This study is designed to illuminate some of the issues, options, and activities related to developing fee based information services at a large academic library, and to suggest the feasibility of developing such services at Memphis State University Libraries. The basis for the study is the realization that libraries, through automation, a changed philosophy about their role, and finance models, can possibly offer some solutions to the problems confronting them by extending and exploiting their information storage and retrieval and generalized information handling talents. The study comprises three sections: (1) a literature review designed to address the scope and range of current activities at other academic libraries; (2) a survey of representative libraries designed to elicit their descriptions and comments on fee based services; and (3) a summary of conclusions, inferences, and remaining questions appropriate to the topic. Specific methodologies are discussed in the first and second sections. Appendices include the survey instrument, survey results, the survey mailing list, and a bibliography. (Author/THC)