The purpose of this project was to provide an information and referral service for the residents of a three county rural area via the public libraries. The need for this service has been documented by studies done by public libraries and state agencies in Maryland. Project staff have been trained to develop community information file directories with subject indexes. Library staff as well as the project staff have received training in the use of the file directories and in communication skills necessary for an information and referral service. The service has made the public libraries the centers for community information and has increased cooperation between agencies and organizations in the counties. The information and referral service has been more successful in two of the libraries because of necessary commitment to the project by library administrators, library staff, and library trustees. (Author/JAB)