Special Libraries, January 1950

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Special Libraries, 1950 Special Libraries, 1950s

1-1-1950

Special Libraries, January 1950

Special Libraries Association

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Please Mention Special Libraries When Answering Advertisements Needed for Daily Reference AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY PRINCIPLES OF AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY - VOLUME I By DONALDE. H. FREAR This great reference includes all up-to-date developments. 902 Pages, Fully Illustrated, Durable Binding, $9.00 DATA BOOK ON HYDROCARBONS By J. B. MAXWELL The manual of the Esso Engineering Department of the Standard Oil Development Company. 270 Pages, Fully Illustrated, Durable Binding, $5.00 PIEZOELECTRIC CRYSTALS AND ULTRASONICS (Bell Telephone Laboratories Series) By WARRENP. MASON A detailed account of the production and use of natural and synthetic crystals in communication engineering. 410 Pages, Fully Illustrated, Durable Binding, $7.50 RADAR SYSTEMS AND COMPONENTS (Bell Telephone Laboratories Series) BY THE STAFFOF THE BELL TELEPHONELABORATORIES A complete, authoritative book on radar. 1020 Pages, Fully Illustrated, Durable Binding, $7.50 THEORY AND DESIGN OF ELECTRON BEAMS (Bell Telephone Laboratories Series) By JOHNR. PIERCE Full details of new scientific and industrial developments. 208 Pages, Fully Illustrated, Durable Binding, $3.50 MATHEMATICS DICTIONARY By GLENNJAMES AND ROBERTC. JAMES Covering every term in all branches of mathematics. 432 Pages, Fully Illustrated, Durable Binding, $7.50 RADIOACTIVE TRACER TECHNIQUES By GEORGEK. SCHWEITZERAND IRAB. WHITNEY Simple, explicit directions for the present-day uses in medicine and industry. - 186 Pages, Fully Illustrated, Durable Binding, $3.25 INFRARED DETERMINATION OF ORGANIC STRUCTURE By HARRISONM. RANDILL,RICHARD G. FOWLER,NELSON FUSON, AND ROBERTDANGL Complete theory and practice, with spectrographic charts of hundreds of compounds. 237 Pages, Fully Illustrated, Durable Binding, $10.00 D. VAN NOSTRAND COMPANY, Inc. 250 Fourth Avenue New York 3, N. Y.

Please Mention Special Libraries When Answering Advertisements Special Libraries OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE SPECIAL LIBRARIES ASSOCIATION

Editor ALMA CLARVOEMITCHILL I CONTENTS Editorial Assistant I I MRS.WINIFRED YORK FORWOOD Advertising Manager MRS.KATHLEEN B. STEBRINS

From Our President's Desk, Ruth Hooker 5 SLA OFFICERS. 1949-1950 11 MRS.RUTH HOOKER, President I Talk of Many Things, Ruth Savord . . 6 Naval Research Laboratory Washington 25, D. C. Principles to be Considered in Planning and Operating a Functional Technical MRS. ELIZABETHW. OWENS, First Vice President and Reference Library, Juanita H. Hufford 9 Presiden t-Elect !I Mercantile-Commerce Bank & How to Tell Your Story to Management, William S. Barber ...... 14 Trust Co., St. Louis 1, Mo. I BEATRICEV. SIMON, 11 Personnelisms, Robert C. Sale .... 20 Second Vice President I / Redpath Library, McGill SLA Chapter Highlights ...... 24 University, ! i Montreal, Canada // SLA Group Highlights . 24 DAVIDKESSLER, Treasurer General Motors Corporation SLA Membership Committee 1949-1950 . 25 Detroit 2, Michigan 1 Convention Notes ...... 26 MRS. KATHLEENB. STEBBINS,11 Secretary Off the Press ...... 26 31 East Tenth Street 11 New York 3, N. Y. Have You Heard ...... 32 ROSE L. VORMELKER, Immediate Past President Business Information Bureau Cleveland Public Library Cleveland 14, Ohio Indexed in Industrial Arts, Public Mairs ii Information Service, and Library Literature 1 The articles which appear in SPECIALLIBRA- RIES express the views of the authors, and do DIRECTORS not necessarily represent the opinion or the PAULGAY, policy of the editorial staff and publisher. Biddle Law Library I - I University of Pennsylvania s1'E:CIBL LIBRARIES publirhed monthly September to April. Philadelphia 4, Pennsylvania with bi-monthly issues May to August, by The Special Libraries .issociation. Publication Offlce, Rea Building, 704 Second An. MARGARETHATCH Pittsburgh 19, Pa. Address all communications for publication Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. to editorial offlces at 31 East Tenth Street, New Yo* 3, N. Y. San Francisco 20, California I Subscription price : $7.00 a rear ; foreign $7.60 ; single copies, 76 cents. Entered a8 second-clam matter February 5. 1917, at ESTELLEBRODMAN / the Port Ofice at Pittsburgh, Pemaylvan

THE SCIENTIFIC APPRAISAL OF MANAGEMENT A Study of the Business Practices of Well-Managed Companies By JACKSON MARTINDELL,President, American Institute of Management What makes the difference between success and failure in business management? To answer that vital question and to provide a scientific method for gauging the strength of any corporate organization is the purpose of this book. It is based on an analysis of a variety of notably well run companies, in which each important phase of the management function is carefully scrutinized. Written out of the author's wide experience in management analysis and appraisal, the book supplies a working guide and tool for the use of top management executives and business investors on ways to size up the investment value and management effectiveness of individual corporations. $3.50

PROBLEMS IN PERSONNEL ADMINISTRATION By RICHARDP. CALHOON,Professor of Personnel Administration, University of North Carolina This volume constitutes a unique contribution to the descriptive literature of personnel. From a critical evaluation of the current personnel views of more than 500 personnel administrators, the author provides a detailed appraisal of up-to-date personnel procedure. Emphasis is on problem analysis, problem handling, and the personal relationships in personnel administration. Here is information that will be of great practical value for all personnel workers, as well as for executives responsible for shaping broad policy. $5.50

CONFERENCE METHODS IN INDUSTRY A Practical Handbook of Basic Theory of Group Thinking and Tested Applications to Industrial Situations By HENRYM. BUSCH, Cleveland College of Western Reserve University "This handbook should be in the hands of all industrial executives."-PAUL L. FEISS,Chairman, The Joseph & Feiss Company. "The conference methods explained in this book have been followed by the management group of our company with distinct success."--R. A. OHMANN,Industrial Relations Dept., The Standard Oil Company (Ohio). $1.50 BOTTOM-UP MANAGEMENT People Working Together By WILLIAMB. GIVEN,JR., President, American Brake Shoe Company ". . . a management 'Way of Life' that no executive can afford to leave unstudied and unabsorbed."-LA~RENCE A. APPLEY, President, American Management Association. $2.50

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N LINE WITH A RECENT REQUEST to benefit. Such cooperation would more I discuss SLA activities in the forma- than compensate any organization for tive stage, I want to mention this month the slight amount of time and money some of the work performed by one of involved. Full development and use of our newest committees, the Translation such a pool will help to prevent dupli- Committee. This Committee has existed cation of translations which in turn will for some time in the Science-Tech- allow the total translating skills in the nology Group and, at the request of the country to be used to greater advan- chairman of that Group, was made an tage. Some not-too-immediate plans are Association committee last June. also being considered for publishing a The Translation Committee has two list of the translations now in the Pool functions: with provisions for future supplements. (1) To establish and service a Pool of The Directory of Translators is a Translations. card file listing translators and includ- (2) To establish and service a Directory ing information about their language of Translators. The Pool of Translations consists of and subject specialties. The possibility a collection of copies of translations, of cooperation with Aslib, which has a primarily from periodical literature, and similar directory service, is being ex- available on loan or by photoduplica- plored. To facilitate the use of this Di- tion. It not only insures the availability rectory, several sets of the cards are of a copy of the translation at the point being prepared for deposit in regional of inquiry but also reduces considerably bibliographic centers. In order to make the amount of correspondence and the this Directory successful it, too, requires time required to secure the translation. cooperation from all of our members. It is fairly obvious that this is a project Will everyone urge any competent trans- which can be successful only if sup- lators, whom he knows and who have ported by every member of the Associa- time for free lance work, to send in their tion having access to the translations names and as much biographical data made by his organization. Will each about themselves as possible? It is par- member, therefore, make a special effort ticularly necessary to include such in- to send at least one copy (two would be formation as languages and subjects better) of every translation made by his commanded and the rate charged. The organization to the Chairman of this Association acts merely as a clearing Committee? I am not unmindful that house and is in no way responsible there is sometimes a company policy either for quality of work or for busi- which prevents this distribution in order ness arrangements between employer to preserve secrecy of interest. If such and translator. policy exists in your organization, will Please address any inquiries or sug- you make an effort to obtain permission gestions to the chairman of this com- to cooperate in this undertaking in mittee, Mr. Wayne Kalenich, South- some way? One suggestion which has west Research Institute, P. 0.Box 2296, been put forth is to remove from the San Antonio 6, Texas, enclosing a translation all identification of the or- stamped, self-addressed return envelope. ganization furnishing the copy. If the Mr. Kalenich and the Southwest Re- potential benefit of such a pool were search Institute have already contrib- realized by officials who make policy uted considerably to this project for decisions, many ways could be found which I express the appreciation of the to comply with company rules and Association. still cooperate for everyone's mutual RUTH H. HOOKER,President. Talk of Many Things

Miss Savord is Chairman, SLA Con- In order to provide greater represen- stitution Committee. tation on the Executive Board for our increased membership, it is also provided that we shall add three more Di- N THE TWO PREVIOUS ARTICLES,we rectors who will be elected for terms of I have discussed our most vital prob- three years. In the first election after lems-types and privileges of mem- the adoption of this section, provision bership and provisions for Group and will be made for one Director for a Chapter structure. one-year term, one for a two-year term, Three changes were made as a result and one for a three-year term. There- of the meeting of the Executive Board after, two new Directors will be elected and Advisory Council on November 4. each year instead of one as at present It was agreed that petitions for new With an elected Secretary, six Direc- Chapters would require twenty-five, tors an'd the retiring President, this rather than fifty, signatures; that mem- will provide for an Executive Board bers would be affiliated automatically of twelve members. Further provision with the Chapter nearest to their place for increasing the quorum from five to of employment or nearest to their seven members will insure against de- permanent residence; and that we would cisions by too few members. retain the designation "Group" rather By-Law I1 referring to the authority than the suggested one of "Division." of the Executive Board has also been strengthened to guarantee that the As- ADMINISTRATION sociation will have a voice in deciding- Although Article I11 of the present long-term undertakings. This has been Constitution listed a Secretary as one accomplished by inserting after the first of our officers, we have for some years sentence in By-Law 11, Section 1: "All interpreted this to be synonymous with matters involving changes of policy or the Executive Secretary. On the face of the inauguration of long-term under- it, this is, of course, an error. It was takings, especially those involving long- agreed that we should continue to list term commitments of funds, must be such an officer, who will henceforth be submitted to the Association for ap- elected for a one-year term, will auto- proval, ratification or disapproval." matically become a member of the Ex- ecutive Board, and will be assigned cer- COMMITTEES tain duties now performed by the Ex- For the past few years, our Commit- ecutive Secretary, who will continue to tee structure has skyrocketed from year be appointed by the Executive Board. to year. As of November 1, 1949, we had fourteen Standing Committees and

1 Librarian, Council on Foreign Relations, nine Special Committees and an un- Inc., 58 East 68th Street, New York 2, N. Y. known number of Board Committees.

6 SPECIAL LIBRARIES Each one of these calls on Headquarters nances and charged with preparation of for a varying amount of assistance and the Budget for presentation to the Ex- on the Association for financing. Some ecutive Board. Because Standing Com- are imperative and contribute much to mittees were not specifically named in Association accomplishment, while the By-Laws, a change was made re- others do little or nothing. cently whereby the Finance Committee was shorn of most of its duties and a Therefore, it is proposed to include Budget Committee of the Executive two By-Laws in the revised suggestions Board was set up. While the Executive ---one dealing with Standing Commit- Board is charged with management of tees and one with Special Committees. the Association and has custody of all The new definition of Standing Com- property, past Finance Committees have mittees is as follows: "Standing Com- done valiant service in watching over mittees shall be appointed for the in- finances, preparing budgets, making rec- vestigation and study of matters relat- ommendations and plans for building ing to the accomplishment of the gen- up our Reserve Fund. It is proposed eral purposes, business and objects of that the Treasurer, who is a member of the Association of a continuous and re- the Executive Board, shall be Chairman curring character." of the Finance and Budget Committee but that the other members be chosen The second section of this By-Law from the membership at large. Qualifi- names the Standing Committees as: cations for this important Committee Committee on Committee Appoint- should be carefully weighed for knowl- ments, Constitution and By-Laws, Fi- edge of Association affairs. Past Presi- nance and Budget, Membership, Pro- dents or members of former Executive fessional Activities, Publications, and Boards might well be chosen. Student Loan Fund. The third section will set down the duties of each of these FINANCES Committees, rules governing appoint- ment and terms of office. We are proposing to revert to the calendar year as more practical from Two of these require comment. The many viewpoints-work load at Head- Committee on Committee Appointments quarters, expense of changing account- is suggested as a new Committee which ing records, as well as the fact that our will be charged with surveying the periodicals are published on this basis. membership to find promising material for service on Committees and suggest For many years, the initial dues of these names and the Committees on new members were collected on a quar- which they might serve to the Presi- terly pro-rata basis. Of late years, we dent-Elect. This task, one of the first have required that anyone joining be- facing an incoming President, is rather fore November 1 should pay a full overwhelming and very time-consum- year's dues while those joining after ing. Hence, it is often easier to appoint November 1 paid only for the next year, the same people over and over rather although they enjoyed benefits of the than to seek out new people. If Chap- Association free for two months. We ters and Groups cooperate in sending are, therefore, suggesting a return to names to this Committee, the task of the pro-rata basis. the President-Elect will be lightened No change is suggested for the financ- and we will obtain wider representation. ing of Chapters but Groups will now re- The Finance and Budget Committee ceive an appropriation based on mem- is the second change. In the past, we bership, the percentage and amount to have had a Finance Committee which be determined and authorized annually was the watchdog of Association fi- by the Executive Board. Payment will

JANUARY, 1950 be made semi-annually and autornatic- presented at an Annual Meeting, the ally in advance. This appropriation discussion from the floor brings about would be expected to cover ordinary changes and re-wording which improve operating expenses which would be in- the proposals. This was demonstrated terpreted as stationery, postage, etc., at the Los Angeles Conference when but not expenses of a bulletin or other the Committee submitted a proposal re- publications since the percentage would garding dues in arrears. The Committee necessarily be low. This does not mean suggested that members whose dues that, if a Group were able to finance a were not paid on March 1 should be bulletin from this appropriation, they given one month's notice and if still would be prevented from using these unpaid by April 1, such members should funds for that purpose. If Groups planned be dropped. As a result of discussion, special projects requiring additional fi- the dates were eliminated. This is emi- nancing, they would be required to pre- nently better since it applies no matter sent to the Executive Board an approxi- what fiscal year we adopt. mate budget of expenses together with all details. Groups will also be charged 2. If amendments are sent out for with collection of all dues paid for ad- voting by mail, it will be impossible to ditional affiliations. change even one word in the proposed amendments. Moreover, unless three- Committees will still be required to fourths of the membership voted on submit an application setting forth pur- Constitutional changes and a majority poses for which funds are requested, on By-Law changes, the vote would be with an approximate budget of expenses. invalid.

NOMINATIONS 3. The Western Chapters propose Provision is made for the appoint- that confirmation be by two-thirds vote ment of the Nominating Committee at of the returned ballots. Judging by the least one month prior to the Annual number of ballots returned for officers, Meeting instead of two months after this might well mean a smaller vote the Meeting. This would allow the Com- than is now obtained at Annual Meet- mittee to meet during the time of the ings where discussion and change is Conference. Such a procedure would be possible. invaluable for this Committee which ordinarily has to do all work by corre- 4. Last, but by no means least, the spondence. Henceforth two candidates cost of such a system would be almost will be presented for all offices including prohibitive. The present proposed President-Elect. changes require about eight mimeo- graphed pages for each of over 5000 AMENDMENTS copies. Expenses of such a vote would Western Chapters have presented of- involve paper, mimeographing, mailing ficial resolutions recommending that first class and additional help in tabu- voting on amendments be conducted by lating the vote. Can we afford it? mail. The Committee on Constitution and By-Laws cannot accept this rec- LETTERS ommendation and submits the follow- I am receiving many letters from ing reasons: interested members which I fear I can- 1. While the Committee strives to not answer individually. Hence, my next the utmost of its ability to submit pro- article will be in the form of questions posals in the best form and wording to and answers incorporating queries in achieve the desired results, it often these letters. If you have any questions, happens that when such proposals are will you send them immediately?

SPECIAL LIBRARIES Principles to be Considered in Planning and Operating a Functional Technical Reference Librarv

Mrs. Hufford was formerly Librarian be assured of adequate space, both for of the South Wind Division, Stewart- shelving books, periodicals and for fil- Warner Corporation, Indianapolis, Znd. ing "vertical" materials. "Vertical" materials include a multitude of maverick HE PRIMARY CONSIDERATION to be pieces, such as pamphlets which cannot Tborne in mind is that "reference readily be shelved with books (mark- work" is the interpretation of books ing of pamphlets for recognition of shelf for the patron. With this as the prime location presents a handicap); leaflets, objective, the functional reference li- bulletins, lists; catalogs; photographs, brary must, perforce, have on its shelves photostats; preprints; correspondence; those books with which to answer the and numerous other items which are questions its patrons are likely to ask. best housed in vertical filing cabinets. I say "are likely to ask" because the With particular reference to the tech- librarian, if she knows the particulars nical reference library in any business of the field for which the reference li- organization supporting such a facility, brary is to be or has been established, it is especially important that vendors' will be cognizant of the extent to which catalogs be housed in vertical files, if these questions are apt to expand. The these are a part of the library's re- librarian will be able to determine what sources. Although this would seem to is needed to augment her core collec- consume much filing space, this method tion in order that the ramification of has its advantages in that the materials the subjects in the field of activity may are kept cleaner; and, since it is virtu- be adequately referenced. ally impossible to shelve such a heter- ogenous collection as catalogs neatly However, before dealing specifically and in proper order, the vertical file af- with the question of what books must fords a uniform system of storing which be included in the reference library, provides the proper niche for the proper consideration must be accorded the materials, thus simplifying their handl- physical characteristics of the library ing and making them more readily ac- itself. This is especially important in cessible. planning for the reference library sup- ported by private resources. A number LIBRARY ACCOMMODATIONS of questions arise which must be satis- Space in the library should also al- factorily answered if one is to aspire to low for adequate reading table facilities. the optimum in the functional opera- It naturally follows that comfortable tion of a library. The librarian should reading chairs are necessary. A small

JANUARY, 1950 table approximately thirty inches high lighting, to feel the impulse to sleep should be provided for an unabridged because the ventilation is poor. dictionary set on a revolving stand so Another factor in library manage- that the printed page is easily read by ment is janitorial service. Profession- all who must use it. ally and economy-wise, the librarian The library should be free from con- should not have to waste valuable time fusion which results from housing un- in cleaning shelves and books. Many do. necessary materials or from affording Where the librarian is heavily loaded, office space to those whose duties are some arrangement should be sought to not directly connected with the library. relieve her of this type of work so that The absence of such confusion resulting her time can be spent more expediently from ill-arranged desks gives the libra- and productively. rian, who is not provided with a separate workroom, more opportunity for DUTIES OF THE LIBRARIAN concentration on work requiring free- As a matter of pragmatic operation, dom from interruptions of a nature that the librarian of any technical reference tend to harass the train of thought. library, or even a school library, should not be burdened with duties which pre- If it is at all possible, a separate clude her functioning primarily as a workroom should be provided, for it is librarian. Of course, if she has charge inconceivable that any librarian can of only a few dozen books requiring open a mass of periodicals, correspond- little reference service and need not ence, prepare books for the shelves, maintain a vertical file, then naturally carry out cataloging processes on her she would have time to devote to other desk in the library proper without ap- types of work related to the library or pearing to clutter the room. A tidy li- the department in which she is em- brary is conducive to better attitudes ployed. However, if the collection ex- among the patrons. If such a workroom ceeds two hundred volumes and in- is not possible, then the librarian should cludes extensive periodical and vertical be provided with a work table of ade- files, the other duties should be divorced quate size to permit the most advan- from the job of librarian. Otherwise, tageous and efficient arrangement of her functions are not profitable. It is the tools with which she has to work. recommended when planning a refer- Merely giving the librarian a desk, a ence library that the librarian be al- room with shelves, some books and peri- lowed sufficient time to pursue her odicals does not mean that the library duties as librarian so that the library is functional. She cannot possibly per- will achieve the purpose for which it is form the duties of her position to a established-the dissemination of in- maximum capacity under such circum- formation and interpretation of books. stances. A facile plan is obviously a pre- requisite to the growth of the library This interpretative process requires facilities and changes in service. preparation of files and books, the detail of which is long and tedious. It has been Two other items relating to the said many times in professional circles, physical characteristics of the library and bears repeating here, that a libra- are ventilation and lighting. Both should, rian is efficient only when she can an- of course, be adequate and scientifically swer patrons' questions by identifying correct. Nothing is more disappointing the question with the subjects contained to a patron of a library then to be con- in the catalog file. The catalog can fronted with poor lighting when he only help the librarian if it is maintain- wishes to read; or, once established with ed effectually so that its contents be- his reference materials and adequate come applicable almost instantly when

SPECIAL LIBRARIES a question is asked. Obviously such de- those general works used in library tail work takes time. Wishing will not processes, such as Dewey's Decimal make the catalog functional-it takes Classification; Cutter's Alphabetic-Or- time and study. der Table (if Cutter numbers are used); Cumulative Book Index; Aker's Simpli- Another feature of librarianship in- fied Library cataloging; ALA Rules for volving the time element has to do with Filing Catalog Cards; Library of Con- the perusal of periodicals, catalogs, progress Subject Headings; and other tools fessional publications, etc., for the pur- which the librarian uses as guides for pose of calling the attention of key uniformity and consistency in work. personnel to information affecting their Beyond the standard works mention- work or study. This is especially true ed above (it is not to be assumed that in a technical reference library sup- those listed are the only ones required ported by a manufacturing concern. -they are only a few of the major This type of search channel often saves ones) the library extends its resources valuable time for persons interested in into the particular field of informa- certain kinds of information contained tion related directly or indirectly to in special trade literature or in specific the activity of the business support- types of books. ing the library. For example, the library The librarian should be encouraged of a manufacturing company will con- to keep abreast of developments in her tain numerous volumes on economics field; to maintain and/or improve her related to factory management; statis- standing professionally by means of tics related to quality control; political training and conferences. As her stand- science; law; education and commerce. ing is improved so is the standing of These subjects are indirectly related to the library in which she works. This the manufacturing activity, but they can be done through schooling and ac- are none the less important for they tive membership in professional organi- aid in determining solutions to prob- zations such as Special Libraries Asso- lems that arise in handling personnel; ciation and the American Library As- quality of product; efficiency of labor; sociation, which are often the sources labor relations; public relations; par- of many helpful hints about where to ticular problems in law when applied locate materials out of print; excellent to the use of the end product of manu- technical reviews of books; and innova- facture; education of employes and tions in methods of handling library management; and trade practices. materials. In the field of pure science, the library MATERIAL NECESSARY FOR A FUNC- should contain good standard volumes TIONAL REFERENCE LIBRARY in mathematics, physics, chemistry and When planning the acquisition of li- so on. These books will be the prime brary materials the core collection of source for the theories on which many the functional reference library should engineering, chemical or design calcula- be accorded adequate consideration. It tions are based. goes without saying that the core col- The practical application of these lection must include certain standard theories will be found in the volumes works such as Webster's Unabridged classified as Useful Arts. These include Dictionary; a set of general encyclo- books on medicine; engineering in all pedias; indexes of periodical literature its phases; home economics; communi- available in the United States and the cations; manufactures; mechanic trades; world; foreign language dictionaries; and building. The collection can extend technical dictionaries; thesaurus; hand- into fine arts with books on landscape books pertinent to the business activity. and civic art; architecture; drawing and The core collection should also include photography.

JANUARY, 1950 In a specialized library, the librarian shouldn't, but it does. Why? How does must know the books more intimately the cadmium-plate compare with cop- than in a larger collection. Since the per-plate and brass-plate?" scope of the special library is limited, The search for the answer to this the librarian necessarily has to be ac- kind of compound question will in- quainted with all phases of the subject dubitably give the librarian qualms at matter in the special collection. The the beginning. Numerous books will librarian's guide to this detailed knowl- have to be combed; vendors' catalogs edge is the catalog file. The catalog dug into; advice will be sought from an may be complete insofar as its main engineer who perhaps has a specialized entries are concerned. Subject head- knowledge about such things; more ings, see references, and see also refer- books will be consulted; perhaps a trip ences should be expanded as far as to another technical library will be possible to include obscurities. If this is necessary; but eventually the librarian not done, invariably a patron will want produces materials that answer the to know something about which the question as nearly completely as possi- librarian can obtain no clue through the ble. Usually the patron is surprised that catalog. A functioning "fugitive file" is the librarian has been able to interpret an invaluable aid to the librarian be- his "technical terminology!" cause questions repeat themselves frequently in the course of several months. ARRANGEMENT OF MATERIAL The librarian should take time to keep The physical arrangement of the a fugitive file. Many times the answers books and other materials should be to fugitive questions will be discovered such that excessive foot-work is elimi- while searching for something else. Such nated. Special collections should be so a file could be either a separate entity placed as to obviate congestion at the from the card catalog, or additional shelves. The dictionary, perhaps the cards could be added to the catalog volume used most often, should be with appropriate subject headings. The placed in a convenient location, but separate file is usually the most success- where it will cause the least disturbance ful, however. to others. The catalog file should be The more intimately the librarian handiest to the librarian who uses it knows her collection the better she most as many patrons of the library knows whether the shelves contain the may be unfamiliar with its intricacies, books necessary to answer all the ques- and time is of the essence. tions that may be or are asked. The The location of the library itself tact of the librarian is usually tested should be so planned that its facilities when the patron with the highly-spe- will be convenient for the most people cialized knowledge comes in for the most of the time. Quietness of the loca- answer to an equally highly-specialized tion is important. In a manufacturing question. The patron is "sure" of what plant, though the spot might be cen- he wants to know but feels that the li- trally located, it would obviously be brarian doesn't know what he is talking foolhardy to locate the library next door about. The result is a question some- to a punch press department. A mini- thing like this: "I would like to find mum of hall traffic is desirable, for something about the comparative noise is definitely not a salutary com- physical qualities of various plating sub- ponent of study. stances such as cadmium, chromium, The library should be so financed copper and brass on iron and/or steel; that publications in the field of busi- a cadmium-plated screw turns down ness endeavor can be acquired without better in certain assembly operations delay while the pertinent information than a chromium-plated screw. It will be most beneficial in governing the

SPECIAL LIBRARIES selection of and planning for products gineers about their experiments and to be manufactured. The budget should work will aid the librarian in surmount- allow for adequate acquisition of peri- ing the hurdle of technical terms not odicals in the fields directly or indirect- familiar to her. This is one phase of ly related to the manufacture. public relations which cannot be sep- arated from all other considerations to Where the library shelves are open, stand alone. Every contact the librarian and this is generally customary in the has with a patron of the library is an technical reference library, the libra- opportunity to make the service of the rian should have time allowed for reg- "inside library" a real convenience. The ular inventory. Books disappear and librarian can easily expedite the pro- their absence is not discovered until a curement of materials from other libra- particular one is needed for reference. ries. She can act as the central agent Regular inventory dates would permit of information and the library will be- planning for replacement of badly need- come a clearing house for data relating ed items; or, for acquisition of new to the manufactured product. titles which would better fill the need. There should be some means of con- MANAGEMENT'S RESPONSIBILITY trol over loan periods. Fourteen days is As for management's responsibility the limit set by standard procedure in in supporting a technical reference li- a good many privately operated spe- brary, it would seem there is some lack cial libraries. However, patrons invari- of consideration of their own interests. ably abuse the privilege. Notices and Many members of management in busi- bulletins usually do little good. Of ness enterprises, which have their own course, the private reference library ad- libraries, fail to recognize the economy mits of a peculiar situation in regard of employing properly trained and ex- to loans. Patrons of the library (com- perienced personnel to administer their pany personnel) should have the right library facilities. to use the library materials as long as Would the owner of a large garage actually needed. But often negligence hire mechanics or butchers to repair is the chief reason for books and peri- his customers' cars? Would it be good odicals not being returned at the end judgment to have dental work done by of the loan period or before. Loaned a bartender simply because he liked materials are easily enough recovered teeth? Would the president of a large if demand warrants recall of titles from manufacturing concern consider it "good a borrower, but this causes the librarian business" to hire as a patent attorney additional unnecessary work. an individual who had-merely read a The librarian should find time to couple of law books? Would it be feas- talk with her patrons, especially the ible for a manufacturing enterprise to key men and women on the company's install a sizeable reference library and staff, to discover their needs so that she expect to have it competently operated will be better able to select references by a stenographer who had no library to fit their work. This kind of prepara- science training or experience? Merely tion in anticipation of need stimulates the fact that the individual has ex- use of the library service because the pressed a fondness for books is no as- patrons feel that the library is properly surance that the functions of a tech- administered when the materials they nical reference library will be consurn- need are available. The better acquaint- mated with the skill and knowledge re- ed the librarian is with the work of the quired in such a position. various departments the easier it will It would appear that, in too many be for her to make the reference col- cases, too little concern is given to the lection functional. Conversing with en- (Confinued on page 36)

JANUARY, 1950 How to Tell Your Story

Mr. Barber is Professor, Southwest- ly stated are indeed the heart and soul ern University, Los Angeles, California. of a good report. Facts, however, are not compiled N PREPARING A LIBRARY REPORT, the for their own sake. They are reported in I first step is to determine its func- order to help the executives who read tion. In the words of Dr. Robert Ray them. Except in very small organiza- Aurner : tions, the executive cannot gather the "A business report is a written document facts about the special library through through which is transmitted factual infor- close personal observation and inspec- mation that the reader must have as a foundation for his future plans and business tion, yet he must know the essential decisions."2 facts or have them available for ready This is an excellent definition be- reference. The report has come into cause it brings out the true differentia being to meet his need for knowledge of a business report: First and above of the several departments for which he all else, the report is written to convey is responsible--to supply him with ac- clear information. The facts are vital. curate information in compact form. Second, these facts are presented to The periodic report of the special give the reader, specifically the execu- library can be simply a record report tives or executive concerned, "a founda- which sets forth essential data concern- tion for his future plans and business ing the special library for a particular decisions." period of time; it can be a progress re- The report of the special library may port designed to facilitate comparisons perform one, several, or all of the fol- between given periods; or it can be a lowing functions: combination of both. The ideal special 1. Provide facts library report would be such a com- 2. Indicate progress bination. Vnless limited by require- 3. Reveal problems 4. Make recommendations ments over which one has no control, But in any event it must provide it should be more than a mere history facts. Progress can be indicated only in of the period covered. It should indi- terms of facts. It is the facts that reveal cate the progress achieved in making problems. No recommendation can be the special library an effective tool in intelligently made or evaluated with- accomplishing the objectives of the or- out a factual basis. Accurate facts clear- ganization. In addition, it can reveal problems that require management's and Business Groups Luncheon Meeting at the more if organization policies permit or 1949 SLA Convention in Los Angeles, Cali- require: it can make recommendations fornia, June 14, 1949. and outline ~lansfor the period or

2 From "Effective L?n#ish in Business", periods ahead. p.460. One large corporation requires that

14 SPECIAL LIBRARIES all departments not only report accom- b. Circulation-number of books, pam- plishments of the quarter, but outline plets and magazines borrowed by the company personnel. plans and projects for the coming quar- c. Referencenumber of inquiries re-. ter, and for the three succeeding quar- ceived by telephone, letter or in per- ters that follow. It is not called a re~ort son. but rather a planning guide and con- d. Releases-number of library publica- sists of three parts or divisions, for tions distributed, such as bulletins or abstracts. example : It would appear that management 1. Summary of accomplishments during second quarter of 1949. would be particularly interested in the 2. Program for third quarter of 1949. matters just enumerated because they 3. Program for last quarter of 1949 and are indicative of the service the library first two quartets of 1950. is performing. By analyzing the forms FUNCTIONS OF THE REPORT and frequency of this service, manage- The first step, then, is to deternine ment can judge its effectiveness. carefully the functions of the report There are also other related matters and, as a practical matter, not only that it may be desirable to include: personal desires must be taken into Staff-positions, organization, qualifications, adequacy, turnover. consideration, but established organi- Eduipment-acquisitions, location, use, ade- zation policies and procedures as well. quacy. Above all, it must be kept in mind why Improvements made in service during period. management wants the report. Outstanding achievements during the year. Having determined the function or Budget-if inclusion of this in the report is in keeping with the organization's policy. functions of the report, one is then Finally there is the matter of recom- ready to solve the two basic problems mendations unless a at tern established which are present in any communica- by the organization prevents their in- tion, namely: clusion. 1. What specifically shall be included. 2. How it shall be said. With objectives defined and material assembled, we come to the next WHAT SHALL THE REPORT INCLUDE? question: It is hardly necessary to outline specifically what to include, as librarians are not only trained specialists but There are five basic requirements for know the operation of their libraries effective presentation. The report should better than anyone else. Furthermore, be accurate, complete, concise, clear special libraries vary greatly in the kind and interesting. To be reliable, it must and extent of their service. Then, as be accurate and complete; to be read- previously noted, there are certain com- able, it must be concise, clear and in- panies which set up a pattern to be teresting. As specialists in research li- followed by the special library and brarians know full well the necessitv" of other departments. Such a pattern pre- being accurate and thorough. Aside from determines to a certain extent what these considerations, however, reports shall be included but since there are should be readable. This will depend certain basic functions performed by all upon four main factors: special libraries, management would 1. Layout. certainly be interested in the following: 2. Organization. 1. List of representative questions asked 3. An easy-to-read style. and literature searches made by the li- 4. Visual aids. brary, with the name of the office, execu- LAYOUT OF REPORT tive or employe making the inquiry. The layout or mechanical makeup of 2. Comparative statistics on: a. Acquisitions-number of books, pam- the typewritten report should be so de- plets and magazines added to the li- signed that it is attractive to the eye, brary. easy to read, and easy of reference. If

JANUARY, 1950 it is to be printed, the layout should be arrangements tried to determine the discussed with specialists in format and most effective sequence. typography. There should be ample ORGANIZATION OF THE REPORT white space. Experience indicates that In discussing the organization of the the right hand margin should not be report, no attempt has been made to less than one inch and the left hand detail an outline, but it may be well margin one and one-half to two inches. at this point to say a word about an For the material to appear well cen- introduction, body and conclusion. Of tered, there should be more white space course, there is always a beginning, a at the bottom than the top. The mini- middle and an end, but there is no rea- mum bottom margin should be one and son for an introduction or conclusion one-quarter inches and the minimum unless they serve a really useful purpose. top margin one inch. An introduction has its place in cer- Center headings in caps and subtitles tain types of reports, such as the ex- in the margin make the report not only amination report, where it is necessary easier to read but easier to refer to. At to point out the purpose, scope, author- least two spaces should be allowed ization and sources of information, or above and below the center headings. to acknowledge aid in its preparation. Underlining the center headings mhkes There is no reason, ordinarily, for such them stand out. Captions and subcap- preliminaries in the periodic report of a tions enable the busy executive to scan special library for these matters would the report rapidly for the information usually be self-evident. It may be de- he is seeking. sirable, however, to summarize the Single spacing of the material itself highlights at the beginning or to include promotes a better display. The primary such a summary in the letter of trans- considerations are clearness and con- mittal. A formal concIusion, too, is gen- venience for the reader. But it should erally unnecessary, although it may be not be forgotten that the display makes desirable to close with any recom- the first impression; whether we like it mendations. or not, first impressions of people and Where recommendations are proper, reports are lasting. their position in the report depends up- Important to readability is the organi- on the particular circumstances. It is zation of the material in accordance customary in the investigation or ex- with a clear and effective outline or plan amination report (which is not the sub- and this organization is two-fold: group- ject of this discussion) to place them ing the material into appropriate divi- at the end. This is also a very logical sions and subdivisions, and determining position for them in the periodic report, the sequence of that material. for the foundation has been built. A The following mechanical device will variation that may be desirable, de- ordinarily simplify the matter: Make pending upon the circumstances of a an inventory of the matters to be in- particular report, is to present each cluded by writing each heading down recommendation in the section of the on separate cards or slips of paper. Sim- report that covers the subject matter ply write each one down as it comes to with which it deals. For example, a mind. At this stage pay no particular recommendation for increase of per- attention to whether they are in logical sonnel might conclude the section on order or are main divisions or subdivi- staff. Then at the end of the report, a sions. After the inventory is finished, brief summary of all the recommenda- the material (with each major and tions may be made. Psychologically and minor heading on a separate card) will logically it is usually best to make a be very mobile. Related material can recommendation only after the ground- then be grouped together and various work has been laid, but circumstances

SPECIAL LIBRARIES sometimes alter cases. One able execu- lary of any field has developed in re- tive of my acquaintance insists upon sponse to a demand for scientific pre- the recommendation first and the evi- cision in that field. It has its place in dence for it thereafter. One disadvan- the written word and oral communica- tage of this method is that he may tion among the initiated, but it is often sometimes prejudge; an advantage is completely unintelligible to those out- that he can evaluate the evidence as side the field. Remember in writing your he goes along in terms of the conclu- report that the boss is not a librarian. sion. Another device is the outlining or Writing of any kind is an art and we the statement in full of the recommen- are definitely on dangerous ground when dations in the letter of transmittal. we attempt to reduce it to a formula. In connection with the organization But granted that report writing like all of the report, I should like to say a writing is essentially an art and one word or two about paragraphing, for learns it chiefly by doing, there are the paragraph is the basic structural certainly reasons why one report is unit. I suggest that each paragraph in more readable than another and some the report should have a topic sentence progress has been made in scientifically that states succinctly the central thought formulating those principles. I refer which the paragraph develops. I fur- particularly to the work of Rudolph ther suggest that this sentence be the Flesch, whose book, The Art of Plain first one in the paragraph. The execu- Talk, is well worth reading. tive reading the report can then imme- Flesch's studies indicate rather con- diately get the gist of the paragraph. Of clusively that readability is dependent course, a transitional word or phrase upon three things: may be necessary to tie in with what 1. Average sentence length. 2. Number of personal references (that is has preceded. references to people) per hundred words. I should also like to stress another 3. Number of affixes (that is syllables added most important point about paragraph- to root words) per hundred words. ing, which is particularly well put by In other words, the shorter the aver- Alta Gwinn Saunders in his book, Effec- age sentence length and the fewer the tive Business English, p. 587: affixes, the more readable your style. "The paragraphing is governed partially Likewise the more references to individ- by the principle of rhetorical unity and par- uals, the more readable your report. tially by the appearance. Reports should It is well to remember, as Flesch never contain long, heavy, dull looking, hard- to-read paragraphs. In this respect, they fol- points out, that we prefer to read at a low the earliest principle of paragraphing- level below the one we understand. that is, to rest the eye and to facilitate Furthermore it's not simply a question reading." of the reading ability of your boss, it's READABLE STYLE OF WRITING a question of his time. He should be The third factor in readability is, of able to read your report rapidly and course, the use of an easy-to-read style without effort. I should say that it of writing. One ingredient of the easy- should never be more difficult than to-read style is the use of homely, pop- what Flesch calls "Standard;" that is ular or familiar words-the words that an average sentence length of no more pass as current coin among us. Learned than 17 words, no more than 37 affixes words have their place in certain types a hundred words, and, if possible, at of discourse, but one does not have to least 6 personal references per 100 be erudite in writing a library report. words. There is one type of learned word This business of personal references that needs particular watching: the brings to mind a closely-related matter; technical term that is peculiar to one's namely: Shall the report be written in occupation. Now the technical vocabu- a personal or impersonal style? It is

JANUARY, 1950 interesting to note that many of the charts or graphs should be carefully ex- texts on report writing encourage, if plored. they do not positively recommend, the A photograph is an interesting way impersonal style. I am inclined to feel to picture the use of equipment; a dia- that the examination report and not the gram to indicate the layout of the li- periodic report is largely responsible brary and exact location of the equip- for this dogma. The purpose, of course, ment. A map may show the geographic- of the examination report is to investi- al location of branches or departmental gate and report impartiality, and the libraries. impersonal style connotes, although it Probably the most valuable tool of doesn't guarantee, impartiality. Unless a all is the chart or graph to render con- pattern established by your organization crete and pictorial the abstract statis- decrees against it, a more direct and in- tical data which of necessity must be formal style should be used, where the included in the periodic report. Thus active voice predominates over the pas- a curve graph can be used to plot the sive and where accomplishments are set monthly circulation of the library bul- forth as the work of people: your staff. letin where such circulation has expand- I say this with the full realization that ed progressively. Curves are particular- the facts are the vital thing, that the ly useful in making comparisons. For report should be objective, and that the example, the number of inquiries re- personal pronoun is often distasteful. ceived by letter, telephone and in per- But I submit that: "The reference libra- son can be plotted by three curves on rian answered the following representa- the graph. A bar graph can be used to tive questions" is as objective as "The picture the growth in library resources. following representative questions were Separate bars in each period for peri- answered." odicals, pamphlets and books would fa- VISUAL AIDS cilitate comparisons. A block bar graph The popularity of Life Magazine with blocks in the bars for each depart- whose growth in circulation has been ment can picture the over-all and de- astronomical is no mystery. It lies large- partmental increase in requests to the ly in the simplicity and clarity of its library for the compilation of bibliogra- visual appeal. phies. A pie graph may be particularly Men drew pictures centuries before effective in showing the proposed ex- they could write. Drawings of wild ani- penditure of the budget dollar. Using mals have been found in the caverns of different colors for the segments will France and the grottoes of the Pyrenees make it more graphic. There is also that are conservatively estimated to be the stimulating popular graph with its 15,000 to 30,000 years old. We all know use of pictures, conventionalized or that alphabets evolved from the pic- otherwise, instead of geometic figures. ture writing of primitive people and The Caterpillar Tractor Company in the use of pictures is rooted deep in a progress report on its research library man's experience. has used effectively several popular As Dr. C. H. Sandage, professor of graphs. In one chart is pictured the marketing at Miami University, aptly growth of the staff. The perpendicular puts it: axis represents the number on the staff; "The sense of sight has always been the the vertical, the years covered by the most important avenue to human conscious- ness and understanding!'I report. But instead of a curve or geo- Therefore the applicability to your metric bars there are conventionalized report of photographs, diagrams, and human figures standing above the years and one above another in the later years

1 From Advertising--Theory and Practice, to correspond with the growth in per- p. 396. sonnel.

SPECIAL LIBRARIES However, it is generally best not to setting off headings and columns with rely on the visual aid and its caption lines. alone. Clear reference in the text to the CONCLUSION figures is essentia!, and a few words of After swift prosecution of a war in interpretation in the text will drive the Asia, Caesar laconically reported to the message home. Location of the figure Roman Senate: "I came, I saw, I con- on the same page as the reference and quered? explanation is obviously very desirable. "It was an admirable report, too," Tables of figures are not so graphic say Morton and Viets in their book, as the devices just mentioned but they Practical Business English ". . . for it are far better than statistics in the text. exhibited the four outstanding charac- They should be made as easy to read teristics of effective reports; namely, as possible by clear captions, headings clearness, accuracy, completeness, and for each column, and by framing; i.e., compression."

Convention Notes

EVENTEEN GROUP representatives ing planned a general luncheon with a Smet with the Convention Chairman speaker who will discuss a subject perti- on November 17, 1949, to discuss Group nent to all SLAer's-more information program plans. After much discussion on the speaker and his topic will appear these representatives unanimously de- in a future issue of SPECIALLIBRARIES. cided to streamline the Atlantic City This meeting is to be sponsored by the Conference and thus tie in with the Financial Group. theme-ONE FOR ALL AND ALL On Thursday evening, June 15, the FOR ONE. Instead of holding so many Geography and Map Group is planning separate Group meetings as has been to show the U. S. Navy Film of Ad- the custom in the past, several meet- miral Byrd's Antarctic Expedition. This ings of general interest to all members may prove a boon after an all-day SLA are being planned-such as: Business session! On Monday afternoon, June 12, there Friday, June 16, is Philadelphia Day, will be a Work Simplification Clinic for when many libraries in Philadelphia those Groups which did not participate will be open to visitors. in the one at Los Angeles last year. The Groups which did participate will These general sessions will in no way plan for a continuation of the Clinic exclude regular Group meetings and or schedule a methods meeting with a the next issue of SPECIAL LIBRARIES general speaker, probably someone from will discuss Group plans. Remington Rand. Through an oversight, the name of Tuesday afternoon, June 13, will be Mrs. Jacqueline Felter, Librarian, Me- devoted to Technical and Non-Tech- morial Hospital, New York City, the nical Sources of Information with the Convention representative of the Hos- Publishing Group sponsoring the non- pital and Nursing Librarians' Group, technical meeting and the Science- was omitted from the list of Convention Technology Group the one covering Group representatives appearing in the technical sources. December 1949 issue of SPECIALLI- On Wednesday morning, June 14, all BRARIES. Groups will hold their business meet- ALMAC. MITCHILL ings. At noon of that day there is be- 1950 Convention Chairman.

JANUARY, 1950 Personnelisms'

Mr. Sale is Chief Librarian, United our individualisms which have so strong- Aircraft Corporation, East Hartford, ly characterized the growth of our Connecticut. country, will only be answered in future history books. Fundamentally, also, most HE TERM, "PERSONNELISMS", de- individuals want to help and be helped; Tnotes many facets in our profes- they want to work, to play and to live; sional lives-it includes the organiza- to progress; to expand spiritually, mention of each library; all aspects of hu- tally, and materially; to provide ade- man relations; hiring and interviewing quately for their dependents; and to procedures; job classification systems; have time and money so that leisure training; and all personnel policies such can be enjoyed in accordance with each as salary scales, vacation periods and individual desire, whether it be for sick leaves. travel, plays, symphonies or sports. Gradually we are becoming more and These fundamental basic traits must more aware in this country of the im- be recognized before we can even at- portance of these "personnelisms" as tempt to get along amicably with our regards our workaday lives, in fact, our fellow employes and before we can ex- entire lives. Industry, business, govern- pect to build a really cooperative and ment, are all beginning to realize that reasonably happy group. Along with their most important commodity is peo- this recognition must be the realization ple and that each must learn how to that, as Henry Ford, 11, expressed it, deal satisfactorily with its employes, "the first requirement of human rela- that is, how to achieve and maintain tions is to want good relations." good human relations. It is not evident With these basic thoughts in mind, I in the year 1949 whether or not we will briefly cover a few of the aspects are working seriously and hard enough of these "Personnelisms." to achieve the proper human relations 1. The library organization : necessary to retain our enterprise sys- If we are to foster and maintain good tem. I hope later years will prove the human relations, our basic organization answer in the affirmative. must be both planned for efficient We must realize that each employe is operation and so established that as an individual, and as such, is endowed much responsibility as possible is dele- with his own particular nature--his pre- gated to each individual. The library judices, quirks, likes and dislikes, de- should be so organized that each sec- sires and dreams. Paradoxically, how- tion such as Reference, Circulation and ever, fundamentally we all have much Catalog has a designed supervisor. An in common. Practically everyone wants organization chart should be available security. Whether or not this very de- to the entire staff in order that each sire for security, so very prevalent to- member knows definitely to whom he day, especially in the labor unions, will reports. There are many instances in have the adverse effect of weakening both the library and other fields when an employe is not only unaware of his 1 Paper presented before the Financial Group Luncheon Meeting at the 1949 SLA Conven- exact duties but also is uncertain as to tion in Los Angeles, California, June 14, 1949. the identity of his immediate boss. As

20 SPECIAL LIBRARIES to responsibilities, most of us are much ascertain the complaints of the employe too prone to retain those that should and conversely can acquaint the staff and could be delegated to others on the member with the faults which you find staff. Few things assist more in improv- in him. Probably most important, the ing human relations than an indication rating period is an excellent time to of confidence in the employe by plac- praise each deserving staff member for ing responsibilities in him. In order to his good work. (Not that praise should achieve closer harmony it would also be confined only to rating periods). appear well worthwhile for manage- Honest praise is appreciated by every- ment to give greater consideration to one and should be given by word of the personalities and backgrounds of mouth, and tangibly by a better rating employes who work together. Age, in- so as to produce an increase in the pay telligence, basic philosophy-all should check. be considered when building your per- 3. Training: sonnel organization. Above all, select Before starting any training program the section heads with utmost care; it is necessary to sell each specific job their attitudes and actions will be most to the employe as to its usefulness and important in making or breaking the importance and the way it fits into the various groups. whole of library service. If the employe 2. Job classification: realizes that each part of his job, no Those who operate under such a sys- matter how insignificant it appears, is tem should make certain that everyone vital to overall operations he will be from the head of the library to the clerk much more valuable to the library and be familiar with its general purpose and the human relations aspect will be on the way it functions. Be sure that each a more secure foundation. The super- job analysis agrees with the actual work visor should do his best to understand being done by the employe. Manage- each employe before the training pro- ment certainly is not fulfilling its obli- cess is started. His background, atti- gation to the employe if an obsolete job tudes toward fellow men and prejudices description is retained which keeps him should be learned whenever possible. below the salary scale to which he is These factors will enable the supervisor actually entitled. Each job should be to do a better training job and be more reviewed periodically and the write-up adequately equipped to cope with per- discussed with the employe or employes sonnel problems. In any training pro- to which it pertains. It should be made gram the supervisor, above all, must certain that all aspects of the job are have endless patience. Because many covered in the description so that every- library rules and procedures seem quite one concerned will understand exactly unimportant to new employes the sup- what is expected. ervisor must continually practice pa- The rating period under a job classi- tience in overcoming this attitude. Such fication system usually occurs twice adherence to patience will certainly each year. From my own experience, I produce its reward. find that the rating period affords the 4. Hiring and interviewing: best opportunity for frank, honest dis- One of the very important responsi- cussion with each staff member regard- bilities of a library administrator is the ing his particular job. It is also an ex- hiring of new employes. Dependent up- cellent time to gauge the effectiveness on his judgment in selection are the of each section head in handling his morale, efficiency and cooperation of particular group. By such off-the-record the staff. One selection error, especially discussion regarding the status of each in smaller libraries, can disrupt the or- employe, with both the Section super- ganization and cause a personnel prob- visor and the employe himself, one can lem which could continue indefinitely.

JANUARY, 1950 The hiring of employes has been, and employment methods, ie., application in many instances still is, carried on blanks, personnel questionnaires, intel- haphazardly. We can profit to a great ligence and aptitude tests, and checking extent from the methods adopted by personnel histories. Application blanks industry and business. It should not be and personnel questionnaires are as va- looked upon as an easy task even dur- ried as snowflake designs and the ad- ing the period of a buyer's market. It ministrator should obtain the types appears to me that the process of find- which best provide the information he ing and hiring an employe breaks down feels necessary to assist him in judging into four main steps-qualifications, la- an applicant. I am unaware of the use bor supply, employment methods and of intelligence and aptitude tests in the interview. library field but they certainly would In order for the administrator to best have their place for certain positions. know each job and then fill it as com- For example, in hiring a typist a test petently as possible, he should have a should be given for accuracy and speed job analysis of each position. Such as part of the employment procedure. analysis will avoid the unbusinesslike In checking and verifying the history method of trying to keep in one's mind of a candidate, if the organization has the exact duties of each job and will its own Investigation Department it provide a ready guide to the qualifica- can be handled within, if not, an out- tions necessary to fill it. Thus, the first side agency can be used or the employ- step, qualifications, demands a written er can handle it himself. job analysis. The administrator should carefully When the job itself is on paper and study each application form and ques- the administrator knows the prerequi- tionnaire and also the results of any sites, he can advance to the second tests that were taken. From this infor- step, labor supply, or how to obtain ap- mation he can determine by compari- plicants. Many special libraries are a son with his job analysis the candidates part of organizations which have em- that are worthy of interview. In making ployment departments. If such a de- arrangements for each interview the partment is available, the administrator date and the exact hour, as well as the can turn his needs over to it. In such place, should be carefully enumerated instances, always make certain that the in a letter and the administrator should employment supervisor clearly under- set a date that will allow him to pro- stands the type of person wanted for vide as much time as necessary for the the job and the qualifications required. interview. A reply in writing should be Another fruitful source, and one espe- requested from the candidate as a con- cially useful for obtaining trained libra- firmation of the date and time of inter- rians, is the professional associations, view. such as our own SLA Placement Ser- In conducting a worthwhile inter- vice. Employment agencies established view, I recommend the adoption of the for the purpose of acting as a medium following factors: between job-seekers and employers are a. Make certain that all application and useful and consist of two types-gov- other forms for the candidate are at hand. ernment and private. Friends and ac- b. Know the candidate's name and use it. quaintances are often helpful in sug- Remember that the applicant is very likely to be nervous and timid. The ad- gesting applicants for a job. In this con- ministrator should do his best to make nection salesmen are sometimes useful the candidate feel at ease. because they are often aware of persons c. Take all the time necessary to become who desire to change positions. acquainted with the applicant; don't for- get that hiring an employe is serious Now that the sources for candidates business. have been tapped let us look at the d. A good starting point for conversation is

2 2 SPECIAL LIBRARIES the application form; ask questions about why his services should not be terminat- the items on it. ed if he cannot be fitted into any niche Find out the person's hobbies and inter- of the organization. If we as librarians ests-get the applicant to talk; much can be learned by listening. were aware that we were in a truly com- Always have the staff meet the appli- petitive field, I believe that we would cant. The immediate supervisor is pro- make a much greater effort to be as- vided with a good opportunity to analyze siduous in the performance of our duties the applicant while explaining the library and continually strive to improve our in general and the job in particular. information services. I am afraid we Be certain to inform the applicant of personnel policies such as hours of work, have become too smug and self-satisfied vacation, sick leaves, rest periods, start- because of the widely-accepted policy ing salary and increments. If you hire on that a librarian is never fired. a probationary period do not assume the : applicant knows it, carefully explain it to 5. Personnel policies him. Last but not least of these "Person- h. Be as specific as possible in telling the nelisms" are the policies under which applicant when he may expect to receive the staff operates. Though the super- an offer or rejection, and make your reply visors and head of a special library can in writing. If an offer is made, state the do little regarding the establishment or salary and the starting date and request a written confirmation of acceptance from abandonment of general policies they the applicant. can make certain that every staff mem- Give the applicant every opportunity to ber is fully informed of such policies. ask questions. Length of, and eligibility for, vacations Use an interview form to record your and schedules of same; sick leaves; sal- impression of the applicant for such factors as appearance, speech, vocabulary, ary plans; automatic increments, if any; courtesy. Complete it soon after the ap- rest periods; medical and insurance ben- plicant leaves while you will have these efits; all should be explained. The li- impressions fresh in your mind. brary staff should also be made fully Just a word about firing while on the aware of the whys and wherefores of subject of hiring and interviewing. I any policies peculiar to its own group. feel it is very unfortunate that in the li- We all want to be in the "know" and brary profession a job in the library is the more fully the personnel are in- usually considered tantamount to secur- formed, the better the human relations. ity and tenure for life. Library adminis- In conclusion, it appears to me that trators have not been particularly good the survival of our democratic way of business men in allowing the general life and our capitalistic system, which in practice of never firing anyone to be- such a relatively short time have made come so firmly entrenched. If a person our country the world power that it is, proves a definite liability rather than depends to a great extent upon how an asset to the library I see no reason we meet the challenge of "Personnelisms".

The great thing in this world is not so much where we are but in what direction we are moving.

JANUARY, 1950 SLA Chapter Highlights

What can a Chapter do to help its mem- A methods meeting held by the CLEVELAND bers? One of the practical ways is to plan CHAPTERwas supplemented by a movie on educational courses or Chapter meetings on "Filing" presented by Remington Rand. methods. Librarians are always eager to learn Workshop clinics bring together the ILLINOIS a better, shorter and quicker way to obtain CHAPTERmembers in small groups with sim- material, to weed, to index, and to compare ilar interests. Among the suggested prob- procedures with others who have the same lems for discussion are: procurement of ma- probIems. Some of these needs are being terials from non-trade sources; how to weed solved by Chapters who have had such meet- files; and how to keep track of routed mag- ings. azines. PITTSBURGHCHAPTER has outlined its an- Although Chapters have, in the past, held nual education program which includes: (1) seminars, workshops and methods meetings, current emphasis on sales . . ., (2) cataloging the demand for such meetings never lessens. continuations, and (3) indexing and filing. In fact, some Chapters have repeated their A course in library editing is planned by meetings for two and three years, often ex- the BOSTON CHAPTER. The eight sessions panding subjects previously discussed. cover: (1) the problem, what is editing? (2) Interest in a Chapter should be sustained by methodology, bibliographic form; (3) me- giving members something to assist them in chanics, preparation of copy for the printer; their work as well as stimulating interest in (4) information, printing and printing pro- planning, participating and working on com- cesses; (5) special assignments, the prepara- mittees and projects. tion of library reports; (6) abstracting; and OLNE E. KENNEDY,Member, (7) indexing, book reviews, book notices. Chapter Relations Committee.

SLA Group Highlights

HOSPITAL GROUP tion Convention in Atlantic City the following The Hospital Libraries Division of the week. The joint ALA-SLA committees then American Library Association met in Atlantic prepared Part I of the Standards, which deals City, October 6, 1949, during the A.L.A. Mid- with patients' libraries. The last draft of this dle Atlantic States 1949 Regional Confer- section was sent to the joint ALA-SLA mem- ence. bership for suggestions and criticisms in Octo- Fred Heffinger, Superintendent of the Man- ber 1949. From these comments the joint hattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital, New committee will draw up a final resolution for York City, discussed "A Hospital Administrator presentation to the Executive Boards of the Looks at the Library Services of the Hos- American Library Association and Special Li- pital." braries Association in 1950. After Part I of A progress report on the objectives and the Standards has been approved by the li- standards for hospital libraries was also pre- brary associations, it will be presented to the sented. It was pointed out that the 1944 ver- American Hospital Association, American Med- sion of the Standards varied greatly from that ical Association and the American College for of 1949. The original Standards were de- Surgeons for approval and publication. Con- signed to include all three types of hospital centrated work on the nursing and the medical libraries in one; i.e., nursing, patients' and libraries standards will then continue. medical libraries. However, at the Special Libraries Association Convention in Washing- SOCIALSCIENCE GROUP ton in June 1948, a resolution was drawn up From a survey conducted by members of recommending that the Standards be divided this GROUP, it was found that only pre- and into three sections, thereby covering each type post-convention issues of a bulletin, as is the of library separately. This resolution was read present practice, were favored. A subscription and passed at the American Library Associa- fee was also voted against by the members.

24 SPECIAL LIBRARIES SCIENCE-TECHNOLOGYGROUP was appointed. Mrs. Margaret Fuller was The second meeting of the Metals Section selected as Publicity Chairman. Total regis- of the SCIENCE-TECHNOLOGYGROUP was held tration for both days was eighteen. Thirteen in Pittsburgh, October 27-28. John T. Milek members registered for two days and five for was elected temporary Chairman and Eliza- one day. Papers were presented Thursday beth Fry was elected temporary Secretary- afternoon and evening and Friday morning Treasurer until the formal election can be and afternoon. In addition, there was a tour held at the 1950 Convention. A nominating through the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. committee composed of Mrs. Marion Landuit, GERALDINED. ANDERSON,Member, Frederica Weitlauf and C. M. Wolfenburger SLA Group Relations Committee.

SLA Membership Committee for 1949- 1950

CHAIRMAN Region Five- Mrs. Hazel I. Izzo, Librarian Mrs. Audrey Ide Bull Technical Division Library 81 Kingsway Cresent E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. Inc. Toronto 18, Ont. Canada 1949-1951 Rochester 3, N. Y. 1949-1951 Chapter Extension- VICE-CHAIRMEN Mildred Benton, Chief Division of Field Library Service Region One- Department of Agriculture Library Emily C. Coates, Librarian Washington 25, D. C. 1949-1951 The Travelers Insurance Co. 700 Main Street Foreign Memberrhips- Hartford. Conn. 1948-1950 Francis Thorne Armed Forces Staff College Region Two- 7496 Maury Arch Norfolk, Virginia 1949-1951 Alice E. Carter Business and Industrial Dept. Group Memberships- South Bend Public Library Laura M. Marquis, Librarian 120 West Wayne Street Investment Research Department South Bend 10, Indiana Mellon National Bank & Trust Co. Pittsburgh 30, Pa. 1949-1951 Region Three- Life Memberships- Verlyn C. Sanders, Librarian The California Company Hazel K. Levins, Librarian 1818 Canal Bldg. Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Company New Orleans 12, La. 1949-1951 300 Broadway Newark 1, New Jersey 1949-1950 Region Four- Ellen M. Lundeen Immediate Past Membership Chairman 134 South Cambrian Street Public Relations Committee Chairman Bremerton, Wash. International Relations Committee Chairman

JAN-UARY, 1950 Off the Press'

A TRADEUNION LIBRARY 1949, fifth edition, renewable resources. Since the subject is cur- was prepared by Hazel C. Benjamin, Librarian rently receiving wide attention and awareness of the Industrial Relations Section of Prince- of the need for conservation measures is grow- ton University. This annotated book list, al- ing, this HANDBOOKwill undoubtedly be of though primarily intended for the use of the interest to many librarians. This publication is officers and staff of trade union organizations, sold by the Foundation on a non-profit basis has had wide use by librarians, teachers, stu- at $1. (New York 16, N. Y., The Conserva- dents and others concerned in labor relations. tion Foundation, 30 East 40th Street.) Available from the Industrial Relations Sec- * * tion, Princeton University, Princeton, N. J. at BIBLIOGRAPHYAND FOOTNOTES:A Style 75 cents per copy. Manual for College and University Students *** by Peyton Hurt has been revised and enlarged ADVERTISINGAPPROPRIATIONS, A CRITICAL by Mary L. Hurt Richmond, Custodian, Chapin SUMMARYOF THE EXISTINGINFORMATION ON Library, Williams College. The fundamentals THE SUBJECTAND AN ANALYTICAL& TECH- of bibliographical and footnote references to NICAL READINGGUIDE, published by the As- books and articles are treated in this work, as sociation of National Advertisers, Inc., is the are government documents, statute and case first step in a continuing project to examine citations and scientific references. Instructions the methods and techniques used by American for typing the final draft of a manuscript, and industry in establishing advertising appropri- specimen thesis pages, have been added to ations. The entire project is under the super- meet the needs expressed by graduate stu- vision of W. B. Potter, Advertising Director dents. (Berkeley, California, University of of the Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, California Press, 1949. 167pp. $1.50) N. Y., and Chairman of the A.N.A. Board of *** Directors. Copies of the Proceedings of the Third An- The objective of this original report is to nual Conference of the American Theological provide a brief summary of some of the sig- Library Association are available free of nificant material on the subject of advertising charge to any interested persons from Robert appropriations which has appeared in print as F. Beach, Secretary, Garrett Biblical Institute, well as to provide reading references for in- Evanston, Illinois. dividuals who wish to explore the subject more * * thoroughly. An important gap in British trade statistics has * * * now been filled by the publication by the British ADVERTISINGAPPROPRIATIONS was prepared Board of Trade of OVERSEASTRADE OF THE for A.N.A. by Richard Webster, Associate UNITED KINGDOM,STATISTICS RELATING TO Editor of Printers' Ink magazine. Over 140 TRADEWITH SIXTY OVERSEASCOUNTRIES FOR titles are listed in the study. (New York 17, THE YEAR 1948 WITH COMPARATIVEFIGURES N. Y., Association of National Advertisers, FOR 1938 AND 1947. Hitherto the researcher 285 Madison Avenue, 1949. 72pp. $5) has had to use Volume 4 of the Annual State- ment of the Trade of the United Kingdom for ANTIQUESDICTIONARY by Ethel Doane con- trade statistics broken down by country, or, tains short definitions, alphabetically arranged, since this volume appears about two years of many words and terms which the antique after the end of the period covered, compile collector may run across and which are not them laboriously from the monthly Trade and easily discovered in general dictionaries. Navigation Accounts. The present work is (Brockton 20, Mass., Ethel Doane, 1096 Main based chiefly on the monthly accounts and the Street, 1949. $3.95) statistics for 1948 are therefore provisional. *** The final figures will appear in due course in Volume 4 of the Annual Statement. (New A CONSERVATIONHANDBOOK is a recent York, N. Y., British Information Services, 30 publication of the Conservation Foundation Rockefeller Plaza. $1.40) and is designed as a reference tool to provide simple descriptions of the terminology, con- *** cepts and practices used in conservation of The SLA Financial Group Bulletin for November 1949 contains papers presented at 1 Where if is possible the Editor has given the Financial Group Shop Talk Round Table prices for publications noted in this section. held in Los Angeles, California, June 13, 1949, The omission of a price does not necessarily during the SLA Annual Convention, as well as indicate that the publication is free. the report of its officers for the year.

SPECIAL LIBRARIES The Appendix of the Information Bulletin A very comprehensive and attractive library of the Library of Congress for July 12-18, guide has recently come to the attention of 1949, cames the most recent available ac- the Editor. A guide to the Library of the count of the science abstracting activities now College of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minnesota, ' under way as a UNESCO project. Copies of it was prepared for students' use by Eileen this issue of the Bulletin may be secured from Miller, Circulation-Archives Librarian, and the Library of Congress, Washington 25, D. C. Mrs. Georgia Colliton, Reference Librarian. Librarians who may be planning to issue similar material will find this an excellent model for patterning their own.

In the YEARBOOKOF THE UNITEDNATIONS, 1947-1948, the United Nations presents to the public an account of its activities and achievements and those of the specialized agencies for Those concerned with the progress in library the period from June 30, 1947, to September training being made in Egypt will be espe- 21, 1948, the day on which the third regular cially interested in the Proceedings of the session of the General Assembly opened. This first Institute of Librarianship sponsored by volume is the second of the series, which is the Cairo Library Association and held at the produced by the United Nations Department American University in Cairo from April 19- of Public Information. Containing a number May 5, 1949. Dr. Mary Duncan Carter, Re- of charts, maps, documentary annexes, an ex- gional Librarian of the United States Libra- tensive bibliography, a "Who's Who" of per- ries in the Near East, was the Director of the sons connected with the United Nations and Institute. The Proceedings include the out- an index, the YEARBOOKis a reference volume line of each lecture with a bibliography and of permanent value to public officials, scholars, the lecture. Of further interest along the same diplomats, teachers, writers, librarians and line is a copy of a paper on "Library Training" others who desire a complete and authoritative presented by Dr. Carter before the Cairo account of the work of the United Nations. Library Association in Fuad, First University (New York, N. Y., Columbia University Press, Library, on November 19, 1949. This material 1949. 1126pp. $12.50) is available on loan from SLA headquarters.

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Please Mention Special Libraries When Answering Advertisements JANUARY, 1950 The September 1949 issue of The Journal Brooke Graves, Senior Specialist in American of Documentation, which is the official organ Government and Public Administration in the of Aslib, carries two items of particular in- Legislative Reference Service (currently on terest to librarians. " 'Near-Print' Draws Near- loan as staff director of the House Subcom- er" is an article written by Henry M. Silver, mittee on Executive and Legislative Reorgani- Adviser on Publications, American Council of zation), to bring together between the covers Learned Societies. Mr. Silver reviews the of one book, free from all extraneous discus- situation in near-print today, describing and sion and recommendations, most of the factual comparing the several kinds, and points out data contained in the several reports of the the difficulties involved in various types of Commission. Since it brings together a con- processing other than printing. "Bibliography siderable amount of up-to-date information, in Germany, 1937-47" is by H. Schurer of the the publication should prove helpful to Gov- British Library of Political and Economic ernment officials, newspaper editors, students Science. The list given is based on the selec- of government, and other groups and individ- tion presented by Vorstius (J.) Ergebnisse uals who desire to keep themselves informed und Fortschritte der Bibliographic in Deutsch- regarding the Federal Government, its or- land seit dem ersten Weltkrieg. Leipzig: Har- ganization, activities and methods of doing rassowitz 1948, pp.v.172 (Zentralblatt fur business. (Washington 25, D. C., Library of Bibliothekswesen, Beiheft 74). Congress, Card Division, 1949. Multilith. 71 *** pp. 45 cents) The full text of papers presented at the *** First Symposium on Varnish and Paint Chem- THE PUBLIC LIBRARYIN THE POLITICAL istry at New York University College of En- PROCESS, a report of the Public Library In- gineering in November 1948 under the direc- quiry, was written by Oliver Garceau, a mem- tion of Dr. Max Kronstein is now available ber of the social science faculty of Bennington at $2 per copy. College. Those both within and without the Address requests for copies of this publica- library field, and particularly political scien- tion to V. W. Palen, Bureau of Public In- tists, will find much of interest in this study formation, New York University College of which probes deeply into the political process, Engineering, New York 53, N. Y. Kindly at- linking legislature, public administrator, or- tach check or money order to your request. ganized groups, professional associations, un- * paid administrative boards, voluntary citizens' The first PACIFICCOAST MEMBERSHIP DIREC- movements, and the specialized as well as un- TORY has been published by the Publications differentiated sections of the citizenry for Committee of the San Francisco Bay Region whom the public library as a public service Chapter. The DIRECTORYincludes a listing of agency is made available. (New York, N. Y., members of the Southern California Chapter, Columbia University Press, 1949. 254pp. $3.75) the San Francisco Bay Region Chapter and * * * the Puget Sound Chapter. In addition, there A recent addition to the loan file at SLA are lists of the libraries represented in each headquarters is a bibliography on Municipal of the three Chapters and the affiliation of Reference Libraries prepared by John Schles- each member with his respective library is inger of the St. Louis Public Library. It is indicated. Copies of the DIRECTORYare avail- intended to be comprehensive and is the out- able at $1 per copy from Harry L. Williams, come of Mr. Schlesinger's work in a municipal Jr., California Research Corporation, 576 reference library for the past five years. Standard Avenue, Richmond, California. * * * * * * PRo~wsIN 7 FIELDS OF MANAGEMENT- A new publication which seeks to make 1932-1949, an American Management Asso- available in convenient and readily usable ciation publication, is a complete bibliography form most of the factual data contained in the of Association publications during the past 18 numerous and frequently bulky reports of the years on the following management subjects: Commission on the Organization of the Execu- personnel and industrial relations, insurance, tive Branch of the Government, popularly marketing, office management, production, fi- known as the Hoover Commission, has just aance and packaging. been issued by the Library of Congress. En- Included in the listings are research studies titled FACTS AND FIGURESABOUT THE FED- in production, personnel administration, mar- ERAL GOVERNMENT,ITS DEPARTMENTSAND keting and insurance which resulted from AGENCIES AND THEIRACTIVITIES, the ~OCU- pioneer investigations of current business prob- ment has been published as No. 74 in the lems; and proceedings of conferences of the Public Affairs Bulletin series prepared by the seven AMA operating divisions, at which ex- Library's Legislative Reference Service. ecutives in all industries exchange infonna- In preparing Public Affairs Bulletin No. 74, tion and experience in improving management it has been the purpose of the editor, W. practices.

SPECIAL LIBRARIES More than 600 publications, the work of defines and explains all the important words, over 2,500 authors, are listed. Material pub- phrases, places, abbreviations, significant events lished in recent years is available from the and dates that occur in American philately, as American Management Association. Publica- well as stamp collecting in general." (New tions that are now of print, are available in York 3, N. Y., Tudor Publishing Company, business libraries and in the business sections 221 Fourth Avenue, 1949. $3) of public libraries throughout the country. * * PROGRESSIN 7 FIELDS OF MANAGEMENTis CAREERSIN RETAIL BUSINESSOWNERSHIP available without cost from the American was written by Robert Shosteck, assistant na- Management Association at 330 West 42nd tional director of the B'nai B'rith Vocational Street, New York 18, N. Y. Service Bureau, in consultation with Max F. Baer, national director. The authors have carefully gathered information which should A LIFE INSURANCELIBRARY FOR YOURCOM- MUNITY is an eight-page leaflet which out- be helpful to anyone considering a retail business career, or to any person counseling one lines the establishment of a life insurance collection in the community library. Com- so interested. The book is practical and not piled by the Insurance Group of Special Li- academic; it is intended as a guide in choosing braries Association and published by the In- a retail business and not a manual on operat- 6, stitute of Life Insurance, the leaflet contains ing a business enterprise. (Washington 1746 three lists of the basic texts and other books D. C., M Street, N.W.,B'nai B'rith Vo- on life insurance which may be purchased for cational Service Bureau) $25, $50 and $100 respectively. This pamphlet * * * is available free of charge from the Institute PROBLEMSIN PERSONNELADMINISTRATION of Life Insurance, 60 East 42nd Street, New is designed for college courses in Personnel York 17, N. Y. Principles or the first course in Personnel Ad- * * * ministration. It is also a supplementary text for courses in Production Management, Busi- AMERICANSTAMP COLLECTOR'S DICTION- ness Organization, Industrial Engineering and ARY, by Harry M. Konwiser, containing near- Labor Problems. The author, Richard P. Cal- ly 2000 entries, with 269 illustrations, "lists, hoon, is professor of Personnel Administration

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-~~~~~~P~~~~~asDdDBgaJ Please Mention Special Libraries When Answering Advertisements JANUARY, 1950 29 -- -- ~ at the University of North Carolina. He is TRY also the author of Moving Ahead on Your Job HUNTTING'S COMPLETE LIBRARY SERVICE published in 1946. In the course of preparing We are in a position to fill all orders. promptly and carefully ...... the present work, Professor Calhoon conducted We will supply any book--of any pub- an extensive survey of nearly 600 Personnel lisher-in any binding ...... Administrations. (New York, N. Y., Harper For buoks subiect to hard usage, however. we especially recommend . . . & Brothers, 1949. 540pp. $4) Huntting's Library Buckram Bindings *** Liberal Discounts on All Trade Books Bibliographies: THE H. R. HUNTTING COMPANY AUDIO-VISUALMATERIALS FOR NATURE STUDY. Library Spectlists Compiled by Marguerite Newgarden, super- SPRINGFIELD 5, MASS. visor of audio-visual aids, American Mu- seum of Natural History, New York, N. Y. ANY BOOK l OF ANY PUBLISHER IN ANY BINDING (Wilson Library Bulletin, September 1949, pp. 82-85, 92) BLACKOUTAND DIMOUT LIGHTINGPRACTICE DURING WORLDWAR 11, including an engi- THE TECHNIQUE neering digest of defense lighting. Prepared by a special committee on wartime lighting OF practices. (Illuminating Engineering So- SYSTEMS & PROCEDURES ciety, 51 Madison Avenue, New York, N. Y.) By H. JOHN ROSS BOOKS AND PUBLISHED REPORTS ON GAS TUR- BINES, JET PROPULSION AND ROCKET POWER 350 Pager 75 Illustrations PLANTS. Compiled by Ernest F. Frock $1 5.00 (Circular No. 482, National Bureau of Standards, 1949) 49pp. 206 EUROPEANRECOVERY PROGRAM: A list of OFFICE RESEARCH INSTITUTE Organizations and Bibliography of Official Documents by Laura S. Turnbull, Curator P. 0. Box 4099 Miami 25, Florido of the Benjamin Strong Collection, Prince- ton University Library. GERMANPERIODICALS WHICH HAVE RESUMED PUBLICATIONwas prepared by the British THE AMERICAN NUMISMATIC Foreign Office and is available gratis from SOCIETY the British Information Services, 30 Rocke- feller Plaza, New York 20, N. Y. Announces the Publication of HOUSE ORGANSAS COMPANYINTERPRETERS. Compiled by Ruby Church and pubLished BANK NOTE REPORTERS by the Business Library, Newark Public Library, Newark, New Jersey, as the May AND 1949 issue of Business Literature. INTERNATIONALWORLD RADIO STATIONLIST, COUNTERFEIT DETECTORS compiled by Bernard B. Babani, lists 3000 1826-1 866 long, medium and short wave stations. (Lon- don W.6, England, Bernards Ltd., The BY Grampians, Western Gate, 1949) 47pp. LIST OF SWEDISH TECHNICALPERIODICALS. WILLIAM W. DILLISTIN General Auditor Compiled by Dr. Carl BjGrkbom and pub- Federal Reserve Bank of New York lished by The Swedish Institute, Stockholm. Dr. Bjorkbom, a member of SLA, is Libra- 175 Pages 19 Plates rian of the Royal Institute of Technology Bound in Paper Covers in Stockholm. Available on loan from SLA headquarters. $3.50 per copy MODERNIZINGMUNICIPAL REPORTS: A Se- lected List of References. (Detroit 26, Order through your Dealer or direct Michigan, Municipal Reference Library, De- from troit Public Library, 1948) OFFSHOREPETROLEUM DEVELOPMENTS. Com- THE AMERICAN NUMISMATIC SOCIETY piled by Emory N. Kemler. (Houston, Iroadway between 155th ond 156th Sts. Texas, Division of Oceanography and New York 32, N. Y. Meteorology, Southwest Research Institute, 312 Oil & Gas Building) Gratis. Please Mention Special Libraries When Answering Advertisements SPECIAL LIBRARIES REPORTS IN INDUSTRIALENGINEERING. A cumulative bibliography of Ph.D. dissertations, masters' reports and selected course papers by graduate students of the Depart- ment of Industrial Engineering, Columbia Complete Sets. Volumes and Single Numben Univeristy. Microfilm copies of all titles of Art, Educafional, General, Medical, listed are available. (Acquisition Depart- Scientific and Scholarly Periodicals ment, Columbia University Libraries, New I York 27, N. Y.) 61pp. I Bought and Sold I SELECTED REFERENCESON THE EMPLOYMENT OF THE PHYSICALLYHANDICAPPED is the work of Miss Helen M. Steele, Librarian of the Department of Labor, and Miss Lola Wyckoff, Librarian of the Office of Vocation- al Rehabilitation. Although the list is not exhaustive, it is representative and should, therefore, be of considerable assistance to teachers, counselors, librarians and others. Bound volumes (newsprint editions) (Washington 25, D. C., U. S. Department of the New York Times, 1945-1949 of Labor, 1948.) inclusive, excellent condition, for sale. Best Offer. Write. SOURCEMATERIALS IN PUBLICADMINISTRA- TION, prepared under the auspices of a committee of the Social Science Group of the LIBRARY, Special Libraries Association, provides in brief form a handy guide to the current and PATHFINDER NEWS MAGAZINE recent literature of the field of public administration. (Chicago 37, Ill., 1313 East WASHINGTON 5, D. C. 60th St., Public Administration Service, 1948). 30pp. $1 SOURCESOF FREE AND LOW-COSTMATERIALS provides teachers at all grade levels who are interested in aviation with a comprehensive list of sources to which they may write to obtain free or low-cost booklets, brochures, pictures and other informational material on aviation. Compiled by Dr. Frederick B. Tuttle, Educationist, Office of Aviation Training, Civil Aeronautics Administration. (Washington 25, D. C., Aviation Education Division, A-145, Civil Aeronautics Admin- istration). 17pp. Gratis. TELEVISIONIN BUSINESSAND INDUSTRYlists recent items which present television's dis- tinguishing characteristics, how it will af- fect business and industry, etc. (Cleveland, Ohio, Cleveland Public Library, Business Information Bureau, 1949) 4p. 10 cents. TENANT RELOCATIONS.(Detroit, Michigan, Municipal Reference Library, Detroit Pub- lic Library, 1949) ONE HUNDREDBOOKS ABOUT BOOKMAKINGby Hellmut Lehmann-Haupt is a guide to the study and appreciation of printing. (New York, N. Y., Columbia University Press, 1949) $1.75 UNDERGROUNDGAS STORAGEis Petroleum Bibliography No. 31, published by the Tulsa Public Library, 220 South Cheyenne Street, Tulsa 3, Oklahoma. Please Mention Special Libraries When Answering Advertisements JANUARY, 1950 Have you heard.. . . NUMERICAL INDEX A New Format for SPECIALLIBRARIES TO THE For some time the Editor and Editorial Committee have wanted to make a change in the format of SPECIALLIBRARIES. With this is- BIOGRAPHY OF sue a new dress is presented to the SLA membership. We hope it meets with your approval. SCIENTIFIC William Alcott Retires After Sixty-one AND Years of Service Sixty-one years of service to a single organization came to an end on December 31 INDUSTRIAL REPORTS when William Alcott retired as librarian of the Volumes 1-10, 1946-48 Boston Globe. Taking over a new and small ectivity in 1922 he developed an exceptionally efficient library which, with a staff of ten, now PREPAREDby the Science-Tech- serves the Morning, Evening and Sunday Globe, a newspaper of metropolitan caliber. nology Group of Special Libra- On February 18, 1888, Mr. Alcott, a youth ries Association with the co- of 19, came to the Globe, itself a young news- operation of Socony-Vacuum paper. His first job was that of copy messenger, but before long, as cub reporter he began a Laboratories, Paulsboro, N. J., climb that led to the night city editor's desk, and the Office of Technical Ser- where he served from 1906 to 1922. He was vices, Washington, D. C. then asked to take over and develop the Globe's library. He knew little about special libraries and felt somewhat diffident of his A source of information for powers. However, he plunged with vigor into all those who use and maintain his new work, exchanged ideas with such col- files of the PB reports. Facili- leagues as he could locate in other cities, and began a quarter century as an outstanding tates identification and acquisi- newspaper librarian. tion of reports, mentioned in For many years Mr. Alcott has been an en- technical literature and in U. S. thusiastic member of Special Libraries Asso- ciation. He was president of the Boston Chap- Patent Office actions, by PB num- ter in 1925-1926 and of the national organiza- ber or by other American and tion in 1929-1930,as well as being consistently British document Series number. a leader in the Newspaper Group. Although maintaining an active membership for himself, Patent attorneys will also be in- Mr. Alcott has always been a champion of the terested in these unclassified lesser grades of members-those whose needs documents as anticipatory publi- and viewpoints might be overlooked in planning Association activities. Genial and kindly cations. by nature, never hesitating to speak forcefully when occasion demanded, regular SLA Con- Planographed. 1949. 532 pp. vention-goers will remember him as an earnest and articulate advocate of policies that he Price: $1 0.00 believed to be sound. Another life long enthusiasm of Mr. Alcott's has been the Farm and Trades School, of which Order from he is a graduate. Twice he has escorted the Boston Chapter to picnic meetings on Thomp- SPECIAL LIBRARIES son's Island, Boston Harbor, where the school is located. Another substantial interest is the ASSOCIATION New England Home for Deaf Mutes. 3 1 EASTTENTH STREET Mr. Alcott has acquired a host of friends who NEW YORK3, N. Y. wish him happiness in his well earned leisure. Miss Esther Tomelius, long a member of the Boston Globe staff, succeeds him as librarian. Please Mention Special Libraries When Answering Advertisements 32 SPECIAL LIBRARIES William F. Jacob Honored . William F. Jacob, librarian of the General Electric Company's Main Library, Schenectady, The standard ref erer~ceguide N. Y., was elected to honorary membership in the Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute Chapter of to current auction prices of Pi Tau Sigma, national honorary mechanical out-of-print books and other engineering fraternity. Honorary membership in the fraternity is extended by invitation to zmluable literary material. engineers who have distinguished themselves and Mr. Jacob is the first alumnus of BPI as well as the first non-faculty member to be American elected by the local chapter. Mr. Jacob has been librarian of the General Book - Prices Electric Company since 1917 and helped to reorganize and develop its engineering library in Schenectady. Since then he has expanded current its service to cover the entire company. Today the GE Main Library is considered to be one of the leading industrial libraries in the country. Mr. Jacob has served as first vice-president, A record of literary prop- president and director of the Special Libraries Association. He is a member of the American erties sold at auction in the Library Association and an associate member of the American Institute of Electrical En- United States during the gineers. In 1930, he organized BPI'S first season 1948-9, edited by regional alumni group. At present he serves as General Electric's senior alumnus repre- Edward Lazare. sentative to BPI. THIS NEW 1949 EDITIONOF ABC contains the complete auction season of 117 sales, Janet Doe Appointed Librarian of the New from August 1948 to July 1949, listing all York Academy of Medicine old and rare books, autographs, maps and Janet Doe, formerly assistant librarian of broadsides, sold at auction from $5 up to the New York Academy of Medicine Library, a high of $54,000 for an autograph manuscript of the Gettysburg Address. has been appointed librarian of that institu- tion on the recent retirement of Dr. Archibald The 1949 volume is the latest in a series Malloch. which goes back 55 years. Like its prede- Prominent in the medical library field for cessors, it completely describes each item, many years, she has served as secretary of the noting evrry factor which might have in- Medical Library Association, 1936-1940, as fluenced the price. For accuracy and chairman of the Committee on International scholarship, it has nun acclaim as a and National Cooperation, 1947-1948, and as "model bibliography." the Association's president, 1947-1949. She There is included a classified directory is a member of the Association of Honorary of booksellers sperializing in rare and out- Consultants to the Army Medical Library and of-print books. a member of the Committee to Study Indexing of Medical Literature. The price of the 1949 \ohme is $12.50 In the literary field, Miss Doe's most out- net postpaid. -4 copy will gladly be sent standing contributions have been the compila- "on approval" to any library unfamiliar with the series. tion of the Bibliography of the Works of Ambroise Pa&, and the editorship of the Handbook of Medical Library Practice. Still available: the 5-Year Index A priced index to the 1941-1945 volumes of American Book-Prices Current is avail- American University Announces Courses able, and covers 52,137 items. The price for 1950 Summer Session is $35 net postpaid. Intensive courses in archives administration, the preservation and interpretation of historic R. R. BOWKER CO. sites and buildings, and genealogical research will be offered by The American University, 62 WEST45 ST., NEW YORK19, N. Y. Washington, D. C., as a part of its summer Please Mention Special Libraries When Answering Advertisements JANUARY, 1950 33 session beginning June 12, 1950. Organiza- tions cooperating in one or more of the courses include the Library of Congress, the National Archives, the National Park Service, the Mary- land Hall of Records and Colonial Williams- burg, Inc. 30 DAY The sixth annual course in the Preservation and Administration of Archives will open on June 12 and continue through July 8. The Institute in the Preservation and Interpreta- BINDING SERVICE tion of Historic Sites and Buildings, first offered in the summer of 1949, will be repeated from June 12 through July 1 and an lnstitute of Genealogical Research, will be offered for All orders are bound and the first time from June 12 through July 1. Further information may be obtained from shipped within thirty days after the Office of the Director, School of Social they are received. Sciences and Public Affairs, The American University, 1901 F Street, Northwest, Wash- ington 6, D. C. 0 Bound volumes in your library will be matched. Miss Joannes Relinquishes Post as Librarian of Abbott Laboratories After serving as librarian of Abbott Labora- tories since 1925, Edith Joannes has relin- 0 Years of experience, skilled quished some of her duties but will remain on craftsmen, and modern facilities the staff as associate librarian. Walter A. Southern, who succeeds Miss combine to assure first class Joannes as librarian, went to the Abbott Lab- workmanship. oratories from the Dearborn Chemical Com- pany of Chicago, where he was research librarian. He was formerly head librarian for the U. S. Steel Corporation of Delaware at Pitts- 0 Two-way shipping costs paid burgh, Pa. in full. U.S. A.E.C. Desires to Exchange Publications The United States Atomic Energy Commis- Complete information sent on sion wishes to make available on an exchange request. basis certain of its nonrestricted publications, and to secure in return publications of interest to its scientific and technical staff. It offers its semi-monthly abstract journal, Nuclear Sci- ence Abstracts, and available unclassified and declassified documents. Interested organizations which have publications to exchange are invited to write to the U. S. Atomic Energy Commission, P. 0. Box E, Oak Ridge, Ten- THE HECKMAN BINDERY nessee. Attention: Library Branch, Document Exchange. Margaret L. Pflueger is the ex- 916 N. Sycamore change librarian. NO& Manchcstcr, Indiana Two SLA Members Awarded Professorships Mary Louise Marshall, Librarian of the Rudolph Matas Medical Library, Tulane Uni- versity, and Mrs. Eileen R. Cunningham, "Bound to Please" Librarian of Vanderbilt University Medical School have both been honored by their respective faculties which have conferred the titles of Professor of Medical Bibliography on Miss Marshall and that of Professor of Med- Please Mention Special Libraries When Answering Advertisements 3 4 SPECIAL LIBRARIES ical Library Science on Mrs. Cunningham. Both appointments indicate the recognition by two outstanding American universities of the importance of instruction in bibliography and Are you making reference source materials in the medical school curriculum. use of these

Rebecca B. Rankin and Cleveland Rodgers Wilson Services? Author American Ambassador Book The English Speaking Union of the United States has announced that New York: The World's Capital City by Rebecca B. Rankin and Cleveland Rodgers was chosen as an American Ambassador Book by its Book- Across-the-Sea-Committee in London. These They will locate for you what is books, so honored, are chosen by a selection appearing in 1400 periodicals, panel, primarily because they fairly and hon- all books published in the Eng- estly interpret the American people by de- picting some phase of present-day life, or lish language, in all worthwhile thought or the background which formed it. pamphlets, and on 16mm films and filmstrips. Correction The item appearing on page 379 of the November issue of SPECIAL LIBRARIESshould read: "The Office for July 1949 contains a ABRIDGEDREADERS' GUIDE TO most interesting article by W. A. Gill entitled PERIODICALLITERATURE 'Punch-Card Paradox' (pp. 58-69, 110-11). AGRICULTURALINDEX This is a publication of the Office Publishing ART INDEX Company, 270 Madison Ave., New York 16." BIBLIOGRAPHICINDEX BIOGRAPHYINDEX Correction BOOKREVIEW DIGEST Two references in the body of the bibliography, "New Guides and Aids to Public Docu- CUMULATIVEBOOK INDEX ments Use, 1945-1948," compiled by Jerome EDUCATIONINDEX K. Wilcox, which appeared in the November EDUCATIONALFILM GUIDE and December issues of SPECIALLIBRARIES, were incorrect. ESSAYAND GENERALLITERATURE In the brief introductory statement in the INDEX November issue, the reference to No. 95 FILMSTRIPGUIDE should read No. 115. In the December issue, INDEXTO LEGALPERIODICALS the reference under entry No. 113 should read No. 112. INDUSTRIALARTS INDEX INTERNATIONALINDEX TO PERI- ODICALS LIBRARYLITERATURE Expert Service on Magazine READERS'GUIDE TO PERIODICAL Subscriptions for Special libraries LITERATURE Write for a free copy of Faxon's VERTICALFILE SERVICECATA- Librarians' Guide. LOG Also odd numbers of magazines, volumes, or complete sets. F. W. FAXON COMPANY 83-91 Francis Street 950 University Avenue Back Bay, Boston, Massackusom II New York 52 Please Mention Special Libraries When Answering Advertisements JANUARY, 1950 35 Principles to be Considered in Planning and Operating a Functional Technical Reference Library PUBLICATIONS (Continued from page 13) Aviation Subject Headings. $1.75 end objective. To build a strong house A Brief for Corporation Libraries. one must have a durable, well-con- $1.75 structed foundation competently erect- ed by skilled workmen. It seems plaus- Classification and Cataloging of ible then to think that a technical refer- Maps and Atlases. $8.75 ence library would best be operated Classification Schemes and Subject by a skilled, trained individual whose Headings List Loan Collection, intimate knowledge of library processes Rev. Ed. $1.25 would eliminate many "headachesn in Creation & Development of an Insur- the management of such a facility. ance Library. Revised Edition. A functional reference library can $2.00 be so-called only when the librarian is Employers' Evaluation of Training able to interpret the library materials for the Special Librarian. $1.00 for the patrons. Such interpretation re- Guides to Business Facts and Fig- quires, first, a plan; second, organiza- ures. $1.50 tion of materials and preparation of Handbook of Commercial, Financial books and files; and, last, communica- and Information Services. $3.00 tion of information, properly classified by standard library processes, through List of Subject Headings for Chem- intelligent, sympathetic and tactful aid istry Libraries. $1.50 to the patron. Such a service cannot be Numerical Index to the Bibliography operated jointly with other duties. of Scientific and Industrial Re- There is no water-faucet on-and-off ports, Vols. 1-10. $10.00 characteristic about library reference Social Welfare: A List of Subject work if profitable and economic opera- Headings in Social Work and Pub- tion is to be considered basically im- lic Welfare. $1.00 portant. Special Library Resources, Vols. 2-4. To those people in the management $22.90 category who must plan the installa- Subject Headings for Aeronautical tion of a reference library in their busi- Engineering Libraries. $4.00 ness, or who must seek employes to Union List of Technical Periodicals. operate a library already established, $6.00 it cannot be too strongly emphasized that efficient operation can only be ob- OFFICIAL JOURNAL tained through the services of a trained SPECIAL LIBRARIES librarian. It becomes penny-wise and Subscription, $7 Annually ($7.50 Foreign) pound-foolish to think that a library is SPONSORED PERIODICAL a simple thing, to be treated lightly, in TECHNICAL BOOK REVIEW INDEX planning its operation. The trained li- Subscription, $7.50 Annually brarian has information at her finger- ($8.00 Foreign) tips which expedites the whole program 0 of work, whereas the stenographer who is "taking care of the library" finds her- Special Libraries Association self burdened with many decisions she I 3i0 East 10th Street, New York 3, N. Y. is incapable of or untrained to make. It simply does not pay dividends to strain at a gnat and swallow a camel.

Please Mention Special Libraries When Answering Advertisements 36 SPECIAL LIBRARIES