The paper explores the origins of ASLIB, and its roots in the “science lobby” of the time; it then traces the development of ASLIB as both a “national intelligence service” for science, commerce and industry, and as a quasi-professional association with international significance. It concludes that the first of these two functions was the Association's fundamental raison d'être.
Texte revu et mis en ligne en juin 2008 par Laurent Martinet Notes rédigées par Ron Day et Laurent Martinet - Tous droits réservés Edition originale aux Editions Documentaires Industrielles et Techniques - EDIT, Paris, 1951