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Special Libraries, 1924 Special Libraries,

11-1-1924

Special Libraries,

Special Libraries Association

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Recommended Citation Special Libraries Association, "Special Libraries, November 1924" (1924). Special Libraries, 1924. 9. https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/sla_sl_1924/9

This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the Special Libraries, 1920s at SJSU ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Special Libraries, 1924 by an authorized administrator of SJSU ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Vol. 15 November. 1924 No. 9

Published Monthly Except July and August by THE SPECIAL LIBRARIES ASSOCIATION 958-972 University Ave., , N. Y. Checks should be made our ro the Assoclarjon and lnniled Lo Gertrude D Peterlr~n,Trcasulw, Cnrc of -%mencan Telephone & Telcgrnph Co., 185 Broadway, Sew York

Rnlea 14.00 a yea), Foreign 84.50, ainglc copies 50 cenlr Contents AKXLES .-. -- LEI^ l0~i.7~an Industrial Research Library ...218 National Safety Council Exhibit . . 220 Plans for the Future ...... 222 Radio Talk on Financial Libraries . 216 The Association's Objective ..223 The Financial Exhibit at . 215

BRIEF NOTES A Journalism Week . Affiliations .... Dues for 1924-25. . Extra-Mural Activities . Light Under a Bushel New Bibliographies . Peace Bibliographies . Telephone Archives .

DEPARTMbm Associations ...... 226 Editor's Desk ...... 224 Foreign Field ..221 Mail bag . 221 Personal Notes. . 225 Things in Print ...228 Special Libraries

Vol. 15 November, 1924 No. 9

The Financial Library Exhibit at the American Bankers Association Convention By Alta B. Claflin, LiB~a~ian,Federal Reserve Bank of,

The Chicago Committee of the S.L.A. understand that all the financial libraries rep- Financial Group has asked me to describe the resented in the S.L.A. wcre asked to contrib- financial l~braryexhibit held in connection with ute to this display of photographs, which is a the annual conventio~~of the American very effective means of visualizing the out- Bankers Association at Chicago, from Sep- ward details of such libraries. letnber 29th to October zd, 1924, because I at- The vertical files showing the best methods tended merely as a visitor, and therefore of arrangement for data and corporation files might be able to rccord the impressions of an of clippings, circulars and pamphlets, interested interested olrservcr pcrhaps better than those the visiting bankers. A well-prepared sample who were so closely connected with its prep- card catalog, showing among other details the aration. different colored cards used to indicate data Emphasis was laid upon the non-cominer- file ancl magazinc entries, must have cost some cia1 aspect of the exhibit. The products of competent cataloguer and typist much time and 110 cotntnercia1 or publishing firm, as such, labor were displayed in any way. The two book The location assigned for the exhibit by cases were filled w~thbooks carefully sclected the Executive Comnlittee of the A.B.A, was as the best on the subjects or phases of the as fine as could be, in an alcove opposite the subjecls covered, and were all taken directly entrance to the balcony and boxes at the Audi- from the shelves of Chicago financial libra- torium Theatre where all general sesslons of ries. The new and attractive furniture hap- the co~wention were held. Fine noticeable pencd to be mostly n Library Bureau order signs placed in the first floor lobby of the to fill thc needs of one of the Chicago lihra- theatrc and over thc tnformation desk at the ries, and was loancd for the exhibit before headquarters in the Congress Hotel, and an- being installed at its final destination. The noc~ncements from the platform at thc open- newspaper rack held the current daily financial ing sessions of both the A.B.A. and the As- newspapers; one magazine rack displayed the sociation of Bank Women, directed attention more important banking and financial period- to the exhibit. In thc little official book of icals, and the other was filled w~thexamples guests tickets which were given to all the men of the many valuable monthly rekie1r.s issued ancl women who registered at the convet~tion gratis by leading banks and financial institu- there was one page which read: "Bc sure to tions Th~slatter display attracted much at- visit the exhillits held by the Financial Ad- tcntton, for many of the I~ankersseemed to vertisers' Association and the Special Libra- be unaware that so much worth-while reading rics Association." matter could be ohtained free of charge. The librarians who were acting as attendants On the tables wcre placed examples of the were kept busy with visitors from Mame to important fit~ancialand investment services, . Most of thesc were presidents, and on the walls was a most attractive col- vice-presidel~ts and cashiers of banks, with a lection of photographs of financial libraries. I few university instructors and professors of 216 SPECIAL LIBRARIES November, 1924

economics and finance who would naturally Halsey, Stuart & Company,-a strong grolip be attracted to any collection of books and whosc full co-operation made the exhibit pos- other reading matter on their subject. Many sible. In addition Miss Mary B. Day, of the simple questions were answered, such as the National Safety Council, gave valuable advice best books to buy for a certain purpose, what drawn from her experience in placing Safety periodicals and services should be subscribed Coutlcil exhibits. for, how clippings and pamphlets (which all The work of the committee was carried out bankers have to deal with) should best be with the full approval of the chairman of the kept, even suggested books for personal read- S.L.A Financial Group, Miss Margaret Rey- ing or as giits for their wives. Since the nolds She, also, as her share of the work, took close of the convention, a letter from one of charge of the publicity both preliminary to, the librarians states that sixty-six questions and during the exhibit, and was herself on have been answered in her library which could duty with the other librarians during most of be traced to the exhibit. the convention. She should have the credit Too much credit cannot be given to Miss also of persuading Mr. R. E. Wright, of the Ruth Nichols, chairman of the Chicago Com- First National Bank, Mtlwaukee, to mittee, and the Executive Secretary, Miss prepare the excellent radio talk on financial Julia Elliott of 'the Indexers, for their part E libraries, printed on another page of this issue in formulating and carrying out the plans for of SPECIALLIBRARIES. the exhibit. Chief credit for the excellent booklet, "Your Bank and the Organization of I have gone into the detalls of this report its Library," should go to Miss Louise Krause, so fully because it is very possible that in of H. hivi.Byllesby & Company. This booklet the preparation of future financial exhibits, was distributed freely to the visitors, and, no those in charge may find it useful to have a doubt, most of the financial librarians have fairly full record of what was done in previous received copies by mail and are already fa- ones. This exhibit, and that of 1923, are the miliar with it. pioneers in bringing the library service before Other members of the committee were Miss bankers collectively, and therefore a record of Sue &I. Wuchter, of the Continental and Com- experience is likely to be of considerable value mcrcial Banks, and Miss Virginia Savage, of in the future.

Financial Libraries A Radio Talk by R. E. Wright, First Wisconsin National Bank. , broadcast from WMAQ, Chicago, Ill., ,1924

There are some among the radio audience The banker of today must be infornled about this evening, perhaps, who think of a banker world affairs. With the development of the

as a man who spends much of his time study- comolex~ * structure of the business world of to- ing the calendar to determine when your note day, there has come a pressing necd for more comes due, or, if not for that purpose, to de- information, not only about business in gen- termme which days are bank holidays. Others eral, or some special business, but about world may think of the banker as one whom it is affairs, for the banker plays an important part necessary to put in a cage in order to keep in the life of the community and the country. him at work until two p.m. on days that are The banker must know industry. In a recent not bank holidays. Whether you think so or address on the subject, "The Twentieth Cen- not, it is a fact, that directly or indirectly, tury Banker," Mr. Walter Head, President of your banker may have much to do with your the American Bankers Association, emphasizes success. Even if you never go near a bank, this point by saying that the "banker must the servrce the bank renders your employer read men as well as statements of financial may affect you through that employer's suc- worth. He must know industry as well as cess. For that reason, the Convention of the the affairs of a single corporation. He must American Bankers Association in Chicago this know world markets, as well as local markets. weck is of interest to you. The banker who loaned heavily upon grain November, 1924 SPECIAL LIBRARIES "7 and live stock just prior to the slump of I921 from the busy officer this is sent to his desk. not only lost money for himself but lost the When a man wants material he usually wants opportunity to advance his own prosperity by it in a hurry, so it is important that the libra- advancing that of his commun~ty. Intelli- rlan be a person of discernment. She must gent foresight by bankers in 1918 and 1919 anticipate coming wants and be ready to fur- m~ghtconceivably have prevented many of the nish her patrons with material in concise form more serious consequences of the agricultural quickly. Her job is to select rather than to depression of ICJZI." collect. When facts are scattered around in It is not enough for the banker to know the various places, she will have them assembled ins and outs of the banking busmess. To de- and tabulated or digested, so as to save the cide quest~onsconnected with various indus- busy man's time. tries, one must know something ab#t the in- Hav~ngall books and pamphlets filed in the dustries themselves. To know about an in- library instead of in peopIels desks saves time dustry locally is not enough. The industry and money. Every individual has the benefit nust be viewed from all angles, nationally and of material, instead of the use being limited internationally, as well as locally. The fnany to a few. Thc library is a selection, not a activities of the modern banker do not allow collection. him time to read about these things for him- The questions asked in a financial library self so he turns to the library. There some- vary as greatly as Heinz 57 varieties. There one senses the subject in which he is inter- are questions such as-arc rents going to de- ested, anticipates the queries that will un- crease within the next six months or what is doubtedly come and prepares for them by di- the present buying power of a dollar or what gesting the material. is thc best route to New York. More in- The financier oi today is asked to contrib- volved qllestions, as a survey of pea canneries ute articles to periodicals of various kinds. in Wisconsin or the leather industry are asked He is asked to speak beiore numerous clul~s, even more frequently than the simpler qucs- the IGwanis, the Rotary, the Gyro, some loci1 tions. Perhaps this suggests why financial Association of Comrnercc, a church or a con- libraries have proved popular. vention. Queries asked by customcrs have to The resources of the library are available Ire nnswcred. Just wllerc would the busy not only for the oflicers, but lor the directors, Lankcr go lor his material? The public li- employees and customcrs of the institution. brary, you may say. A11 very well, but tli~s Even if a person is not a customer, his ques- takes timc. The library has many patrons and tions are answered. The good-will gained in cannot always give an individual the imme- this manner cannot be bought. The serviccs diate attention that his problem requires, so lpndered various people are more or less alike. this makes it desirable to have a librarian who What the officers require is apt to be of a is especially trained to watch for the banker's serious nature There are exceptions. Sug- own interests. gestions as to book purchases lor various in- A financial library after all is not so dif- dividuals' private libraries are made. Em- ferent from any other library. You will see ployees are given books for recreation as well the same dictionary, the same encyclopedia, as study purposes. Customers may be served the same World Alrna~~acand the same atlas in a variety of ways. Some of them wry on the shelves. Besides seeing these things much appreciate thc privilege of reading some with which you are so familiar, you may see of the economic services to which the bank a few things with which you are unfamiliar. subscribes. Correspondent banks located in The main difference hetween a financial library towns where there are few if any library re- and a public library is that in the financial sources like to feel that there is a library in library one does not need so many books. a bank in the city which will help them out More use is made of pamphlets and clippings. with thcir various problems. Each library must determine for itself the To estimate the value of the financial li- field which it wishes to serve. Then when a brary is difficult. It makes facts accessible trained librarian assumes charge she begins to for all. It saves time and time is money. collect appropriate material. As material is It makes itself felt in every departn~entof the secured it is scanned with the idea of learn- bank. What more could be expected now that ing just what it contains and whom it might the banker no longer "sits in a cage of glass interest. Then without waiting for a request and watches the people pass?" a18 SPECIAL LIBRARIES November, 1914 Cataloging an Industrial Research Library By Julian F. Smith, Technical Li6?.a~iccr~,The B. F. Goodrich Co. The cataloging of an industrial rescarch li- Adapting printed cards is fairly smple, brary mtroduces a variety of problcms peculiar howcver, when compared with the writing of to a highly spec~allzed library. Such prob- cards for material for which no printed cards lems w~llbe thc subject matter of the present arc available. One of the first difficulties is discussion. Assummg that due attention has the differentiation of various kinds of I~tcra- been given to the rcquirements common to all ture. Out of the profusion of books, pam- cataloging, these will be taken up only as they phlets, periodicals, serials, government publi- are involved in the specla1 questions. cations, reprints, patents, trade catalogs and C. A. Cutter summar~zedthe tuat~onneatly miscellany, how is an orderly catalog to be in the prcface to the fourt2 edition of his produced ? "Rules for a Dictionary Catalog," when hc There are two pri~lc~palways of attackii~g said: "Cataloging is an art, not a sciencc. No this problcm. OIIC IS to keep separate cata- r~decan takc the place of experiencc aqd good logs for varieties of material which are gener- judgment, but some 01 the results of ex- ally scparate in use; for example, patents are pcrie~~ccmay be best indicated by rules." 1 con~monlylookcd for as such. But this plan This discussion will be confined to the mak- has the d~sadvantagethat it sometimes neccs- ing of a dictionary catalog, as distinguished sitates a scarch through more than one al- from ~ndexing,that IS, niak~ngcard indexes phabet. for spcc~alsubjects. The latter is a vital prob- Another way is to use a color code: white lem in special libraries; in some, the amount cards for the commonest class of mate~ial, of indexing far exceeds the amount of catalog- and various colors to indicate thc other classes. inn.- Even when the colored card plan is choscn, The modern cataloger may save much time it is well to havc separate catalogs for peri- and labor by the use 01 printed cards, chiefly odicals and trade I~terature. On this poilit, from thc L~braryof Congress; atid excelle!nt however, thcre may be some difference of models arc thus obtained for those cards which opin~on must be nr~tten. Some other I~braries,such 111 at1 industrial research library, patelits as the John Crerar in Chicago and the Gros- are a problem by themselves, and require vcnor in Buffato, issue printed cards. For special treatment. Searchers commonly look technical and scientific books, cards can some- for them by number; hence they must be catn- times be had from the publishers (e.g., Mc- loged numerically unclcr each issuit~gnation. Graw-Hill, Van N'ostralld and Wiley). 'This necessitatcs a separate catalog since num- One of the first departures from beaten bers do not 'fit in with an alphabetic arrange- paths is In adapting printed ca~dslor second- ment. Thcreforc the entire patent catalog ary cntries should be separatc from the main catalog. The published lists of subjcct headings may The color idca can also be applied success- be suggestive, but they are rarcly directly use- fully to the alphabetical part of the patent ful rn a scientific research library. The cata- catalog, using white cards for patentees, an- loger must choose the number and kind of other color for assignees and another for Ileadings which will best serve the purposc in cross refcrence cards. Thus, U.S.P. 1,50g,830, lriew; and it is not always easy to prcdict just issued to 0. F. Fischedick and A. W. Krahn what the necds will be. For example: The and assigned by thcm to the Sunbeam Elec- research library of a dye factory mlght pur- irlc Manufacturing Co., would require a whiir chase "Sciencc of Metals" by Jeffries and card for Fisched~ckand Krahn as patentees. Archer. Their interest in mctallograpby be- a colored card for the Smnbeam Co. as as- Ing only secondary, the subject headings signee, and a d~ffercntcolored card as a cross "Mctallography" and "Alloys" would probably ~eEercncefor ICrahn as second patentee. . suffice. But put the same book in a steel mill, Government publicat~ons, hke the poor, ale and searchers would be glad to have cards in- always w~thus; and librarians are sometimes dicating that it treats of Steel Hardening, tcmpted to think' they are equally d~fficultto Structure of Metals, Grain Growth, Hard~less care for. A research library receives maay and Metal Aggregates. pa~nphlets from the numerous United Statcs November, 1924 SPECIAL LIBRARIES 219

md state scientific bureaus; and it is oflcn Indeed, the need for a variety of separate ilecessary to know the name of the issuing catalogs is a characteristic of industrial re- bureau in order to facilitate a search. A search l~bral'ies which greatly complicates the rather simple expedient is to file such publi- cataloger's work. This and other peculiarities cations alphabetically by issuing burcaus and arc natural consequences 01 the fact that a chronologically under each bureau. The cata- research Iil~raryis for searching and for that log then needs only the pecessary author and only. The frequcnt occurrence of the word subject headings. "search" 111 this disc~issio~~is thus accounte~l The same plan may be applied to pam- for; and it is this purpose which must guidc phlets issued by corporate bodies, such as sci- the cataloger in every thought and move. entific societ~es,trade associations and the like. A notice may be posted to instruct searchers; and, if des~red,a card for each government Dues for 1924 bureau and corporate body may be filed in the The Excc~itive Board at the Sew Yorlc main catalog to direct attent~onto thc method tnceting determined the dues for the forth- used. This system, if properly understood coming year in accorda~icewith the provisions and followed, saves labor in cataloging with- of Section g of thc constitution. It was voted out loss in searching efficiency. that thc dues for 1924-25 should be as follows: Trade literature is also a major problem in For individual members, $4.00. industrial research libraries. There is always For institutional members, $5.00. an acc~~ni~ilationof manufact~~rers'b~illetins For associate members, $2.00. and catalogs which contain a wealth of tech- For life members, $IOO.OO. nical informat~on not elsewhere available. Here again the plan of filing according to Scction 9 of thc constitution, as printed in issuing firms may be recommended. Like the Scptember numbcr, was in error and the patents, trade hterature 1s generally searched section should read as follows,: for as such, and in research libraries is best "Sec. 9. A~inual dues shall be deter- cataloged separately. mined by the Execut~veBoard ancl may Here enters another difficulty in thc choice be changed Irom time to time on their of subject headings. Many trade catalogs list authority." hundreds of cl~ffcrent items. Cons~der, for example, a catalog of chcmical apparatus. Is a heading "Apparatus," with a cross reference A Light Under a Bushel under "Clietnical," sufficleilt? Or should there Thc Honorable William C. Redfield, former he cards to indicate that Electrical Instru- Secretary of Conimercc, in an article entitled ments, Volunietr~cGlassware, Analytical Bal- "Glin~pses of Our Gover~~n~ent-M'ar and ances ancl other special kinds of apparatus are listed? Such questions as these must be an- Peace," which appcarctl in thc Saturday Eve- swered according to the amount and kind of ning Post, , 1924, alludes in the fol- use that is to be nude of the card catalog. loving manner to the valuable library presided I11 a rescarch l~brarythere IS frequent de- over by Miss Anna G. Cross: maud for service in the way of bibliograph~es, "Months before the war ended, sludies abstlacts, reports, translations and the like. in preparation for pcace were begun. Occasionally the sr,nic request may he made Some of the investigators wcre given of- twice or more The librarian may have :I fices in the Commerce Bullding, where our tenacious memory; but memory alone wilI not commercial library of more than one hun- prevcnt unnecessnry duplication of effort. dred thousal~dvolumes was available to Evidently, then, a suitable catalog' should bc thcm. kept of such seruces performed. Here again is a task requiring thought, discrimination and "The very existence of such a libra1.y is judgment Each entry should show what unknown to lnost peoplc in . sen ice sas performed, mhcn, for whom, by No one in Congress seemed aware of it I\-hom, and wlierc a copy may he found. Only and it surprised me to find it when I be enough entries should be made to be a re- camc secrctary. It is but one of many l~able alrcl sufficient guidc to what has becil things that exlst .aithin our government clone. Since tliis catalog IS for the librar~an's of which neither press nor pcople are in- own use, it also should he separate. formed " 320 SPECIAL LIBRARIES November, 1924 National Safety Council ,Exhibit Louisville, Kentucky, September 29th to October 3rd, 1924

Over 2,000 delegates attclldillg the National Thc exhibit graphically portrayed recent dc- Safety Cou:lcil Annual Col1gfess at Lou~s~ille, vclo~mcntsin the ficld of accident prevention, i~~dustrialhealth and hygiene and allicd sub- ~~~~~~~k~,september 29th to , Igz4, jects. O~er75 research requests wcre looked visited the Library and Information booth, up for tnembers. If the informalion was not I~ro~lgllttheir accident problems for solutioll at tile request was back lo head- arid saw in a coxrcte way the activ~ticsof qllarters ill chicago for illvestigaliol,. Tile the Library.' This was the sixth year that the in charge of ~i~~ Mary B Day, Library had maintained an exhibit at the Librarian alld Mrs. Mary h.i. Mfells, Assistant Annual Congress L~brarian.

Peace Bibliographies A Journalism Week The librarian oC the Carnegie Endownlent The University of Missouri in their bulletins for Intert~ationalPrace has recently prepared has featured a Journalism Series. Thc ad- a list of references on peace and the peace dresses delivered at the fifteenth Journalism movement. Thc document also lists fourteen Week at the University were considered so bibliographies on the subjects of peace, dis- instructive that a bullctiu entitled "The Writer armament and internationalism. In 28 pages, and the Publisher" was issued. Charles B. it lists general works, bibliographies, collec- Maugham, Librarian of the St. Louis Post- tions, peace pageants, the peace movement and Dispatch, who recently prepared an article for early peace projects. Inquiries concerning SPECIALLIDRARIES covered the subject "The this list should be addressed to the Librarian Newspaper Library and Morgue." Another of the Carncgie Endowment for International bulletin, "Women and the Newspaper," will be Peace, 2 Jackson Place, Washington, D. C. issued later in the series. November, 1924 SPECIAL LIBRARIES The Mail Bag Criticisms and Suggestions Mr. Lee Wants to Know In a reccnt letter to Mr. G. W. Lee an Mr. George Wmthrop Lee wanis to know Evanston critic offers some definite sugges- about a lot of things. Here are some of thc tions for two books on questions of impor. hundrcd and one questions he holds in his tance. Do you agree or disagree with Mr. quiver. Parsch. Thc Editors await your comments. r. Hall, S. Roland: Business Writing, Dear Mr. Lee: 1gz4-value, usage, comparison with similar I want to make a suggestion to you based books. on my past experiences as a lrnivcrsity student of economics and business. I believe there 2. Codex Book Company: Economic is a need for a book which might concern Trends-who uses ~t,who doesn't use it. It itself with looks good to G.W.L. (I) A brief treatise on how to use a li- 3. E.M.F. Electrical Yearbook-The pub- brarv. lishers want to know what use is made of it. (2) ~h organized prcscntation of sources hIr. Lee has already broadcasted their request; ol information for business students. Station WGWL we presume. You may say that thcre are books and pam- 4 Strapflex Company-a new type of phlets adequately covering the points referrcd 1)intler. Our fellow-member wants binder lo. Alld thcre arc, Irat I havc not heen ablc conip;i~~eeil.Suggests thc Committee on Mcth- to locdlc any that arc really very satisfactory. ods. (This IS not an aclvcrt~sen~cntfor the 'The attempts on point (2) that havc come lindcr.) mder my observation give me the ~mpressiotl oi an honcst and sincere attempt, hut an at- 5 Pierce, E L., dcaler in manuals, dircc- tempt that revcals an i~lsuflicientundcrstand- torics nnd codc books. Stone S: Webster's ing of the bns~ncssfield to be of maximunl vetcrall librarian wants an opinion of Mr. value. Some of the srlggesled lists of hooks Pierce's service. (This is not an advcrtise- for Imincss lil~rariesare almost pitiful. went for Mr. Picrce). Thcre are at thc prcsent time about 20,000 6. Our gcnial friend also wants facts re- stodcnts studying I~uslnessin thc various col- gartlmg maps, atlases and encyclopedias In- lcges and univcrsitics. I feel that the major- cidc:~tally, he once wrote an article for the ity o[ these students arc having the same ex- Library lo~rnalon Encyclopedias. We have pcrience I have had in attempting to use their forgotten the page and volume. tinlc at thc library wth maxi~numefficiency. 7. Our confrcre wants a Question Box to It is surprising how poorly equipped the li- go to a clearing house, or to a committee, or braries, even ol large uaiycrsities, are to give to an individual We presume that is "sp011- aid anti sugpcstions to thc student interested sorship" In a disguised form. in busincss. This, ol course, is to be cxpected in view of the fact that the study o[ Imsiness 8. Our neighbor wants the President of thc Assoc~ationto serve two years. \Ire sug- profess~onally h;\s only ~n recent years been attempted, and that there is such an enormous gest thdt he waylay the Nominatil~gCommit- tee sometimc next spring. We have no vote growth of busincss hterature. But that is all thc more reason why a manual giving reliable in the matter, but we like Mr Handy as guidance to the business student would be President. ~velcomc. Yours very truly, M'c swait the nincty-three other questions WM. F. PARSCH, hcld in reserve by our colleague. The Foreign Field A 11l>rar~of valuable literature has been A business lib~aryhas been established iil asscrnblcd in the United States for display India under the title of Sir Ganga Ram Busi- at the Praguc International Management Con- ncss Bureau and LibrarY. It mas organizrd gress. This collection will be a permanent by the Hindu Students' care& Society and colltrilmtlon to the library of the h{asaryk will be located at Laclagan Road, Saleelll Academy of Work. Building, Lahore, Punjab, India. Special Libraries

Editor Assoc~ateEditor HERBERT 0. BRIGHAM PROF. HENRY H. NORRIS State Librdry McGraw-Hill Book Co. Providencr, R. I. New York, N. Y. '

Plans for the Future Your new editor has assumed the task with great reluctance for he realizes that he follows in the footsteps of previous editors who have maintained the magazine at a high standard. The addition of Professor Norris to the editorial staff is a distinct gain for the publication. Professor Norris brings to the magazine a wealth of experience ancl a keen knowledge of the business world. IL is the intention of the editors to continue as permanent features of the magazine the various departments, including Editorial, Association Reposts, Re- ports fronl the Groups, Special Committee Reports, News froin the Field, Things in Print, Personal Notes. Among the new projects which will be developed are colun~nsentitled "The World of Business Print," consisting of brief comment on secent books ancl periodicals relating to business; the "Book Shelf," timely reviews on recent pub- lications appealing to special librarians; a special section devoted to new com- mercial information services, constituting a supplement to the rcccnt Haidbook published by the Association. For the nest few months the editors of SPECIALLIDRARIES will prepare a series of numbers devoted to specific topics. The December issue will concern civic and governmental libraries, including legislative, municipal reference and commercial libraries maintained by civic bodies. During the year 1925 special numbers will be devoted to Banking and Finance ; Insurance ; Business and Research ; Transportation and Trade ; Public Utilities; Engineering; Industry and Manufacturing; Advertising and Publishing ; Science and Technology; Social Welfare and Economics; Agi-iculture and Food Products; Arts and Crafts; Health and Medicine. Assistant editors, selected from our membership, will prepare the material for the various numbers. Previous editors from time to time have planned special numbers and in 1919 a series of seven issues featured a specific topic for a particular month. In SPECIALLIBRARIES fos January, 1924, newspaper libra- ries was the principal theme. In planning these special group numbers, the editors will not overlook the purpose ot' Lhc magazine as a tuediuin of conlnlunicatiotl between the members and the departments will still be maintained at their full degree of efficiency, articles of tiincly interest always finding their place in SPECIALLIBRARIES. November, 1914 SPECIAL LIBRARIES 923 The Association's Objective Special Libraries Association has suffered too long froin a policy of un- certainty-amounting at times to timidity. Our members have had held before them a possible unfavorable outcome of all their efforts-an brtpassc the only way out of which must be to disband and reintegrate the scattereh fragments of the Association around or within some other body. Let us make an end of such nonsense! The Association stands today as the forcn~ostassociation dc\-oted to organized information-gettin: and using. It is aL the beginning, not the end of a great movement. Already it has co-ordinated more sources of info]-mation !!Ian ever before wcre brought into relationship of intelligent co-operation. It has set up tl~rough its magazine, its publications, its personal acquaintance, the machinery for the effective gathering and interchange of data of every kind. The use of information outside of limited fields is almost in its infancy. As new groups representmg business, industry, sociology, politics and govern- ment. engineering, agriculture, etc., find new uses for ideas there will be a steady increase in the demand for the kind of service that special libraries can render. It is for the Association to hold what it has won and to strive intelligently to gain for itself recognition from those who, once its aims are well understood, will be among its chief supporters. hluch of the work already achieved has, to be sure, been acconlplishecl through the wise application of library technique. Nevertheless some of the most active special libraries have not hesitated to discard library technique when its use defeated or handicapped the acco~nplish~nentof their purposes and some have functioned effectively with little or no library technique at all. \!'hat special librarians need to remember is that the special library has been called into existence to supply a need for prompt, adeq~~ate,practical service-- under reasonable conti-ol ol those to whom the service is to be rendered. A Iinowledge of the field covered, a willingness to utilize a!l means available for its information-exploitation, and a wholesome distrust of infoi-mation-getting by forrrtulas of any liind will go far toward making the \vorl; of the specin1 library a success. The special librarian, familiar with his subject, alive to its needs, conversant with the sources from which its useful information springs will strive more and more to make himself, or herself, an adviser, within his chosen field to be sought out and respectcd. With such a conception of their function special librarians colnposing the Association may be expected to impress upon it more and more of the character of an inforn~ation-serviceorganization, representing a personnel of highest stand- ing and occupying a position unique among associations. The Association will aim for very definite results employing such means for their accomplishment as experience has shown desirable. It will stand be- tween a great body of people using inforination for immediate and practical purposes, on the one l~and,and the general libraries on the other. It mill bring the two together, but it will retain its independence and it will prefer to hold fast to its power to initiate and direct the policies by which its future is to be shaped. DANIELN. HANDY. - SPECIAL LIBRARIES November, lgaq The Editor's Desk ?'he Chicago Committee of the Financial We are seeking the services 01 a member Group deserves high commendation for the who can contrillute an aIticlc entitled "Li- creditable financial library exhibit at the Con- brarians in Othcr Fields of Work." Many ference of the American Bankers Association. special librarians have been drafted into per- Miss Claflin has prepared a vivid description sonnel services, others have forsaken library wh~chis printed ill another column of. this is- duties to occt~pyexecutive positions in busi- sue. Exhibits of this character constitute valu- ness concerns. able and constructive publicity and should In preparing thc magazine from month to have widespread results throughout the bank- month the editors need the help of every rnem- ing world. ber of the Association. The e4itors can as- We hope some of our members listened in semble the material, can construct and lay on WMAQ, Chicago Daily News, at 6 :30 p.m., out the magazine, but they cannot write all Tuesday, September 30th. Mr. Wright pre- the material. We should appreciate informa- sented a fine argument for financial libraries. t~onconcerning items in piint worthy of no- Who is next on the radio? tice in SPECIALLIHHARIES, any pcrsonal items relating to the activities of our members or We hope that our President will from time special changes in library personnel. Sugges- to time give us more messages like the stimu- tions and criticislns will be gratefully received, lating statement callcd the Assoc~ation's Ob- lor ~t is only by the help of our mcm1)crs that jcctive. we can achieve thc Ixst results. An unknown wliter in Gas Logic for Octo- Advcrtismg C:omn~erc~al-I~~diistrial ber, rgy, unde'r the title "Library for Aln- T h e - bitious Workers," depicts in friendly fashion Group of the S.LA. has collected a consid- the work of the library maintained by the erable amo~ultof dcfinitc, well selected infor- Consolidated Gas Co. of New York. mational material relating to the functions of the Group, and gathered from widely scattered Some attract~vepctures of financial libra- sources, which has not been indexed to any rles were shown at the Chicago Exhibit. Why great extent in printed form. It is antici- not augment the collection by including all pated that some of ttese valuable lists will types oE special libraries and dlsplay at the be printed in SPECIALLI~RARIES in the near next annual conference? future. Our treasurer reports that the Handbook We recently referred in thesc colun~nsto oi Commercial Information Services has sold the appointment of Miss Gertrude Forstall as well during the dull summer months. We cataloger of the John Crerar Library and hope to bc able to soon report "edit~on ex- stated that Miss Forstall was the first uoman hausted." to hold the position of head ol a department The Executive Board was well represented in this library. We have since been informed at Lhe firs1 fall mceting with only one absentee that Dr. Audrey Goss, who was appointed from the list. At the request of President medical librarian in 1912, should haw that Handy, several New York librarians partici- honor. pated in the sessions. Conveniellt conference rooms were furnished through the courtesy of The editors arc making a collection of the Amerlcan Telephone & Telegraph Co. trenchant sayings about hbraries and rescarch Miss Cox and Miss Peterkin of that organiza- with special emphasis upon the special library tion were our hostesses at luncheon. and its particular field. Chancellor Elmer Ellsworth Brown, of New The meeting of the New York Special Li- York University, recently said: "We are in braries Association was a great success with need of research in the history of industrial Mr. Meyer and Mr. Handy as the principal and commercial institutions and we are in speakers. The former recalled his connection need of great libraries of commerce and in- with the S.L.A. ill the formative days of the dustry in which all manner of business re- Association. It may be recalled that Mr. search can be successfully prosecuted." Pos- kleyer was contributing editor to SPECIALLI- sibly our readers can assist us in adding to BRARIES from 1910 to 1917. this collection of sayings. November, 1ga4 SPECIAL LIBRARIES Personal Notes Ur. John A. Lapp has been reelected a mem- Miss Etunla M. Boyer has been appointed ber of thc Publicatio~~sCommittee for the Pub- librarian of the Statistics Department of the lic Affairs Ii~formationService for the period Union Trusl Co. 01 Cleveland. ending Scptembcr 30, rcpg. Some of our morc MISS Margaret Reynolds, librarian of thc recent rne~nbcrsmay 11ot realize that P.A.I.S., First Wisconsin National Bank, Milwaukee, as it IS generally called, is a direct outgrowth spoke on Special Libraries at the banquet held of thc Spccial Libra& Association. The de- by thc Wisconsin Library Associatioti at their sirall~lityof such a service was broached at atu~ualmceting at Oconomonoc, on October Lhe Kaatersldl mcctitlg of the Assoc~ationin 8th. 1913 and Dr. Lapp inaugwated thc service in Special librarians will read with much in- connection wi h the Indiana Bureau of Lcg~s- terest the biographical sketch of Mrs. Henry lati\ c hiormation/ in the fall of that year. Our Association o\~~sa deep debt to John A. J. Carr which appears in a recent issuc of the Btrlletin of Bibliography. An excellcnt por- Iqp, for he unflinch~ngly shouldered Lhc hcav>. burden OF our Association during the trait of "h,tother Carr" accotnpanics Lhc article. entire first decade of its existence. Miss Lillie C. Lilliequist joins the staff of Mrs. hfarion Rust Trilling has recently been Gaylord Bros., Syracuse, as field librarian. appointed assistant at the Library of the Miss Margaret E. Calfec will have charge Rockeleller Institute ior Medical Research. of the lihary at the Du Pont Experitnenlal Miss Margaret Richardson has been selected Station, Wiln~ington,Delaware. as \Vorks Librarian at the Yale & Townc The Ltbrnry Joilr~lalfor September 15th de- h?lat~ufactur~ngCo., Stamford, Conn. votes an ed~torialto the molk oi one of our Blrs. R~tihCrevcling has heen appointed li- leading spccial librarian.;, Richard H. John- brarian of the San Dicgo Consolidatccl Gas ston 01 the Bureau of Railway Ecol~otnics and Electric Company. Mr. Johnston well ilescr\rcs the pleasing com- ments mark by this leading liblary periodical. Miss Estelle Brooks has resigned hcr posl- In aliothcr colun~nme ptesent a slateine~itcon- tion as librarian of the Bank of Italy and is cernlng two rccent bibliog~aphicsprepared by IIO\\. living in . Mr Johnston.

New Bibliographies Telephone Archives The Lilxa~yof the Bureatt ol Railway Eco- The Amcrican Telephone a~~dTelegraph noluics has rcccntly issued two excellcnt. Colnpany has started at its headquarters mimeographcd lists, one a list of references o:~ b~~ilding,195 Broadway, Kew York, an his- ra~lway accounting, prepared for the Com- torical collection of pictures, letters, note-books mittce on Records and Accounts of the Ameri- and docunlcnts to perpetuate the personalities can Railway Association; the other list con- and the records of the men who have done stitutes an annotated check list of railway vital work in the development oi the tele- periodicals, indicating copies of such periodi- phone. It has officially becn given the name cals on file in the library of the Bureau. Mr. of thc American Telephone Historical Collec- R. H. Johnston, librarian, will bc glad to send tion. It specializcs in the documentary field, two copies to any library especially interested leaving the historical collecting of instruments in railway periodicals, with the understanding and apparatus to the Bell System Museum at that one copy properly checked shall be re- the Western Electric budding. The two are turned to the library for its records. The intended to s~lpplementeach other, the Museum chcck lists thus prepared will be utilized in emphasizing the technical side, the consecu- connection with the forthcoming Union List tive development of the telephone equipment; of Periodicals. Application for such lists and this new Collection emphasizing the hu- should bc made to Mr. R. H. Johnston at the man side, the collaborating sequence of men in Tratlsportation Building, Washington, D.C. the telephone organization. - SPECIAL LIBRARIES November, 1924 Associations New York lieved 1101 only that the field of special libra- The opcning meeting of the New York rianship mould as it developed take it farther Special Libraries Association was held on from the field of public librariansh~p,but that Thursday evening, October gth, 1924, at Cafk if its plans were to be carried out with the Savarin, 120 Broadway, where dinncr was utmost satisfaction to its members, the Specla1 served at 6 :30 P.M. Libraries Association must continue independ- ent of other control and along lines of its Mr. H. H. B. Meyer, President of the Ameri- own choosing. can Library Association, and Mr. Daniel N. A short business meeting followed the Handy, President of Special Libraries Asso- speakers when the president welcomed the ciation, were the speakers of the evening. The new members. A varied program, which it is subject of Mr. Meyer's address was "Some hoped will be of interest to each group com- Objectives of Organized Librarianship," and prising Special Libraries, is plai~ned for the Mr. Handj's "A Place in the Sun." coming year. Mr. Meycr, as President of the American The question of affiliation with the National Library Associatioil alluded to the friendly re- Special Lilvaries Association, as provided for lat~ons between the two Associations and in their constitutiori adopted at Saratoga in stated that his administration would welcome July, 1924, was brought to the attention of closer alliliation or co-operation. Hc men- those prescnt. After a brief discussion rno- tioned the new activities of the A.L.A., cspe- tion was made and carried that the New Yorlc cially the educational training and the adult Special Libraries Association make application education, showing thc close relation of these for affiliation with the National Association. activitlcs to the interests of the S.L.A. He There were one hundred and three members noted the growing interest of business men in present. mattcrs of research atla suggested an index to business literature similar in type to the Industrial Arts Index. The Special Libraries Council of Philadel- Mr. Handy paid a graceful tr~buteto Mr. phia opened its winter program with a Meyer, at the same time acknowledging the luncheon at the College Club, October 10th. debt of the Association to him for valuable The guest of honor, and the only speaker, assistance in the past. He welcomed Mr. was Mr H. H. B. Meyer, President of the Meyer's suggestions, especially the index to American Library Association. The inspiring l~~~sincssliterature. presentation of h~ssubject, "Some Objectives Speaking of specla1 libraries, Mr. Handy of Organized Librarianship" was rcceived felt that the line oE cleavage hetween the with enthusiastic appreciation. special and the general library would become There was general rcgret'that Mr. Daniel more rather than less clistinct as special libra- N. Handy, President of the Special Libraries rians became conscious of their true function. Assoc~alion, who was to have spoken on "A Special libraries wcre formed as a rule be- Place in the Sun" was unavoidedly absent. cause of a co~lsciousnccd of information on Bus~nessmatters were not discussed. special sub~ects either in more inteilsive or more accessible form than mas possible to pub- Pittsburgh lic libraries. The special librarian tended to The Pittsburgh Special Libraries Associa- become inore and more an illformation expert tion met for the first time this seahon at din- in his field. ner in the Friendly Lunch Room, Thursday The vital privilege which association gives evening, October 16th. There were eighteen to an individual is the privilege of initiating members present, five of whom had attended and co~itrollingco-operative and active enter- the Saratoga Springs Convention, so that d~s- prises 01 common concern The closer knit cussions of that meeting were lively and relations which come from such initiative and reminiscences filled the air. control produce results which are in the end Miss Emily J. McNary of the Dental School more satisfying and adequate. Mr. Handy be- of the University of Pittsburgh, who was the November, 1924 SPECIAL LIBRARIES 22 7

oliicial dcleg;\tc of the Pittsburgh Spccial LI- ment of Lhc secretary received by the editor brarles Association, gave her rcport on the of SPECIALLIBRARIES. The voyage will be dc- Convention, commentiug on the mecting as a scrihcd in he Uccember number. wholc, i~sprogram, spcakels and xuwdance, and covcring the financial standing and the present status oE the Association. San Francisco Inasmuch as it is impossible for one per- A telegram reccived at the Executive Board son to cover all phases of a variccl proglam, meeting on Octobcr 9th brought us word that MISSMcNarr asked the other rncrnbcrs who the librarians of the Golden Gate had formed attcndccl the Convention for reports on their a Special Libraries Associatio~l'of Sari Frao- own grcup mectmgs and spec~alinterests hfr. c~scounder the 1c:~dcrship of Miss I<. Dor- Howard Dicc, of the University of Pltts- othy Perkins, libra11a11ol the Bank of Italy. bu~ghLitrary, gave his impression of the yapcrs oi the University group and reported Affiliation on the last meeting of the S L.A. Mrs. Blanche I<. S. Wappat, of the Carnegie Insl~tuteof Affiliatio~l with the national S.L.A., antler Technology Library, reported the nleel~ngof the authority oi Section lo of thc constitu- thc Arts group and told of the formation and t~on,is progressing rngidly. The Ncw York functiorling of their "round table." Miss JCS- Association unan~mouslyvoted to acccpt affili- sie Callan, of the Besserncr & Lake Erie Rail- atloti. The Executive Coti~tr~itteeat Boston road, spoke oi the Advertising-Con~merciaL- will rccomnle~lds~lch action at the meeting on Industrial group meeting. Miss A. A. Hill- Octobe~ 27th. The new association at San man, of the Joncs & Laughlin Stecl Com- Francisco has madc lorlaal application and pany, covered the business meeting of the other associatiorls throughout tllc COLIII~SY S L.A. in a most thorough manner and also have the ~naitcrunder advisement. gave us an account of the Technical sectioll meeting and reportcd that already it is going forward in carrying out a definitc program to Catalogers Meeting whch iL had cornrnltted itself. The hope was The Boston Group of Catalogers and Classi- generally expressed by those reporting the ficrs will hold ~tsfall meeting in Boston on n~ectingsthat many of the papers and lists Wednesday, November rztli. There will be a ol information would be gathered together dinner at thc Twentieth Century Club, 3 Joy and printed in SIJECIALLI~HARIES iro~n time SLreet, at G:I~,followed by a meeting at the to time. State Library, State House. A Mrs. Wappat then la~dbelore the Asso- round table for small libraries ad a round ciation her plans for the appomtment of vari- table for larger libraries will be conducted. ous committees whosc work she felt to be The catalog of Lhe Massachusctts State Li- very important in carrying out a program of brary will be explained by Mrs. Frances Rath- action for th~sycar. The ncw const~~utio~l11onc Coc. Miss Flora E. Wise of he \I7clles- was discussed and affiliatioil of [he local chap- ley College Library is secretary-treasurer. tcr with the S LA was talien up but was not \ otcd upon at this mceting. Extra-Mural Activities

Boston Boston 15 3s ever the fountain head of kucnrlcdgc. Thc Extension Servicc Cornnlittee As Srec1.4~LIUI~ARIES progresses lrom gal- of Greater Boston, with headquartcls a1 the ley to page proof, the ship S.L.A.B is dock- Boston P~hl~cLil~l-ary, have in preparation a ing at the ncw Chamber of Commerce pier, sclics or leaflcls rclating to a group of topics. 80 Fctleral Street, \\hcle a large cargo oi cn- Thc first numllcr, "Educ:itio~~in Grcater BOS- thuslastn and ~nsprationwas secured from thr: ton, a D~rectoryoT Important Local Sources local firms of C. F. D. Belden Co., Wn1. U. (I[ Edt~catiollalInlormation," was issued Scp- Cultcr, C. C. Eaton, Ltcl., D N. Handy & Co, tcmber 15, 1924 Similar hsts on Art, hrusic, 1;. 1;. LV. Lec, Inc , Frcdcriclc A. hlooticy. Con- Recreation, Rclifiion, Engineering and Com- signments wrc also ~eceweclfrom Albany, merce will be co~lsideredin lakr Icafiets. Each Chicago, and Bew York This tna~i- littlc l~roaclsicleI~cars the nalnc of a spollsor ~imcvcrnaculiir prefaced the clever announce- XI1 \YOI th-while and helpful. SPECIAL LIBRARIES November, 1914 Thiags in Print Mr. John Cotton Dana, with the assistance Miss Linda H. Morley and Miss Adelaide of Miss Linda H. Morley, has contributed to C Kight, under the directio~lof Mr. John C. the Credit Monthly for October, 1924, a list of Dana, have issued a "Mailing List Directory ICO books for executives. It is called "The and Classified Index to Trade Directories." Business Libraryn and is a reading list with- In 727 closely packed pages, the compilers out any books of refcrence. Particular em- have condensed a vast: amount of information. phasis is laid upon the subject of credit. McGraw-Hill Book Co. are the publishers. This volume will be reviewed in a later num- ber of SPECIALLIBRARIES. A few of our readers may not he familiar with Business, the house organ of the Bur- roughs Adding Machine Company. The Oc- The National City Compa~lyhas prepared an attractrve monograph on the and tober number contains an interesting article Ohlo Railroad. Inasmuch as the railroad cele- entitled "How Shall We Equip the Office?" brates its one-huxidredth anniversary in 1927, by Warren D. Bruner. Some of the sugges- tions may be useful to special librarians. this is a most timely publication. The special Campaign Number oE the Coil- The H. W Wilson Co. have recently pub- gressconal Digest, July-August, 1924, is a val~i- lished "A Reference List of Bibliographies on able handbook for any one intcrested in politi- Chemistry, Chernical Technology and Chemical cal affairs. Engineering Published Since IW," compiled by Julia11 Arell Sohon and William L. Schaaf. Municipal Reference Library Notes, under datc 01 September qth, prcsents an annotate4 Lucius H. Cannon, librarian, Municipal Ref- list of the best books on public health re- erence Library of St. Louis, has prepared an ceived during the year, Miss Rankin's weekly elaborate report on smoke abatement, includ- pnblication is a mine of valuablr. information. ing laws, ordinances and court decisions and the police powers thereunder. The City Mn~rager Magacme for Septem- ber, 1924, presents a compilation of recent The American Gas Association prints as statistics on Public Services in City Manager part of the monthly issued by the Association Citles, containing information about one hutl- for October, 1924, a classified directory of dred and thirty-four cities. manufacturers of gas equ~pment. The issues of the Brick and Clay Record, The recent Supreme Court decision 01) Ch~cago, for August 19th and August 26tL1, Pittsburgh-plus has aroused considerable in- have a series of articles on "How Can Re- terest in that subject. Professor Commons has search Be Made to Pay." a most illuminating article in the American Ecoltorrric Review for September, 1924 Miss Margaret Reynolds, librarian of the First Wisconsin National Bank, Milwaukee, Miss Ethel Cleland, for many years asso- has an article in the October number of The ciated with SPECIALLIBRARIES, has prepared a Independent Woman, the official organ of the selected list of business magazines which is National Federation of Business and Profcs- printed in the Library Journal for September sional Women's Clubs, entitled "The Value of a Bank Library." Miss Reynolds has also con- 1, 1924. trlbuted a series of short articles on "Some Milwaukee Members" to this publication. The Committee on Professional and Educa- tional Standards for Statisticians of the The American Institute of Accountants has American Statistical Association has prepared recently issued a bibliography of accounting a selected list of statistical texts which is literature, January, 1g21-June, 1923. Mi~s printed in the Journal of the American Statis. Louise C. Miltimore, librarian of the Institute, tical as so cia ti at^ for September, 193. was in large part responsible for the volume. Pages 229-232 deleted, advertising.