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The following collection of papers begins with a statement of ideas and principles by Maurice Line and Sidney Smith, who between them have first‐hand knowledge of the library systems of several developing countries and have carried out intensive studies of document supply in a few. The statement represents their own views, which inevitably reflect their own background and experience in a highly centralised document service (the British Library Lending Division) in a country (the United Kingdom) that has reached a high level of library development. As a result, the authors may well have taken for granted some things that constitute real barriers in other countries — and possibly also over‐estimated some other aspects.

The responses from six countries to the original paper on planning inter/ending in developing countries have added considerably to our knowledge of the problems and possibilities. The fundamental problems are a severe shortage of funds for libraries, and a lack of trained librarians, associated with a low status of librarians and a low priority for libraries. Other common difficulties include unsatisfactory photocopying equipment and a shortage of photocopying supplies, poor postal services, inadequate service from book suppliers, lack of foreign currency, the inability or unwillingness of some librarians to co‐operate, and complex procedures for interlending. Respondents did not favour even a limited central collection, but most of the arguments against apply equally or with more force to co‐operative solutions, which have not been very successful. Concentration of supply on a few libraries or on the present national library might be feasible. The many obstacles in the way of progress do not reduce the need to press for more resources or to prepare a long‐term plan for document supply as an important factor in national development.