A 1979 study of distance (correspondence, external) education and library related activities of students of the Western Australian Institute of Technology (WAIT), based on a 67 response to 515 questionnaires mailed to external students, and a smaller number responded to by internal students. Few significant differences between external and internal students were revealed, and library differences related to ease of access to libraries. Both internal and external students made no attempt to obtain a very high proportion of additional recommended books. Both groups bought most text books. Academic staff diverged widely on what constituted a satisfactory course from a library viewpoint, and only a small minority of external course writers aimed at identity in the bibliographic content of courses because most could not see how students could identify and locate materials themselves. The study offered little support for the view that external students are particularly disadvantaged in access to study materials. Recommendations are provided for: (1) course writers; (2) the provision of library services by WAIT. (ALB).