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 to achieve and maintain quality. Based on successful practice in an innovative academic library, this book offers advice on the pressing issues of: managing suppliers, publishers, outsourcing, e-procurement, library consortia purchasing and working with partner organisations.