Describes the French government's plan for a new national library which would be a state-of-the-art showcase and the nation's largest postwar cultural project. The discussion covers plans for the proposed building, the nature of the new library, and the renovation and future role of the existing national library. (CLB)

Describes the new facilities at the New York Public Library, the British Library, and the National Library of France, including reference service, delivery time for books, and general ambience. Also reports on a conference that addressed issues related to scholarly communication and digital technology in the academic community. (LRW)