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Special Libraries, 1935 Special Libraries,

10-1-1935 Special Libraries, October 1935 Special Libraries Association

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Reference Work itr Barrkilrg Practice -Mary Pierson McLean ...223

Special Library Suruey I~st/ra?zceLibraries, by the Instlrume Group ...... 228

Outgoing Mail ...... 2 3 3

President's Page ...... 2 3 5

Special Libraries Associatiolr and Busilless and Professional Workers- Hilda P. Albaugh 236

Publications of Special Interest ...... 238

Duplicate Exchange List ...... 240

Indexed in Industrial Arts Index and Public Affairs Information Service

OCTOBER 1935

VOLUME 96 NUMBER 8 14 SPECIAL LIBRARIES

MARIANC. MANLEY,Editor OCTOBER, 1.935

Vdurne 26 +. + + Number. 8

Reference Work in Banking Practice By Mary Pierson McLean LIBRARIAN,AUEPICAN BANKERS ASSOCIATION

NY bank which includes a library in its ments. It is quite probable, however, that if A general set-up hopes that ultimately one could examine the library of 1907, one mme kind of profit will be derived therefrom. would hnd that the bank library of today had Whether this hope is realized, however, de- diverged in many directions, and that about pends largely on the type of service rendered. the only point it has in common with its A beautiful reading room, a fine set of volumes predecessor aside from general purpose is that on financial subjects, and the most approved what the librarian today considers a mere library methods are a dead letter unless the nucleus of a working department such as a set librarian is well acquainted with the work in of the Chronick, standard investment manuals which her organization is engaged and knows and texts on money, banking and economics, her collection thoroughly enough to supply to her earlier sister also possessed. executive, staff or customer as promptly a. The problem of the early bank library was pomible accurate information in a form which to gather unto itdf material hitherto scat- can be readily adapted. To go a step further, a tered through the bank, and to collect in true value of a bank library lies in the ability addition valuable historical data and as many of the librarian to vouchsafe not only the ex- bwks as possible on banking and finance. pected anewer to a specific question, but to Today the problem is one of selecting from a uncover for her client new avenues of approach vast mass of valuable material those reference and point out to him new sources which may be tools which the particular bank is likely to tapped. In short, the successful functioning of need. The community in which it is located, such a department devolves upon various the work in which it is engaged and the cus- abilities of the librarian in charge, such as her tomers it serves are the determining factors of capability of seeing a problem through her this selection. While the early library was more client's eyes, a lively imagination, a passion for intent on obtaining historical material, the sleuthing, an insatiable desire to know more good bank library today lays special emphasis about every subject under thesun, and last but on current data. To it books are usu'ally sec- not least, her ability toapply her well-grounded ondary, for the information in them is seldom knowledge of the subject and general affairs to as fresh as that which can be found in current the problem at hand. financial periodicals and newspaprs. The When one realizes that the bank library pamphlet, too, haslargely superseded the book, idea had its inception in the early years of this for it is usually hot off the press and can be century when the banking field was by no discarded without a qualm when it is outdated. means as complicated as it is today, it is not Even surpassing these in importance, however, surprising in this third year of the New Deal to are scraps of informationwhich are not yet and find that as many as 70 of our banks in the may never be ~rinted.Examples of these are large cities boast centralized reference depaft- confidential reports, addresses and manu- 224 SPECIAL LIBRARIES Clct~ber,1935 scripts. Most valuable of all are the data tion, it is important to consider the best sources gleaned from talking to some person or asso- for locating such data. Few will deny that The ciation which is an authority on a particular Nm York Times with its full and unbiased subject, for such information probably can be general information, full texts of addresses and obtained nowhere else. After such a conversa- reports and excellent financial pages should tion, it is wise to file in the card catalog a card have a place on the shelf. The Wall Street under the subject in question and also one Journal, with its corporation and security under the name of the authority. The reason news, and the Journal of Commerce, with its for this transition of interest to the affairs of commodity pages, are also essential. Finally, the day and even to the forecasting of to- the American Banker, though it is a day or so morrow's trends is that there is probably no late with current events, is invaluable for in- institution in the country which has been more timate details of individual bankers and com- profoundly influenced by the events of this plete state banking news. Next best to the century and particularly the last six years than daily newspapers are various financial periodi- the bank, and the banker who wishes his insti- cals such as Bankers Magazine, Banking, The tution to live, at last realizes that new ideas, Annalist, Burrouglrs Clearing House, Bankers' new methods, and new information are essen- Monthly, and Barron's. The Commercial & Fi- tial if this is to be. It is to correct the wide- nancial Chronuk needs no introduction, for spread erroneous impression that banks are since 1865 it has carried the most complete ruthless and bankers mere moneychangers weekly account of all commercial and financial that bankers are today devoting such energy to events. Probably the best sources for foreign showing in their statements "more than the financial news are The London Economist and law requires," to advertising that credit will The Statist, and the foreign bank letters. never be denied a worthy prospect and to dis- Added to this list are the valuable group of seminating by means of radio and print mes- government publications such as the Federal sages which aim to educate the public on bank- Resem Bulkfin, Survey of Current Business, ing. Then, too, the public relations field in and all Treasury reports, the journals of uni- banking has expanded to include customer versity business schools such as The Journal of relations. Even more important, however, is Business of the University of , and vari- the current campaign for better management ous business reviews of banks and chambers of and a better qualified personnel. Again the commerce. In order that these publications government invasion of the banking field is a may be of the utmost value, they should be moot question. Obviously, the library has had checked in immediately on arrival, scanned by to keep one step ahead of these trends in order the librarian not only for important articles, to furnish information, with the result that but also for a notice of some other report or subject-headings have leapt in number almost publication of which she is unaware and might beyond recognition. They have, of course, wish to order, and routed to the various offi- steadily increased as the banking field has be- cials who have interest in them. Even before come more complex and extended its tentacles they leave the library, however, the important into other fields, and as new legislation has articles should be recorded in some way. Those been enacted, but the past two years have publications which are of permanent value and witnessed the birth of another huge crop, are to be bound should be indexed under sub- FDIC, FCA, RFC, AAA, which have had to ject in the card catalog. If the author is an be given shelter, and along with these came a authority, it should also be indexed under his need for further subdivision of many subjects. name. Those publications which are not to be Due to this great expansion in the limited bound but are of enough value to keep on the space which many bank libraries have, it has shelf for two or three years should be indexed become necessary to limit the material on each either in the catalog or cross-referenced in the subject to the very best which can be procured subject files. Those which contain only one or and to rely on other libraries to fill in the gaps. two items of interest should be clipped, the Since the emphasis in a bank library is placed articles filed under subject and the magazine an current rather than on historical informa- discarded. One reason for making these records ,Otlobtr, 1935 SPECIA.L LIBRARIES 22s

is that though most libraries subscribe to the In order to gain a definite impression of the Induslrial Arts Index and Pirbiic Affairs In- reference and research work carried on by a formdon Senice, these services are late in ar- bank library, it might be well to examine sev- nvingand thereshould besome way of keeping eral of the inquiries satisfactor~lyanswered in track of articles appearing each day. Another one day by the First State Bank Library. At reason is that there are often small paragraphs nine-thirty in the morning the librarian is or hidden-away notes which would be of no called on thc telephone by a customer who interest to the average institution and would wishes to know a quotation on the bank's stock only be indexed by a bank needing such infor- two months ago. In a second the librarian mation. As for newspapers, the average library furnishes him with the information from the does not have enough space to consider binding Bank & Quotulion Szdppkment of the Chronick. them. Why not, therefore, subscribe to a Before the librarian can hang up the receiver clipping service or have an assistant do the an employee from the Advertising Department clipping of articles which the library has early 1s standing at her desk waiting for advice on in the morning marked as important? Even if the best book on new business. He is told that one subscribes to the N. Y. Times In&x, it is Weldon's hkon new business for the trust necessary to have some record in the interim department is the best for trust companies but before the next supplement appears, and as for that he had better use file material for other the other papers there is no way to find articles typs of banks. Another employee, obviously unless each issue is inspected. Another reason foreign, approaches and asks for the evchange for clipping and filing these under subject, is rate of Esthonia on London two weeks previous that some officer or employee might wish to to now. Luckily one of the assistants has at her borrow the entire folder on a certain subject command a comprehensive bibliography which and expect to find its contents absolutely up to tells how rates are given in various periodicals the minute, a condition which could exist only and papers, and informs him that the London if newspaper clippings were included. Zkonomist contains the rate he wishes. Glanc- As for the books which a bank library should ing at her desk which by now is covered by contain, there should, naturally, be a few gen- mail, wires and memoranda, the librarian eral reference volumes, such as the U. S. espies a letter from a customer to a Vice- Catalog, an atlas, encyclopedia, dictionary, President asking the advantages a private yearbooks, and directories. At least one bank printing plant in a bank has over a general directory, such as Rand-McNally, a dictionary plant. The oficer hasappended a memorandum of financial terms such as Mum, government asking that she procure this material as quick\! reports such as those of the Federal Reserve as possible and write a report ior the custonler. Board and the Comptroner of Currency, and Unfortunately, no data on the subject can be two or three good works each on history and found in the library, but the librarian calls theory of banking, bank management, money. several large banks which she knows have their finance, economics, savings, trusts, Federal own plants and talks to their purchasing Reserve system, and credit should be in every agents who give her but small assistance for bank library regardless of size. In a library like they feel that the infornlation is too confiden- that of the American Bankers Association, it tial to divulge. Armed, however, with one or is imperative to keep in addition to the above two facts, she hunts in the telephone directory proceedings of various association conventions under printing plants and calls one or two. and all the state bank reports. It does not, Neither of these could help her so it occurs co however, have much use for the volumes on her that the Graphic Arts Board of Trade, the commodities, industrial corporations and rail- trade association for such plants, would know roads which the average bank needs. The dif- if anyWy did. At last, on the right track, she ference between the two types of financial is informed that the material is available, buc libraries can h explained by the fact that the that as it would take considerable time to bank is an operating entity whereas the A.B.A. compile it, the Board would have to know the is an advisory body and their libraries have nature of the project adreasons for it. This been built up from a different point of view. information plus a report received Iron1 a 226 SPECIAL LIBRARIES Oc&&r, 1935 research bureau in the city on public versus to know the language of this country and is private plants she sends to the officer who willing to browse through the stacks in the relays it to the customer. Another memorin- basement until he locates it and translates it dmis from the Statistical Department which for her, that brings success. Another request is wishes to know the total number of banks from the Credit Department which asks the closed in this country, with their deposits from librarian if she will prepare a report on textile 1900 to date. From the Comptroller's Report reorganizations. As she has only a few articles she finds figures up through May 15, 1933. in her liles on this subject, she consults In- Later figures she obains from the Federal dustrial Arts Index to see what is available. Reseme BuUetin, "Closed and Distressed Finding that she has none of the magazines Banks" by Upham and Lamke, and a clipping mentioned, she glances throlrgh the "Union from Washington giving statistics for 1934 List of Periodicals in Special Libraries of thc which are not yet in book form. At this junc- Metropolitan District" to see what ture, a telephone call from the Personnel De- other library might have them. Locating one partment asks for the latest material on per- immediately, she is able to borrow three of thc sonnel programs for banks. The pamphlet more important periodicals for a long enough published by the Industrial Relations Section time to make a few extracts from them. of Princeton University and the handbooks of While many of the same inquiries are re- several banks are sent to the inquirer. The next ceived in the library of the A.B.A., there arc, call is from the Vice-President in charge of the of course, certain questions peculiar to cach, Legal Department who wishes material for a from the very nature of each organization. speech he is making the next week at a con- The banker uses his own library for the average vention on the subject of "Possible Govern- inquiry on bank operation, but he frequently ment Control of Banking." In answer to the calls the A.B.A. for strictly banking data, lor librarian's query of whether he would want the it stands in the relation of trade association to library to prepare an abstract for him, he says him and he realizes that since its membership "yes" that he is too busy to do any research includes several types of banks, it will have himself and relies on her judgment. She asks authoritative information on each type, bank him further if he would like samples of Cavern- management, policy, and financial history at ment ownership in other fields to incorporate in least from the inception of the Association in his address and he replies, "Oh yes, that would 1875. The Association membership is com- be most helpful and illuminating, but I never posed of about three-quarters of the banks in rhought of it." The librarian was apparently the country and it is for them primarily that thinking of Person's book on the history of the library exists. Any member can borrow lilt government ownership of business and of the material for a two weeks' loan, request bibliog- advertisement of the Associated Gas and Elec- raphies or reportsand use the library personally tric Company which has of late enumerated the when any representative of it is in the c~iy. business enterprises of the government. At this Thus is direct service given. Indirectly, hc is point, a well-known customer and user of the also benefited, for the entire staB depends on lil~raryfacilities approaches the librarian a bit the library for information which later in onc shamefacedly. He explains that he has just form or another will accrue to his advantage. been informed that he is to be awarded a medal A minute after being asked to compile an out- of a forejgn government and wonders if the line of criticisms of the proposed Banking library can tell him what it signifies. He has Act, one is asked atwhat hour and on what day done a piece of work for it recently but has no the last transit of Venus passed over Philadel- idea of the mcaning of such an award. To find phia and when the next one will be. The first rhis information, it is necessary for one of the inquiry took two days to complete. In thc reference assistants to visit the Public Library outline were the chief criticisms of Titles I, 11, and page through many books on the country and I11 with a well annotated bibliography at to say nothing of works on heraldry. Even that the end of each. Sources used were daily is unsuccessful and it is only a chance com- papers and several current periodicals such as ment to an assistant at the desk who happens Business Week and Barren's. The second re- October, 1935 SPECIAL LIBRARIES 127 quest was answered in a very short time, fol- wishing this information planned to write a lowing a call to the Astronomical Room of the brochure of its own history, and knowing that Public Library. Scarcely a day passes that the early institution was linked up with it in some one does not phone to obtain the number some way, wished to incorporate it into the oi bank depositorsin the country, and when we story. We discovered that there was a connec- tell him that there is no figure available, he tion in that our member was housed by this usually answers, "well, I shall call you if I find bank when it first started in business, but that it." Only once has anyone called back, and the relationship ended there, and that after when I questioned him on his source, he re- &coming a national bank and going through plied "Washington." In order to fortify myself several mergers, it now claims as its parent a on this point, I challenged the author of a book large Wall Street bank. This information was which was dedicated to the 30,000,000bank subsequently published in the history. Many depositors in the country and published about are the persons who wish information about a year or so ago. He admitted that the figure methods of levying service charges, personal was only an estimate of an estimate. The near- budgets, how to stimulate rental of safe deposit est approach to the figure is the number of boxes, distribution of ownership of public accounts insured by the FDIC added to the utilities by banks, women in banking and the number of savings depositors in mutual savings installation of small loan departments. Prob- hnks, and even then there is a little duplica- ably the most interesting problem presented co lion. In short, one person may have ten ac- the library in recent months, however, has counts and another may have none. Accounts been that of furnishmg information to various and depositors are not synonymous. Another state bankers associations in the radical statcs frequent question is regarding the percentage of the middlewest. 'These states were bent on of money in closed banks which has been paid introducing bills into their legislature for (he back to depositors. An official statement of the creation of state-owned banks, and it seenred Comptroller's oftice gives statistics from 1865 that the state banking associations were much to 1932 on the basis of national banks. Due to opposed. Assuming that the A.B.A. librar?. the length of time required for liquidation, later would have information on the expriments figures are mere estimates. It is quite usual to made along this line during the wild-cat days find in one morning's mail four or five requests and on the now-existing Bankof North Dakot'i, from members from California to Vermont several secrctsries of these associations asked asking for information. One will want material our library to send them air mail material pro for a speech he is preparing for the next AIB and con. In addition to sending various pam- convention on "Better Customer Relations," phlets and clippings, we wired the author of a while another wdl want us to tell him for his book on the Bank of North Dakota, the secre- own satisfaction the date of the first commer- tary of the North Dakota Association and the cial bank in the world, the first check, the first president of a bank in that state, and armed clearing house, the amount of money of all with their replies, wc wrote a fairly extens~r-e kinds outstanding today as compared to the report on the history and operation of the bank. same time last year, and, in addition, send him In reading the American Banker several da!s file material on banking "in general." It is a later, we noted that another state pla?ned the chronic fault of members to ask for something same legislation. Anticipating that the State in general, for we can only guess as to the Bankers Association might need some mate- phase he may wish. To an inquirer who %ished rial, we forwarded to him immediately the same to borrow clippings on credit "in general" we data we had sent to the other associations. sent several articles on federal reserve credit In conclusion, it would seem that the r8le policy, but explained to him that if he wiahcd whicll thc bank library will play in its organi- data on the theory of credit he would have to zation is limited only by the abiliv of the li- be more explicit. An interesting bit of research brarian to grasp her subject, and carry a prob- we were asked to do a short time back was to lem to completion. Such a person will have no trace the history of a bank which existed in trouble in proving to executives that the li- New York around 1850. The member bank brary is a living clearing house of information. 228 SPECIAL LIBRARIES Orlohcr. IQ.15

The Special Library Profession and What It Offers 10 -Imtlratzce Libraries By the Insurance Group

HE former numbers of this series have field -we wonder ho\r to [wing about some T follow~d an outline of History, Scope, realization of what the librarian might do for Orgir~tizatzonet cetera so consistently that we insurance research? regret any deviation from the scheme that To explain for the benefit of either tlic insur- might minimize the value of this contribution. ance executive or a prospective librarian, let us But it so happens that our manual-the assume that a library service is needed - that Creation and Development of arc Imrrance we want to centralize all sources of information Library prepared in 1932 by D. N. Handy of and working tools in one place. In other words the Insurance Library Association of Boston we want to establish an infor~nationbureau or -covers this same ground adequately. Also library department within an insurance com- we may depend upon our bibliography which is pany. Every life insurance company must rather full for background material. With have a medical department, and every doctor readers in mind who may be more concerned must have his medical journals. It does not with the present and future, may we not survey take many doctors and journals to make a full the modern field for certain other aspects that time job for a librarian if anything is done in are of great interest and significance? the way of routing, indexing and abstracting so The first point that might be made is that specialized and technical a literature. The next the work of insurance companies has always group of research workers for whom library help been based so completely upon applied research is an essential is the actuarial and statistical that many forms of library work have been type of worker. They nced not only their tech- canied by them unrecognized as such. There nical journals but many government reports, has been a consistent tendency to establish transactions and books of higher mathematics. small collections of books and magazines Add together the operations necessary to within many bureaus and departments, each support the research work of doctors and one in charge of a clerical worker who has de- nurses, actuaries and statisticians and you vised as many ways and means of caring for have centralized enough demand for research them as there are collections. The result has service that library trained workers must be been that since the modern business library has looked upon as first essentials. come upon the scene them has not been the The problem in hand is not to build up same acute emergency for organized informa- something elaborate and unnecessary, but to tion within insurance companies that there has provide time saving devices and orderly pro- been in other business fields. The fact that is cedures that will establish centralized informa- not obvious, however, is that so many book tion. How many times it happens, in a company collections in a company mean much duplica- where various bureaus are working on common tion of effort as well as of reading matter. problems, that the same magazines are wanted If the same material were placed in the hands and the same questions are asked. If such de- of a person trained to organize and administer mands all come to one source, money is saved it for the use of all research workers in the in the purchase of unnecessary duplicates of company there would be much more effective- magazines, reports and books; time is saved by ness at no greater expense and an opportunity one person answering the same questions; and gained for certain desirable by-products of general efficiency is gained for all concerned. library service that are always a great boon to For the insurance worker one of the first company research. The trained or experienced stumbling blocks in research is inadequate librarian has scarcely entered the insurance indexes to the literature, so that we need October, 1933 SPECIAL LIBRARIES 229 librarians who are well trained 111 cataloguing was on a very technical fine point that no one and the use of subject headings. Fortunately, could know about but himself. Then begins the the Indrcstrtnl Arts Index has recently elabo- Process of paging. Then a call for the file of rated its indexing of insurance magazines con- another magazine. But still the matter is siderably, so this is one of the first working confidential and very technical, until all of a tools that a trained librarian would reckon sudden an appointment is remembered. with in planning a catalog for research workers Well yes, perhaps someone else could do the in an insurance company. The next question paging - the item wanted is what Vice Presi- to answer would be what to do about indexing dent Blank said about Home Owners Loan public health and preventive medicine informa- Corporation. Shall we look it up in the clip- tion as again we find a lack of adequate subject pings of statements made by important execu- headings in the Q~~rterlyCunizilative Index tives? Yes, here it is - the newspaper account Medicus. refers to such and such a meeting of which we Then what about the other types of insur- have the full report in the Conuentiolt Proceed- ance men - salesmen, division heads and ex- ings. There is also a write-up in the Amertcan ecutives, whose interests cover selling and fionomzc Rewiew. h little less than ten minutes psychology, management and business eco- will do what an hour's paging could ne\er nomics, investments and public relations, et accon~plish.The point in question is not that cetera? A11 such general interests lead us to the librarian necessarily had any specific observe that to do library work for an insur- knowledge on Home Loans, but rather could ance company does not mean that the librarian make a logical use of subject headings under must know everything about insurance, but which to index, file and locate. rather be well versed in all contributing lines Although the foregoing remarks have re- of information. To the insurance man such a ferred to life insurance companies specifically, statement is, at first, heresy. But to the li- there are the fire and casualty company brarian it is an interesting paradox, that the libraries as well; and secondly, there are the insurance man needs to be informed on related Society and Association libraries for fire and subjects rather than insurance in which he is other groups. Of the first mentioned, the Home expert. Ultimately the librarian must be a de- Life Insurance Conlpany in New York and the pendable authority on insurance literature, but New England Mutual Life Insurance Company at first the points of primary importance are in Boston are the most recent companies to all contributing and allied interests for the organize a library and appoint a librarian. support of insurance data and statistics. Fire insurance libraries are rather limited lor . The problem of handlinga literature about a it would seem that tlre fire companies depend business is entirely different from the admin- more on society libraries, choosing to lend their istration of that business. Therefore when the support both personal and financial to a central insurance man wants to know where to find out library idea where all phases of the business about the effect of the depression on under- can be treated in a manner equally agreeable writing and mortality, or factors controlling to all the companies. In larger cities such as the rate of interest on long-term investments, New York, Snn Francisco, Chicago, Atlanta he asks the librarian, who may have within and Boston, this central clearing house idea for reach every magazine article, or section of a all fire companies seems much the more logical. book; every address given at conventions or and in Boston and New York has worked our paper presented at society meetings; and yet excellently. know nothing about those subjects except in Of the second group, the Insurance Sociery the most superficial way. What a familiar ex- of Philadelphia may be reckoned as the most perience ~tis within libraries to have a busy, recent, having ken reorganized only this highly-paid department head ask for the year's spring. Libraries maintained by societies, such files of a certain magazine, saying that he wants as the Insurance Society of New York or the to locate a certain article that appeared on the Insurance Library Association of Boston, are left side of a page, last spring. No, there's no managed by a board of trustees with a paid use in explaining it to the librarian because it librarian in charge. These libraries usually in- 230 SPECIAL LIBRARIES Ocbber. 1935 clude material on all phases of insurance and library concentrating on its own company related subjects and are also the dnters of the background and the society library on all educational work in their respective cities, companies and all activities. The Travelers combining lecture courses and correspondence Insurance Company has always demonstrated courses with the accepted library activities. an interest in historical matters, especially for Then, too, these society libraries promote the Connecticut's Tercentenary celebration this social activities of the profession, particularly year. The Metropolitan Life Insurance Com- for their younger members, and also collect pany now has an Archives room which is set up for future generations insurance items of his- in true museum style with a staff drawn from torical and sentimental value. And what an the library to search for, classify, and file all interesting job this collecting is! Prints, en- early documents having to do with the develop- gravings, early documents, photographs, he ment of the Company. marks, policy registers, all these are eagerly We must comment on one comparatively gathered and housed. So it is not just as a recent practice that makes our work much classifier and cataloguer that an insurance more helpful and interesting. That is the free society librarian is valuable, but as historian, and constant exchange of ideas between li- social secretary, and educational director. brarians which is a great contrast to the old So many subjects are associated with fire restrictions of caution and fear. The work of insurance that a well-rounded l~braryhas ma- libraries can be much more valuable if informa- terial on rates and rate making, building con- tional resources are shared with others in the struction, water supply, fire hazards and fire same field of endeavor, always with a proper protectiod of the many varied industries regard for company interests that must be which the companies insure, directories, laws, confidential in any line of business. state insurance department reports, periodi- QUESTIONNAIRES cals, statistical services, legal services, sprinkler protection, the many insurance coverages, Our Insurance Group seems to have had its biographies, educational organizations, com- fair share of questionnaires. Usually the get- pany histories and house organs, agents' ting out of a questionnaire has signified he handbooks, public and private fire departments publication of a directory but in 1927 a careful -all these subjects treated as they would be survey was made of book collections in Insur- in books, pamphlets, and newspaper clippings. ance Association Libraries, State Libraries, .Again, slightly different are the libraries and State University Libraries. The results maintained by independent associations as the proved that there was a dearth of authoritative .issoc~ation of Casualty and Surety Execu- material in local libraries which was important tlves, or the Association of Life Insurance for librarians to know, since one problem that Presidents. As their names imply, they are is common to all insurance libraries, whether supported not so much by individuals as by Society or Company, is how to answer requests groups of individuals for their common knowl- for popular information.Letters come from club edge and exchange of information. Such women, from students in secondary scl~ools lihrar~esrarely include other than technical and from colleges, in addition to requests from hterature and are very different from the com- policyholders. These all indicate a growing pan!. libraries that may include recreational interest in such subjects as insurance history, reading as well as cultural courses for employ- social insurance, government supervision, in- ees. The Jlargland Casualty and the Hard- surance protection for the home, all of which 11 are hl utual Casualty Company have very might be taken care of in public and private estensive libraries, specializing on such subjects libraries if better and more books on insurance as industrial hazards, diseases, accident pre- were readily available. An analysis of the book vention and many other technical aspects of collections as revealed by the questionnaire their phase of insurance. was published in the News Letter of the Insur- In all types of libraries, if space and time ance Society of New York, November 1928. permit, some attention should be paid to the TOsupplement the findings of this analysis the 11161t1riralfeatures of the business; the company Insurance Group has consistently worked to Octabn, 1935 SPECIAL LIBRARIES 23 1 furnish annotated book lists as one of its main we quote the following statistics from the Group activities, hoping in this way to suggest above mentioned questionnaire. both authoritative and inexpensive new publi- cations whenever possible along with the more Number of companies reporting...... 52 Number having libraries...... 36 technical literature. Apropos the subject of Number of libraries in charge of.trained letters and the kinds of questions they bring, librarians ...... 14 we might comment on what a sensitive barom- Number of libraries in charge of un- eter the library is of conditions in the world trailled librarians ...... 15 outside. Before there were any articles written Number of libraries in charge of part time workers...... 7 on the record of insurance companies in the Number of co~npaniesreporting organ- present depression, people were asking about ized library...... 15 former depressions and their relation to the business of insurance. Before there were any With these figures must be kept in mind that comments on the effect of inflation on insur- there are, in the United States, some 475 fire ance, there were inquiries for the results of insurance companies, 260 casualty companies, inflation on insurance companies in France and 313 like insurance companies. Is there an and Germany. opportunity for the trained librarian in the in- To pursue our discussion of questionnaires, surance world? And inversely, does the in- the next investigation of the status of insur- surance world need help in the organization or ance libraries was made by the Lifeoffice Man- centralization of its available information? agers Association in 1934. They were interested A few months after the Life Office Manage- in the library problem as part of "home office ment Association released its informal report, technique and service" and sent out a ques- our Special Libraries questionnaire was issued tionnaire to some 60 merhbers of the Associa- for the new Special Libraries Directory, 1935. tion. The results may be said to show a very Because, again, of the very bad showing our interesting kind of chaos, as the analysis re- insurance libraries were able to make, we will veals no consistency of practice in such mat- run the risk of indulging in negatives rather ters as training required for library assistants, than positives by showing the appended tables placing of the library in Company organiza- which chart certain library personnel practices: tion, methods of book selection and purchase; To answer the question of what the trained routing, indexing, and binding of magazines; librarian can do for the insurance world, we classifications, filing and clipping systems, etc., will quote from Dr. Dublin's The Librarian in etc. The analysis closes with a significant state- the Field of Research (SPECIALLIBRARIES, ment to which we all must agree- July-Aug. 1934):

Of one thing we may all be quite sure: I need not labor the point that 11special Wherever there is an insurance company, librarian is today an indispensable inslrument of there you will find printed material -and lots research in whatever $eld of inaestigation. I, of it, whether there is a library or not. And it is also probably true that some of the com- therefore, look upon yon as Partners and co- panies not maintaining libraries have more workers. You reach out and are the first to gather printed ~natterthan some of the companies tofetker the recorded knowledge and mfieriencc with libraries Assuming that printed material of men. You separate the wheat from the chaff. is the stock in trade - the tools, as it were - in the insurance business, may we not also You pick out fke essentzal new material. Yon assume that printed material becomes more index and$le it and make it readily available to valuable when centralized and handled by a the investigator and analyd who is momentarily person whose training and experience brings the consumer of your firodrcct and zeltimkly the an intelligence to the task which will accom- creator of nmknowledge. Yozc are a uihl part of plish far rnorc than can be accomplished by the scattered method of "a little library in the process of schobrship and j'oe help to make every officer's room." it effective. The pual$ed rescarch man and analyst woirld be greatly hampered without yorcr Because of their professional significance to he&. If you did not exist, it woitld be irecessar? the members of Special Libraries Association, to creGe a substitute for yoir. SPECIAL LIBRARIES October, 1935

INSURANCE COMPANY LIBRARIES HISTORY Flow Sparr Book Cdlrcfiotrs Sluff Dale of Crgnn~wl~onOrr81nal Presenl Is1 year Prunrl Original Pfcsrnl A 1930 270 aq ft. 495 sa. ft. 302 vola. 120 vols. 68 pr~odl~als 1 1' wlth part 58 aeriodfale ' 3.000 pamphlets tlke clerleal irert~calfile et cctera B 1920 1.500 1.500 2,700 vols 20 V.F. drawers 1 3 C 1925 375 625 600 vol3. 400 pamphlets 1 2 250 pamphleta D 1926 180 1.250 3.000 bka. and pams. 40 V.F. drawera 2 2 1 V.F. E 1934 432 432 7 5 V.F. drawers 1 1 F 1915 Shanng apace 2,000 1 3 G 1934 7 7 7 1 7 H 1922 2,050 2,050 7,000 50 V.F. drawers 1 1 I 1928 230 644 100 11 V.F. drawers % 2 J 1927 100 1,085 7 72 V.F. drawera M 4 K 1932 360 360 7 12 V.F. drawers I 1

POLICIES & PRACTICE O#cu in Charme Waking Vaulim Emrr A Branch office 7 (5 days) 2 weeks Office and Field head Outsidera

B Plannlng department 6% daily 2 wuka Home office Two-page Libran ledet to field head and field Book Imta C Pumnncl 37% weekly 2 week8 Officers and Library note In Houe organ Director employees I, Geeretaw of 7% daily 2 weeks Company Housc organ artlclta Cammy only Mimeosra~hedbulletln E Asdstant Secretary 34 weekly 2 week8 Company staff Informal memoranda F Vice Prcaident 7 daily 2 week8 Home office Occndonal mimeomphed bulletins Outdders G 7 7 7 ? ? H Premdcnt 39 weekly 3 week# Company staff Not~cesof new books I General Manager 40 (5 days) 2 wuh Company ataff None J Office Manager 40 (5 days) 2 wceks 05m at& Houae organ articles Policy holders Dlgeats-ail employ~8andBranchoffiecr Other libmes

9-5 mnter 2 WK~S Office staff None 5-4 Bummer BIBLIOGRAPHY, 1920-1935 Organization of knowledge in its relation to Insurance library grows in importance (In- insurance, by F. L. Hoffman. Special Libra- surance Society of New York). Eastern ries 12: 165-8. September 1921. Underwriter, p. 3-6. September 21, 1923. Insurance libraries, by C. Van Dyne. Special Books for us and our custotners - how Libraries 13: 56-7. April 1922. Metropolitan Life operates a library, by Insurance libraries in the United States, by G. W. Gray. Business5: 19+. February 1924. D. H. Handy. Insurance Institute. Oct. 24, Business library an educative force, by E. 1922. Gilbert. Office Economist 6: $4.September Insurance libraries. Library Journal 48: 270. 1924. March 15, 1923. Insurance libraries in the United States. Spe- Insurance Library Association most complete cia1 Libraries 16: 151-6. May 1925. and best indexed of any of its kind in the Phoenix Mutual Life Insurance Company, by world. Insurance Index 38: 44-46. Novem- G. C. Bevan. Special Libraries 16: 269-71, ber 10, 1923. October 1925. October, 1935 SPECIAL LIBRARIES 233 Place in the insurance busmess of organized Demands on libraries follo~current etents, by insurance libraries, by F. Richardson. M. B Swcrig and D. K. Handy Lveekly Special Libraries 16: 45-6. May 1925. Underwriter 122. 103. January 11, 1930. Accomplishments of the Insurance Library of Libraries and Business Men: a symposium. Boston that are perpetuating the business. Insurance libraries, by Florence Bradley. Insurance Age Journal, p. 23-26. Novembr Library Journal 55: 3967. May 1, 1930. 20, 1926. Library service of the Mutual Bcnefit Life Libraries in Life district of New York. Eastern Insurance Company. Pekarl 28: 103-13. Underwriter 27: 9. May 21, 1926. . Musings of a library customer, by E. L. Kopf. Value of a business library, why the Insurance Special Libraries 17: 313-15. November 1926. company is particularly in need of the A]- Harvard University to have largest life insur- ways-at-Hand information it provides if ance library in the world. Life Association correctly arranged, by Ruth Howard. News 21: 489. February 1927. Spectator 124: 43. April 3, 1930. Imprial Life library service, by R. J. Wood. Insurance library: Hardware Mutual Casualty Special Libraries 18: 150-1. May 1927. Company at Stevens Point, LVisconsin. Insurance library in Spain. Eastern Under- Special Libraries 22: 49. . writer 28: 17. January 14, 1927. Insurance library idea receives prompt sup- Insurance books in insurance association port (Philadelphia Insurance Library). libraries, state libraries, and state university United States Review, p. 6. November 21, libraries, prepared by the New York Special 1931. Libraries Association. Insurance Society of ~r&%n and development of an insurance New York News Letter, p. 5-1 1. November library, p~eparedby the Insurance Group of 1928. the Speclal Libraries Association. Text by ~n&&ce Library of Chicago, by P. B. Shef- D. N. Handy. New York 1932. field. National Underwriter (Chicago His- Appendices-List of books recommended; torical and Insurance Exchange Number) Principal insurance libraries in the United 32: 123. December 28, 1928. States and Canada; Insurance annuals: Life insurance library is established by the Schemes of insurance classification for Detroit Trust Company. Life Insurance libraries. Courant 33: 158. March 1928. Insurance library exhibit, by L. Woodward. Central research library, its purpose and Special Libraries 23: 412. . pruning service, by L. A. Woodward. Special Value of insurance group activities to its mem- Libraries 20: 2968. October 1929. bers, by D. N. Handy. Special Libraries Central research library of the Maryland 23: 312 . Casualty Company, by L. A. Woodward. Library needs of the insurance agent, by W. H. Special Libraries 20: 118. April 1929. Bennett. Special Libraries 24: 7-8. January Day in the Travelers library, by E. C. Coates. 1933. Special Libraries 20: 304-5. October 1929. Special library and the trade journal, by L. -4. Home office library can help the field, by L. A. Mack. Special Libraries 24: 3-4. January Woodward. Budgct (Maryland Casualty -.1933.-. . Insurance Company) 27: 5. January 1929. Coming events cast their shadows. \Veekly Insurance library, by Retail Credit Company, Underwriter 130: 51, sec. 2. hlay 26,1934. Atlanta, Georgia. 6 p. 1929. Publication activities and special libraries- Insurance Library of Chicago. Life Values Life Insurance Sales Research Bureau. (Chicago .L\ssociation of Life Underwriters, Special Libraries 25: 237-8. Xovember 1931. Inc.) 1: 4, 9. March 1929. Thumbing through memory's pages with an Librarians know their job Eastern Under- insurance librarian. \i7eekly Underwriter writer 30: 21+. March 15, 1929. 130 42+, sec. 2. May 26, 1934.

Outgoing Mail

Dear Mary Jane: ber when you stayed there? Isn't it an Just after I wrote you my last letter, I entrancing spot and didn't you fall in heard the big news about the next con- love with Montreal generally? Janie vention. It is going to be in Montreal, Henderson is going to be the chairman of June 16 to 19, 1936, and will be held at the Convention Committee, and, with all the Mount Royal Hotel. Do you remem- the pep found in the Montreal crowd, I 234 SPECIAL LIBRARIES October, 1935 know we are going to have a grand time. Each member of the committee turned Start getting your plans set now and save in a report on a special phase of the your pennies! problem. All of these reports were dis- By the way, speaking of conventions, cussed at the fall meeting of the Associa- the S. L. A. chapters have been doing a tion in , October 9th. lot of coijperation with other library as- The New Jersey Chapter is feeling sociations recently. Did you hear about that it has attained its majority with the the grand show that the Cleveland, publication of Volume I, No. 1 of the Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and Michigan New Jersey Chapter Bulletin. Betty Chapters put on with the Ohio Library Cole is editing it. Their first meeting Association? Rose Vormelker was in was an informal get-together. charge as President of the Cleveland Two nice bits of matrimonial inforrna- Chapter, and you know how successfully tion have come my way lately. Hilda anything of that kind goes over when Albaugh was married recently, and Ma- she takes it in hand. I haven't heard rion Mead became Mrs. Nichols Hall in any detailed reports as yet, but the September. I heard that the Halls found comment that did come to me was most Bermuda all Cameth Wells says it is. glowing. By the way, did you see Ina Clement Did any of your New England friends when she was South? She added to the tell you about the regional conference at interest of her vacation by visiting the Lake George? One of the meetings was libraries of the University of North sponsored by the S. L. A. Mr. Jacob was Carolina, Duke University, and the chairman, and they had a grand pro- Tennessee Valley Authority. She was gram. The general theme was how the particularly interested in the T. V, A. public librarian can meet the informa- publications. If you haven't seen the list tional needs of business. Eleanor Cav- of these, write to the Tennessee Valley anaugh showed how this is dofie through Authority, Information Division. the Information File. Mary Louise Alex- Marian Manley was another Southern ander brought out the trade and business visitor. She came back entranced with papers feature. Dr. Wyer discussed the Tidewater Virginia and expects to spend development through new governmental any odd time she can, in Williarnsburg, statistical publications. Hazel Ohman, in the future. librarian of the New York State Em- By the way, is that neighbor of yours ployment Service, brought out the pub- still interested in the job of prison li- lic librarian's place in providing job brarian? Rebecca Rankin tells me that information, and Ruth Savord talked the New York Civil Service Commission about our new baby, the Technical Book is preparing to offer an examination for Review Index. Everyone who attended the new penitentiary at Riker's Island. spoke about the usefulness of the talks The person that gets the position will because of the definite facts given. Mr. have a chance to build up the collection, Jacob was a masterly presiding' officer. and it sounds like an interesting job. If New Jersey is on the map too, you he is interested, tell him to get in touch * know, in this connection. Did you hear with the New York Municipal Civil about the New Jersey Library Planning Service Commission, Room 1400 Munici- Committee? You know most of the pal Building, Manhattan. states have had these bodies. I think By the way -vacations are over. New Jersey is the first one to include a Just a word to the wise! special librarian in the membership. Yours, SUE October, 1935 SPECIAL LIBRARIES Presidmrs Page Y THE time this page reaches you, they all aim toward the advancement of B seasonal activities, library and other- libraries and librarians in a rather closely wise, will be in full swing. Chapter related field. Most of them distribute meetings will have taken place, group to their members through the mails, chairmen will have planned their year's book reviews or other matter bearing on programs; projects of chapters, groups current projects and problems. Since the and committees will be taking shape. groups are financed by the national asso- Before the season is too far advanced, ciation, each individual member received I want to share with you some thoughts without additional charge the publica- that have come to me on the importance tions of the group whose activities are of individual participation in the work most nearly germane to his own. More- of groups, both nationally and locally. over, many of our national publications We are divided geographically into have been initiated and brought to chapters so th8t we may bridge the long completion by various groups. interval between conventions with fre- Let me urge all members to take some quent gatherings for professional profit part this winter'in the work of the group and inspiration. Some chapters meet most clwly allied to their line of work. monthly, some not so often. At these This may be direct participation in its meetings we take part in a program that publication activities, program planning is certain to be in some degree inspira- for the June convention, suggestions to tional, but which may or may not bear group officers, or conference and dis- very closely on the problems of our own cussion in one's own community. libraries. In the larger cities formal meetings of Nevertheless we all have problems group members are entirely practicable. which can be appreciated and success- They can be and are most enthusiastic. fully attacked only by {hose who work In smaller places, or where a few people in organizations closely akin to our own. are interested in some very special line. We are "putting knowledge to work" in an bntirely unofficial getting together is very diversified and sometimes minute in order. Even librarians must eat fields. No magazige and no general luncheon, and three or four people convention can deal intensively with around a table can contribute much to many of these very specialized corners their mutual interest and understanding. of our vocational work. Group chairmen might well designate That is why the Association stresses members in various cities to see to it that so much the need of allying ourselves suitable opportunity for consultation be with the group nearest to our own inter- available to people of similar interests. ests, why associate members have been In short let us this year put ourselves enrolled in the various groups, and why in line to receive something of value in the new associate membership will carry connection with our particular subject the very great advantage of national interest, and let us contribute something group affiliation, which will not be open from our own experience and practice to those who choose only a local mem- that will aid in the solution of common bership. problems. Our national groups vary in size, in HOWARDL. STEBBINS, form of organization, and in activity, but Pres~denl SPECIAL LIBRARIES

THE SPECIAL LIBRARIES ASSOCIATION and BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL WORKERS What is the Special Libraries Association? Ciuzc-Social. Compiled a "Basic List of Municipal An organization formed in 1909 "to promotc the Documents," " Public Administration Libraries: collection, organuation and dissemination of A Manual of Practice," and (in process) a list of information, to develop the usefulness and effi- subject headings for social welfare material. ciency of special libraries and other research Maintains active committees to romote the organ~zations,and to encourage the professional growth of civic libraries and to ma&e municipal welfare of its members." documents more generally available, by exchange with other libraries. Whom Does It Serve? Commerce. Has compiled the pamphlet, "Guides All those who realize the ever increasing Im- to Business Facts and Figures," "Statistics on portance of knowing what information is ava~l- Commodities" chart, a list of subject headings able and where to secure it quickly and at rnini- covering advertising and merchandising, pub- mum cost. lished book reviews on its subjects, and collected pertinent classifications. Who are Members of S. L. A.? Librarians and research workers of manufacturmg Finance. Prepared recent revisions of a funda- concerns, banls, investment houses, museums, mental list of books required in a financial hbrary insurance companies, newspapers, scientific and (as for a bank) and of a list of subject headings social research organizations, government agen- for use in financial libraries. A check list of cies. medical and law libraries. c~vicoraanizations. mimeographed and other U. S. docun~entsdiffi- and'of many other groups dealing with-specialized cult to locate but useful in this field has been fields in which collections of boob or data, of distributed, and one on foreign documents is in whatever size, have been found mdispensable in preparation. recent years. Insurance. Publishes quarterly "Insuranc~Book Reviews." Has also issued pamphlet on Crea- How Do the Members Coijperate in "Putting tion and Development of an Insurance Library," Knowled e to Work"? collected insurance classification schemes, and What ~cnegsDo Members Receive? has work in progress on a subject heading list for insurance librar~es. I. Locally By organizing In chapters that form a cross Museum. Includes all types - art, science, his- section of special library interests so that one torical, etc. - of museum libraries. Bibliographi- librarian may know the possibilities for asaistance cal work in codperation with the Amer~can offered by the others, and workers in each field Association of Museums is its outstanding may modify the~rtechniques by the successful project. practices developed in other lines. Many of these Nmspapcr. Assembled a scra book of forms, etc., chapters are located in large cities, from Boston in actual use in newspaper lipraries, for lending. to San Francisco. Frequent meetings offer oppor- Sponsored many time-saving devices. Compiled tunity not only for sharing experience concerning list of subject headings on city, state and country, general research methods and resources, but also for use in small libraries. Suggests "Newspaper for stimulus and inspiration. Library Methods" (1933) by Robert Desmond foi libraries planning to brganize or reorganne. 2. Natio~lly By maintaining active national committees on Public Business Librarians. Established in 1934, Methods, Classification, Duplicate Exchange of for ublic librarians who must handle reference books and pamphlets, Em loyment, and such worE of the type encountered in special libraries. other activities as may be ofassistance. Science-Technology. Covers a variety of interests. By organizing nation-wide groups of libraries Chemistry Section has prepared a union list of doing the same type of work, so that business. chemical periodicals from libraries not in other technical, or museum, or newspaper libraries such lists, actively circulated exchange informa- throughout the country may establish contacts tion on journal volumes, lists of dissertations, and s~mplifytheir own work by cooperative wn- b~bliagraphies on special subjects, etc. Public s~deration of common problen~s, particularly Util~tles,Rubber and Petroleum are other Sec- through discussion and compariwn during group tions with many activities. A manual covering sessions at the annual convention. Each group organizat~onand operation of science-technology organization may act as a clearing house to libraries, many of which have sprung into exist- which libraries of the type included may refer for ence in the last 15 years, is in p,rocess of being advice. Much generally applicable work has compiled. already been accomplished by these subdivisions University and College Dc@rtmcnlol Librarians. of S. L. A., as listed below. Organized late in 1934 for university workers Biological Sciences. Established in 1934, and thus whose subjects are those of the special librarian, far occupied in acquainting members with each but who necessarily handle the marerial from a other and their mutual resources. different standpoint. October, 1935 SPECIAL LIBRARlES 3. Tbro#gh Publications work. Active members are entitled to full voting As the need lor a publication to increase efficiency privileges in both nat~onal and local chapter in a special field has appeared, the Special Li- meetings, to national group affiliation, and to brar~esAssociation has arranged to compile and receive the monthly journal, "Special Libraries," publmh it. Some such contributions are: and such group publications as are distributed to Directory. Special Libraries Directory of the group members free of charge. Dues, $5 a year. United States and Canada. A guide to approxl- Instflutional. For any library, firm or other mately 1475 special libraries arranged geo- organization maintaining a hbrary or interested graphically and Indexed for important subjects. In library work, which map designate ~tsrepre- sentative in the Assoc~ation. An institutional R~ference Tools. Such pamphlets as "Trade member is entitled to all the privileges of active Catalog Collec~ion:A Manual with Source Lists," membership and in addit~onreceivcs ail S. L. A "Guides to Business Facts and Figures," and publicat~onswithout additional charge. Institu- "Handbook to Conlmercial and Financial Serv- tional membership provides the best means of ices" are typical of these first hand tools. keeping in contact with developments in the Surveys of spenal librurzes Jzld. A series of dis- special library field as a whole. Dues, $15 a year. cussions (the first authoritative surveys in most Associate. For assistants in special libraries, and cases) of different types of special libraries, for others engaged in or interested in library, covering history, scope of work, essential training, statistical, or research work who wish to retam costs, collections, etc., including bibliographies. national as well as local voting privileges and to Periodicals. "Special Libraries," besides the be afiiliated with the national group of their official news of the Association, carries informa- choice, but must do so at reduced cost. As of tive articles on the progress of the special library January 1, 19.36, associate members, while not movement and acts as a clearing house for news entitled to receive the monthly journal, "Special and comment and for publication notes in Librarres," have both national and local voting s cialized fields. "Technical Book Review privileges, national group amiation, and receive Gest" provides quotations from book reviews a "Quarterly Associate Bulletin" containing in the fields of applied science and technology notes on Association activities, as well as such and ie both a check list and an Index. group publications as are distributed to group 4. Pqfessioml Welfare members free of charge. Dues, $2 a year. S. L. A. constantly works toward raising the Local. For those engaged in or interestcd in standards of library research by advocating library, sta~istical, or research work who are adequate training of the llbrar~anand recognition interestecl only in the social and professional of his efforts. Those about to enter special library activities carried on by their local chapter of work are urged to prepare themselves by study S. L. A. Local members are entitled only to local of methods already proved efficient, preferably voting prwileges. They have no national vote, no in a library school. Conversely, it is recognized as national group affiliation, and receive no S. L. A. becoming more and more necessary that library publications. Dues, $1 a year. research workers have at least basic training in How Many Librarians? the subjects covered by their respective libraries. Many of the groups cooperate with other pro- According to the 1930 census, there are 29,613 fessional societ~esin their fields. furnishina biblio- librarians in the United States alone (and of these, pphical contributions, and otherwise making 27,056 are women). nown the usefulness of the special library. American Library Association is quoted as having a membership of 12,900 in April, 1935, How Does it Serve in Employment Contacts? and S. L. A. membership as of June, 1935, was S. L. A. helps firms and institutions to organize 1789. The total number of librarians represented libraries and data collections, and establ~shes in their professional associations in the United contacts between those wishing to organize States is therefore not more than approximately special libraries, and librarians Interested in 14,700, or slightly less than 50 per cent. increased opporiun~ties. How many of "the other half," not affiliated with any professional organization, are special What, Therefore, Does Membership in S. L. A. l~brarians?How many special librarians in Can- Imply? ada are not yet members in S. L. A.? The opporiutrity Probably by the time this journal reaches you To share the experience of experts in making the membersh~pcommittee representatiyes from current information acceaible. both groups and chapters will have been ap- To learn throu h "S cia1 L~braries,"group pointed. We are asking for the appointment of activities, and 5. L. rmeetings of new ways newer members this year, at Preeident Stebbins to organize and apply data. request, but we shall be exceedingly grateful for To make stimulating contacts with research advice from those more experienced in this work. workers throu hout the country having It is ,om sincere belief that our Membership common grounis of interest. Committee effort should be toward publicizing To share in fostering rogress in research the hdp offered by S. L. A. It is also our conviction and in methods of maling records of such that the new Associate membership is a desirable research accessible. addit~onto our pro ram. But -we shall need the help of all memters in advertising both the Membership Classes and Dues new type of membershi and the advantages of Active. For hbrar~ansin charge of spcial libraries all types of membership7 and any other mn actively engaged In or HILDAP. ALBAUGH,Chmrman interested in licary. statistical, or research Membership Con~w~ittse 15 SPECIAL LIBRARIES October, 1935

Publications 4Special Interest Allm, Douglas. Building careers. Lorden ment stores. Demtes special attention to layout pnc- Publishers, Newark, N. J. 1934. 144 p. tices and to problems of expense distributron. $2.00. Early, Eleanor. Behold the White Moun- A group of "succas stories" prepared for radio tains. Little. Brown, Boston. 1935. 232 p. interviews and covering such d~verseNew Jerxy pr- $1.50. mnalities as B. C. Forbes, Glenn Gardiner, Howard Marsh, and Senator J. G. Wolbcr. All sorts of chatter about the Wh~teMountah. Rambling and ~noonrquentralbut quite informative, Anderson. H. D. and Eells, W. C. Alaska and with many hints on food, lodg~ngand points of natives. Stanford Univ. Pren, Stanford interest. University, Calif. 1935. 472 p. $5.00. Emery, Brooks. Strategy of raw materials. Thia aurvey of the sociological and eduutional status Macmillan, N. Y. 1934. 202 p. $3.00. was made to discover a basis for a system of xhools An analys~sof the available nw materials for adapted to the native people and their envimnmmt. America's potential wartrme df-srrfficieney in food Tnvel by airplac, dog sled. natlve boat. coast ward stu&, esxntirl industrial products and munitions, cutter, etc., added to the adventures. harddips and proving that this country is most fortunately situated. pleasures of work in the field. A wealth of ~nformation Many ~nterestingcharts and statistical tables. An ex- is interestrngly presented. The volume is an essential cellent bibliography included. for any study of the country. Illustrated by photo- graphs. Bibliography included A notable work. Ferguson, D. N. History of musical thought. Croft4 N. Y. 1935. 573 p. $5.00. Bailey, V. H. and Maurice, A. B. Magical A long and interesting accatnt of the development city. Scribner, N. Y. 1935. 254 p. $2.50. of music and its different forms. Much of it can only Intimate sketchel of Ner York with dcrript~vc Iw appreciated by those rather well versed in musical notes. Both artist and author are thoroughly familiar technique, but a great dal will be stimulating to the with rts traditions This reproduction of the series uninformed. Some good illumtntiona of instrummts, a that has appared in The New Ymk Sun will delight wmprebcasrrc hbliography and a fine liat of phow- those who love the vaned aspects of a colorful city. graph records are Inen. Not indexed. Finger, C. J. Distant prize. Appleton-Cen- Bliss, H. E. System of bibliographic classi- tury, N. Y. 1935. 339 p. $2.50. fication. Wilson, N. .Y. 1935. 344 p. $7.00. A wlorful supplement to the history of wcstward A scholarly treatise explaining the author's clasrifi- expansron. with its sketches of trappers. explorers. rangers and rarrlq. Brief and vivid comment on many cation, followed by detailed outline scheduler and tables The arrangement of the classifiation tables seems minor figurer Indued. more logical than that of the Dewey Dccimnl syrtem, Friedrich, C. J. and others. Problems of the but riw of a letter-number notatron appears more complicated than a decimal system. The author has American Public Service. McGraw, N. Y. the admirable idea of providing for relative viewpoints 1935. 444 p. $4.00. on a subjcct by alternative places within the classifica. The questions of rcsponsihle government service tlon. These, as well as descriptive definitions of his under the constrtution, municipal cinl xrvice, veteran subjects, are explained in detailed ~testhroughout preference, and permnnel practmes drscuswd at length. the classification. The bmk 1s thought provoking, hut Much detail on recruiting, classifying and examining time and use alone can prove the value of h~sideas methods Some salary xhedules noted. A generally ap and system proving consideration of civil service as it is carried out. Bohn, Frank and Ely, R. T. Great change. Nelson, N. Y. 1935. 380 p. $1.60. Gibbons, John. Is this America? Dutton, An extruuely interesting discusaon of work and N. Y. 1935.231 p. $2.50. wulth in tb- New Age, well adapted for an orien- On foot and by motor, an Englishman sees the United tat~onbook the general reader or student. Clear States from New Orleans to New York. Acute, witt)., and enlighter* - comment on the development of cur- and appreciative. Particularly interesting in its skctches rent economic movements. Particularly helpful and of a country only occasionally discussed in print. The stimulating notes on supplementary reading appcar notes on the difference between English and American frequently in the text. An utcnaive biblioprapby is modes of living are illuminating. included. Gleasos H. A. Plants of the vicinity of New Brisco, N. A. Retailing. Prentice-Hall, N. Y. York. New York Botanical Garden, N. Y. 1935.686 p. $5.00. 1935. 198 p. $1.65. A comprehensive, clear and detailed svrvey of fun. A compact guide to plants within a 200-mile radius. damental principles, especially as applied to depart- Mastering the tccbnique employed requires stern am- ktratlon. Excellent iUtldntiau of didjin&aj+q have valrte to other instihtions. .Not.ca am firm fatures. Glossary indudd. Wdl indexed. hulletrns, reports, mrterr adndio t.llrs. Ults of rcfcrcnces follow each chrpter. A pnetierl mlme. Grdm6z. Bessie. Pam0118literary pruea ad their winnem. Bowker,, N. Y. 1935. 63 p. Madden, I. T. .pd Nadler, Mucus. Inter- $1.50. national money markets. Prentice-Hall, Continental, British and American sections give brief N. Y. 1935. 561 p. $5.00. atatcmcnts of the purpw of the prum and their his- ' A discussion of the changes in the inttmtional toe with a list of the recipients to date. A urful little moaw market due to gold standard problems, ctc. compendium Dataild discussion of New York, London, Paris, Ber- Greenberg, B. C. Science md the public lin. Ambterdam and Swlss money markets Excellcnt mind. McGmw, N. Y. 1935. 209 p. $2.00. hiblidmiyhy A discussion of the means whereby the layman may Mum, W. 3. Little walks on enchanted have an opgortunlty to develop his tentative interest in ground. Stephen Daye Press, Brattleboro, science. Examples of the programs already under way are glven with many suggeationa for prcater dodop. 1935. 277 p. $2.00. ' ment of cooperative possibilities in museums, libraries, A charming little volume in which New England's research instrtut~o,ns,the schools and the press. Golden Age of lltcraturc is lov~nglyremembered These Harrington, V. D. New York merchant on many assuclations of Concord, Salem, Portsmouth, etc , are described with warm apprcciation A number of the eve of the revolution. Columbia Univ., references to the interesting collections in historical N. Y. 396 p. $4.50. libraries are included. Well lllustratcd. Another of the careful period studus ~ssucdby this Press. Well wr~ttcnMany details of trade and varlcties hfarden, C. F. Rotary and its brothers. of products noted, not only for England, Holland and Princeton Univ., 1935. 178 p. $2.00. the West Indin, but also for the colonies, in particular NR Jersey and Connext~cut.Progress in Insurance. Thia analysis and interpretation of the service chhs shlppinp ahd Iron trade given special attention In- is another of the'many volumes devoted to mciolog~cal has cliidea an excellent bibliography of primary and accond- ohenomem.. - The author collected many rnformat~vc ary sources. Many footnotes ~llustralions and has provcd himself a sympathct~c though dispassionate observer, recognizing hoth the Hoyt, Ray. We can take it ; a short story of valucs and limitations of these associations. the C.C.C. American Book Co., N. Y. 1935. I28 p. 606. MilJspaugh, A. C. Public welfare organiza- A short story of thc Crvllian Conservation Corps tion. Brookings Institution, Washington. that nvcs details of the dally l~feof tts members, 1935. 725 P. 13-50. what they do and what it docs to them. A picturesque A fine study of the many aspects of welfare orpniza- account of a constructwe actlvrty. Some statistics of tion Special analysis 1s made of the different methods the many acco~npl~~hmcntsare included. prcvall~ngin the varlous states, particularly n they Kimble, G. E. Social work with travelers affect the child, the delinquent, the handicapped and the dependent Problems of rmrganizat~onarc farrly and transients. Univ. of Chicago Press, presented. A comprehensive study that ams a bas15 Chicago. 1935. 127 p. $1.00. for an under~tandlllgof such prohlcms Many istere+ Countless problems relating to stranded or twwil- Ing references noted. Excellent bibliography, list of dered travelerq, children alone, runaways, etc , come reports and other appendices includcd. to the attentton of the Traveler4 Aid wurkers Knowl- edge of cooperating agencws and the ability for quick Moats, Leone and Moats, A. L. Off to Mex- decisions arc essentials. The prcparallon md rema- ico. Scribner, N. Y. 1935.203 p. $4.75. neration of these workers and the ~tandardsof the organizat~onsare discussed. Amply documented. A del~chtfulyet practical gu~dcto the current Mccca. Pictorla1 maps and deta~led instructions simphfy Lapp, J. A. and Weaver, R. B. Citizen and travel. Pertinent advice and appreclative comment are his government. Silver, Burdett, N. Y. much to tile fore. An appendix lrsls usefill phrases. placcs to shop, hotels to visit and books to read, Alto- 1935. 719 p. $1.80. nether a satisfactory addition to the wllling wmderer's A pa~ticularlywell arranged anide to cltlzensbip by lhrary of travel. a former pres~dentof S.L.A. Gives clear definitions of the functio~~suf the d~Kercntdepartments of thc National Education Association of U. S., government and RIIOWSthe relat~onof the ~ndwidual to the cotnmunity and natlon. Many reading references Dept. of Superintendence. Social change included. and education. The Association, Washing- ton. 1935. 383 p. $2.00. Lyle, G. R. College library publicity. Faxon, A broad d~scussionof prcscllt.&y n0clal problerrlr Boston. 1935. 116 p. $1.50. rn education with contr~hut~onsby such active hgurcs Suggesttons for inter.organizat~on public~ty that, as Bryson, Newlon, Studebal-er. Wmddy Includes although ptlniar~lyintended for college Iihrar~es,w111 dphnkbcai l~stof principal menrbcrs w~thdegrees 240 SPECIAL LIBRARIES Oclobcr, 1995 'Niles, H. E. and Nlles, M. C. H.Office super- Stieri, Emanuele. Home craftsmanship. Mc- visor. Wiley, N. Y. 1935. 255 p. $2.00. Graw, N. Y. 1935.354 p. $2.50. An excellent discussion of the problems involved A Imk of working instructions with detailed pen Includes many Interesting quotations as pertinent 11- and ink drawings. Descriptions and illustrations of lustrationq. A dlstlnctly useful contribuhon. Includes different grains and uses of woods Selectcd list of a particularly fine annotated bibliography. tools and uses for home workshop incladed as well as a bhliography. Patch, E. M. and Fenton, C. L. Holiday Swing, R. G. Forerunners of American shore. Macmillan, N. Y. 1935. 150 p. $2.00. Fascism. Julian Messner, Inc., N. Y. 1935. A gu~deto the ~hcllfish and other interest~ngIn- 168 p. $1.75. l~abltantsof rocky beaches. Written for children hut lnterestlng to adults Delightfully illustrated Descr~hes An acute analysls of the lmld on the emotional and both Pacific and Atlantic coast species A satisfactory ~ynmant,exerc~sed hy such masters of nioh psychology accompaniment to a shore trip. as Huey Long, Hcarst, etc Includes a considered in- dictment of proposed leg~slationfor the invasion of Pitkin, W. B. Let's get what we wantl civil Ilberties. Shrewd, d~spassionateand clear Helpful in onderstanding political and social problems Simon & Schuster, N. Y. 1935.299 p. $2.00. In his usual effervescent style, the author discuses Tyson, Levering, ed. Radio and education, many current cconomlc condit~onsand makes some very 1934. Univ. of Chicago Press, Chicago. pertinent coinment on bullding wastes and exploitation, 1935. 274 p. $3.00. medlcal nttcndance on an approprmte financial ham, and the crmes of the reta~lers.HIS discussion of Con. Proceedings of the Natlo~ial Advisor, Council on srlmer Research broadsides is interesting as presentmg Radlo 111 Education. Devotes nmch space to the ques- tl~c"other slde " Not ~ndexcd. t~onof government control and more to discussion of reamns why radio programs are not interesting. Many Salter, J. T. Boss rule. Whittlesey House, 11roblemsbrought oat, but decidedly inconclus~ve. N. Y. 1935.281 p. $2.50. Wells, Carveth. Bermuda in three colors. These portraits in c~typol~tlcs substantiate the McBride, N. Y. 1935. 271 p. $2.50. sketches given by Lincoln Steffens, but are particularly A perfect guide, and an almost irresistible tempt* revealing as to the number of times tllc precinct com- tion. History, gossip, fact and fancy blended wlth a mlttce men come to the aid of loyal voters when they light and sLillf~tltouch. A short rending list and some run afoul of the law. intriguing recipes included Flne illustrations. Jacket lncludes an excellent map. Schmeckebier, L. 4. International organiza- tions in which the United States partici- W~lliams,H. S. Drugs against men. Mc- pates. Brookings Institution, Washing- Bride, N. Y. 1935.200 p. $1.75. ton. 1935. 380 p. $2.50. A restrained, dispass~onatebut arresting dlscussion of the drug problem particularly as it affects users of A ssstematlc d~scuss~onof the 29 international or- n~cotinc,caffeine, alcol~oland narcotics. The effect of nanlzatlons supported In part by the Unltcd States in the enforcement of legal legislat~ons1s shown in a 1934. The purposes of these commlsmons, a concise dlscussion of the situation in Los Angeles. ~ecordof their act~v~ties,the basis of them financial support, and a bhliography of related publications are Wright, Milton. Getting along with people. wen rZ worthwhile picture of our international actlvltles McGraw, N. Y. 1935. 319 p. $2.50. An entertaining, practical analysls of personality Seger, Gerhart. A nation terrorized. Reilly problems, free from padding, and wlth many pertinent & Lee, Chicago. 1935.204 p. $1.50. illustrations. A good check up for anyone but partic. ularly useful for those who fcel at a d~sndvantagcin A rcprt of the treatment given political prlsonels meeting people. under the IIitler rigimc The author was a member of the German Reichstag 1n four parliaments An intro- S. L. ductlon by IIeinrich Mann IS included. The report is A. Duplicate Exchange Committee vivd, forceful, and hears out thc widespread reports HE publicat~onslisted here can be secured oi the cruel stup~ditythat IS changing the process of a nnt~on'sdevelopment. Tfree, except for transportation charges, by communicating with Rosamond Cruikshank, Stevens. G. A. Garden flowers in color. Mac- Chairman, S. L. A. Duplicate Exchange Com- millan, N. Y. 1934. 320 p. $3.75. mittee, Hartford Public L~brary, Ilartford, h most satlsfactorr gwde to a host of hardy favor. Conn. Promptness is essential. iles. The excellent platcs help to identify old fnends. American medical directory 1925 , Rrlcf practlcnl planting notes accompany the illustra- American yearbook 1926 tlons. An occawonal expression of prejud~ce adds .4. A. A. aemce station directory 1932 piquancy. A good birthday remembrance for hardy Aul. lr. jl. - Sales & eeme manual 1934 gardcncrs. Bachc - Commodities 1932-33 October, 1935 SPECIAL LIBRARIES 241

Bus TrnnsPalnlron -Annual rev no.. 1933 Canners dlrectory 1932 NOW PUBLISHED-The first and only Commerce yearbook, 1923. 1926. 1928 (v. 2) Com. & Fin. Chron. 0c.-De 1931,Oc.-De. 1932 biogra~hicdreference book of Cong. Dir - 73d Cong., Jan. 1934 Association Exectttiues Cwmmtive tmctor catalog 1931 Corporation manual (Parker) 1919. 1921, 1922. 1923 WHO'S WHO Dowhnm - Bualne~adnft. 1931 among &d. 6' Pub. - Markct guide 1933 15th census - Agriculture, Summary 1929-30 ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVES Henla - Commodity markets. 1930, 1933 Recommended by tho A. L. A. Insurance almanac 1934 CPmmlttec an Subscrrpt~onkka lal. Commerce Corn. -Stat oi railways 1925. 1926 Price -$8.50 Market data book of New England 1929 Merchant marine statist~cs1925. 1930 Inrtinrte for Rc-rch in Bmgrrphy, Inc. M~llard'simplement service 1932 205 bnr 42nd Street. New York. N. Y. N. Y. Prrntmg trades blue bwk 1930 Pmr's Railways, odd ma, before 1904 Power's hlghw~ycatalog 1932 Purd~eUmu. - Ridlng wmlort analysla 1933 Rnwleigh found. - Tanff on sugar. 1933 Saward'a annual 1931 Smithsoninn ins1 -Report 1933 Reinhold T. Pusch Soap blue book 1932 Spectator Ina. yrbk. (Ilfe) 1929 Specializing in Pictorial Research Statesman's yrbk - 1922-1925 ThomPsow - Population & diatrlbution 1926 Trade Assn. executive8 in N. Y. C 1932-33 81 Lafayette Avenue Tukrcnloals sanatortum directory 1931 U. S. Brewcra Asan. yrbk. 1914 , New York U. S. Foreign commerce & rinvinahon 1927. v. 1 Who makea It & where 1933 Who'n who In egg & p~ultryind. 1934. 1935 World almanac. 1932, 1933. 1934

There is an SPECIAL SUBJECTS for 0 XFORD DICTIONARY I SPECIAL LIBRARIES for Use Every Large stock of Oxford reference books are unrivalled in OUT-OF-PRINT MATERIAL their reliability and scholarship. Check I this list for volumes needed to complete Careful, intelligent attention to your reference shelf. I WANT LISTS -The Oxford English Dictionary 13 vols. S145.00 RICHARD S. WORMSER -The Shorter Oxford 44 WN48m STREET English Dictionary 4 vols. $1 8.00 NEW YORK -The Concise Oxford Dictionary 53.00 -Modern English Usage $3.45 ,Modern American Uwgc Just Out S3.45 CANADIAN -The Concise Oxford French Dictionary 53.00 INFORMATION -The Oxidrd Companion to English Literature $5.00 For Accurate Up-to-Date Statisttcs, Reports, -The Concise Dictionary Books, Photos on Topics CANADIAN of National Biography $7.00 write I Send for prorpcctu~er and &~crzptrvc'rh JAMES MONTAGNES OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS 517 Harbour Commiuion Building 114 Fifth Avenue, New York TORONTO CANADA

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