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Despite their daunting reputation, patent documents, or copies of them, are in fact remarkably easy to acquire. Although some million patent specifications are published each year for approximately half that number of new inventions, confusion is in general avoided because of the influence of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), which enables the 40 patent offices to work together in the cause of universal availability, to standardize their documents and to designate them uniquely. The somewhat complicated publication sequence and numbering systems of patents, both in the UK and overseas, are explained. There are many sources of supply for published patent specifications, both national and international, public and private sector, to meet varying needs, whether document or information‐centred. Amongst these are the patent offices (both national and international), regional sub‐offices, national technical libraries, depository centres and various private sector services. Finally, a reminder is given that the Science Reference and Information Service is itself a specialist both in the supply of patent documents and in information about them.

There are two categories of ethical behaviour which affect the MIP. The first and most often discussed, includes those principles which encourage working for the welfare and prosperity of society: “Ethics for High Days”. The second consists of those principles which regulate one's everyday working practices: “Everyday Ethics”. It is with the latter that this paper is primarily concerned. Especially is it concerned with the fact that in everyday work one finds that sound ethical principles conflict with each other. Because of this, doubt arises whether it is worth establishing a formalised code of professional behaviour. After reviewing the pros and cons the author concludes that there are sufficient benefits to justify formulating a code though it will be useful mainly for public relations and for defending one's right to act in a professional manner. A number of ethical conflicts the MIP may encounter are reviewed, especially those in which modern information and communication technologies may play a part. [Since both men and women are MIPs, the words “he” and “she” will be used indiscriminately in the text] “And being exceedingly credulous would stuff his many letters sent to A.W. with fooleries and misinformations, which sometimes would guide him into the paths of error.” Richard Barber (ed.), Brief Lives by John Aubrey. London: The Folio Society, 1975, p.11. In his introduction to this recent edition of Brief Lives, a 17th century classic of English literature, Barber was quoting a description of Aubrey's work as an information searcher for one Anthony a Wood (A.W.), an Oxford antiquary. If Aubrey is a typical example of our predecessors, it is just as well that nowadays there are professional societies of information scientists and documentalists dedicated, inter alia, to maintaining proper professional standards. Indeed, as those who have read it will know, Brief Lives itself, Aubrey's masterpiece, is little but a very scrappy, not wholly reliable, set of short biographies of many eminent men of that century, Shakespeare and Sir Walter Raleigh among them. No modern information worker (or biographer) would be allowed to get away with a piece of work like it. Nor, I fear, would his more worthy product achieve such lasting fame. The problems of how thorough to be and when and whether to submit partial results are ones that affect information workers today just as much as in the 17th century, perhaps more so since professional time is very costly. So do a great many other problems which have an ethical component within them. In this paper I want to look at some of the everyday issues which members of the profession may face and to see whether the new communication technologies have made them easier or more difficult to resolve or even raise new problems.

…but it is hoped that the arrows fired in Target 2000 will fall somewhere near the target for this new column — the turn of the century, the year 2000. Contributors are invited to focus on a specific topic that falls within the current scope of the journal and speculate on the concerns, changes or challenges that will be experienced over the coming seven year period. However, Target 2000 will also be a ‘floating Delphi’, as contributors may be asked to revise their predictions during the seven years and they will certainly be asked to reexamine them as the new century arrives.

Even though many libraries now have sales counters where postcards (usually reproductions of old views) and some local histories (usually published by the library itself — like Northamptonshire Libraries' new, profusely illustrated and documented Waterways of Northamptonshire) are on sale, few if any have proper shops dispensing a full range of printed material on local topics (do send details if they exist).

Discusses the factors that have contributed to the increased awareness and use of patents as sources of scientific and technical information. Examines the problems the growth in the number of patents has caused for traditional paper storage, the use of microform and CD‐ROM as solutions, and other patent services offered by the British Library. Concludes that the volume of patent documents has been a factor in the neglect of a valuable information source in the past, new services are helping disseminate the information more widely.

Aarhus Kommunes Biblioteker (Teknisk Bibliotek), Ingerslevs Plads 7, Aarhus, Denmark. Representative: V. NEDERGAARD PEDERSEN (Librarian).

Aim of the present monograph is the economic analysis of the role of MNEs regarding globalisation and digital economy and in parallel there is a reference and examination of some legal aspects concerning MNEs, cyberspace and e‐commerce as the means of expression of the digital economy. The whole effort of the author is focused on the examination of various aspects of MNEs and their impact upon globalisation and vice versa and how and if we are moving towards a global digital economy.