The British Library and Industrial Research Libraries

Abstract

Donald Urquhart has stated again his excellent principle that libraries are for users. The following is the very personal view of one user—from a research‐based industry—of what I have received from the British Library (BL) and what I still want.

Research and Development Department

“…An industrial viewpoint indicated the potential problem that, given the need "to bridge the gap between a piece of academic research and the development of this into a solution to a practical problem, which might take the form of a marketable product", BLRDD might be put in an embarrassing position if it sponsors "the important task of evaluating and criticising existing commercial products". 117 A public library contributor claimed that "there have been too many surveys or research projects which have served simply to reinforce information already known, or to provide information which is interesting to know but which takes us no further". 118 He was also concerned about the development aspect of the Department's function, noting that, when libraries have severe economic constraints, " 'pumppriming' becomes even more difficult as there may be no resources available to keep the pump going after it has been primed".…”