This work represents the first analytical discussion of the functional role of the research librarian, as well as the relationship between the research librarian, the scholar, and the record of scholarship. Key points include an in-depth, analytical look at the future nature of the research library and the future role of the research librarian; fresh appraisals of research library cooperation and the application of technology to research libraries; and a new look at preservation linking it to the future of the research library.