LITHIUM ABUNDANCES IN LOW-Z STARS

An historical view of the discovery and subsequent studies of lithium in low-Z stars is presented. The determination of the lithium abundanc e in extremely low-Z stars, found in the vast Beers, Preston and Shect man survey, is reviewed. The problem of the exact connection between t he lithium abundance found in the photospheres of low-Z stars and the true cosmological abundance of lithium is discussed, and identified as the most important problem to be solved in the coming years.