The period that began with the peaceful destruction of the Berlin Wall and culminated in the unraveling of the former Soviet Empire has been viewed as "the age of parliaments", with legislatures becoming more assertive and playing a more active role in setting policies that govern their nations. The key to democracy is an effective legislature. By the same token, the key to an effective legislature is the knowledge and information that permit it to make informed decisions on specific issues and to play an active role in the policy-making process of the nation.

Library and research services are the principal sources for meeting the information and analysis needs of effective parliaments. The section on Library and Research Services for Parliaments has become an important mechanism for sharing ideas on how to improve services to our respective legislatures. Presented here are papers outlining current strategies within the new democracies of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, and others. (IFLA Publication, Vol. 87)