A novel method for the synthesis of spherical molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) beads by suspension polymerization in mineral oil is described. The usefulness of the method was demonstrated by the synthesis of a propranolol imprinted MIP library. The composition of the library was generated by statistical experimental design. Multivariate data analysis correlated the screening data, obtained by a radioligand binding assay, to the composition of the MIPs.