The information needs of practising designers are only rarely to be found in the traditional printed sources. Rather the designer requires current data such as details of product availability and exact specifications. Documentary library services may meet some of these needs but the ideal library from a designer’s point of view would contain not only a comprehensive coverage of design history information in monograph and periodical form but also a large collection of product samples and an extensive referral service to sources of expertise in industry and in research organisations.

(Based on a paper presented to the ARLIS Seminar on User Education held at Leeds Polytechnic, 7–8 April, 1978.)

In the section ‘Plan for Action for Librarians’ a great deal is asked of the library service for what it is suggested is in the short run a formidable if not impossible task. The intention is to raise many issues in the hope that individual libraries or other organisations might pursue those activities for which they have resources.

The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect those of the Design Council.