The Standing Conference on Library Materials on Africa (S.C.O.L.M.A.) was established in 1962 to improve the coverage of publications needed for African studies, by co-ordinating their acquisition and facilitating their use through bibliographic and other projects. Surveys in progress of periodicals and debates published in Africa have confirmed that there are substantial gaps in U.K. holdings of African material. Libraries collect the important publications from the regions in which they are interested, and thus acquire a great deal of the same material, but financial and other considerations prevent them from obtaining material which is less important but still of value for research.