College and Research Libraries A SYMPOSIUM Library Service to Undergraduate College Students T h e f o l l o w i n g t h r e e p a p e r s w e r e p r e s e n t e d at a g e n e r a l m e e t i n g j o i n t l y s p o n s o r e d by t h e College, J u n i o r College, a n d U n i v e r s i t y L i b r a r i e s sections of A C R L , P h i l a d e l p h i a , Pa., J u l y 5, 1955. D r . E d w a r d B. S t a n f o r d , U n i v e r s i t y of M i n n e s o t a L i b r a r y , p r e s i d e d . By F R A N K A. L U N D Y The Divisional Plan Library Mr. Lundy is director, University of Ne- braska Libraries. I N T R O D U C T I O N I S H A L L DISCUSS w i t h you t h e i d e a of t h e di-visional l i b r a r y . T h e s e r e m a r k s m i g h t b e e n t i t l e d : " D o u n d e r g r a d u a t e s deserve a n e d u c a t i o n ? " I n a p p r o a c h i n g t h e p r o b l e m of p r o v i d i n g g o o d u n d e r g r a d u a t e l i b r a r y service, l e t us first e x a m i n e several fallacious a s s u m p t i o n s w h i c h i n f l u e n c e c o n t e m p o r a r y college a n d university l i b r a r i a n s h i p . F I V E F A L L A C I O U S A S S U M P T I O N S 1. Undergraduates don't count. First a m o n g these is t h e c o m m o n n o t i o n t h a t u n - d e r g r a d u a t e s t u d e n t s d o n ' t c o u n t . W e a r e i n t e r e s t e d o n l y i n o u r g r a d u a t e s t u d e n t s a n d in t h e research c a r r i e d o n by t h e f a c u l t y . H o w o f t e n o n e h e a r s r e m a r k s like these o n t h e u n i v e r s i t y c a m p u s . H e r e , f o r e x a m p l e , is a g r e a t state u n i v e r s i t y in t h e M i d d l e W e s t w i t h n e a r l y 20,000 s t u d e n t s o n its c a m p u s , almost 15,000 of t h e m u n d e r g r a d u a t e s . I t boasts a n e w m u l t i - m i l l i o n - d o l l a r l i b r a r y b u i l d i n g designed, it is said, t o serve research c a r r i e d o n by g r a d u a t e s t u d e n t s a n d t h e faculty. U n d e r g r a d u a t e s d o n ' t c o u n t . I n p r a c t i c a l effect it w o u l d b e b e t t e r if they w e r e n ' t t h e r e . I h a v e h e a r d r e m a r k s like these m a n y times on t h e c a m p u s of t h e g r e a t state u n i v e r s i t y o n t h e W e s t Coast w h e r e I l a b o r e d early in my career. A n d I h a v e h e a r d t h e m r e p e a t e d a n d a m p l i f i e d o n m a n y o t h e r campuses. 2. A college education is completed in four years. Second, a n e d u c a t i o n is com- p l e t e d i n f o u r years of college. A college e d u c a t i o n consists of courses of study w h i c h can c o n v e n i e n t l y b e m e a s u r e d in u n i t s a n d g r a d e d n u m e r i c a l l y f o r q u a l i t y . I n g e n e r a l these courses a r e r e l a t e d to each o t h e r a n d g r o u p e d t o g e t h e r i n t e r m s of p r e r e q u i s i t e s a n d m a j o r s . O u t s i d e t h e m a j o r field of study, t h e history of o u r c u l t u r e a n d t h e b r o a d view of o u r c o n t e m p o r a r y society a r e served by a f e w m o r e o r less u n r e l a t e d u n i t s of "this, t h a t , a n d s o m e t h i n g else," selected in a m o u n t s a p p r o p r i a t e i n size t o fill t h e pack- age. T h e c o m p l e t i o n of a m a j o r e n t i t l e s t h e s t u d e n t to e n r o l l f o r g r a d u a t e o r profession- al t r a i n i n g in t h e same specialty. If h e does n o t choose to d o so, a n d t h e m a j o r i t y d o n o t , h e can p u t his e d u c a t i o n o n t h e shelf a n d f o r g e t a b o u t it. H i s e d u c a t i o n was com- p l e t e d in f o u r years. H e is a n e d u c a t e d m a n . 3. The library is a warehouse of books organized for the convenience of the library staff. T h i r d a m o n g o u r fallacious assump- tions, t h e u n i v e r s i t y library, s p e a k i n g col- lectively f o r t h e l i b r a r y c o m p l e x , is t h e w a r e h o u s e f o r books a n d periodicals. I t MARCH, 1956 1.143 m u s t b e o r g a n i z e d to suit t h e c o n v e n i e n c e of t h e l i b r a r i a n s w h o w o r k t h e r e . T h e con- v e n i e n c e of t h e s t u d e n t s a n d f a c u l t y is sec- o n d a r y . T h e c o n v e n i e n c e of u n d e r g r a d u a t e s t u d e n t s i n p a r t i c u l a r is h a r d l y w o r t h con- sidering. A n d so it follows t h a t r e f e r e n c e books, w h i c h a r e f o r t h e m o s t p a r t encyclo- p e d i a s a n d o t h e r c o m p e n d i a , fill t h e r e f e r - ence r o o m , as it is so called. U n b o u n d peri- odicals come i n q u a n t i t y a n d pose a special p r o b l e m in r e c o r d k e e p i n g a n d a r e t h e r e f o r e r o u t e d to a p e r i o d i c a l r o o m . Assigned r e a d - ings a r e segregated f r o m all o t h e r books a n d fill a reserve b o o k r o o m . D o c u m e n t s , w h i c h in t h e l i b r a r y w o r l d m e a n simply a n y p r i n t - e d i t e m w i t h a g o v e r n m e n t i m p r i n t , e n j o y a special d i s t i n c t i o n in h o u s i n g a n d service i n this s t r a n g e caste system. T h e s t u d e n t in search of a n idea is given q u i t e a r u n - a r o u n d . O n l y in t h e c e n t r a l b o o k stack a r e b o o k s a r r a n g e d in a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e ideas w h i c h they c o n t a i n . N e a r l y all of t h e stock of r e a d a b l e books is in t h e b o o k stack. A n d , of course, o n most c a m p u s e s u n d e r g r a d u a t e s t u d e n t s a r e n o t given f r e e access t o t h e b o o k stack. 4. Librarians are custodians, not educa- tors. F o u r t h , l i b r a r i a n s a r e n o t e d u c a t o r s . T h e y a r e c u s t o d i a n s . T h e i r w o r k is clerical. T h e y f u n c t i o n in a n e n v i r o n m e n t f u l l of n e g a t i v e rules f r a m e d to p r o t e c t t h e b o o k f r o m s t u d e n t a n d f a c u l t y alike. Books a r e a c q u i r e d by t h e l i b r a r y i n o r d e r t h a t they m a y be p r e s e r v e d . T h e i r p r e s e r v a t i o n re- q u i r e s a c o m p l i c a t e d set of d e s c r i p t i v e rec- ords, d u p l i c a t e d a n d r e - a r r a n g e d , e n t i r e l y o r i n p a r t , m a n y times over. R u l e k e e p i n g a n d r e c o r d m a k i n g a r e so a b s o r b i n g of t i m e a n d energy t h a t n o n e is l e f t f o r t a k i n g p a r t in t h e e d u c a t i o n a l process i n v o l v i n g f a c u l t y a n d s t u d e n t s . N o r a r e l i b r a r i a n s c a p a b l e of such p a r t i c i p a t i o n . T h e i r p r o f e s s i o n a l edu- c a t i o n has n o t p r e p a r e d t h e m to assume a p o s i t i o n of such r e s p o n s i b i l i t y in t h e aca- d e m i c c o m m u n i t y . T h e t h o u g h t t h a t they s h o u l d b e given a c a d e m i c status w i t h ap- p r o p r i a t e r a n k s is s h o c k i n g a n d a b h o r r e n t . 5. Cataloging and reference work are in no way related. F i f t h a n d last a m o n g pri- m a r y fallacious a s s u m p t i o n s t h a t a r e pres- e n t l y i n f l u e n t i a l in o u r u n i v e r s i t y l i b r a r i e s is t h e n o t i o n t h a t t h e t e c h n i c a l services a n d t h e p u b l i c services m u s t exist in s e p a r a t e sovereignties w i t h a m i n i m u m of c o m m u n i - c a t i o n b e t w e e n t h e m . C a t a l o g i n g is a n eso- teric a r t . O n l y a t r u e i n i t i a t e can u n d e r s t a n d t h e c a t a l o g i n g process, o r f o r t h a t m a t t e r t h e e n d p r o d u c t , t h e catalog card. P e r h a p s it i s n ' t necessary to b e p e c u l i a r in o r d e r t o b e a cataloger, b u t it helps. R e f e r e n c e work, o n t h e o t h e r h a n d , e n j o y s a special prestige. P e r h a p s r e f e r e n c e l i b r a r i a n s a r e b o r n . Cer- t a i n l y they d o n o t n e e d to l a b o r in t h e b i b l i o g r a p h i c a l process i n o r d e r to a c q u i r e c o m p e t e n c e i n t h e i n t e r p r e t a t i o n of t h e li- b r a r y ' s collections. A r e f e r e n c e l i b r a r i a n w o u l d r a t h e r b e d e a d t h a n be seen catalog- i n g a b o o k . A C O N S T R U C T I V E P H I L O S O P H Y O F L I B R A R I A N S H I P S t a t e d i n this m a n n e r , these five assump- t i o n s o r p r i n c i p l e s a p p e a r to b e s o m e w h a t r i d i c u l o u s . A n d yet, in t h e i r g e n e r a l applica- t i o n to o u r universities, a n d to t h e i r libraries, these a s s u m p t i o n s a r e t r u e t o a s u r p r i s i n g degree. A m o n g u n i v e r s i t i e s w i t h m o r e t h a n 5,000 s t u d e n t s t h e e x c e p t i o n s t o these gen- eralities a r e still so f e w in n u m b e r t h a t they a r e conspicuous. W i t h l i b r a r y service to t h e u n d e r g r a d u a t e s t u d e n t u p p e r m o s t in m i n d let us e x a m i n e these five a s s u m p t i o n s . L e t us r e s t a t e t h e m i n s u p p o r t of a m o r e positive view of g e n e r a l e d u c a t i o n a n d a m o r e c o n s t r u c t i v e p h i l o s o p h y of l i b r a r i a n - ship. Universities and their libraries must serve students at all levels and must support both teaching and research. The divisional plan library provides effective library service. First a n d f o r e m o s t , if we m a y speak f o r a m o m e n t of t a x - s u p p o r t e d i n s t i t u t i o n s , a state u n i v e r s i t y h a s t h r e e m a j o r o b l i g a t i o n s . I t m u s t p r o v i d e a g o o d g e n e r a l e d u c a t i o n f o r t h e y o u n g m e n a n d w o m e n w h o a r e resi- d e n t s of t h e state. T h i s i m p l i e s g o o d teach- ing, w i t h l i b r a r i e s o r g a n i z e d to l e n d effec- tive s u p p o r t to t h e e d u c a t i o n of these stu- d e n t s . T h e u n i v e r s i t y m u s t also t r a i n pro- fessional s t u d e n t s a n d g r a d u a t e s t u d e n t s in t h e m e t h o d s of r e s e a r c h a n d m u s t s u p p o r t f a c u l t y r e s e a r c h in t h e i n t e r e s t of local a n d n a t i o n a l w e l f a r e . A u n i v e r s i t y is per se a c o m m u n i t y of e n q u i r i n g m i n d s . N o field of k n o w l e d g e is closed to its e n q u i r i e s . Finally, in a d d i t i o n to t e a c h i n g a n d research, a state 144 COLLEGE AND RESEARCH LIBRARIES university r e n d e r s a w i d e variety of services to t h e citizens of t h e state. Clearly, t h e university has a n o b l i g a t i o n to offer its u n d e r g r a d u a t e s t u d e n t s t h e op- p o r t u n i t y of a c q u i r i n g a n e d u c a t i o n . W e m u s t h e a r n o m o r e talk to t h e effect t h a t u n d e r g r a d u a t e s d o n ' t c o u n t . T h e s e s t u d e n t s a r e t h e f u t u r e citizens a n d f r o m t h e i r r a n k s come o u r leaders, n o t to m e n t i o n o u r pro- fessional s t u d e n t s a n d even o u r g r a d u a t e s t u d e n t s . A university w h i c h recognizes n o o b l i g a t i o n to these s t u d e n t s is d i s h o n e s t in a c c e p t i n g t h e i r m o n e y a n d t h e i r time. Such loose talk a b o u t t h e i r insignificance in t h e a c a d e m i c c o m m u n i t y c o u l d b r i n g swift retri- b u t i o n f r o m t h e taxpayers. T h e u n i v e r s i t y l i b r a r y can a n d m u s t serve t h e u n i v e r s i t y p r o g r a m — t h a t is, t e a c h i n g a n d r e s e a r c h — b o t h o n a n d off t h e c a m p u s . H o n e s t analysis i n d i c a t e s clearly t h a t em- phasis has t h u s f a r b e e n p l a c e d u p o n service to g r a d u a t e s t u d e n t s a n d f a c u l t y m e m b e r s t h r o u g h such devices as closed stacks, car- rells, seminars, f a c u l t y studies, t h e r e f e r e n c e collection, e x t e n d e d b o r r o w i n g privileges, a n d a n e l a b o r a t e system of small, specialized, a n d r e s t r i c t e d b r a n c h libraries. A f e w con- cessions h a v e b e e n m a d e t o t h e u n d e r g r a d u - a t e s t u d e n t i n t h e f o r m of t h e u n d e r g r a d u - a t e r e a d i n g r o o m w i t h a small collection of m a t e r i a l s , a f e w t h o u s a n d reserve books o n o p e n shelves, a n d h e r e a n d t h e r e a b r o w s i n g r o o m of g e n e r a l n a t u r e . N o o n e c o u l d pos- sibly say t h a t these devices r e p r e s e n t a n h o n e s t effort to p r o v i d e g o o d over-all l i b r a r y service t o t h e u n d e r g r a d u a t e s t u d e n t b o d y . T h e U n i v e r s i t y of C o l o r a d o e x p e r i m e n t e d w i t h a p i l o t p l a n t t o h o u s e a n a d e q u a t e u n - d e r g r a d u a t e l i b r a r y . B a r r i e r s b e t w e e n books a n d s t u d e n t s were r e m o v e d by p l a c i n g t h e b o o k s o n o p e n shelves in large e n o u g h q u a n t i t y t o reflect t h e e n t i r e u n d e r g r a d u a t e c u r r i c u l u m , i n c l u d i n g b o o k s of g e n e r a l in- terest as well. A n d t h e w o r d " b o o k s " was r e i n t e r p r e t e d t o i n c l u d e all f o r m s of p r i n t i m m e d i a t e l y p e r t i n e n t to t h e p r o g r a m ; t h a t is, books, periodicals, p a m p h l e t s , r e f e r e n c e sets, a n d so o n . T h e s e were b r o u g h t t o g e t h e r n o t by f o r m a t a n d process, b u t by c o n t e n t a n d idea. L a r g e w o r k a b l e collections w e r e b r o u g h t t o g e t h e r by s u b j e c t m a t t e r to serve g r o u p s of r e l a t e d d e p a r t m e n t s of i n s t r u c t i o n — h e n c e t h e p h r a s e divisional p l a n . H a r v a r d U n i v e r s i t y has c a r r i e d t h e idea f o r w a r d w i t h a m o d e l u n d e r g r a d u a t e l i b r a r y of 100,000 v o l u m e s in a s e p a r a t e b u i l d i n g , a n ideal ar- r a n g e m e n t b u t f o r most of us a n e x p e n s i v e o n e . T h e U n i v e r s i t y of N e b r a s k a h a s a d o p t e d a n d d e v e l o p e d t h e C o l o r a d o p l a n w i t h a divisional l i b r a r y serving t h e h u m a n i t i e s , t h e social studies, a n d science. A t N e b r a s k a practically all of t h e vestigial o r g a n s of t h e t r a d i t i o n a l l i b r a r y h a v e b e e n e l i m i n a t e d . A t t h e same t i m e N e b r a s k a has steadily im- p r o v e d all of its l i b r a r y services in s u p p o r t of g r a d u a t e study a n d research. I t is of in- terest h e r e to n o t e t h a t a n e x p a n d e d divi- sional p l a n will be h o u s e d in t h e n e w b u i l d - i n g at M i c h i g a n State College. Education is a lifelong process. The divi- sional library encourages and develops the reading habit. Brief a t t e n t i o n can b e given h e r e t o t h e fallacious p r o p o s i t i o n t h a t a n e d u c a t i o n con- sists of p r e s c r i b e d courses w h i c h can b e com- p l e t e d in f o u r years of t i m e serving. A col- lege e d u c a t i o n s h o u l d a w a k e n a s t u d e n t ' s curiosity a n d t r a i n his m i n d t o e n a b l e h i m to c o n t i n u e e d u c a t i n g himself t h r o u g h o u t his l i f e t i m e . If t h e h a b i t of r e a d i n g is t o b e a c q u i r e d in college t h e n every o p p o r t u n i t y in t h a t d i r e c t i o n m u s t b e m a d e a t t r a c t i v e . I n this t h e l i b r a r y can e x e r t l e a d e r s h i p . A p r o f e s s o r said to me, n o t l o n g ago: " T h e o n l y books t h a t a r e of a n y i m p o r t a n c e to my s t u d e n t s a r e t h e ones I assign to t h e m to r e a d . " If this w e r e t r u e , a few books o n reserve w o u l d serve all u n d e r g r a d u a t e needs. W e s h o u l d recognize, however, t h a t t h e r e a r e f e w college courses in a p p l i e d science o r social science t h a t a r e n o t quickly o u t of d a t e . I n t h e past, p e r h a p s u n i n t e n t i o n a l l y , in- s u r m o u n t a b l e b a r r i e r s were p l a c e d b e t w e e n t h e s t u d e n t a n d his books. Closed stacks a n d a c o m p l e x o r g a n i z a t i o n of service by f o r m a n d process such as r e f e r e n c e , periodicals, d o c u m e n t s , a n d reserves w e r e a m o n g these b a r r i e r s . A t N e b r a s k a these b a r r i e r s h a v e b e e n r e m o v e d . O n e h u n d r e d t h o u s a n d books a n d o t h e r materials, c a r e f u l l y selected f o r t h e p u r p o s e f r o m t h e m i l l i o n o r m o r e i n t h e stacks, a r e a r r a n g e d by c o n t e n t i n a series of large r e a d i n g rooms. C o m m e n t s f r o m m a n y s t u d e n t s a n d f a c u l t y m e m b e r s l e a d us to believe t h a t in this s t u d y e n v i r o n m e n t MARCH, 1956 1.145 s t u d e n t s a r e r e a d i n g m o r e books a n d books of w i d e r variety t h a n h e r e t o f o r e . Be it n o t e d h e r e t h a t these m a t e r i a l s h a v e b e e n c a r e f u l l y selected f o r w h a t we call t h e college l i b r a r y . O t h e r a p p r o a c h e s to this p r o b l e m a r e b e i n g t r i e d elsewhere. A t P r i n c e t o n a n d N o r t h w e s t e r n , f o r e x a m p l e , t h e r e a r e n o d i v i s i o n a l r e a d i n g r o o m s , b u t t h e b o o k stacks a r e o p e n to all s t u d e n t s . W e believe t h a t it is n o service t o t h e u n d e r - g r a d u a t e s t u d e n t w i t h a p r o b l e m t o solve o r a p a p e r to w r i t e — p a r t i c u l a r l y t o t h e l o w e r division s t u d e n t — t o t u r n h i m loose a m o n g a m i l l i o n b o o k s consisting mostly of r e s e a r c h m a t e r i a l s . I n N e b r a s k a , w h e r e m a n y of o u r s t u d e n t s come f r o m Clay C e n t e r a n d B e a v e r Crossing, f r o m O g a l l a l a a n d W a h o o , we a r e c e r t a i n t h a t this is t r u e . W e c a r e f u l l y g u i d e these s t u d e n t s i n t o t h e u n i v e r s i t y curricu- l u m a n d we m u s t also g u i d e t h e m i n t o t h e world of p r i n t . W e r e g a r d t h e c o m p l e t e l y o p e n b o o k stack i n t h e l a r g e u n i v e r s i t y as a lazy m a n ' s way of solving t h e p r o b l e m of u n d e r g r a d u a t e l i b r a r y service, o r as a n ad- mission t h a t t h e r e a r e simply n o t e n o u g h f u n d s to tackle t h e j o b . L e t m e a d d , how- ever, t h a t n o s t u d e n t a t N e b r a s k a is ever d e n i e d his r i g h t t o browse a m o n g t h e stack collections if h e w a n t s t o d o so. The library is the students' laboratory. I n c o n t r a s t to t h e a t t i t u d e t h a t t h e l i b r a r y is a w a r e h o u s e f o r b o o k s a n d t h a t its con- t e n t s m u s t b e a r r a n g e d f o r t h e c o n v e n i e n c e of t h e staff w h o m a n a g e it, let m e suggest a b u s i n e s s m a n ' s a p p r o a c h . Books a r e t h e basic t a n g i b l e c o m m o d i t y o n t h e c a m p u s . T h e l i b r a r y is a m e r c h a n d i s i n g c e n t e r . Books s h o u l d b e well d i s p l a y e d t o a t t r a c t t h e cus- t o m e r . By this we d o n o t m e a n a few books, o r a shelf of new books, b u t all the books in t h e college l i b r a r y . L i b r a r i a n s a r e t h e sales force. T h e i r f u n c t i o n is t o b r i n g b o o k s a n d r e a d e r s t o g e t h e r . L i b r a r i a n s s h o u l d , there- fore, b e t r a i n e d to d e f e r to t h e p e r s o n a l n e e d s a n d tastes of t h e s t u d e n t a n d t o a p p l y t h e i r e x p e r t k n o w l e d g e in his i n t e r e s t , w i t h tact a n d d i s c r i m i n a t i o n . I n t h e social science r e a d i n g r o o m , f o r e x a m p l e , we a r e p r e s e n t i n g t h e u n d e r g r a d u - a t e s t u d e n t w i t h a w o r k s h o p of p r i n t e d ma- terials i n this b r o a d field. T h i s is his lab- o r a t o r y . H e r e h e will a c c o m p l i s h m o s t of his r e a d i n g i n t h e social sciences a n d h e r e h e will w r i t e his t e r m p a p e r s . H e r e i n con- v e n i e n t a r r a n g e m e n t a r e books, periodicals, a n d n e w s p a p e r s ; p a m p h l e t s a n d o t h e r ver- tical file m a t e r i a l s ; e n c y c l o p e d i a s a n d in- dexes. W h e n we talk a b o u t a c o n v e n i e n t a r r a n g e m e n t of m a t e r i a l s we a r e t h i n k i n g p r i m a r i l y of t h e s t u d e n t ' s c o n v e n i e n c e . H i s assigned r e a d i n g s a r e o n o p e n shelves i n call n u m b e r s e q u e n c e w i t h t h e rest of t h e collection. O n l y a f e w titles a r e segregated b e h i n d a desk o n t w o - h o u r reserve. T h e s e f e w a r e t h e b o o k s i n very heavy d e m a n d . All o v e r n i g h t , three-day, seven-day, a n d two- week books a r e i n t h e o p e n shelf collection. L i b r a r i a n s d e t e r m i n e t h e n a t u r e a n d con- t e n t of these v a r i o u s g r o u p s of m a t e r i a l s , i n c l u d i n g t h e t w o - h o u r reserve collection. L i b r a r i a n s c o n s u l t w i t h f a c u l t y a n d s t u d e n t s to solve t h e i r l i b r a r y service p r o b l e m s , b u t a u t h o r i t y in t h e a r r a n g e m e n t a n d d i s t r i b u - t i o n of m a t e r i a l s rests w i t h l i b r a r i a n s . Shelving t h e m a j o r i t y of assigned r e a d i n g s o n o p e n shelves h a s t h e a d v a n t a g e of en- a b l i n g s t u d e n t s t o h e l p themselves. S h e l v i n g these b o o k s i n call n u m b e r s e q u e n c e w i t h t h e rest of t h e collection h a s t h e a d d e d ad- v a n t a g e of c o n t i n u o u s l y a c q u a i n t i n g t h e stu- d e n t w i t h o t h e r b o o k s o n t h e same s u b j e c t . O n e b o o k leads to a n o t h e r . I n such circum- stances b r o w s i n g a m o n g b o o k s becomes a p a r t of t h e daily s t u d y r o u t i n e , a n d this leads t o s c a n n i n g b o o k s t h a t catch t h e eye, a n d t h u s t h e r e a d i n g h a b i t is l a u n c h e d . T h e large r e a d i n g r o o m is b r o k e n u p i n t o small study areas t h r o u g h t h o u g h t f u l use of f r e e - s t a n d i n g b o o k cases. S t u d e n t s w o r k i n small g r o u p s i n small areas w h e r e they a r e literally s u r r o u n d e d w i t h b o o k s of i n t e r e s t t o t h e m . Acoustical p l a s t e r o n walls a n d ceiling a n d r u b b e r tile o n floors e l i m i n a t e noise a n d d i s t r a c t i o n . S o f t w h i t e fluorescent lights c r e a t e t h e illusion of c o n t i n u o u s day- light. T h e several r e a d i n g r o o m s a r e con- t i g u o u s a n d f r e e l y accessible t o all s t u d e n t s . All c i r c u l a t i o n p r o c e d u r e s h a v e b e e n con- c e n t r a t e d a t t h e single c e n t r a l l o a n desk. T h e r e is o n l y o n e i n s p e c t i o n p o i n t , a t t h e exit. T h e reserve b o o k r o o m h a s b e e n abol- ished a n d its r o o m space c o n v e r t e d to a n u n s u p e r v i s e d s t u d y h a l l , c o m p l e t e w i t h l o u n g e c o r n e r a n d w i t h coffee, coke, a n d a p p l e v e n d i n g m a c h i n e s . W h e n c o n v e r s a t i o n m u s t flourish it can flourish in this s t u d y 146 COLLEGE AND RESEARCH LIBRARIES h a l l . H e r e , too, is a b a t t e r y of t y p e w r i t e r s freely a v a i l a b l e to all s t u d e n t s . I n such a b u i l d i n g , w i t h e m p h a s i s u p o n service t h r o u g h o u t , g r a d u a t e study a n d fac- u l t y research also h a v e greatly i m p r o v e d ac- c o m m o d a t i o n s . A t N e b r a s k a t h e b o o k stack is n o w a place of r e l a t i v e q u i e t . T h e f o r m e r p r o b l e m of p a g i n g books f r o m t h e stacks in g r e a t n u m b e r s h a s n o w b e e n t r a n s f o r m e d i n t o a c o m p a r a b l e p r o b l e m of housekeep- i n g in t h e r e a d i n g r o o m s w h e r e t h e s t u d e n t s a r e e n c o u r a g e d t o leave books on t h e tables. W h e n t h e n e w c e n t r a l l i b r a r y was b u i l t p r o v i s i o n was m a d e in t h e stacks f o r a b o o k escalator. I t has n o t b e e n necessary t o com- p l e t e a n d o p e r a t e this e q u i p m e n t because t h e p r o b l e m s of g e t t i n g books is n o l o n g e r c o n c e n t r a t e d i n t o t h e b o o k stack. I n t h e r e a d i n g r o o m s this p r o b l e m of finding books has b e c o m e m u c h less a p r o b l e m because t h e p r i n c i p l e of self-help is a p p l i e d exten- sively u n d e r t h e w a t c h f u l eyes of a com- p e t e n t staff. I n t h e b o o k stack a r e m o r e t h a n a h u n d r e d carrells. O n t h e f o u r t h floor a r e 16 s e m i n a r s w h i c h serve also as g r a d u a t e study rooms. O n t h e f o u r t h floor, too, a r e 40 f a c u l t y s t u d i e s — s e p a r a t e p r i v a t e rooms, w h i c h are, in t h e w o r d s of several of o u r scholars, t h e finest i m p r o v e m e n t o n t h e cam- p u s in t h e i r lifetimes. A t this p o i n t o n e o r two m i s c o n c e p t i o n s a b o u t t h e divisional p l a n s h o u l d b e cleared away. Is t h e divisional p l a n expensive? I s n ' t it m o r e e x p e n s i v e to o p e r a t e t h a n a t r a d i t i o n a l library? T h e answer is, n o ! T h e cost of a c o m p e t e n t p u b l i c service staff is directly r e l a t e d to t h e size of t h e s t u d e n t body, to t h e l e n g t h of t h e schedule of h o u r s of p u b l i c service, a n d to t h e q u a l i t y of t h e service p r o g r a m . M a n y l i b r a r i e s a r e t r y i n g to d o t o o m u c h w i t h too few. T h e r e f e r e n c e l i b r a r i a n is e x p e c t e d to cover all fields of k n o w l e d g e . A divisional l i b r a r i a n restricts his service to a b r o a d b u t l i m i t e d field of k n o w l e d g e , a n d w i t h c o r r e s p o n d i n g l y great- er c o m p e t e n c e . O n e s h o u l d b e a r in m i n d , too, t h a t t h e r e is n o p r e s c r i b e d n u m b e r of divisions a n d r e a d i n g rooms. A divisional p l a n can b e set u p a n d o p e r a t e d in o n e r o o m . O r , if circumstances seem t o w a r r a n t , it c a n b e set u p in three, o r six, o r some o t h e r n u m b e r of divisions. Finally, h o w a b o u t t h e cost of d u p l i c a - tions? T o this we w o u l d say t h a t n o m o r e d u p l i c a t i o n is i m p l i e d in t h e divisional p l a n t h a n w o u l d be necessary f o r a d e q u a t e serv- ice u n d e r a n y o t h e r p l a n o r o r g a n i z a t i o n . M a n y l i b r a r i e s a p p e a r to b e r e l u c t a n t t o face t h e cost of necessary d u p l i c a t i o n s . Through training and experience librar- ians in the divisional library must acquire sound academic judgment and must exer- cise broad professional competence. They must be recognized as bona fide members of the academic community. T h e o r g a n i z a t i o n a n d d i r e c t i o n of a li- b r a r y division call f o r i m a g i n a t i o n a n d creative energy. T h e p u b l i c service staff in a divisional l i b r a r y m u s t b e a d e q u a t e l y t r a i n e d in s u b j e c t m a t t e r a n d i n l i b r a r i a n - ship. T h e h u m a n i t i e s l i b r a r i a n , f o r e x a m p l e , does n o t n e e d t o k n o w m o r e t h a n a n y citi- zen s h o u l d k n o w a b o u t a t o m i c energy o r f e d e r a l reserve b a n k s , o r a b o u t t h e sources of such i n f o r m a t i o n . B u t h e m u s t b e d e e p l y i n t e r e s t e d a n d widely r e a d in all l a n g u a g e a n d l i t e r a t u r e , in p h i l o s o p h y a n d t h e fine arts. I t is highly d e s i r a b l e t h a t t h e h u m a n i - ties l i b r a r i a n a n d his staff h a v e a t least mas- ter's degrees in t h e s u b j e c t m a t t e r of t h e division. A n d in t h e same b r e a t h let us m e n - t i o n t h a t a master's d e g r e e in l i b r a r i a n s h i p is i n d i s p e n s a b l e . T h e i r s is n o t custodial work. T h e s e li- b r a r i a n s m u s t be c o m p e t e n t to a h i g h degree in t h e e d u c a t i o n a l process. T h e i r w o r k re- q u i r e s t h a t they be e d u c a t o r s . I n this, t h e i r p r o f e s s i o n a l a n d a c a d e m i c a t t a i n m e n t s m u s t b e m a t c h e d w i t h m a t u r e a n d p l e a s a n t per- sonalities. U n d e r t h e i r g e n e r a l supervision t h e h o u s e k e e p i n g chores a r e d e l e g a t e d to clerical employees, to s t u d e n t pages, a n d to b u i l d i n g custodians. I n t o t h e h a n d s of t h e divisional l i b r a r i a n a n d his staff flows t h e e n t i r e b o o k selection process. Daily conversations w i t h m e m b e r s of t h e faculty over t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of t h e collections h a v e b e c o m e a r e g u l a r if n o t a r o u t i n e activity. Assistance to s t u d e n t s at all levels a n d to t h e f a c u l t y in t h e i n t e r p r e t a - t i o n of t h e c o l l e c t i o n s — t h a t is, h e l p in find- i n g w h a t they n e e d — i s a c o n t i n u o u s process. Staff assignments a r e l i m i t e d o n l y by t h e b o u n d a r i e s of b r o a d fields of s u b j e c t m a t t e r , such as t h e h u m a n i t i e s or t h e social sciences, a n d n e v e r by t h e f o r m a t of books, o r by t h e i r i m p r i n t , or by t h e a c c i d e n t of t h e i r MARCH, 1956 1.147 l o c a t i o n i n r e a d i n g r o o m , b o o k stack, o r b r a n c h l i b r a r y . I n o r d e r to assure a c a r e f u l c o r r e l a t i o n of all t h e b o o k collections a n d r e l a t e d l i b r a r y services we h a v e s u b o r d i - n a t e d all d e p a r t m e n t a l a n d l a b o r a t o r y li- b r a r i e s to t h e i r a p p r o p r i a t e divisions. T h e chemistry, physics, b o t a n y , zoology, a n d geology l i b r a r i e s are, t h e r e f o r e , a d m i n i s t r a - tively supervised by t h e h e a d of t h e science division. W i t h respect t o o u r p r i n c i p a l b r a n c h l i b r a r i e s in law, m e d i c i n e , a n d agri- c u l t u r e , t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p is d e f i n e d as a staff r a t h e r t h a n a l i n e r e l a t i o n s h i p . T h e p u b l i c service staff in t h e divisional l i b r a r y is r e c r u i t e d f o r b r o a d c o m p e t e n c e in l i b r a r i a n s h i p a n d in s u b j e c t m a t t e r . Similar c o m p e t e n c i e s a r e highly d e s i r a b l e i n t h e t e c h n i c a l services, in solving difficult p r o b - lems i n b i b l i o g r a p h y , a n d in t h e c a t a l o g i n g a n d classification of m a t e r i a l s . O n l y a few of t h e l a r g e r l i b r a r i e s can a f f o r d to d u p l i - cate such q u a l i f i c a t i o n s b e t w e e n t h e p u b l i c a n d t h e t e c h n i c a l services. W e believe t h a t a b e t t e r s o l u t i o n lies i n assigning t h e same staff to b o t h of these areas, a n d this we h a v e d o n e at N e b r a s k a . O u r p u b l i c service staff catalogs a n d classifies all b o o k s a n d assists w i t h difficult p r o b l e m s i n bibliogra- p h y in t h e o r d e r d e p a r t m e n t . W e believe t h a t t h e r e f e r e n c e l i b r a r i a n s b e c o m e compe- t e n t in b i b l i o g r a p h i c a l k n o w l e d g e a n d tech- n i q u e t h r o u g h e x p e r i e n c e i n c a t a l o g i n g . W e believe also t h a t catalogers p r o d u c e a m o r e u s a b l e catalog w h e n they h a v e t h e c o n t i n u - ous e x p e r i e n c e of h e l p i n g s t u d e n t s a n d f a c u l t y to find m a t e r i a l s . I t m u s t b e o b v i o u s by n o w t h a t t h e staff t h a t p a r t i c i p a t e s in d i v i s i o n a l l i b r a r i a n s h i p as d e s c r i b e d in this p a p e r m u s t be or m u s t b e c o m e c o m p e t e n t to a h i g h d e g r e e i n t h e e d u c a t i o n a l process. I t is o u r h o p e t h a t t h e i r a c a d e m i c a n d p r o f e s s i o n a l g r o w t h a r e con- t i n u o u s . T h e y a r e daily e n g a g e d in l i b r a r y o p e r a t i o n s of a w i d e variety a n d w i t h stu- d e n t a n d f a c u l t y c o n t a c t s of widely v a r y i n g degrees of i n t e n s i t y a n d difficulty. Such a staff soon becomes a n i n d i s p e n s a b l e p a r t of t h e a c a d e m i c c o m m u n i t y a n d a c a d e m i c ac- tivity t e n d s to c e n t e r in t h e l i b r a r y . I t o n l y r e m a i n s t h e n t o recognize these l i b r a r i a n s in t h e i r t r u e r o l e as e d u c a t o r s . A t N e b r a s k a all l i b r a r i a n s a r e m e m b e r s of t h e f a c u l t y a n d all h a v e a p p r o p r i a t e aca- d e m i c r a n k . Some 15 or m o r e a r e bona fide m e m b e r s of t h e U n i v e r s i t y Senate. T h e y serve o n v a r i o u s u n i v e r s i t y c o m m i t t e e s . Several h a v e r e c e n t l y achieved t h e r a n k of associate professor a n d n o w h a v e t e n u r e . C O N C L U S I O N T h e divisional p l a n can consist of two or t h r e e r e a d i n g rooms, w i t h b o o k s o n o p e n shelves a n d a staff e m p l o y e d to w a t c h t h e m a n d w i t h e v e r y t h i n g else in t h e l i b r a r y as u s u a l . O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , t h e divisional p l a n can b e c o m e t h e basis f o r a n e w a n d e x p a n d e d p l a n of l i b r a r y service t h r o u g h o u t t h e u n i v e r s i t y — a n e w p h i l o s o p h y of li- b r a r i a n s h i p . T h e u l t i m a t e i m p l i c a t i o n s of t h e d i v i s i o n a l p l a n a t N e b r a s k a h a v e led to a b r o a d view of o u r i n d i v i d u a l responsi- bilities a n d h a v e led each of us i n t o t h e p r a c t i c e of l i b r a r i a n s h i p "clear across t h e b o a r d . " I n so d o i n g it was i n e v i t a b l e t h a t we h a v e closed r a n k s w i t h t h e f a c u l t y a n d n o w w o r k t o g e t h e r in a c o m m o n cause. By W I L L I A M S. D I X Undergraduates D o N o t Necessarily Require A Special Facility Dr. Dix is librarian, Princeton University. AL L O F T H I S h a s a strangely f a m i l i a r feel-ing, like o n e of those r e c u r r i n g d r e a m s i n w h i c h o n e walks t h r o u g h a h a u n t i n g l a n d s c a p e a m i d reflected faces a n d e c h o i n g voices. I h e a r my o w n voice c o m i n g back to m e : " F o r t h e l i b r a r y of less t h a n a half m i l l i o n v o l u m e s i n t h e smaller i n s t i t u t i o n s to a d o p t a n y system w h i c h p e r m i t s s t u d e n t s to use a n y t h i n g less t h a n t h e t o t a l collection seems j u s t a b i t f o o l i s h . " T h e n I r e m e m b e r 148 COLLEGE AND RESEARCH LIBRARIES t h a t at a n o t h e r h o t m e e t i n g in N e w York a l m o s t exactly t h r e e years ago we w e n t all over this same g r o u n d . O n l y t h e faces o n t h e p l a t f o r m a r e d i f f e r e n t — e x c e p t , alas, my o w n . I was t h e n at t h e R i c e I n s t i t u t e , a n d I d e s c r i b e d briefly h o w a b o u t 1,200 u n d e r - g r a d u a t e s were served by a collection of c o n s i d e r a b l y less t h a n a half m i l l i o n vol- u m e s w i t h n o special provision f o r u n d e r - g r a d u a t e s . N o w I a m at P r i n c e t o n , t r y i n g to serve a b o u t 2,900 u n d e r g r a d u a t e s w i t h a b o u t a m i l l i o n a n d a q u a r t e r volumes. If I c o u l d j u s t say t h a t I h a d c h a n g e d my o p i n i o n s , I m i g h t h a v e s o m e t h i n g to talk a b o u t . U n - f o r t u n a t e l y , I h a v e n o t . If I w e r e really h o n e s t , I s h o u l d simply r e f e r you to C O L L E G E AND RESEARCH LIBRARIES, v o l u m e X I V , n u m - b e r 3 (July, 1953), pages 271-72, a n d ask you to r e a d t h e r e w h a t I said t h r e e years ago, m u l t i p l y i n g as y o u r e a d all of t h e figures by t h r e e . T h e n I c o u l d sit d o w n a n d b o t h of us w o u l d be b e t t e r off. Actually, I a m n o t q u i t e t h a t h o n e s t , a n d I ' l l try to say t h e same t h i n g i n d i f f e r e n t words. My o w n f e e l i n g is simply t h a t f o r p u r p o s e s of e d u c a t i o n a n d f o r p u r p o s e s of research t h e l a r g e r t h e collection t h e b e t t e r , w i t h i n r e a s o n , if it is well a r r a n g e d a n d if o t h e r c o n d i t i o n s a r e o p t i m u m . T o d a y , based o n my o w n e x p e r i e n c e , I ' l l i n t e r p r e t " w i t h i n r e a s o n " to b e less t h a n a m i l l i o n a n d a half volumes. T h i s is not t h e best system f o r q u i c k r e f e r e n c e , b u t I t a k e it t h a t o u r business in t h e u n i v e r s i t y l i b r a r y is e i t h e r e d u c a t i o n o r research a n d t h a t we shall n a t u r a l l y t a k e care of t h e q u i c k ref- e r e n c e f u n c t i o n by a c a r e f u l selection of c e r t a i n h a n d y tools f o r some sort of refer- ence r o o m . I t a k e it also t h a t t h e process of u n d e r g r a d u a t e t e a c h i n g — a t least i n s o f a r as t h e l i b r a r y is c o n c e r n e d — i s i m p r o v e d as its m e t h o d s a p p r o a c h those of research. O n e m a y indoctrinate a n d even train by lectur- i n g at large g r o u p s of s t u d e n t s a n d h a v i n g t h e m m e m o r i z e facts f r o m a t e x t b o o k , b u t o n e can educate b e t t e r by t u r n i n g t h e m loose i n a g o o d l i b r a r y a n d l e t t i n g t h e m really l e a r n u n d e r t h e c a r e f u l g u i d a n c e of m a t u r e scholars. T h e s e a r e my premises. N o w f o r t h e confessional aspects of t h e p r o g r a m , t h e f e a t u r e we always seem to c o m e to: " T h i s is w h a t we d o . " I t is my u n d e r s t a n d i n g t h a t P r i n c e t o n has always h a d essentially o p e n stacks f r o m 1756 w h e n t h e l i b r a r y o c c u p i e d a l i t t l e r o o m o n t h e second floor of Nassau H a l l — e v e n t h o u g h t h e w h o l e library was o p e n o n l y o n e h o u r o n e day a week a n d n o f r i v o l o u s r e a d i n g o n S u n d a y . Similarly, it has always b e e n first of all a n u n d e r g r a d u a t e college, w i t h 2,900 u n d e r g r a d u a t e s a n d 500 g r a d u a t e s t u d e n t s today. V a r i a t i o n s f r o m t h e c o n c e p t of t h e u n i f i e d single collection h a v e b e e n in t h e d i r e c t i o n of special facilities f o r a d v a n c e d work r a t h e r t h a n f o r t h e u n d e r g r a d u a t e . Some ten s u b j e c t field collections o u t s i d e t h e m a i n b u i l d i n g h a v e d e v e l o p e d , always be- cause of g e o g r a p h i c a l c o n v e n i e n c e a n d t h e n e e d s of research, p r i n c i p a l l y in t h e p u r e a n d n a t u r a l sciences. W i t h i n t h e b u i l d i n g a r e a n u m b e r of o t h e r special collections h o u s e d in g r a d u a t e study rooms, almost all d u p l i c a t e d i n t h e m a i n collection. A f e w special i n t e r d e p a r t m e n t a l p r o g r a m s f o r u n - d e r g r a d u a t e s h a v e s e p a r a t e collections, b u t h e r e a g a i n all d u p l i c a t e d a n d d e s i g n e d pri- marily f o r a d v a n c e d work. T h e process of f r a g m e n t a t i o n a t P r i n c e t o n has b e e n f r o m t h e t o p d o w n , r a t h e r t h a n f r o m t h e b o t t o m u p . T h i s , I t h i n k , follows t h e s t r u c t u r e of o r g a n i z e d k n o w l e d g e ; as t h e cliche h a s it, " t h e scholar is a m a n w h o k n o w s m o r e a n d m o r e a b o u t less a n d less." A t least to t h e e x t e n t to w h i c h this is t r u e , it seems sensi- b l e to divide, if a t all, a l o n g t h e lines of t h e scholar's interests. T o d i v i d e a t t h e o t h e r e n d of t h e scale, w h e r e we a i m a t " g e n e r a l e d u c a t i o n " o r w h a t e v e r is t h e p o p u l a r t e r m at t h e m o m e n t , seems to m e j u s t a b i t m o r e of a n e x p e d i e n t t h a n a v i r t u e . A t least, I a m fairly c o n f i d e n t t h a t t h e n e x t big division at P r i n c e t o n will b e a g a i n a t t h e t o p : t h e segregation of seldom-used b o o k s i n t o s o m e sort of c o m p a c t storage a r e a . Does it work? I can o n l y say t h a t I t h i n k so, i n t h e absence of a n y statistics. I k n o w t h a t I p i c k u p m o r e expressions of dissatis- f a c t i o n f r o m o u r g r a d u a t e s t u d e n t s t h a n f r o m o u r u n d e r g r a d u a t e s , w h o d o use t h e l i b r a r y w i t h c o n s i d e r a b l e i n t e n s i t y . H a v i n g said all of this, a n d s o u n d i n g p e r - h a p s as if my n o t i o n s were a b s o l u t e d o g m a , let m e a d d t h a t I a m n o t a t all sure of m y conclusions. I h a p p e n to h a v e s p e n t all of my professional life as a l i b r a r i a n a n d a c o n s i d e r a b l e p a r t of my life as a s t u d e n t , MARCH, 1956 1.149 teacher, a n d semi-scholar i n collections m a n - a g e d as I h a v e i n d i c a t e d . I h a v e f o u n d t h e m satisfactory a n d c o n s i d e r a b l y m o r e u s a b l e t h a n t h e f r a g m e n t e d l i b r a r i e s i n my p e r s o n a l e x p e r i e n c e . P e r h a p s I a m r a t i o n a l i z i n g . I really suspect t h a t t h e r a n g e of per- f o r m a n c e b e t w e e n d i f f e r e n t systems of or- g a n i z a t i o n — u n i f i e d collection, d i v i s i o n a l p l a n , special u n d e r g r a d u a t e collection, o r w h a t you will—is c o n s i d e r a b l y less t h a n t h e d i f f e r e n c e i n p e r f o r m a n c e caused by a h o s t of o t h e r factors, a n d f u r t h e r t h a t w e a r e t a l k i n g s o l e m n n o n s e n s e w h e n we p r e t e n d t h a t t h e r e is m u c h science a t w o r k i n t h e selection of a n y f o r m of a r r a n g e m e n t . T h e essential t h i n g is t h a t t h e g o o d l i b r a r y d e v e l o p t h r o u g h t h e years to m e e t ever m o r e precisely t h e n e e d s of its c o n s t i t u e n t s . I n special s i t u a t i o n s , like t h e w o n d e r f u l l y special o n e a t H a r v a r d , of course a L a m o n t L i b r a r y is a g r e a t i d e a . I n o t h e r special sit- u a t i o n s it m i g h t b e u t t e r n o n s e n s e . I ' m a f r a i d t h a t we d o n ' t h a v e a n y c o h e r e n t b o d y of t h e o r y to a r g u e a b o u t , only details, w h i c h a r e less f u n b u t u s u a l l y i m p o r t a n t . By F R E D E R I C K H . W A G M A N The Case for the Separate Undergraduate Library Dr. Wagman is director of libraries, Uni- versity of Michigan. DISCUSSION of t h e advisability of special l i b r a r i e s f o r u n d e r g r a d u a t e s occurs e a r l i e r i n t h e l i t e r a t u r e of l i b r a r i a n s h i p t h a n is g e n e r a l l y s u p p o s e d . I n 1608, w h e n T h o m a s J a m e s was a p p o i n t e d to Bodley's L i b r a r y , h e p r o p o s e d t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t of a n u n d e r - g r a d u a t e l i b r a r y t o h e l p t h e y o u n g e r stu- d e n t s . B u t Sir T h o m a s Bodley was o p p o s e d , a n d w r o t e h i m : Your deuise for a Librarie for the yonguer sori, will haue many great exceptions, & one of spe- cial force. T h a t there must be an other keeper ordeined for that place. And where yow mention the yonguer sort, I knowe what bookes should be bought for them, but the elder as well [as] the yonguer, may haue often occasion to looke vpon them: and if there were any suche, they can not require so great a rowme. In effect, to my understanding there is muche to be saied against it, as vndoubtedly your self will readily finde, vpon f u r t h e r consideration.1 T h r e e h u n d r e d a n d forty-seven years l a t e r t h e r e is still " m u c h t o b e said a g a i n s t i t . " C e r t a i n l y , t h e size of t h e university, t h e edu- c a t i o n a l aims of t h e i n s t i t u t i o n , t h e n a t u r e of t h e c u r r i c u l u m a n d of e x i s t i n g l i b r a r y 1 Letters of Sir Thomas Bodley to Thomas James, edited by G. W . W h e e l e r ( O x f o r d , Clarendon P r e s s , 1 9 2 6 ) , p. 183. facilities, t h e p a t t e r n of i n s t r u c t i o n f o l l o w e d by t h e faculty, t h e e x t e n t of t h e b o o k col- lections, t h e g e o g r a p h y of t h e c a m p u s , t h e a v a i l a b i l i t y of l i b r a r i e s in halls of r e s i d e n c e a r e all c o n s i d e r a t i o n s t h a t m u s t b e t a k e n i n t o a c c o u n t by a n y i n s t i t u t i o n t h a t consid- ers t h e advisability of e s t a b l i s h i n g a s e p a r a t e u n d e r g r a d u a t e l i b r a r y . J u s t i f i c a t i o n f o r t h e s e p a r a t e u n d e r g r a d - u a t e l i b r a r y m a y be o f f e r e d o n two levels. O n e involves t h e a r g u m e n t of p r a c t i c a l i t y . I n some s i t u a t i o n s t h e p r o b l e m of p r o v i d i n g a d e q u a t e physical facilities f o r l i b r a r y serv- ice to u n d e r g r a d u a t e s t u d e n t s m a y b e solved most efficiently a n d even e c o n o m i c a l l y by a s e p a r a t e l i b r a r y . T h e o t h e r j u s t i f i c a t i o n is m o r e t h e o r e t i c a l a n d r e l a t e s to t h e r o l e of t h e l i b r a r y a n d t h e l i b r a r i a n in t h e educa- t i o n of t h e u n d e r g r a d u a t e s t u d e n t . If t h e l a t t e r seems to us m o r e difficult to d e f e n d , t h e cause m a y b e a n u n c o n s c i o u s diffidence o n t h e p a r t of l i b r a r i a n s r e g a r d i n g t h e i r o w n i m p o r t a n c e f o r t h e e d u c a t i o n a l process. E x i s t i n g p a t t e r n s of l i b r a r y service f o r u n d e r g r a d u a t e s t u d e n t s a r e e x t r e m e l y di- versified. A t o n e e n d of t h e scale a r e t h e n o t a b l e l i b r a r i e s f o u n d at some of t h e small l i b e r a l arts colleges, w h e r e t h e collections h a v e b e e n h i g h l y selected a n d d e v e l o p e d over a g r e a t m a n y years w i t h a view to serv- i n g t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s of t h e college s t u d e n t a n d t h e n e e d s of his i n s t r u c t o r s f o r m a t e r i a l s 150 COLLEGE AND RESEARCH LIBRARIES to s u p p o r t t h e work of i n s t r u c t i o n . H e r e , in t h e best e x a m p l e s , t h e l i b r a r y is a n im- p o r t a n t a d j u n c t to t h e t e a c h i n g p r o g r a m . T h e r e f e r e n c e staff devotes c o n s i d e r a b l e ef- f o r t to h e l p i n g t h e i n d i v i d u a l s t u d e n t find his way to books t h a t will r e l a t e to his course work a n d b r o a d e n his interests. T h e s t u d e n t is conscious of f e w b a r r i e r s b e t w e e n h i m a n d t h e books. T h e f a c u l t y m e m b e r s a r e a w a r e of t h e library's e d u c a t i o n a l p o t e n t i a l a n d t a k e it i n t o a c c o u n t i n p l a n n i n g t h e i r courses, f r e q u e n t l y c o n s u l t i n g w i t h t h e li- b r a r i a n , w h o m they r e g a r d as a m e m b e r of t h e t e a c h i n g staff. T h e e m p h a s i s at such in- s t i t u t i o n s is o n t e a c h i n g r a t h e r t h a n o n re- search. T h e liberal arts, h u m a n i s t i c t r a d i t i o n is s t r o n g h e r e a n d stresses t h e i m p o r t a n c e of books a n d r e a d i n g in t h e process of educa- t i o n . A t t h e o t h e r e n d of t h e scale is t h e l i b r a r y of t h e b e h e m o t h u n i v e r s i t y w h i c h d e v e l o p e d d u r i n g t h e p a s t c e n t u r y u n d e r t h e i n f l u e n c e of t h e G e r m a n university p a t t e r n . H e r e t h e e m p h a s i s is o n research a n d p u b l i c a t i o n t o a f a r g r e a t e r e x t e n t . T h e f a c u l t y is i n t e r e s t e d f o r t h e most p a r t in its a d v a n c e d courses. As f a r as t h e u n d e r g r a d u a t e s are c o n c e r n e d , t h e l i b r a r y o f t e n is n o t closely i n t e g r a t e d w i t h t h e i r i n s t r u c t i o n a n d is usually n o t well a d a p t e d to t h e i r needs. T h e f u n c t i o n s of such a l i b r a r y a r e diversified since it m u s t serve s t u d e n t s in t h e p r o f e s s i o n a l schools, t h e faculty, g r a d u a t e students, a n d staff m e m b e r s of research i n s t i t u t e s . T h e u n d e r - g r a d u a t e s comprise a h e t e r o g e n o u s g r o u p , r a n g i n g f r o m t h e s t u d e n t w h o h o p e s to ac- q u i r e a l i b e r a l e d u c a t i o n in f o u r years to t h e s t u d e n t w h o is t r a i n i n g himself to m a n - age his u n c l e ' s d r u g store a n d is i m p a t i e n t w i t h t h e g e n e r a l e d u c a t i o n r e q u i r e m e n t s of his c u r r i c u l u m . H e r e , also, t h e l i b e r a l arts t r a d i t i o n is c h e r i s h e d w i t h i n t h e literary college b u t t h a t college is, to a c e r t a i n ex- t e n t , t h e servant of t h e p r o f e s s i o n a l schools a n d m u s t a d a p t some of its courses to t h e special r e q u i r e m e n t s of those schools. T h e r e p u t a t i o n of such a university usu- ally rests less u p o n t h e q u a l i t y of its in- s t r u c t i o n a l p r o g r a m f o r college s t u d e n t s t h a n it does o n t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l r e n o w n achieved by its scholars a n d research staff. T h e faculties of such u n i v e r s i t i e s usually d e m a n d t h a t t h e l i b r a r y m a i n t a i n t h e quali- ty of its research collections, even w h e n this limits e x p e n d i t u r e s f o r m u l t i p l e copies of books t h a t m i g h t be u s e f u l i n u n d e r g r a d u - a t e i n s t r u c t i o n . As a c o n s e q u e n c e , t h e teach- i n g of u n d e r g r a d u a t e s f r e q u e n t l y relies, to a f a r g r e a t e r e x t e n t t h a n is wise, o n t e x t b o o k s a n d c a n n e d m a t e r i a l . T h e collections of such a l i b r a r y a r e h u g e a n d its catalogs are c o m p l e x . T h e b o o k s a r e usually shelved compactly i n stack areas t o w h i c h it is un- feasible to a d m i t t h e t h o u s a n d s of u n d e r - g r a d u a t e s . M o r e o v e r , large segments of t h e collections a r e dispersed a m o n g divisional a n d d e p a r t m e n t a l libraries, w h i c h exist to m a k e t h e use of b o o k s a n d j o u r n a l s m o r e c o n v e n i e n t to research workers, a n d some p a r t s of t h e collections a r e usually i n stor- age. A p a r t f r o m these i n h e r e n t d i s a d v a n t a g e s of t h e very large university libraries, it m u s t be r e m e m b e r e d t h a t t h e t a x - s u p p o r t e d u n i - versities w h i c h c a n n o t f u l l y c o n t r o l t h e i r e n r o l l m e n t s a r e f a c i n g t h e p r o s p e c t of a t r e m e n d o u s increase in t h e i r c a m p u s p o p u - l a t i o n s w i t h i n t h e n e x t 15 years. Relatively few of t h e l a r g e r universities a r e blessed w i t h l i b r a r y facilities a d e q u a t e t o m e e t t h e d e m a n d s of p r e s e n t s t u d e n t b o d i e s a n d t h e p r o b l e m of p r o v i d i n g m e a n i n g f u l service to u n d e r g r a d u a t e s t u d e n t s is likely to yield, ten years f r o m n o w , to t h e m o r e pressing p r o b l e m of h o w t o p r o v i d e a n y service at all f o r t h e e n t i r e g r o u p . D e s p i t e t h e h a n d i c a p s just e n u m e r a t e d , t h e large university m u s t try to offer t h e benefits of t h e good small college l i b r a r y f o r its u n d e r g r a d u a t e s t u d e n t s . I t m a y n e v e r succeed f u l l y in this a i m since r e a d i n g a n d study a r e n o t mass activities. T h e y flourish in solitude, n o t in concert, a n d it is difficult to m a k e books a n d l i b r a r y services avail- a b l e to t h o u s a n d s of s t u d e n t s in a n atmos- p h e r e c o n d u c i v e to study a n d reflection. B u t t h e university's o b l i g a t i o n s w i t h respect to t h e g e n e r a l e d u c a t i o n of t h e u n d e r g r a d u a t e s as well as t h e i r specific course work c o m p e l it to rely heavily o n t h e l i b r a r y . F o r t h e h u m a n i t i e s a n d t h e social sciences, t h e li- b r a r y serves as l a b o r a t o r y . T h e course work in these fields s h o u l d be p l a n n e d in t e r m s of extensive r e a d i n g . T e x t b o o k s , a n t h o l o g i e s , a n d syllabi h a v e serious s h o r t c o m i n g s as a s u b s t i t u t e f o r t h e o r i g i n a l f u l l - l e n g t h works o n w h i c h they a r e based. L e c t u r e s a r e ex- tremely u s e f u l in o r g a n i z i n g a n d o u t l i n i n g MARCH, 1956 1.151 i n f o r m a t i o n a n d in s t i m u l a t i n g t h e s t u d e n t t o r e a d a n d investigate o n his o w n , b u t i n all s u b j e c t fields o t h e r t h a n t h e sciences, m a t h e m a t i c s , a n d e l e m e n t a r y l a n g u a g e train- i n g t h e u n d e r g r a d u a t e c u r r i c u l u m m u s t de- p e n d heavily o n g o o d books. W i t h respect to t h e g e n e r a l l i b e r a l educa- t i o n of t h e u n d e r g r a d u a t e s , t h e u n i v e r s i t y m u s t m a k e a d e t e r m i n e d effort to c o u n t e r - act t h e f r i g h t e n i n g p h e n o m e n o n of o u r age t h a t C l i f t o n F a d i m a n calls " t h e d e c l i n e of a t t e n t i o n . " I t m u s t try to resist t h e displace- m e n t of t h e s t u d e n t s ' f a c u l t y of a t t e n t i o n "away f r o m ideas a n d a b s t r a c t i o n s t o w a r d t h i n g s a n d t e c h n i q u e s " ; to offset t h e . c o n - s t a n t i n d o c t r i n a t i o n of t h e s t u d e n t by so- ciety " w i t h t h e v i r t u e s of . . . a t t e n t i v e n e s s to things, t e c h n i q u e s , m a c h i n e s , s p e c t a t o r sports, a n d mass a m u s e m e n t . " 2 T h e j o b of t h e u n i v e r s i t y t e a c h e r is to s t a r t t h e s t u d e n t o n t h e process of self-education t h r o u g h a t t e n t i v e r e a d i n g of t h e works t h a t r e p r e - sent t h e best expression of o u r w i s d o m a n d creative i m a g i n a t i o n . T h e a i m of t h e college e d u c a t i o n s h o u l d be " t o p r o v i d e all s t u d e n t s w i t h a b r o a d i n t e l l e c t u a l e x p e r i e n c e i n t h e m a j o r fields of k n o w l e d g e a n d to i n s u r e t h a t every g r a d u a t e h a s a p e r s o n a l experi- ence w i t h t h e c o n t e n t , m e t h o d s , a n d sys- t e m of values of t h e v a r i o u s disciplines by w h i c h m e n try to u n d e r s t a n d themselves a n d t h e i r e n v i r o n m e n t . " 3 F o r this t h e r i g h t books m u s t be available, a n d t h e s t u d e n t s m u s t b e i n d u c e d to r e a d t h e m . I say "in- d u c e d " advisedly, f o r t h e m a j o r i t y of u n - d e r g r a d u a t e s a r e n o t m o t i v a t e d t o r e a d . T h e p r o b l e m s e n c o u n t e r e d i n e d u c a t i n g u n d e r g r a d u a t e s a t o u r largest u n i v e r s i t i e s d o n o t d e r i v e solely f r o m t h e g r e a t size of these i n s t i t u t i o n s . Some of these u n i v e r s i t i e s m a i n t a i n as h i g h a r a t i o of teachers to stu- d e n t s as d o very small colleges. If t h e edu- c a t i o n a l e x p e r i e n c e of t h e average u n d e r - g r a d u a t e at a large u n i v e r s i t y is i n f e r i o r to t h a t e n j o y e d by his c o u n t e r p a r t a t t h e small l i b e r a l arts college, t h e r e a s o n m a y be s o u g h t p a r t i a l l y i n t h e fact t h a t t h e l a r g e r institu- t i o n s seem to f i n d it difficult to i n f l u e n c e t h e i r s t u d e n t s to r e a d . T o some e x t e n t t h i s m a y b e t h e f a u l t of t h e l i b r a r y , w h i c h a t 2 C l i f t o n F a d i m a n . Party of One ( C l e v e l a n d : World P u b l i s h i n g C o m p a n y , 1 9 5 5 ) , p. 355. 8 U n i v e r s i t y of M i c h i g a n . General Register, S e c t i o n II, 1954, p. 24. some i n s t i t u t i o n s h a s b e e n relatively passive as r e g a r d s its p r o f o u n d o b l i g a t i o n s to t h e u n d e r g r a d u a t e . I n o r d e r to s t i m u l a t e o r i n d u c e t h e u n - d e r g r a d u a t e to r e a d b o o k s t h a t r e q u i r e at- t e n t i o n a n d m e n t a l effort o n his p a r t , it is essential t h a t such books b e m a d e a t t r a c t i v e a n d easily a v a i l a b l e to h i m . H o w shall this be d o n e ? I t has b e e n suggested t h a t every s t u d e n t be r e q u i r e d to b u y himself a p r i v a t e l i b r a r y . T h i s is a n e x c e l l e n t i d e a b u t we c a n n o t ex- p e c t most s t u d e n t s to b u y a n y significant n u m b e r of t h e b o o k s t h a t they s h o u l d r e a d , b e c o m e f a m i l i a r w i t h , o r e x a m i n e i n t h e course of t h e i r f o u r years at college. A n o t h e r s o l u t i o n o f t e n m e n t i o n e d is t h e d o r m i t o r y o r h o u s e l i b r a r y . T h e s e h a v e t h e v i r t u e s of smallness a n d of c o n v e n i e n c e . A t a large u n i v e r s i t y it is q u e s t i o n a b l e h o w m a n y such d o r m i t o r y l i b r a r i e s t h e i n s t i t u t i o n c a n a f f o r d to m a i n t a i n if a n y of t h e m a r e to be a d e q u a t e l y stocked a n d m a n a g e d . A t h i r d s o l u t i o n is t h e a b s o r p t i o n a n d d i s t r i b u t i o n of u n d e r g r a d u a t e l i b r a r y serv- ices w i t h i n t h e w h o l e service c o m p l e x pro- v i d e d by t h e m a i n g e n e r a l i z e d l i b r a r y a n d its subject-specialized b r a n c h e s — t h e e x i s t i n g p a t t e r n a t m o s t universities. T h e d e f e c t s of this a r r a n g e m e n t f o r t h e very large u n i v e r - sity a r e e x e m p l i f i e d by t h e p r e s e n t s i t u a t i o n in w h i c h t h e U n i v e r s i t y of M i c h i g a n finds itself. T h e U n i v e r s i t y of M i c h i g a n h a s a n en- r o l l m e n t of 10,500 u n d e r g r a d u a t e s , a n d m o r e t h a n 7,000 g r a d u a t e s t u d e n t s . T h e r e are, i n a d d i t i o n , several t h o u s a n d staff m e m b e r s w i t h l i b r a r y privileges. T h e g e n e r a l l i b r a r y b u i l d i n g b o o k stacks a r e c r o w d e d by a p p r o x i - m a t e l y 1,200,000 v o l u m e s a n d t h e same n u m - b e r of v o l u m e s a r e dispersed a m o n g 22 di- visional a n d d e p a r t m e n t a l libraries, f o u r study halls f o r u n d e r g r a d u a t e s , a n d t h r e e g r a d u a t e r e a d i n g r o o m s . T h e L i t e r a r y Col- lege h a s 6,000 u n d e r g r a d u a t e s f o r w h o m specifically t h e r e a r e p r o v i d e d f a r less t h a n a t h o u s a n d l i b r a r y seats a n d o n e open-shelf collection of a p p r o x i m a t e l y 3,000 volumes. All b u t a few of t h e d i v i s i o n a l l i b r a r i e s a r e r e q u i r e d to serve u n d e r g r a d u a t e s as well as g r a d u a t e s t u d e n t s a n d faculty. A u d i o facili- ties f o r s t u d e n t s of music l i t e r a t u r e a n d m u - sic a p p r e c i a t i o n , a n d f o r l i s t e n i n g to r e c o r d e d d r a m a a n d p o e t r y , a r e i n a d e q u a t e . T h e r e is 152 COLLEGE AND RESEARCH LIBRARIES l i t t l e e x h i b i t space. I n o r d e r to m a i n t a i n t h e q u a l i t a t i v e level of t h e research collections, t h e l i b r a r y c o m m i t t e e of t h e L i t e r a r y College has r u l e d against t h e p u r c h a s e of m o r e t h a n t h r e e copies of a n y o n e b o o k at t h e r e q u e s t of a n y o n e d e p a r t m e n t . T h e e x i s t i n g study halls discourage r e a d i n g because of t h e i r u n i n v i t i n g c h a r a c t e r a n d t h e p a u c i t y of t h e i r collections. O v e r 4,500 g r a d u a t e stu- d e n t s a n d staff m e m b e r s h a v e stack passes in t h e m a i n b u i l d i n g , a n d it is impossible to a d m i t u n d e r g r a d u a t e s t o t h e stacks e x c e p t o n S u n d a y , or in u n u s u a l cases. Because it has n o t b e e n possible to b u y m u l t i p l e copies of books, n o r to give t h e m shelf space, n o r to p r o v i d e a d e q u a t e r e a d i n g space f o r t h e s t u d e n t s , t h e faculty has b e e n r e l y i n g m o r e a n d m o r e heavily o n t e x t b o o k s f o r t h e course work. T h i s s i t u a t i o n , t h e d e a n of t h e L i t e r a r y College a n d a c o n s i d e r a b l e p e r c e n t a g e of t h e f a c u l t y find d e p l o r a b l e . I t is q u i t e possible at p r e s e n t f o r a s t u d e n t to s p e n d f o u r years as a n u n d e r g r a d u a t e a t t h e U n i v e r s i t y of M i c h i g a n w i t h o u t o n c e e n t e r i n g t h e g e n e r a l l i b r a r y b u i l d i n g . T h e i n a d e q u a c i e s of e x i s t i n g l i b r a r y fa- cilities h a v e a serious effect also o n t h e serv- ice p r o v i d e d f o r t h e g r a d u a t e s t u d e n t s a n d faculty. Since t h e u n d e r g r a d u a t e s m u s t m a k e use of t h e divisional, specialized libraries, these h a v e a d i v i d e d f u n c t i o n . T h e i r staffs m u s t s p e n d a h i g h p e r c e n t a g e of t h e i r t i m e serving t h e needs of t h e u n d e r g r a d u a t e s a n d a r e f r e e to d e v e l o p relatively few services f o r a d v a n c e d s t u d e n t s . T h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n of t h e U n i v e r s i t y of M i c h i g a n has b e e n aware, f o r some time, t h a t its l i b r a r y has n o t b e e n c o n t r i b u t i n g as it s h o u l d to t h e i n t e l l e c t u a l d e v e l o p m e n t of t h e u n d e r g r a d u a t e s t u d e n t . I t has realized f o r some t i m e also t h a t by 1970 t h e r e m i g h t be 20,000 u n d e r g r a d u a t e s e n r o l l e d at t h e U n i v e r s i t y of M i c h i g a n a n d t h a t e x p a n s i o n of l i b r a r y facilities is a m a t t e r of e x t r e m e u r g e n c y . As a c o n s e q u e n c e , it has given t h e p r o g r a m of l i b r a r y d e v e l o p m e n t a h i g h pri- ority a n d has b e e n strongly s u p p o r t e d by t h e B o a r d of R e g e n t s a n d by t h e State Leg- islature. I n p l a n n i n g f o r t h e f u t u r e , it soon be- c a m e e v i d e n t t h a t m o d i f i c a t i o n of t h e exist- ing p a t t e r n of l i b r a r y services w o u l d b e necessary. T h e g e n e r a l l i b r a r y b u i l d i n g is so s i t u a t e d t h a t n o significant e x p a n s i o n of it is feasible. O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , m a n y of t h e colleges of t h e u n i v e r s i t y a r e s c h e d u l e d to h a v e n e w a n d larger b u i l d i n g s in w h i c h it will b e possible to p r o v i d e spacious divi- sional libraries. A n u m b e r of these colleges a r e to b e r e m o v e d to a n e w c a m p u s f o u r miles f r o m t h e o r i g i n a l 40 acres. T h e p r i n - ciple is firmly established at M i c h i g a n t h a t c a m p u s e x p a n s i o n will n o t be i n h i b i t e d i n o r d e r to k e e p l i b r a r y services centralized. T h e l i b r a r y system simply m u s t p r o v i d e service w h e r e it is n e e d e d . T h e s e various c o n s i d e r a t i o n s led to de- cisions t h a t t r a n s f o r m necessity i n t o v i r t u e . T h e divisional libraries a r e b e i n g strength- e n e d a n d given f u l l custodial r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r t h e m a t e r i a l s in t h e i r disciplines. T h e y will b e c o m e almost exclusively g r a d u a t e re- search libraries. T h e g e n e r a l l i b r a r y b u i l d i n g will r e m a i n t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e a n d t e c h n i c a l services c e n t e r f o r t h e u n i v e r s i t y l i b r a r y system a n d also t h e g r a d u a t e research c e n t e r f o r t h e h u m a n i t i e s a n d f o r most of t h e social sciences. Little-used m a t e r i a l is already b e i n g d r a w n off f r o m t h e g e n e r a l l i b r a r y a n d t h e divisional l i b r a r i e s to a stack b u i l d i n g o n t h e n e w c a m p u s . I t was clear by 1951 t h a t a d d i t i o n a l n e w facilities w o u l d h a v e to be d e v e l o p e d f o r t h e u n d e r g r a d u a t e s . T h e idea of p r o v i d i n g scat- t e r e d study halls f o r t h e u n d e r g r a d u a t e s to s u p p l e m e n t those a l r e a d y in existence was p r o m p t l y r e j e c t e d . Such study halls h a v e b e e n unsuccessful a t M i c h i g a n in t h e past. N o o n e of t h e m c o n t a i n s a n a d e q u a t e library collection o r sufficiently diversified services. M o r e o v e r , t h e cost of p r o v i d i n g e n o u g h seating space in such r o o m s w o u l d g o f a r t o w a r d p a y i n g f o r a m u c h b e t t e r l i b r a r y f o r u n d e r g r a d u a t e use. T h e possibility of f u r n i s h i n g libraries w i t h i n halls of residence also was r e j e c t e d because of t h e r a t h e r staggering f a c t t h a t t h e u n d e r g r a d u a t e s already reside in 19 resi- d e n c e halls (three of w h i c h a r e e n o r m o u s a n d comprise 20 houses), in 64 u n d e r g r a d u - ate f r a t e r n i t i e s a n d sororities, a n d 13 " l e a g u e houses." T h i s excludes t h e m a n y p r i v a t e r o o m i n g houses a n d c o o p e r a t i v e houses a n d does n o t t a k e i n t o a c c o u n t t h e m e n a n d w o m e n w h o live at h o m e o r c o m m u t e . T h e r e seemed to be n o h o p e of c a r i n g f o r b o t h p r e s e n t a n d f u t u r e u n d e r g r a d u a t e li- b r a r y needs w i t h o u t e r e c t i n g a n e w a n d sepa- MARCH, 1956 1.53 r a t e l i b r a r y b u i l d i n g . A t t h e same time, it seemed likely t h a t by c o n c e n t r a t i n g t h e b o o k s a n d o t h e r m a t e r i a l s n e e d e d by t h e u n d e r g r a d u a t e s i n o n e b u i l d i n g , by p r o v i d - i n g as m a n y copies of each b o o k as a r e need- ed, a n d by e m p l o y i n g a n e n e r g e t i c staff to work i n t e l l i g e n t l y w i t h b o t h f a c u l t y a n d s t u d e n t s , it s h o u l d be possible t o r e l a t e t h e l i b r a r y m o r e closely to t h e s t u d e n t s ' course w o r k a n d to t h e i n t e r e s t s s t i m u l a t e d in t h e classroom, a n d t o i n d u c e t h e s t u d e n t t o give m o r e a t t e n t i o n to books t h a t exercise t h e intellect a n d t h e i m a g i n a t i o n . P l a n n i n g of such a s e p a r a t e l i b r a r y b e g a n in 1953 a n d t h e w o r k i n g d r a w i n g s a r e n o w b e i n g p r e p a r e d . T h e s e p a r a t e u n d e r g r a d u - a t e l i b r a r y seems to m e t h e most p r a c t i c a l answer t o M i c h i g a n ' s pressing p r o b l e m b u t it h a s a n even m o r e p r o f o u n d j u s t i f i c a t i o n in e d u c a t i o n a l terms. T h e n e w l i b r a r y will give t h e f a c u l t y m e m b e r s m u c h g r e a t e r free- d o m to s h a p e t h e i r courses as they s h o u l d . A t t h e same t i m e it will serve as a n intellec- t u a l c e n t e r f o r t h e u n d e r g r a d u a t e s . T h e b u i l d i n g will b e designed, f r a n k l y a n d u n - a s h a m e d l y , to i n d u c e t h e s t u d e n t s to e n t e r it a n d r e a d . I t will offer a collection of t h e best b o o k s p r o d u c e d by o u r civilization, ex- h i b i t s of v a r i o u s kinds, facilities f o r l i s t e n i n g to music, r e c o r d e d d r a m a , a n d p o e t r y , facili- ties f o r v i e w i n g d o c u m e n t a r y films a n d f o r s t u d e n t p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n discussion g r o u p s . I t will p r o v i d e , we h o p e , a q u i e t , i n v i t i n g at- m o s p h e r e f o r study a n d reflection. I t will, if we succeed, give t h e u n d e r g r a d u a t e s t u d e n t a p r o p r i e t a r y f e e l i n g t o w a r d it, t h e i m p r e s s i o n t h a t t h e staff, t h e collections, a n d t h e facili- ties a r e all a d j u s t e d to serve h i m specifically a n d to e n a b l e h i m to m a k e t h e most of his e d u c a t i o n a l o p p o r t u n i t i e s . T h e b o o k s h e needs, as well as all those his teachers t h i n k h e s h o u l d be e x p o s e d to, will all b e conven- i e n t a n d accessible in o p e n shelves r a t h e r t h a n dispersed over t h e c a m p u s , a n d t h e r e will b e a n a d e q u a t e n u m b e r of copies to s u p p o r t assignments m a d e by his teachers, e i t h e r as r e q u i r e d o r suggested r e a d i n g . T h i s l i b r a r y will seat a p p r o x i m a t e l y 2,500 s t u d e n t s w i t h ease, a m p l e space f o r t h e pres- e n t u n d e r g r a d u a t e p o p u l a t i o n . F o r t h e t i m e b e i n g , a n d p r o b a b l y f o r t h e n e x t t e n years, a n e n g i n e e r i n g l i b r a r y will occupy two floors. W i t h i n t h e n e x t 15 years, t h e School of E n g i n e e r i n g a n d several of t h e o t h e r pro- fessional schools will m o v e to t h e n e w cam- pus. By t h a t t i m e t h e r e m a y be 12,000 u n - d e r g r a d u a t e s i n t h e L i t e r a r y College a l o n e a n d t h e two floors of t h e u n d e r g r a d u a t e l i b r a r y b u i l d i n g i n i t i a l l y d e v o t e d t o t h e en- g i n e e r i n g l i b r a r y will b e c o m e a v a i l a b l e f o r t h e increased n u m b e r of u n d e r g r a d u a t e s in t h e L i t e r a r y College. A d m i n i s t r a t i v e l y , this l i b r a r y will be u n - d e r t h e d i r e c t i o n of t h e U n i v e r s i t y L i b r a r y , whose t e c h n i c a l services d e p a r t m e n t s will a c q u i r e a n d catalog t h e books f o r it. T h e staff of t h e u n d e r g r a d u a t e l i b r a r y will b e c o n c e r n e d exclusively w i t h b o o k selection a n d c u s t o d i a l a n d r e f e r e n c e services. W e h o p e t o p e r s u a d e t h e t e a c h i n g faculty to w o r k closely w i t h t h e staff in t e r m s of de- v e l o p i n g r e a d i n g lists a n d e x h i b i t s , a n d in e n c o u r a g i n g use of t h e l i b r a r y t h r o u g h class- r o o m s t i m u l a t i o n , a n d assigned a n d suggest- e d r e a d i n g . T h e most difficult p r o b l e m t h a t we face, of course, is t h e q u e s t i o n of b o o k selection. F o r this t h e h e l p of almost t h e e n t i r e teach- i n g staff of t h e L i t e r a r y College h a s b e e n solicited. F u n d s h a v e b e e n p r o v i d e d to pay p a r t of t h e salaries of a p p r o x i m a t e l y seven m e m b e r s of t h e L i t e r a r y College f a c u l t y w h o will w o r k w i t h t h e i r colleagues a n d t h e l i b r a r y staff to elicit a n d c o o r d i n a t e recom- m e n d a t i o n s f o r inclusions in t h e collection. E a c h d e p a r t m e n t of t h e L i t e r a r y College h a s b e g u n c h e c k i n g t h e c a t a l o g of t h e La- m o n t L i b r a r y , t h e catalogs of v a r i o u s p u b - lishers, a n d t h e r e a d i n g lists p r e s e n t l y u s e d by t h e d e p a r t m e n t s . T h i s is b e i n g d o n e also by t h e staffs of all t h e o t h e r colleges t h a t h a v e a n u n d e r g r a d u a t e e n r o l l m e n t , since t h e i r s t u d e n t s also will use this library, at least u n t i l they m o v e to t h e n e w c a m p u s . E a c h m e m b e r of t h e f a c u l t y is b e i n g asked to r e - t h i n k his m e t h o d of i n s t r u c t i o n in t e r m s of m a k i n g t h e best possible use of t h e f u t u r e u n d e r g r a d u a t e l i b r a r y a n d t o suggest t h e books a n d p e r i o d i c a l s t h a t h e feels s h o u l d be a v a i l a b l e i n t h e collections, in- c l u d i n g n o t o n l y those t h a t h e will r e q u i r e his s t u d e n t s to r e a d b u t a n y o t h e r s i n w h i c h h e w o u l d like to i n t e r e s t t h e m . Several de- p a r t m e n t a l l i b r a r i e s w h i c h exist chiefly to serve u n d e r g r a d u a t e s a r e also b e i n g care- f u l l y w e e d e d by t h e d e p a r t m e n t s c o n c e r n e d , a n d e x i s t i n g p r i n t a n d p h o n o r e c o r d collec- tions used in t h e i n s t r u c t i o n of u n d e r g r a d u - 154 COLLEGE AND RESEARCH LIBRARIES ates will e v e n t u a l l y b e m o v e d , a f t e r w e e d i n g , to t h e n e w b u i l d i n g . I t is likely t h a t , a p a r t f r o m t h e e n g i n e e r i n g collection, t h e c o n t e n t of t h e u n d e r g r a d u a t e l i b r a r y will t o t a l be- t w e e n 100,000 a n d 150,000 volumes. T h e p l a n s d o n o t i n c l u d e a s e p a r a t e re- serve b o o k r o o m d e s p i t e t h e f a c t t h a t all r e q u i r e d r e a d i n g m a t e r i a l f o r courses w h i c h i n c l u d e u n d e r g r a d u a t e s will be k e p t i n this l i b r a r y . P r o v i s i o n is b e i n g m a d e f o r a lim- i t e d , c o n t r o l l e d collection of reserve b o o k s a g a i n s t t h e possibility t h a t some r e q u i r e d r e a d i n g m a y simply n o t b e a v a i l a b l e in a n a d e q u a t e n u m b e r of copies. F o r t h e most p a r t , however, r e q u i r e d o r collateral r e a d i n g w h i c h m u s t b e p r o v i d e d i n m u l t i p l e copies will b e k e p t in its p r o p e r p l a c e o n t h e o p e n shelves, t h e spines of t h e books m a r k e d to i n d i c a t e t h a t they m a y b e c h a r g e d o u t o n l y o v e r n i g h t . F i n a l a r r a n g e m e n t of t h e books h a s n o t yet b e e n settled. T h e site f o r t h e b u i l d i n g a n d t h e space r e q u i r e m e n t s h a v e g o v e r n e d its s h a p e a n d t h e n u m b e r of stories, b u t it is c o m p l e t e l y flexible a n d it s h o u l d l e n d itself to a r r a n g e m e n t of t h e books in a divi- sional p a t t e r n . W e h a v e n o t p l a n n e d f o r a s e p a r a t e b r o w s i n g collection. I n a b r o a d sense, t h e e n t i r e collection will b e a b r o w s i n g collec- t i o n f o r t h e w h o l e c a m p u s . T h e l i b r a r y will c o n t a i n n o t o n l y t h e best books of t h e p a s t b u t those of t h e p r e s e n t , since it is o u r f i r m belief t h a t t h e s t u d e n t s ' e d u c a t i o n n o t only s h o u l d give t h e m a sense of history b u t s h o u l d m a k e t h e m a w a r e of t h e best cur- r e n t t h i n k i n g o n t h e issues a n d life of o u r times. I t is n o t i n t e n d e d t h a t t h e u n d e r g r a d u - ates b e r e s t r i c t e d t o this b u i l d i n g . O n t h e c o n t r a r y , it is h o p e d t h a t t h e i r e x p e r i e n c e i n t h e u n d e r g r a d u a t e l i b r a r y will s t i m u l a t e t h e m to m a k e a d v a n t a g e o u s use of t h e re- search collections. T h e y will b e w e l c o m e d a t all b r a n c h e s of t h e l i b r a r y system w h e n they h a v e a serious p u r p o s e i n u s i n g t h e m . T h e s o l u t i o n t h a t we h a v e a d o p t e d m a y n o t be viable o n m a n y o t h e r campuses. I a m c e r t a i n , however, t h a t it will h e l p t h e l i b r a r y share in i m p o r t a n c e a n d effective- ness w i t h t h e i n s p i r a t i o n of g o o d t e a c h i n g i n e d u c a t i n g t h e u n d e r g r a d u a t e s t u d e n t s a t t h e U n i v e r s i t y of M i c h i g a n . The Map Information Office (Continued from page 134) can be obtained on specific request if copies are still available. Also, as you have probably observed, new editions of the state indexes are being issued much more frequently t h a n in previous years. It is suggested that a careful check of your collections be made to assure that they are u p to date, especially in regard to maps of your local area. Whatever your most perplexing m a p problems are, whether they concern map acquisition, the maintenance of your collections, or the supplying of specific m a p data for professional and technical requirements, o u r office is always glad to be of assistance. Although we d o not attempt to maintain file copies of all maps and related publications issued by government and private groups, we can generally advise what coverage is avail- able for a specific area a n d where it can be obtained. Often, too, we can supply, or direct you to the source of the infor- mation required to answer, many of the seemingly intricate requests for m a p data. T h i s service is available to all who wish to take advantage of it. T h e Map I n f o r m a t i o n Office is always eager to learn about appropriate ma- terial that may have been overlooked, and we welcome any suggestions that you wish to make as to how we can improve our service to you and to the users of libraries. MARCH, 1956 1.155