College and Research Libraries By R A L P H M . D U N B A R and W I L L A R D O . M I S H O F F Contribution of the U.S. Office of Education in the Field of College and University Library Statistics: Present and Potential1 Mr. Dunbar is chief, Service to Libraries Section, and Dr. Mishoff is specialist, Col- lege and Research Libraries, Library Serv- ice Division, U. S. Office of Education. IN His Geography of Reading, Louis R . W i l s o n writes: " O n e of the limitations of librarianship today, is that it lacks a fundamental body of data . . . which can be compared exactly and applied to the solution of problems by which it is beset." Although this statement was made a decade ago, it is still true today. T h e purpose of this paper is to take stock of what is being done to remedy this lack of basic statistics, which are needed in the practical operation of college and university libraries and in planning programs f o r further progress. In order to show the con- tribution of one agency, w e are going to outline the present program of the U . S. Office of Education in the field of college and university library statistics. Since the situation in the federal government is never static—owing to certain factors which will be described later—we shall be somewhat venturesome and discuss also our "poten- tial" program. A t the risk of stating the obvious and of being somewhat academic, w e are making 1 Paper presented by M r . Dunbar at the meeting of the A . C . R . L . , Chicago, Jan. 30, 1948. at the outset some general observations on the subject of library statistics in institutions of higher education: 1. S t a t i s t i c s are compiled not f o r the b e n e - fit of the c o l l e c t i n g a g e n c y , b u t f o r the use of p r a c t i t i o n e r s of c o l l e g e and u n i v e r s i t y l i b r a r - ianship. T h e y are also f o r the use of those w h o w i s h to m e a s u r e l i b r a r y p r o g r e s s , note trends, and set g o a l s in r e l a t i o n to the e d u - c a t i o n a l p r o g r a m . 2. S t a t i s t i c s cost m o n e y , and their cost m u s t be j u s t i f i e d . T h e y cost the r e p o r t i n g in- s t i t u t i o n s w h i c h fill o u t the f o r m s ; t h e y cost the c o l l e c t i n g a g e n c y in c h e c k i n g the r e t u r n s , in c l e a r i n g up any discrepancies, in m a k i n g the c o m p i l a t i o n s , in a t t e m p t i n g at l e a s t some i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s of the d a t a , and in g e t t i n g the m a t e r i a l printed and d i s t r i b u t e d . 3. S t a t i s t i c s can be c o l l e c t e d only -,if l i - y . braries keep t h e m and are w i l l i n g to r e p o r t t h e m . 4. S t a t i s t i c s buried in r e p o r t f o r m s and files m i g h t as w e l l , in m a n y cases, n e v e r h a v e been c o l l e c t e d . T r u e , they h a v e a p o t e n t i a l use, b u t o f t e n t h a t is n o t high. P r o v i s i o n m u s t be m a d e f o r g e t t i n g s t a t i s t i c s printed, m u l - tilithed, or punched on c a r d s . 5. S t a t i s t i c s to be u s e f u l to the p r a c t i c a l a d m i n i s t r a t o r m u s t be a v a i l a b l e p r o m p t l y and be c o m p a r a b l e o v e r a period of y e a r s . 6. S t a t i s t i c s m u s t be c o l l e c t e d a c c o r d i n g to a c a r e f u l l y p l a n n e d p r o g r a m . A n e x a m p l e of such p l a n n i n g m a y be seen in the " P l a n f o r the C o l l e c t i o n and D i s s e m i n a t i o n of L i b r a r y S t a t i s t i c s , " p r e p a r e d in t e n t a t i v e f o r m by the A . L . A . C o m m i t t e e on S t a t i s t i c s and presented by its c h a i r m a n , G . F l i n t P u r d y , to a c o n - 106 COLLEGE AND RESEARCH LIBRARIES ference on statistics held at the Office of Education M a r c h 4-5, 1946. T h e plan pro- vided f o r : ( a ) comprehensive research statis- tics to be collected every five or six years, ( b ) annual statistics of library trends f o r a rep- resentative sample of libraries, ( c ) annual statistics of " g o o d " libraries to be used in internal administrative evaluation and c a m - paigns w i t h local authorities, and ( d ) popular presentations of m a j o r library statistics for the purpose of promoting public understand- ing of libraries. T h e present p r o g r a m of the U . S. O f f i c e of E d u c a t i o n in the field of c o l l e g e and u n i v e r s i t y l i b r a r y statistics calls f o r at least f o u r m a j o r activities, three of w h i c h f a l l p r i m a r i l y w i t h i n the p r o v i n c e of the S e r v i c e to L i b r a r i e s S e c t i o n , and the R e s e a r c h and S t a t i s t i c a l S e r v i c e . 1. Nationwide survey. This involves a c o m p r e h e n s i v e c o l l e c t i o n and p u b l i c a t i o n of c o l l e g e and u n i v e r s i t y l i b r a r y statistics once e v e r y f o u r y e a r s on as u n i f o r m a p a t t e r n as possible. T h i s m e a n s c o l l e c t i n g d a t a , if pos- sible, f r o m each of the 1 7 0 0 i n s t i t u t i o n s of h i g h e r e d u c a t i o n in the U n i t e d S t a t e s and its o u t l y i n g territories. T h e office w i l l ob- t a i n and p u b l i s h statistics f r o m i n d i v i d u a l c o l l e g e s and u n i v e r s i t i e s on such items a s : N u m b e r of volumes added during the year N u m b e r of volumes at end of the year C i r c u l a t i o n : H o m e use C i r c u l a t i o n : Reserved books N u m b e r of hours open per week (central l i b r a r y ) S t a f f : N u m b e r of professional w o r k e r s S t a f f : N u m b e r of subprofessional w o r k e r s S t a f f : N u m b e r of clerical w o r k e r s N u m b e r of students: U n d e r g r a d u a t e s N u m b e r of students: G r a d u a t e s E x p e n d i t u r e s f o r library staff salaries Expenditures f o r books and periodicals E x p e n d i t u r e s for binding Expenditures f o r audio-visual materials Expenditures f o r other purposes, excluding building maintenance. I n a d d i t i o n , there w i l l be a v a i l a b l e f o r possible p r i n t i n g in the d e t a i l e d tables, sta- tistics on such i t e m s a s : H o l d i n g s of materials other than print U s e of such materials insofar as the li- braries keep such records N u m b e r of volumes acquired by purchase N u m b e r of volumes acquired by other means than purchase N u m b e r of periodicals currently received N u m b e r of newspapers currently received N u m b e r of interlibrary loans (book m a - t e r i a l s ) , both borrowed and lent Interlibrary transactions in the field of photostats, microfilms, etc. B r e a k d o w n of the staff by positions. T o m a k e all the items j u s t n a m e d a v a i l - able t h r o u g h p r i n t i n g , it w i l l be necessary f o r the office e i t h e r to h a v e a g r e a t l y in- creased p r i n t i n g b u d g e t or else to e x - perience a m a r k e d decline in the cost of p r i n t i n g . As in the College and University Library Statistics, 1939-40, it is planned to have the f o r t h c o m i n g p u b l i c a t i o n s c a r r y n a t i o n a l s u m m a r i e s , state totals, c o m p a r a t i v e t o t a l s , and d i s t r i b u t i o n tables f o r the s i g n i f i c a n t items. W o r k is n o w p r o c e e d i n g on the n a t i o n - w i d e c o l l e c t i o n of c o l l e g e and u n i v e r s i t y l i b r a r y statistics f o r the fiscal y e a r w h i c h e n d e d J u n e 30, 1 9 4 7 , or a n y o t h e r t i m e d u r - i n g 1 9 4 7 . T h e d a t a are b e i n g c o l l e c t e d on a f o r m d e s i g n e d b y the R e s e a r c h and S t a - tistical S e r v i c e of the O f f i c e of E d u c a t i o n to f a c i l i t a t e the use of p u n c h e d c a r d s and m a c h i n e t a b u l a t i o n s . T h e n e w f o r m f o l - l o w s closely the one e m p l o y e d f o r the c o l - lection of 1 9 4 0 statistics, the chief c h a n g e b e i n g the e l i m i n a t i o n of some l i t t l e - u s e d items. T h e libraries w i l l be coded so t h a t similar i n s t i t u t i o n s c a n be g r o u p e d r e a d i l y f o r v a r i o u s statistical c o m p u t a t i o n s . T h i s m a c h i n e t a b u l a t i o n s h o u l d also aid the p r o m p t issuance of the p r e l i m i n a r y releases.- 2. Preliminary releases. When compre- hensive c o l l e c t i o n s of c o l l e g e and u n i v e r s i t y l i b r a r y statistics are m a d e , as is the case this y e a r , o u r p r o g r a m calls also f o r the issu- ance of p r e l i m i n a r y releases of u n i n t e r - APRIL, 1948 107 p r e t e d d a t a f r o m selected g r o u p s of i n s t i t u - tions. T h i s p l a n w a s f o l l o w e d s u c c e s s f u l l y in the case of the 1 9 4 5 p u b l i c l i b r a r y sta- tistics. M u l t i l i t h e d c i r c u l a r s f o r c e r t a i n p o p u l a t i o n g r o u p s w e r e r e a d y f o r m a i l i n g w i t h i n six w e e k s a f t e r the r e t u r n s w e r e in. W e propose to render a s i m i l a r service to c o l l e g e and u n i v e r s i t y l i b r a r i a n s . 3. Salary study. I n our p r o g r a m p l a n s f o r this y e a r , w e h a v e i n c l u d e d a s t u d y of c o l l e g e and u n i v e r s i t y l i b r a r y salaries, to be u n d e r t a k e n e a r l y in 1 9 4 8 . T h i s p r o j e c t s h o u l d y i e l d d a t a s i m i l a r t o those on c o l l e g e f a c u l t i e s f o r 1 9 3 9 - 4 0 , w h i c h w e r e p u b - lished by the O f f i c e of E d u c a t i o n in its " C i r c u l a r N o . 1 9 6 . " O u r l i b r a r y s t u d y , as p l a n n e d , w i l l result in s a l a r y d i s t r i b u - tion tables f o r specific k i n d s and g r a d e s of positions in selected g r o u p s of i n s t i t u t i o n s . T h e s t u d y s h o u l d p r o d u c e such f a c t s as t h e s e : I n a c e r t a i n g r o u p of u n i v e r s i t i e s lo- c a t e d in a c e r t a i n r e g i o n , 1 0 chief c a t a l o g l i b r a r i a n s f a l l w i t h i n the $^6oo-$sggg an- n u a l s a l a r y b r a c k e t ; 7 w i t h i n the $ 4 0 0 0 - $ 4 3 9 9 b r a c k e t ; 5 w i t h i n the $ 4 4 0 0 to $ 4 7 9 9 b r a c k e t ; etc. S i m i l a r i n f o r m a t i o n w o u l d be a s c e r t a i n e d f o r the directors, f o r assistant directors, f o r chief c i r c u l a t i o n li- brarians, f o r p r o f e s s i o n a l assistants of d i f - f e r e n t g r a d e s , etc. T h e s e t a b u l a t i o n s w i l l n o t list, h o w e v e r , specific salaries at specific i n s t i t u t i o n s . T h e y w i l l n o t showT w h a t the d i r e c t o r of libraries at u n i v e r s i t y " X " receives f o r an a n n u a l s a l a r y . N o r w i l l t h e y s h o w t h a t the l i b r a r y of u n i v e r s i t y " X " has 6 d e p a r t - m e n t heads w h o receive a n n u a l salaries r a n g i n g f r o m $ 3 4 0 0 to $ 5 5 0 0 , b u t w e s h o u l d be able to f u r n i s h some sound f i g u r e s f o r the s t u d y of the l i b r a r y s a l a r y s i t u a t i o n in the c o l l e g e and u n i v e r s i t y li- b r a r y field. 4. Division of Higher Education compila- tions. T h e D i v i s i o n of H i g h e r E d u c a t i o n of the O f f i c e of E d u c a t i o n has a p r o g r a m in the field of statistics w h i c h is of sig- n i f i c a n c e to c o l l e g e and u n i v e r s i t y li- brarians. T h e r e are the b i e n n i a l s u r v e y s of e d u c a t i o n w h i c h c o n t a i n both d e t a i l e d and s u m m a r y tables of statistics on c o l l e g e s and universities. O f late years, t o t a l li- b r a r y e x p e n d i t u r e s of c o l l e g e s and u n i v e r - sities h a v e been i n c l u d e d w i t h o t h e r f i n a n - cial d a t a of these i n s t i t u t i o n s . F o r m e r l y , the t o t a l n u m b e r of v o l u m e s in c o l l e g e and u n i v e r s i t y libraries w a s g i v e n also, b u t this i n f o r m a t i o n has been o m i t t e d since d e t a i l e d reports h a v e been a m a j o r responsibility of the S e r v i c e to L i b r a r i e s S e c t i o n . I n a d d i - tion, there are special studies on salaries of c o l l e g e f a c u l t i e s , e n r o l m e n t s , N e g r o c o l - leges, and v a r i o u s others. A t the present time, the s t a t i s t i c a l p r o g r a m of the D i v i s i o n of H i g h e r E d u c a t i o n is b e i n g s e l f - e x a m i n e d c r i t i c a l l y to m a k e its u s e f u l n e s s to c o l l e g e and u n i v e r s i t y a d m i n i s t r a t o r s still g r e a t e r . Potential Program T h e f o r e g o i n g is an a c c o u n t of o u r present p r o g r a m in the field of c o l l e g e a n d u n i v e r s i t y l i b r a r y statistics. W h a t a b o u t the " p o t e n t i a l p r o g r a m ? " H e r e w e r u n i n t o c o n f l i c t i n g forces. T h e r e are, f o r e x a m p l e : 1. T h e expressed requests for library sta- tistics made by administrators, research w o r k - ers, planners, and others. 2. T h e efforts of the Service to L i b r a r i e s Section and Research and Statistical Service to meet these requests as f a r as possible. 3. T h e general program of the O f f i c e of E d u c a t i o n conditioned as it is by its basic l a w and by available funds. 4. T h e B u r e a u of the B u d g e t which e x - ercises control both over recommended ap- propriations and over question blanks sent to respondents. 5. T h e C o n g r e s s of the U n i t e d States which is the ultimate, determining f a c t o r in any federal government activity. A f e w w o r d s are in o r d e r a b o u t these f o r c e s w h i c h h a v e j u s t been e n u m e r a t e d . T h e requests a n d r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s of the l i b r a r i a n s are n a t u r a l l y p o w e r f u l influences. 108 COLLEGE AND RESEARCH LIBRARIES S o m e w i s h o n l y a f e w i t e m s , a n d t h e s i m p l e r t h e f o r m , t h e b e t t e r ; o t h e r s h a v e r e c o m - m e n d e d t h a t s o m e 3 0 0 be c o l l e c t e d . B u t t h e r e a r e a l s o o t h e r f a c t o r s w i t h w h i c h t o r e c k o n . T h e S e r v i c e t o L i b r a r i e s S e c t i o n e n - d e a v o r s t o be r e s p o n s i v e t o these e x p r e s s e d r e q u e s t s b u t it h a s t o w o r k w i t h i n t h e f r a m e w o r k of t h e g e n e r a l s t a t i s t i c a l p r o - g r a m of t h e O f f i c e of E d u c a t i o n . T h e O f f i c e of E d u c a t i o n o p e r a t e s u n d e r an 1 8 6 7 A c t of C o n g r e s s w h i c h r e q u i r e d it t o c o l - l e c t " s u c h s t a t i s t i c s a n d f a c t s as s h a l l s h o w t h e c o n d i t i o n a n d p r o g r e s s of e d u c a t i o n in t h e s e v e r a l S t a t e s a n d t e r r i t o r i e s . " E v e r s i n c e 1 8 7 0 , t h e O f f i c e of E d u c a t i o n h a s been d o i n g t h a t , c o n d i t i o n e d b y t h e f u n d s m a d e a v a i l a b l e b y t h e C o n g r e s s f o r s t a f f a n d p r i n t i n g . R e c e n t l y , t h e o f f i c e h a s b e e n s c r u t i n i z i n g its w h o l e s t a t i s t i c a l p r o g r a m a n d h a s h a d t h e b e n e f i t of t h e a d v i c e of e x p e r t c o n f e r e e s . 2 T h e B u r e a u of t h e B u d g e t h a s m u c h t o say a b o u t t h e e x t e n t of t h e s t a t i s t i c a l a c t i v i t y of a f e d e r a l a g e n c y . A s p r e v i o u s l y m e n - t i o n e d , it passes o n t h e b u d g e t r e q u e s t w h i c h t h e O f f i c e of E d u c a t i o n s u b m i t s t h r o u g h t h e F e d e r a l S e c u r i t y A g e n c y . I t is t h e B u r e a u o f t h e B u d g e t w h i c h f i n a l l y s u b m i t s t h e P r e s i d e n t ' s b u d g e t t o t h e C o n g r e s s . F u r t h e r m o r e , t h e a p p r o v a l of t h e B u r e a u of t h e B u d g e t m u s t be o b t a i n e d b e f o r e a r e p o r t f o r m c a n be used in o b t a i n i n g d a t a f r o m m o r e t h a n 9 r e s p o n d e n t s . T h e b u r e a u e x a m i n e s these p r o p o s e d b l a n k s c l o s e l y . I t q u e s t i o n s t h e s i g n i f i c a n c e a n d u s e f u l n e s s of i t e m s in t h e p u b l i c i n t e r e s t ; it seeks t o g u a r d t a x p a y e r s a g a i n s t w a s t e f u l g o v e r n m e n t p r o j e c t s ; it e n d e a v o r s t o p r o t e c t r e s p o n d e n t s f r o m h a v i n g q u e s t i o n n a i r e s w h i c h are t o o l o n g , t o o c o m p l i c a t e d , o r t o o f r e q u e n t . T h i s a c t i o n is n o t j u s t a n o p t i o n a l e x e r c i s e of a u t h o r i t y ; it is r e q u i r e d b y l a w . 2 Proposals Relating to the Statistical Function of the U.S. Office of Education. U . S . Office Bulletin 1946, No. 2. Washington, U . S . Government P r i n t i n g Office, 1946. T h e C o n g r e s s of t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s w a s d e s c r i b e d e a r l i e r as a d e t e r m i n i n g f a c t o r in t h e s t a t i s t i c a l a c t i v i t i e s of f e d e r a l a g e n c i e s . A m p l e e v i d e n c e of t h i s m a y be f o u n d in t h e h e a r i n g s b e f o r e t h e H o u s e S u b c o m m i t t e e o n A p p r o p r i a t i o n s w h i c h w a s c o n s i d e r i n g t h e 1 9 4 5 a p p r o p r i a t i o n s f o r t h e O f f i c e of E d u c a t i o n . 3 T h e r e , in f i v e p r i n t e d p a g e s , y o u w i l l f i n d d i s c u s s e d in v i g o r o u s f a s h i o n t h e q u e s t i o n of l i b r a r y s t a t i s t i c s , e s p e c i a l l y c o l l e g e a n d u n i v e r s i t y l i b r a r y s t a t i s t i c s . F o r i n s t a n c e , a m e m b e r of t h e s u b c o m - m i t t e e , a f t e r e x a m i n i n g College and Uni- versity Library Statistics, 1939-40, asked: " W h o w o u l d m a k e use of a n y s u c h s t a - t i s t i c s as are c o n t a i n e d in t h i s v o l u m e ? " T h e A c t i n g C o m m i s s i o n e r of E d u c a t i o n e x p l a i n e d t o t h e s u b c o m m i t t e e h o w t h e d a t a w o u l d be used n o t o n l y b y c o l l e g e a n d u n i v e r s i t y l i b r a r i a n s , b u t a l s o b y c o l l e g e a n d u n i v e r s i t y p r e s i d e n t s . T h e s a m e C o n g r e s s m a n t h e n p o i n t e d t o t h e d e t a i l e d s t a t i s t i c s in t h e b u l l e t i n a n d o b s e r v e d : I just wonder whether we are engaged in a program in which the public has a great significant interest in statistics of that char- acter. I confess, on the face of it, it does not impress me very strongly. You have a lot of statistics as to how many books there are in all the libraries of the country, and that sort of thing. A t t h i s p o i n t t h e A c t i n g C o m m i s s i o n e r i n s e r t e d in t h e r e c o r d a l e t t e r f r o m W i l l i a m H u g h C a r l s o n , w h o , as c h a i r m a n of a p o s t - w a r c o m m i t t e e , h a d w r i t t e n t o ask f o r m o r e s t a t i s t i c s , a n d a l s o t o e x p r e s s his a p p r e c i a - t i o n of t h e u s e f u l d a t a c o n t a i n e d in College and University Library Statistics, 1939-40. T h e C o n g r e s s m a n n e v e r t h e l e s s c o n - t i n u e d : Of course it is a fine thing that we have got 3 Hearings before the Subcommittee of the Commit- tee on Appropriations. House of Representatives. Seventy-eighth Congress. Second Session on the De- partment of Labor—Federal Security Agency Appro- priation Bill for 1945. P a r t 3, p. 156-60. APRIL, 1948 109 government agencies staffed to furnish all this information and material. Perhaps it would be possible for someone, some library head, who had a particular problem in mind and wanted to. find out what his neighbor was doing, to write a few letters himself and get those facts, without the federal government publishing a great mass of detailed statistical information which I cannot conceive would be of any value to anybody. T h e O f f i c e of E d u c a t i o n w i t n e s s e s p o i n t e d o u t the d i f f i c u l t i e s i n v o l v e d in the p r e c e d i n g s u g g e s t i o n s , b u t the C o n g r e s s m a n c a m e b a c k t o the q u e s t i o n of the v a l u e of these statistics to the p u b l i c . O t h e r C o n - g r e s s m e n then j o i n e d in w i t h q u e s t i o n s a b o u t the a r r a n g e m e n t of the d a t a , and cost. O u r " p o t e n t i a l " s t a t i s t i c a l p r o g r a m is t h u s i m p i n g e d u p o n by some p o w e r f u l f o r c e s . W i t h these in m i n d , let us consider the d i r e c t i o n in w h i c h w e are m o v i n g in the field of l i b r a r y statistics in c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h the R e s e a r c h and S t a t i s t i c a l S e r v i c e of the O f f i c e of E d u c a t i o n : 1 . A q u a d r e n n i a l c o l l e c t i o n and p u b l i c a - tion of the m a j o r s i g n i f i c a n t d a t a f r o m all c o l l e g e and u n i v e r s i t y libraries in the U n i t e d S t a t e s a n d its t e r r i t o r i e s . T h e n u m - ber of s i g n i f i c a n t i t e m s to be reported u p o n w o u l d be at least 2 8 , n o t i n c l u d i n g c e r t a i n s u b - i t e m s , needed f o r a u d i t i n g purposes, or f o r d e r i v e d statistics. 2. A n a n n u a l c o l l e c t i o n and p u b l i c a t i o n of the m o s t essential statistics f r o m repre- s e n t a t i v e samples of c o l l e g e a n d u n i v e r s i t y libraries. T h e n u m b e r of i t e m s t o be re- p o r t e d on w o u l d be p r o b a b l y 6 t o 8. E m p h a s i s w o u l d be on p r o m p t a v a i l a b i l i t y of the d a t a to the p r o f e s s i o n . 3. A n a n n u a l or b i e n n i a l s a l a r y s t u d y based on d a t a r e c e i v e d f r o m r e p r e s e n t a t i v e samples. T h e p u b l i s h e d results w o u l d n o t c o n t a i n specific salaries paid to specific per- sons at specific i n s t i t u t i o n s , b u t r a t h e r the salaries, d i s t r i b u t e d b y s a l a r y b r a c k e t s , paid in m o r e or less h o m o g e n e o u s g r o u p s of c o l - l e g e libraries, f o r specific classes of positions. I t m i g h t c o n t a i n , f o r e x a m p l e , the n u m b e r of salaries in a series of b r a c k e t s b e i n g paid to b e g i n n i n g p r o f e s s i o n a l c a t a l o g e r s in t h e libraries of the m e d i u m - s i z e d l i b e r a l arts c o l l e g e s of the M i d w e s t . T h e g r o u p i n g s m i g h t be b y : ( a ) t y p e of c o n t r o l of the i n s t i t u t i o n ; ( b ) by t y p e of i n s t i t u t i o n ; ( c ) by k i n d s of s t u d e n t s s e r v e d ; a n d ( d ) pos- sibly, by a c c r e d i t e d s t a t u s . T h e s e g r o u p - i n g s w o u l d be a c c o m p a n i e d b y : ( a ) n a t i o n a l totals, and ( b ) r e g i o n a l t o t a l s either by p o l i t i c a l u n i t s or a c c r e d i t i n g agencies. 4. S p e c i a l studies i n v o l v i n g the c o l l e c t i o n of d a t a on specific phases of l i b r a r y a d m i n i s - t r a t i o n f r o m a l i m i t e d n u m b e r of d i f f e r e n t t y p e s of i n s t i t u t i o n s w i l l i n g to c o o p e r a t e in k e e p i n g special records such a s : a. Detailed statistics of library use b. Detailed statistics on sources of addi- tions to book stock c. Detailed statistics on interlibrary loans d. Detailed statistics on cataloging opera- tions in college libraries e. Detailed statistics on the delivery and nondelivery of items requested at the loan desk f. Sources of income of college and univer- sity libraries g. Cost studies of library operations. P l e a s e n o t e t h a t the p r e c e d i n g s t a t i s t i c a l studies are, in the m a i n , potential a n d n o t a c t u a l . H o w m a n y of these can be p u t i n t o e f f e c t d e p e n d s u p o n the v a r i o u s f o r c e s b e a r - i n g d o w n u p o n t h e s t a t i s t i c a l p r o g r a m . S i n c e d a t a g a t h e r e d by the D i v i s i o n of H i g h e r E d u c a t i o n h a v e s i g n i f i c a n c e f o r c o l - l e g e a n d u n i v e r s i t y l i b r a r i a n s , w e s h o u l d t a k e i n t o a c c o u n t also the proposed s t a t i s t i - cal p r o g r a m of t h a t u n i t of the O f f i c e of E d u c a t i o n . I t is proposed, f o r e x a m p l e , to c o l l e c t and publish a n n u a l l y g e n e r a l e n r o l - m e n t statistics f o r the a u t u m n q u a r t e r or semester, and f o r the s u m m e r session. B i e n n i a l l y a n d q u a d r e n n i a l l y , m o r e d e t a i l e d e n r o l m e n t f i g u r e s w o u l d be asked f o r . F01 i n s t a n c e , in the q u a d r e n n i a l c o l l e c t i o n , the n u m b e r of s t u d e n t s p r e p a r i n g f o r v a r i o u s 110 COLLEGE AND RESEARCH LIBRARIES professional fields would be ascertained, if possible, and the number enrolled in specific subjects. T h e Division of Higher Education of the Office of Education is giving considera- tion to a plan for obtaining reports on the college and university staff at annual, bien- nial, and quadrennial intervals. Annually, for example, the number of college level instructors would be asked for. Biennially, the number of academic staff would be enumerated in detail by type of activity (in- struction, research, e t c . ) . A biennial salary survey is being considered covering such items as salary, academic rank, extent of annual service, etc. Quadrennially, a similar study might cover nonacademic staff members. A t a similar interval, the quali- fications of the instructional staff (especially as to degrees) might be studied. T h e Division of Higher Education also proposes to call for annual and biennial reports on the finances of colleges and uni- versities. Biennially, the schedule provides for data on additions to capital funds, cur- rent income by source, expenditures by function, and fund and plant values. O n a sampling basis, it is proposed to ask an- nually in the spring for statistics giving the economic outlook for higher education, covering estimates of income f o r current educational and general purposes by sources. The volume of estimated change in income and expenditures f o r the coming academic year might be sought. Specific estimates in expenditures f o r libraries and faculty salaries might be included here. In this report, too, any estimated change in student enrolment could be asked for. Finally, every four years, the Office of Education would like to study the plant facilities of colleges and universities through- out the nation, specifically as to floor space devoted to various types of use, dates and types of construction, the existing capacity for the accommodation of students (includ- ing library reading rooms and study halls, classrooms, laboratories, etc.) and the pro- vision for faculty offices. A n authoritative and detailed analysis of the present and potential college and uni- versity statistical program of the Office of Education, may be found in the published statement of D r . John Dale Russell, direc- tor of the Division of Higher Education, to the American Association of Collegiate Registrars.4 T h e Service to Libraries Section of the U . S. Office of Education aims to carry on a statistical program which will build up that "fundamental body of data which can be applied to the solution of problems by which librarianship is beset." W e , there- fore, make the following recommendations: 1. W e need an official body, r e p r e s e n t a t i v e of the p r o f e s s i o n , t o w h i c h w e can t u r n , as occasion m a y arise, f o r a u t h o r i t a t i v e advice and g u i d a n c e in p l a n n i n g s t a t i s t i c a l activities and p r o j e c t s in the field of c o l l e g e and u n i - v e r s i t y librarianship to be u n d e r t a k e n by the O f f i c e of E d u c a t i o n . 2. W e need an a u t h o r i t a t i v e p r o f e s s i o n a l source f o r l i b r a r y t e r m i n o l o g y and definitions w h i c h the O f f i c e of E d u c a t i o n can use w i t h assurance t h a t it represents the best c u r r e n t t h o u g h t and p r a c t i c e on college and u n i v e r s i t y librarianship. 3. W e need to e x p l o r e the possibility of c o - o p e r a t i v e a r r a n g e m e n t s w i t h state l i b r a r y agencies w h i c h are c h a r g e d by state l a w w i t h the collection of c o l l e g e and u n i v e r s i t y l i b r a r y statistics. 4. W e need a continued u n d e r s t a n d i n g of the m u t u a l responsibilities and l i m i t a t i o n s of a f e d e r a l a g e n c y on the one hand and p r o - f e s s i o n a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s on the o t h e r . T h e g o v e r n m e n t is especially f i t t e d f o r c e r t a i n s t a t i s t i c a l a c t i v i t i e s ; a n o n g o v e r n m e n t o r - g a n i z a t i o n , f o r others. 5. W e need a c l e a r recognition of the f a c t t h a t a m a t e r i a l expansion of l i b r a r y statistics and r e l a t e d f a c t s in the O f f i c e of E d u c a t i o n can be j u s t i f i e d only by the d e m o n s t r a t e d needs of o u r p r o f e s s i o n a l and l a y c o n s t i t u e n c y . 4 " T h e Collection of Statistics on College Enroll- m e n t s . " College and University 23: 16-31, October 1947. APRIL, 1948 111