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The UK Regional Library Systems date from the 1930s when they were set up to develop union catalogues and organize regional interlending. During 60 years of development their role has broadened and they have developed a variety of added‐value services. Their original purpose is still important although modified in the light of developments such as BLDSC and automation. They are centrally placed to play a key role in working out the effects of local government reorganization, in acting as agencies through which the proposed National Library and Information Commission could operate, and in protecting the interests of users during a period of change.

With reference to comment in our last number on the subject of regional library schemes, we have received interesting observations from various sources, of which we can only publish a few. The first is from a high officer of the Library Association who writes:—“It is suggested that the pooling of non‐fictional resources by the new Regional Library Bureaux would discourage publishers from undertaking scholarly works of an expensive nature. This apprehension is based on the hypothesis that a large number of the smaller libraries, instead of buying such books, will borrow copies from the stronger libraries. To this I would reply:—(a) It is common knowledge that these small libraries have always bought very few scholarly works of an expensive nature. (b) These libraries for the past ten years or so have borrowed such books habitually from the National Central Library. The difference created by the spread of regional schemes is therefore probably negligible, and it is probably true that, except in the case of a small number of established writers, authors of this type of book have for a very long time had to publish largely at their own risk.” Colonel Newcombe of the National Central Library writes:—“In very many cases the fact that a book can be borrowed from, or through, the N.C.L. leads to a copy being purchased by the library to which it is lent, because the attention of the librarian is thus called to the importance of adding the book to his own stock. In considering regional library systems it must be borne in mind that regional co‐operation is intended primarily for the inter‐loan of such items as out‐of‐print books, foreign books, and back volumes of periodicals—though in practice it is also used for the inter‐loan of books which are in print—and that one of the ‘Rules of Procedure for Borrowing Books’ reads as follows: ‘Purchase of books in frequent demand: When a library has to borrow the same book frequently, it is expected that an endeavour will be made by the borrowing library to purchase a copy for its own stock.’ The limited experience at present available tends to show that many such books are purchased. It must also be remembered that any library which attempted to take advantage of its regional system to economise in book expenditure would at once be excluded from the system by the regional committee.” Mr. Basil Anderton of Newcastle‐upon‐Tyne says:—“In 1927, when the Departmental Committee's Report on Public Libraries urged that co‐operation was vital to the progress of library service, some 76 urban library authorities had an arrangement for the inter‐loan of books. Since then, owing to the approval of that report by the Library Association and to the subsequent development of regional schemes in association with the National Central Library and with the backing of the Carnegie Trust, that number has greatly increased. The note in question indicated a fear that such schemes might limit the demand for scholarly works of an expensive nature, and it stated that publishers were becoming less prepared to issue such recondite studies. It should be remembered, however, in the first place, that the process of pooling sets free money which at once becomes available for purchasing important works which would otherwise not have been within one's reach. Treatises on subjects which previously one would have had to ignore can now be got; and they should be got, if members of regional schemes do not shirk their plain duty. Thus a more varied field is opened to libraries, and consequently to publishers also. In the second place it should be borne in mind that publishers, like other folk, are bound to feel the effects of the present world‐wide depression; and that schemes of publication which normally they might gladly undertake have to be criticised searchingly and perhaps temporarily abandoned. But the wide‐spread development of the reading habit, and the growing interest of the public in all kinds of serious reading, should give publishers heart of grace for the future.” Mr. George H. Bushnell, University Library, St. Andrews, writes:—“The most eminent professors and scholars have frequently experienced great difficulty in finding a publisher willing to produce at his own risk a large and important work of scholarship for which only a limited sale is probable. Moreover, such sale as there is for such works is always largely confined to libraries. It is almost certain that the adoption of regional schemes will still further limit the sales and thus it may well be that in a very few years time we shall have excellent arrangements for inter‐loans of books which no publisher will publish! An absurd position, of course, but not by any means unlikely to obtain. Unless it has already been done it would be well to take the views of the Publishers' Association on this point. In my opinion this is important, because (although existing resources can be and will be pooled, at least to a great extent) I am confident that nothing is farther from the aims of those interested in regional schemes than the future limitation of Britain's output of works of scholarship. As all of us know, the necessary purchase of works published abroad is a thorn in the side of library accountants to‐day. Surely we, as librarians, should do nothing which will tend in the least to drive our own scholars into a corner? It is our business to increase the usefulness of the works in our keeping by all means in our power except by the hampering of British scholarship. It is far from my intention to throw cold water upon regional schemes, but it is my intention to draw attention to the possibility, I would almost say probability, of their adverse effect upon the publication of recondite works in this country. Is not the matter of sufficient importance to justify the setting up of a joint committee of the Library Association and the Publishers' Association, before serious harm is done? Such a committee might find that the views I have expressed,—views shared by many, I believe,—are without adequate foundation. I should be glad, indeed, to hear of such a finding, for all praise is due to the promoters and adopters of schemes which already in many ways have proved their worth.”

After decades of successful, if not always smooth, working relationships with regional library networks in the United States, Online Computer Library Center (OCLC), Inc., with approval of amended articles of incorporation in 2008, it implemented significant changes in how it would price its products and services and how it would govern itself. These changes proved to have profound impact on the networks, precipitating the merger of many and the dissolution of some. This chapter describes the results of many interviews with past and present leaders of OCLC and the regional networks, both existing and defunct, and other knowledgeable individuals. The contrasting opinions on how the changes came about and their consequences offer a perspective on the evolution and then decline of some of the powerful consortial relationships of the last four decades.

This paper aims to describe typical regional document supply networks in China through detailed discussion of their framework, service mode and influence on the nationwide document supply networks.

This paper highlights various kinds of regional document supply networks in China that serve as document resource sharing cooperation networks within provinces, cities and university towns. Their framework, service mode and influence on the nationwide document supply networks are discussed, followed by suggestions for improvement.

Regional document supply networks have their natural advantages in local financial support and extensive local coverage and are capable of providing fine service to meet various user needs timely and economically. They become an important part and beneficial supplement to nationwide document supply networks.

This paper studies regional document supply networks in China which has rarely been addressed in the international library literature.

This study aims to report on a bilateral project including Polish and Norwegian library institutions which intended to produce new strategic plans for the 18 regional libraries in Poland, while at the same time build fruitful cultural connections between the two countries.

The project was based on workshops in Poland for strategy development and exchange of experience, on a study visit to Norway for Polish library staff, and consultations on draft strategies.

Whereas the Norwegian partners benefited mostly by the project experience itself, by insight into Polish society and culture, and by observing their own libraries through the eyes of their counterparts, the Polish participants have a more tangible result in the shape of new strategic documents and with a closer network of regional libraries.

The paper presents an example of how several major library institutions in two countries can benefit from each other through project cooperation.

This article describes the automated inventory management of rotating collections and may be applied to any such collections including reserve book rooms, book mobiles, interbranch loans and regional libraries. As a result of 10 years of planning and implementation and a half million dollar investment, all regional libraries in the Province of Quebec use mathematical models and multiLIS software to manage the collections of remote libraries. The software tracks the placement of materials based on number and exchange periods, rate of exchange, delivery routes, size of library's inventory, length of each item's stay in the collection and many other criteria. MultiLIS will produce book lists, bibliographies and catalogs.

The purpose of this paper is to address the following questions: How are members of the Tennessee's regional library system (TRLS) in the USA using open source software (OSS) applications and collaborating to further their missions and overcome some of their debilitating information‐related circumstances? What kind of partnerships can be explored in order to further use of OSS in the state?

The paper highlights findings from an exploratory website study to identify key trends, practices, and applications of use of OSS in the TRLS.

OSS applications in the TRLS are presented in terms of their current use as well as their future directions of development and opportunities. Study of collaborations in OSS use and website development by public libraries in the TRLS reveals that the OSS infoscape is more complex than previously understood.

Minimal research has been done involving the TRLS that has been in existence for over 60 years and comprises 12 multi‐county regions serving 211 small‐ and medium‐sized public libraries. Use of OSS has tremendous potentialities to overcome the harsh conditions of information poverty, lack of information resources and technology, and unique cultural, social, economic, and environmental challenges experienced in Tennessee that have prevented significant growth of information and communications technologies in the state.

Resource sharing is an important element in the national planning of library and information services to meet the needs of information, education and culture of the whole community at all levels. An overview of resource sharing practices is presented, with particular reference to the British scene. It is also argued that, with the approach of the Single Market in 1992, resource sharing should now be considered on a European scale. In conclusion, some problems associated with the practice of resource sharing are considered.

The major developments in library co‐operation and inter/ending within the regional and local schemes are highlighted. Emphasis is placed on the report of the working party of the National Committee on Regional Library Co‐operation on the respective roles of the regional systems and the Lending Division, and the emergence of further co‐operative activities within regions as a result of the report. A further selection of local schemes serving industry are described, and a review of inter/ending activities between university libraries is presented. The year appeared to be one of buoyancy and development, with an increase in personal contacts through inter/ending seminars.

The United Kingdom library system has a two‐tier resource sharing network, with the regional library services operating at local level and the BLDSC at national level. Taking the National Health Service libraries as a basis, the author discusses regional co‐operation from the organizational, service and economic viewpoints. Interlibrary resource sharing is valuable not only for its tangible benefits, but also (provided it is reliable and economically sound) because it provides a basis for the sharing of specialist subject knowledge, searching skills and ideas, and it also permits more general professional interaction, thus frequently bearing unexpected fruit. Several ideas have been put forward for the extension of inter‐regional co‐operation, but the importance of cost‐benefit analysis when evaluating any such scheme cannot be over‐stressed. The true cost of staff time is an item often overlooked: an appendix here gives a method of calculating the economic benefit of a resource sharing scheme by comparing the cost of co‐operative interlibrary photocopying using a union list of serials with that of using prepaid BLDSC forms.