The convergence of communications technology and computer technology has resulted in the development of the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) Reference Model which permits communication between computers both within and between organizations. There are now national and international library initiatives concerned with developing applications for bibliographic searching and transfer of records and also interlending. In parallel with these initiatives it is important to re-evaluate the role of the library at an institutional level where open systems architecture and distributed processing are changing work practices. The key concept to be explored is the role of the library in the management of information services which will serve potential applications at the workstation level.
