ABSTRACT
Initial attempts to gather information about the libraries of learned societies and professional associations in the 1990s suggested that the '90s might well are the new 1960s – those who were there at the time seemed to remember remarkably little about them. Learned, professional and independent libraries are largely dependent on the subscriptions of their members and several were in difficulties in the early '90s; later in the decade, however, the situation appears to have improved in libraries as in the wider world. Most of the libraries under consideration are funded by their members, either directly from subscriptions or through other activities of the parent body, such as publishing or events management. The near collapse of the Royal Institute of British Architects Companies, along with a drop in subscriptions, led to serious cuts in staff and services being considered at the British Architectural Library.
