ABSTRACT
A library exists within an organisation to provide the information resources that employees need to do their work, therefore the resources collected and maintained by that library must consist of those resources that support the work of the employees in that organisation. The person who is selecting the information resources for the library collection must have a clear understanding of the ongoing needs of information users right across the organisation. This involves understanding the structure of the organisation, the functions of each group, section or department and the relationships between them. An understanding of the external environment in which the organisation is operating is also important in that it enables a level of proactivity to be incorporated into the provision of information resources.
