British Library's role as the national library and its commitment to electronic international library development

The British Library has one of the world's largest collections of historic manuscripts and printed materials in all scripts and languages known. The impact on this collection, and the services which the Library has traditionally offered, of digitisation techniques and new electronic communication are described and discussed. In the digital world no library can stand aloof from others and there will need to be the maximum amount of collaboration, especially international collaboration, if the potential benefits are going to be achieved. Examples of such collaborations, which the British Library has either pioneered or joined, are described.