As the university or research library grows it loses sights of any objective for existence except existence itself. In the end it collects as much as it can and selects little or nothing. (Author/MM)

Information needs are growing more rapidly than the abilities of research libraries and information centers to meet them. Two reasons and their influence on information systems are discussed: a shift in scientific endeavor from basic science to applied, leading to the emergence of programmatic research; and the technology of science itself. (16…