The modern academic library stands at the centre of a complex network of relationships, commercial, academic and professional, with external institutions. These relationships are essential to its operation, but can pose major challenges to assuring quality of service. This new book examines these relationships in detail and offers tools, techniques and strategies for their successful management and for achieving and maintaining quality. Drawing on successful practice in an innovative academic library, the author offers advice on the pressing issues of: managing suppliers and publishers, outsourcing, buying e-resources, library consortia purchasing and working with partner organizations. The book is divided into two main parts dealing with commercial and academic relationships respectively. Presenting a comprehensive picture of the externally facing operation of the modern academic library, this is essential reading for all staff managing and working in today’s academic institutions.