This paper is a case study of demands placed on the map collection of Western Australia in the mid-late 1980s. It examines the nature and some of the problems of what is claimed to be the most isolated public reference library in the world. Western Australia is traditionally a primary industry economy. Part of its economic development programme is to export technological expertise and to invest overseas. Some of the major markets for this activity are China and Southeast Asia. Western Austr alian business has been advising on, assisting in and investing in Chinese industry development for the last decade and a half Companies involved naturally wished to investigate the viability of such projects thoroughly from the earliest stages. Most preliminary studies required access to a wide range of thematic maps. Although historically based it offers valid guidelines for the present day provision of map services in the medium sized public reference library.
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