Libraries vary greatly: there is a common theme of books and information, but at the edges, one finds all sorts of variations. Examining the range of facilities provided by other College and Institutional Libraries may give us ideas for possible developments in our own College. Such rough statistics as number of staff, number of books held, number of journals taken give basic information. Using this approach, let us look at some of the larger London libraries.

The whole object of using a library is to obtain wanted material and information. Libraries are in a constant state of evolution, and local facilities have improved, in some cases dramatically, but on the whole the situation is still far from adequate.

The role of the College library has hitherto not been defined. This is perhaps to be explained by the fact that, prior to our translation to 17 Belgrave Square, there has never been a library in the sense of a room or rooms exclusively given over to its use. An equal, if not more serious handicap, was the lack of the services of a professional librarian. Now these difficulties have been overcome. We have an elegant, well-appointed room in which to do our job and the work of our newly-appointed librarian, Mrs Susan Floate, cannot be too highly praised.

The development of more rotational training schemes in psychiatry for registrars and senior registrars is introducing more trainees to mental handicap. Generally, however, mental handicap is not regarded by the trainees as the most interesting or highly-prized assignment; because of the nature of the patients, the long-stay hospitals involved and unfamiliarity with its problems, mental handicap lacks the appeal of some other subspecialties in psychiatry.

During the course of the year, the Section has held two major meetings. The first, held in March at the Royal College of Physicians, was devoted to the considerations of Longitudinal Studies, a topic particularly relevant to those working with developing individuals. The second meeting, a residential one spread over three days, was held in Southampton, and the 1982 meeting will be in Edinburgh. Since 1981 was the year dedicated to disabled people, there was a special emphasis on children handicapped by mental retardation or by physical disorders.