In simpler times, libraries operated in a relatively closed environmen
t. Apart from book dealers and the local administration, few other par
ticipants impinged on library operations. Now libraries must operate w
ithin an environment with many players. These include systems vendors,
bibliographic utilities, a wide range of suppliers, and a whole serie
s of support agencies, some of which are part of the institutional bac
kground while others include consortia, vendors, maintenance suppliers
, and grant agencies. Not least among these new influences are the var
ious electronic services, which have raised high expectations on the p
art of library users. In order to maintain their programs, libraries m
ust adapt to these changes even with shrinking budgets and more demand
s on funds.