Special Libraries, September 1935
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
San Jose State University SJSU ScholarWorks Special Libraries, 1935 Special Libraries, 1930s 9-1-1935 Special Libraries, September 1935 Special Libraries Association Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/sla_sl_1935 Part of the Cataloging and Metadata Commons, Collection Development and Management Commons, Information Literacy Commons, and the Scholarly Communication Commons Recommended Citation Special Libraries Association, "Special Libraries, September 1935" (1935). Special Libraries, 1935. 7. https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/sla_sl_1935/7 This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the Special Libraries, 1930s at SJSU ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Special Libraries, 1935 by an authorized administrator of SJSU ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. SPECIAL LlBRARlES "Putting Knowledge to Work" VOLUME 46 SEPTEMBER 1935 Place of the Baker Library in the Harvard Business School-john C. Baker 199 Classification Notes ............................... 201 Special Library Survey ............................. 202 Federal Department and Bureau Libraries-Claribel R. Barnett Libraries of the United States Public Health Service-Nanele A. Kees . 207 Outgoing Mail ................................... 210 Publications of Special Interest ........................ 211 President's Page .................................. 213 Constitution and By-Laws ............................ 214 S.L.A. Members, Attention! .......................... 216 Duplicate Exchange Committee ........................ 217 Indexed in Industrial Arts Index and Public Affairs lnformation Service SPECIAL LIBRARIES published monthly September to April, with bi-monthly issues May to August, by The S ecial Libraries Association at 10 Ferry Street, Concord, N. H. Subscription Offices, 10 Ferr Jreet, Concord, N. H., or 345 Hudson Street New York, N. Y. Editorial and Advertlring ofices at 3-45 Hudson Street, New York, N. Y. Subscription price: 15.00 a year; foreign $5.50, single copies, 50 cents. Entered assecond-classmatter at the Post Okeat Concord, N. H., under the act of March 3, 7879 SPECIAL LIBRARIES MARIANC. MANLEY,Editor SEPTEMBER, 1935 Volume 26 +*+ Number 7 The Place of the Baker Library in the Harvard Business School By JOHN C. BAKER Assistant Dean and Instructor in Finance, Harvard School of Business Administration HE motto of the Special Libraries Associa- two points of view. Surprising are some of the T tion, I bfilieve, is "Putting Knowledge to revelations, and as Burns wrote: Work." This should be the motto of every special Oh wad some power the giftie gie us library in this country; but In order to live up to TO see oursel's as others see us! this motto, libraries must be properly organized Students particularly tell me tales of well-run and operated, and librarians are entrusted with libraries as well as stories in which the libraries this important duty. The day is passed of know- fail to meet their real responsibihties Let me rc- ing facts simply for the aake of knowing them. late two such stories. In library A -which by the The number of grains in a bushel of wheat, or the way was a special library - there was a famous amount of currency outstanding, or the volume of collection of books on a foreign country very trade of the United States may be carried in the much in the public eye. Visitors were shown this minds of certain specialists, but the great major- collection as one of the great treasures of the in- ity of individuals cannot be bothered with lugging stitution. During my stay there, a student told around all these unrelated facts. Therefore, li- me: "No student here ever saw that collection - brarians are in the position of being forced to let alone used it. The only purpose it serves is to make these facts, no matter how queer, available impress distinguished visitors with the scope of to the American people when they want them, our library." Those directing the policies of that and that is sometimes at a moment's notice. library failed to realize the full significance of the In order for our library, or any special library, motto of the Special Libraries Association. Stu- to be of complete service it must meet three tests: dents who used library B stated that thew library (1) Does it contain books, publications, and was a machine in which you put a slip in a slot periodicals of the special field; and are they in and out came a book, many times the wrong one, complete series? (2) Does it have all the material after what seemed an interminably long aait. readily available? (3) Docs it have the proper These students stated that certain of their friends staff or personnel? Those in charge of the Baker never visited the library during their last three Library attempt to live up to the high standards years in college. Manifestly this impersonal way of of these three points, but in many instances fail, running the library was almost as ineffective as as do all libraries. Perfection is something which the library which was locked up so students could can seldom, if ever, be reached in the constantly never see the books of real significance on an in)- changing library world. portant subject of the day. Now, in my job as Assistant Dean I see our Before going any farther in my talk, let me library not only from the point of view of the fac- clearly point out what we conceive to be the func- ulty but also from that of the students. More- tion of Baker Library. We believe it is the heart over, as Assistant Dean I have visited many of the Harvard Business School, the most lm- colleges throughout the country where I have portant buildmg in the entire School. It houses discussed library matters both with students and material not only for the present but for future faculty, and again see the library problems from generations. In the library we hope our stitdents PO0 SPECIAL LIBRARIES septunbu, 1935 will develop habits of work and research which acquisition of new books. Sometimes they dilly- will last them throughout their lives, and it should dally about this. Also, on reading aseignments and help develop in this country an enlightened group books to be placed on reservation, the faculty of business executives. Our library, and your should warn the library far in advance. This is library, is the custodian of the knowledge of the sometimes neglected. I imagine that every libra- past, present and future in certain special fields; rian would like to tell about the lack of dpera- they would be essential even though our present tion in the interested groups in their own library. system of education disappeared entirely. I am aure that many times the staff of the library Every library has special problems in being of learns from our students about books on reserve service to its parent institution, and Baker Li- long before the professor aends his request to the brary is no exception. Primarily our library is library. However, we are constantly laboring with operated so as to be of service to four large groups: these problems and feel the situation is being (1) students; (2) faculty; (3) graduates, and steadily improved. Knowidg the frailty of facul- finally, (4) others who are chiefly business men. ties in cooperating to make a library more effi- Of course by far the greatest demands are made cient, 1 think we should lean over backwards in upon our library by students and the faculty of our criticism of students and outsiders when they the School. The widescopeof the demand foi aerv- are thoughtless and fail to cooperate completely. ice complicates our problems tremendously and Baker Library also is the laboratory for the places a terrific burden constantly on our staff. students attending the Harvard Business School. Let me describe one of the difficult problems of Most of the students do a great amount of read- our library. Report writing is one of the basic ing and studying there, and every attempt is be- methods of instruction in our School. Each first- ing made to entice students to it rather than to year man is required to write a dozen or more re- repel them. Last year the faculty with the ap- ports during the year. In subject matter these re- proval of the librarian tentatively approved a ports vary from a consideration of business cycles plan to permit smoking in the reading room. It and the eKect on a corporation's financial policy worked out so well that it has recently been made Ln a critical interpretation of the N.R.A. A definite a permanent ruling. I know that some will be time limit is placed on the period of preparation, startled by this somewhat heretical move, but it generally from five days to a week. Do 400 men was made with the definite thought in mind of at- turned loose on one problem and its various phases tracting more men to the library and keeping in our library at the same time, bring bedlam? them there The significance of this as far as Nothmg of the sort happens. If absolutely essen- Baker Library is concerned can only be realized tial, some new material is brought in, the exsting when you know that 90 percent of the books material is carefully scheduled, and suddenly the used are those on reserve which for the most part job is done, the pressure is off, and the library staff must be read in the library. 1s back to its ordmary tasks. This has happened Our faculty and the librarian of Baker Library, so often that it is now routine. Dr. A. H. Cole, are, of course, constantly at work Also, because we use the case method of in- on acquisitions and they have done an excellent struction, many problems never or seldom laced job in recent years.