College and Research Libraries By JOHN W. MITCHELL A Complete MateriJis Service A MONG THE MANY audio-visual units in the United States probably no two are identical because each must meet the special requirements of the parent institution. Thus, the functions of the Audio-Visual Center, Air University Li- brary, are determined by the educa- tional program of Air University. The library has as its mission the support of Air University with all types of instruc- tional materials. Of these, the Audio- Visual Center provides non-print mate- rials such as films, maps and charts, graphic aids, photographic slides and prints, and audio aids. Much has been said and written con- cerning the placement of audio-visual services within the organizational struc- ture . of an educational institution. A logical conclusion seems to indicate placement for the greatest possible effec- tiveness. For Air University the library is the most logical location. This or- ganization has established high stand- ards for rendering specialized service. The administration of the library not only realizes the values of having all instructional materials and services com- bined, but is prepared to render full support to the audio-visual as well as the traditional elements. Fully recog- nized is the principle of having each special type of service directed by com- petent professionals with adequate train- ing and experience. At the time the audio-visual services were placed in the library, plans were under way for a building to be located in the center of a new campus. Adequate space was de- signed in the new building to meet the needs of audio-visual services. Also es- Dr. Mitchell is chief} Audio-Visual Center} Air University Library. .NOVEMBER 1957 tablished in the library is a pattern for financing and procurement so essential for the operation of audio-visual serv- ices. It has its own supply unit capable of procuring special non-military as well as the usual military supplies and equip- ment. For Air University the library as an organization dedicated to giving only the best in service and materials pro- vides a natural environment for the Audio-Visual Center. The Audio-Visual Center is directed by two professional audio-visual educa- tors who supervise the operation of the organization, advise instructors and school administrators, maintain liaison with other military schools, civilian in- stitutions, business and industry, and conduct a program of evaluation, experi- mentation, and research. This organiza- tion serves Air University as its primary agency for the evaluation, selection, pro- curement, production, storage, mainte- nance, distribution, and utilization of a wide variety of audio-visual materials. One of the services most commonly associated with an audio-visual organi- zation is a film library. The .Center's Branch Film Exchange is one of three of that category in the United States. The others are at the Air Force Acad- emy and the Pentagon. The Exchange is a unit within the Air Force system of film distribution. Because of the na- ture of the Air University curriculum, the Exchange not only receives auto- matically all Air Force films but ex- ploits short-term loans from other mili- tary libraries, civilian rental sources, and industrial coLlections. Occasionally it locates and procures kinescopes of out- standing television programs which are used for classroom instruction. In addi- tion to a two thousand-print library of 485 films, the Exchange maintains a collec- tion of slide sets, filmstrips, and still pictures. Although the Branch does pro- vide equipment and projection service, its greatest screening activity is in its preview rooms. Instructors and students frequently view films ;:t.S reference mate- rials in preparation of lectures or spe- cial studies. Maintenance of materials and equipment is comparable to other film libraries. More specialized is its professional service in locating and pro- curing special films, kinescopes, and still pictures from a wide variety of sources. Many of the desired items are not wide- ly distributed, and diligent search is often needed to meet unusual require- ments. Unique as a part of an audio-visual service is the Cartographic Branch, which combines professional assistance and an extensive collection of some six thousand different titles of maps and charts totaling approximately 250,000 sheets. The cartographers work with both instructors and students in all types of problems involving the use of maps and charts. At times, a map or chart must be modified to illustrate particular physical, political, economic, or other facts. In such cases the cartographers modify existing material or draw up specifications for a new issue. The Air Force Physical-Political Global Chart is . an example of such a project. In addition to the Aeronautical Chart and Information Center, the Branch draws upon the services of Army Map Service, Hydrographic Office, Coast and Geodetic Survey, Geological Survey, N a- tional Geographic Society, and a num- ber of commercial agencies. Because of the need for the most up-to-date infor- mation, the collection is checked con- stantly to insure that each item is the most recent issue. All charts are ana- lyzed, indexed, and filed systematically for instant recovery when needed. The Center has two Graphics Branches with one at Maxwell Air Force Base and the other at Gunter Air Force Base. Each produces a wide variety of instructional and briefing materials such as charts, graphs, maps, murals, models, heraldic emblems, certificates, sketches, book and manual illustrations, and masters for transparencies of various sizes. Most of the production of these Branches is con- cerned with custom designed and exe- cuted training aids. The instructor pre- sents his requirement for analysis and visualization by artists who specialize in this aspect of the work. Once the sketches are approved, a production crew completes the graphic representa- tion. Some materials require further proc- essing after the completion of art work. Slide masters may be sent to the Photo- graphic Laboratory for conversion to transparencies in color or in black and white and in any of the standard sizes of two by two inches, three and a quar- ter by four inches, or eight by ten inches. Many overhead transparencies are prepared on tracing paper for repro- duction by the diazo process. Although most charts are prepared on board thirty by forty inches or smaller, for auditorium use they may be twenty to thirty feet long and up to ten feet high. Recently a nine by forty foot mu- ral depicting air evacuation was pro- duced. Graphics personnel work with all types of media, depending only on which medium will be most effective. · The products of the two Graphics Branches differ somewhat because of the nature of the colleges and schools served. The Gunter Branch is primarily con- cerned with materials illustrating phases of aviation medicine for use in the School of Aviation Medicine. The Max- well Branch produces aids for the better illustration of administration, command, and air power problems since it serves Headquarters Air University, Air War College, Air Command and Staff Col- 486 COLLEGE AND RESEARCH LIBRARIES lege, and Air Force Reserve Officers Training Corps. The Photographic Laboratory of the Audio-Visual Center provides three types of photographic reproduction: mi- crofilm, photostat, and transparencies. The Microfilm Section is fupy equipped to produce 35mm. and 16mm. film in both negative and positive. It has plane- tary and rotary cameras, ' printers, con- tinuous processors, and editing equip- ment. The principal purpose in micro- filming is the reduction of the Air Uni- versity Library's extensive document col- lection to film. Approximately six thou- sand feet of microfilm are shot each month. The negative file remains in the laboratory for ready reproduction. Posi- tive prints are filed in the reading room for use by instructors and students. The Photostat Section produces direct positive copy up to the size of seventeen by twenty-two inches from original copy or microfilm. Present production aver- ages four thousand full sheets each month. This laboratory provides propor- tional enlargement or reduction of copy for the Graphic Branches. The direct positive photostat also serves as a satis- factory master for the reproduction of copies by the diazo process. The third and newest section of the laboratory produces transparencies and prints for instructional purposes. These are made in black and white or color, in sizes varying from two by two inches to eight by ten inches. Although most of the original material is art layout produced by the Graphics Branches, some slides may be location shots or the reproduction of prints or slides as needed by the instructor. Photographic prints are also produced to illustrate training manuals and reports. The Reproduction Section is a very small unit with a relatively important function. It produces by mimeograph or multilith a wide variety of visual ma- terials. A major product is catalog cards, of which fifteen thousand are printed each month. Another activity of · the Section is the offset printing of special bibliographies prepared by reference personnel of the library for up-to-the- minute information on current docu- ments, periodical articles, and books per- tinent to the special interest areas of students and instructors. The services of the Audio-Visual Cen- ter are constantly evaluated in terms of the curriculum requirements of Air Uni- versity. During the past two years con- siderable time and effort have been de- voted to the analysis of organization, housing, personnel, materials, equip- ment, and procedures in order to deter- mine ways and means of improving the services. These efforts have led to more effective coordination, better working conditions, more efficient production, higher morale of staff members, and bet- ter quality instructional aids. The Cen- ter exists solely for the purpose of assist- ing the instructors to do a more effec- tive job of communicating with their students. Future modifications of the Center will be determined by the re- quirements of the instructional program of Air University. "Do you want facts? Want to prove something? Trying to find yourself, or the opposite, escape from yourself? We've got books for all purposes, for yes and no, for good and bad, black and white, near and far, for and against. ... It's not for sale, it's for free-this place with something for every student, hurried or not, this intellectual free-for-all called the Library, which finds the books of all times, races, colors, and creeds, stacked peacefully together under one roof."-Lawrence Clark Powell in Know Your Library (UCLA) 1957). NOVEMBER 1957 487