucester who, observing the said Mr Gibbon (of Roman Empire fame) writing, said, to quote as accurately as my reference source will allow, ‘Another damned thick square book! Always scribble, scribble, scribble, scribble! Eh! Mr Gibbon!’