Traditionally, several types of library in Australia have been perceived as having a "research" role, notably the National Library, the state libraries, and the university libraries, together with a few special libraries serving research-producing organisations such as the CSIRO. This paper provides some speculations on how some significant changes in the information environment may impact on the "research" roles of libraries with a "public" purpose. (Contains 21 endnotes and 1 footnote.)