Introduces three papers presented at a symposium on ''Botanical Libraries and Herbaria'' held 21 May 1993 at The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.A. The main focus of the symposium was to explore the relationship between botanical libraries and herbaria, and to emphasize the dependence of the latter on the former. The symposium also provided an opportunity to formally dedicate the Rudolph Memorial Reading Room and Rare Book Room within The Ohio State University Herbarium (OS) Library.