To examine the contributions and procedures of regional educational laboratories, the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory (NWREL) compiled a history of its own development and compared its approaches in several critical areas to those of seven other regional laboratories. A section on the purpose and development of the laboratories provides an annotated bibliography on regional educational laboratories from 1966 through 1976. Based on NWREL experiences and interviews with staff members in other laboratories, the critical ingredients of a regional educational laboratory were identified as: (1) clarify purpose; (2) define region; (3) choose an operational site; (4) create institutional framework; (5) choose directors; (6) select staff; (7) organize for work; (8) identify needs; and (9) specify research and development functions. Each of these elements is briefly defined, followed by examples from the NWREL model, reactions and comments from NWREL constituents, and perspectives from seven other regional laboratories. Along with these descriptions are four discussions on how to build the constituencies who use the services provided by the laboratories. Recommendations are made for planners of new regional research and development centers. The appendix includes tables displaying annual NWREL organization charts, membership patterns, and its board member profile, from l966 to l976. (JD)