IAL has wide-ranging research interests in the information industry. Work has included the production of an evaluative guide to CD-ROM products, a large-scale European user survey, investigations into the availability in Britain of educational and training courses in library and information work, and investigations into network management and into the use of electronic information services in British Universities. All of these projects, undertaken on behalf of research funding bodies or well-known publishing houses have led to the publication of results.

As the World Wide Web has taken over from other networks as the principle infrastructure for the delivery of databases and other electronic resources, IAL has positioned itself to embrace the new medium. As well as extending its work in related areas to the Web, the company now has many years experience in electronic publishing and the design and development of Web sites.

Specifically, the Company has experience, and is able to carry out consultancy or research work, in the following areas:

• publishing (both electronic and paper-based)
• collection management
• electronic resource use
• data and information management
• information retrieval
• information audits
• survey work.