Comparative studies in librarianship are new to the curriculum of many library schools, in contrast to Comparative Education, Comparative Linguistics and Comparative Politics which have a long and distinguished history in other disciplines. Librarianship in recent years has become internationalised through the activities of UNESCO, IFLA and F.I.D., by an increasing number of young students from overseas attending British library schools and the readiness of senior librarians to journey to distant places on working or consultative assignments. The effect of international exchanges is to enhance the role of comparative librarianship in shaping the course of studies for British as well as overseas students.