Examination of several library legislation models developed to meet the needs of developed and developing nations reveals that our traditional notion of the library's role in society must be abandoned if we wish to reconcile its benefits to its costs. Four models currently exist: many nations, particularly Asian, have no legislation; most nations, including the United States, have multi-tiered systems in which legislation is basically permissive; in others, most notably Scandinavian, library legislation is of a mandatory nature and centrally administered; and finally, the socialist countries have a unitary library system governed by a central board. Despite these differences, all systems show a trend toward increased centralization. In many countries it is felt that the volume of law is outpacing society's ability to absorb it, and the resulting financial and social costs outweigh the benefits. What is needed for libraries now is a narrower concept of service, with library services freely subject to the laws of supply and demand. Legislation, if needed at all, should be of a permissive rather than a restrictive nature. (RAA)