provides referral service and keeps track record of information concerning the country, and considered nation's centre of information

### Why this is right A national library has a country-wide role: it collects and preserves material about the nation and keeps records that help people locate that information. It may also provide a referral service, which directs users to the library, agency, or source best able to answer their question. These functions make it a central information resource for the country. ### The concept A **national library** serves the information and preservation needs of an entire country, rather than one school, university, or research organisation. It often collects publications produced in the country and material about the country, helping maintain a record of its published heritage. A **referral service** helps users find the right source when the national library does not hold the information themselves. This country-wide role distinguishes it from libraries whose main users are a particular institution or community. | Library type | Main role | |---|---| | National library | Preserves and provides access to information about the country | | Research library | Supports advanced research with specialised collections | | School library | Supports pupils and teaching in a school | | Academic library | Supports teaching, study, and research at a college or university | ### The other options - **B. Research libraries**: These support specialised research, often for researchers in a particular field or institution. Their focus is not to serve as the country’s central record of information. - **C. School libraries**: These provide resources for pupils and teachers at a school, so their service is limited to that school community. - **D. Academic libraries**: These support students and staff at colleges or universities. They may hold research material, but their main role is tied to their institution. ### Terms - **Referral service**: A service that directs someone to another source or organisation that can provide the information they need. - **National bibliography**: A record of publications associated with a country, used to help identify and locate them. ### Remember When a question describes a library keeping a country-wide information record and directing users to sources, think of the national library.