This paper is a call for academic and public libraries to contemplate their role in meeting the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) information needs of their patrons. Librarians are urged to consider the potential negative consequences of neglecting to provide up-to-date and representative collections of AIDS materials. It is suggested that optimum success in collecting and disseminating AIDS materials depends on the librarian's knowledge of the many facets of AIDS research and understanding the content of the medical, popular, and social science literature. Several bibliographic guides to articles and papers from the medical literature are recommended for providing access to patients on all aspects of the disease. Librarians are cautioned to exercise care when referring patrons to the popular press, which may contain inaccurate, redundant, or contradictory information, and to favor the most recent articles. A brief review of how AIDS has been perceived and portrayed by the popular press points out that, until 1984 when it obtained its own heading, AIDS was listed under "Homosexuality" in periodicals indexes. Libraries with strong social science collections, particularly in psychology, social work, medical sociology, and medical anthropology are encouraged to offer support to patrons undertaking social science research on AIDS, and two social science indexes are recommended as resources for psychosocial AIDS researchers. (57 references) (SD)