This paper considers how studies of collaborative activities in the real world can be used to aid in the design of digital libraries. We describe two studies of collaboration in physical environments. The first study examines behaviour at the enquiry desk in an academic library. The second study examines collaboration in an office environment - concentrating on 'over the shoulder learning'. The natural characteristics, or affordances, of these physical environments suggest that digital libraries should be designed to utilise the specific characteristics of digital environments.