ΤΟ Students, Librarians, Educationists, Etc. SUBJECT INDEX TO PERIODICALS ISSUED ANNUALLY BY THE LIBRARY ASSOCIATION. Annual Subscription, £4 4s. The following Sections can be purchased separately: A. THEOLOGY AND PHILOSOPHY. B.-E. HISTORICAL, POLITICAL, AND ECONOMIC SCIENCES. FINE ARTS AND ARCHAEOLOGY. F. G. K. 1920. Theology. 6/- net. 1917-19. Science and Technology. £1 15s. OTHER PRICES AND PARTICULARS ON APPLICATION. Publishing Agents to the Library Association: GRAFTON & CO., COPTIC HOUSE, 7 & 8 COPTIC STREET LONDON, W.C.2. EDITORIAL. THE close of the year has not been marked by any outstanding event in librarianship or bibliography. The reports that reach us show, however, that there was never a time in which the activities of libraries were so many and so much used by the public. It would appear that the apologetic attitude which has characterized the utterances of librarians when dealing with libraries publicly may now quite reasonably give place to a healthier, happier assurance that their work is good; and they themselves may go on stronger in the faith themselves. They have a long road to go before they reach library perfection and will need all their strength and faith. In the first place, the profession of librarianship needs a certain amount of reorganizing. We gave publicity and emphasis to the view of Sir Gregory Foster that the profession was not organized yet, and we dissented from that view. There is, in spite of that, a growing volume of opinion that librarians have no clear-cut and objective unity. This opinion finds caustic expression in "Letters on Our Affairs" this month. We do not endorse it in its entirety : it is a point of view; but there is undoubted truth in our correspondent's general contention. The tone of these "Letters" of late has led us to ask the group of writers who contribute them to enunciate the creed they hold in writing them. The reply is as clear as a reply from several writers can be; for where there are several writers there must be diversity if they think at all. It is as follows: "We stand for the better working of libraries and the progressive in librarianship. We are members and fervent supporters of the Library Association on all public platforms; but we are its determined critics in all professional journals. Our criticisms are scathing, and are likely to be, but we endeavour to avoid personalities or hurting any individual, and our motto is 'Come in and improve things, and don't stand outside and boo.' We give this answer for our readers to reflect upon; it may clear up some misunderstandings. We have received some criticisms of public libraries of late which we pass on to our readers for their consideration. Do you mean to say," we heard a young woman (of the high school variety) remark to another, "that you use the free library? We should never think of going to such a place. That is one. Another was rather more definite: "This," said a social worker, "is not an ordinary public library. Most of the libraries in London are dull, dreary places; and no one in them seems to be interested in one." "A library," a famous publisher remarked to us recently, "is useful where there is a real librarian. Usually they are very uninspiring, and seem only to be concerned with fiction." These are actual conversational remarks and not imaginary ones, and all were made before one hearer in the last month. They disturb the complacency which we seem to advocate in our opening remarks. They are, in any case, proof that a reputation once acquired is the most difficult of things to vary. Thirty years ago public libraries were regarded as distributors of fiction to the lower classes. They were, therefore, to be avoided by anyone who believed himself to belong to a higher one. This silly and impertinent snobbery still exists. In all the years since, librarians have improved their methods and their personal equipment, and have enfranchised their shelves, although in many places the indicator unfortunately survives to keep the criticism alive, and yet not only newspaper critics, but intelligent people as well, repeat the old charges against them. A librarian who controls a great collection of 100,000 volumes tells me he has received a letter from a reader-who admits that he has not used the collection " for several years "-that the interests of the student are sacrificed to those of " the lovers of fiction." Here, and in all directions, we have criticisms built upon a previous prejudice. It is evident that one of the immediate needs of the future is an extension of the publicity campaign in the direction of telling people what really are the contents of public libraries. We ought, however, to be quite sure that present libraries do not merit the slightings we have repeated. It is probable that few libraries are adequate, but they could be made more so if librarians and library authorities regarded their libraries as units in the national library scheme; if they lent books to one another, exchanged duplicates, and even gave to other libraries in suitable localities books for which the demand in their own was small. To advertise libraries as universities, information bureaux and centres of learning, when they may not be universal or informative or learned, is likely to increase rather than to lessen the evil. Special attention is called to our article on the " Book Selector." The library profession has long recognised that co-operative effort in cataloguing would enable the librarian to devote more time to other branches of his work. American libraries have the "A. L. A. Booklist" as a guide to book-selection, and the printed cards of the Library of Congress for their catalogues. The success of these activities on the other side is promising for the British scheme. We wish our readers the joy that the Christmas Season should bring. Mr. A. E. Richardson, Professor of Architecture in the University of London, will give a lecture at University College on Wednesday, February 14th, 1923, at 8.30 p.m., on "Library Architecture, Past and Present." Fellows and Members of the Library Association and of the Association of Assistant Librarians who desire to be present are invited to send a stamped addresed envelope to: The Secretary, University College, London (Gower Street, W.C.1). A GUIDE TO CURRENT BOOKS, AND A PROPOSED SCHEME FOR CO-OPERATIVE CATALOGUING. THE selection of books in public libraries entails considerable time and a great deal of work on the part of the senior members of the staff. The smaller the library, the greater is the problem and the more exacting the work in proportion. The process of selection is a gradual one. First a primary selection must be made from all the books that are published and this has to be followed by weeding out, until the final choice is made to meet the needs of the particular library and the state of its finances. No guide to books can do the whole of this work. It can reduce the labour by providing the initial broad selection, but to do this efficiently it must include the current books and be published punctually. It is proposed to meet this want by issuing the Book Selector on the 15th of each month, comprising a selection of books published during the previous month. The purpose of this publication will be twofold: (a) To provide the necessary information regarding all important books published and to lighten the task of book selection. (b) To bring co-operative cataloguing within the realms of possibility. The entries, being printed on one side of the paper only, can be cut out and mounted on slips, and will so do away with clerical work. " THE USE OF THE "BOOK SELECTOR IN CO-OPERATIVE CATALOGUING. With the increasing introduction of Open Access, the manuscript catalogue (whether card or sheaf) is coming into general use, and opportunities of co-operative effort are becoming more possible. As far as at present arranged, we propose issuing the list in the following form :— 1 THE ENTRY.-The joint code of the A.L.A. and L.A. will be used and the usual imprint items will be given, and where necessary a brief descriptive annotation. The following specimen entries are printed in a style we think would meet most needs, but these are subject to suggestions for their amendment. The price of each book will be printed where it can be cut off when the entry is mounted for catalogue purposes. 810 American Literature, Contemporary. Morley, John Matthews, and Rickert, Edith.-Contemporary Indicates tendencies. Alphabetical by author. Excludes writers who died before 797 Cricket. Armstrong, Warwick W. -The Art of cricket. vii. 7 x 4ins. Illus. Por. 1922. London: Methuen. Reviewed in Nation, 27/5/22, p. 322. 149 PP. |