A seminar on special libraries and their role in national development was held as a pre-session before the IFLA conference in 1986. Papers presented include: (1) "On the Problem of Document Delivery in the Field of Science and Technology in Asia" (Daxun He, People's Republic of China); (2) "The Planning and Development of Special Library and Information Services, with Special Reference to the Asian Situation" (Nimala R. Amarasuriya, Sri Lanka); (3) "The Importance of Continuing Education and Prospects in Asia" (Liannie K. Daywin, Indonesia); (4) "National and Regional Networks for STI-ASTINFO" (Carmelita M. Martin, Philippines); (5) "General Modern Technology and Its Promise for Special Libraries" (Suwakhon Phadungath, Thailand); (6) "Problems of Collection Development in Science and Technology Libraries" (Mohammed Khurshid Alam, Pakistan); (7) "Evaluation of Special Libraries and Information Centres in Asia" (C. Deenadayalu, India); (8) "Modern and Innovative Concepts in the Organization and Management of Special Libraries and Information Centers" (David R. Bender, United States); (9) "The Optical Disk Pilot Program at the Library of Congress" (Joseph W. Price, United States); (10) "Developing Computerized Library and Information Services in Developing Countries--The Problems and Possibilities" (Ke Hong Park, Korea); (11) "The Importance of Patent Information and Its Implication for Developing Countries" (Vincent Choong, Malaysia); (12) "Towards Productivity Gains--The Role of High Technology, Abstracting and Indexing Services in National Development" (Rosdi Sundusia, Singapore); (13) "Regional Information Networks in Latin America--Can They Survive?" (Julio Cubillo, Chile); (14) "Information Analysis Work and Its Implications for Dissemination and Documentation of Scientific and Technical Information" (Suaesi Valasi, Western Samoa); (15) "Information for Development, Concepts and Resources" (Takayasu Miyakawa, Japan); (16) "Total Library Information System with Multi-Language Processing" (T. Kuragano, Japan); (17) "Introduction to the KIT (Kanazawa Institute of Technology) Library Center--Its Concepts and Methods" (Yoshiyuki Kawata, Japan); (18) "The Importance of Technical Information in Industrial Development" (Yukio Nakamura, Japan); and (19) "Status and Prospects of Special Librarians and Information Specialists in Asia" (M. Shamsul Islam Khan, Bangladesh). (KM)