This report presents the research and findings of the 16-member Task Force on the Role of the Special Library in Nationwide Networks and Cooperative Programs. Four working groups studied the following issues: constituencies; network legislation; benefits, barriers, and constraints to and from special library participation in networks; and the effects of the new and emerging technologies. An executive summary and a discussion of 13 strategic recommendations are provided first, followed by 7 chapters: (1) Characteristics of the Special Library Community; (2) The Task Force's Surveys; (3) NCLIS (National Commission on Libraries and Information Science) and WHCLIS (White House Conference on Library and Information Services) Perceptions of Special Libraries; (4) Networking--A Review of Selected Legislation, Regulations, and Related Issues; (5) Networking Benefits, Barriers, and Constraints from the Special Library Point of View--the Myths and the Realities; (6) New and Emerging Information Technologies--Their Push-Pull Effects on Special Libraries; and (7) Recommendations Implementation Schedule. Appendices include: two NCLIS/SLA (Special Library Association) Task Force survey instruments used in the surveys of SLA, and the networks and bibliographic utilities; six case studies of special library networking; a selected bibliography; a list of the NCLIS/SLA task force membership and a chronology of meetings and additional activities. (THC)