Since 1985, when the International African Institute took the initiative of organising a one-day seminar entitled ‘The Book Famine in Africa’, awareness has grown of the difficulties African scholars face through lack of access to recently published books and journals. Scarcity of locally published material in specialised educational fields means that imported books are—and will remain for some time—the only way in which library collections can be sustained and developed. In countries experiencing economic decline and a shortage of foreign exchange, the role of international donors in tertiary-level library development becomes critical. It has not always been possible, however, for institutions to know whom to approach for assistance.