College and Research Libraries T ren.ds In Rare Book Library Facilities IN 1928 Frank K. Walter, librarian of the University of Minnesota, read a pa- per before the American Library Insti- tute at West Baden, Indiana. Later to have great historic significance in the de- velopment of rare book libraries in the United States, this paper was published the same year in the Library journal under the title "Safeguarding Rare and Expensive Books in University and Ref- erence Libraries." 1 Walter wrote of fireproof vaults, sep- arate rooms, locked cases of metal and wood, special wired-off sections of the book stacks, and special cases in the li- brarian's office. He closed his discussion with a plea to "strive to give those books b_etter attention than they are now get- ting as a regular thing." Many university and research libraries have initiated or expanded rare book programs since Walter made his historic plea. Since 1940 at least twenty rna jor research libraries have added rare book facilities of some kind. Dr. Byrd has sug- gested that this renaissance of interest in rare book libraries has come about for a number of reasons: ... the practice of open stack access for stu- dents and staff has made it imperative to protect from this great body of users the more expensive, hard to replace, and fragile books,. that, by accretion, are in the general collection of all university libraries. Ma- terial which may or may not be in the rare class sue~ as broadsides, prints, charts, plans, maps, pictures, etc., does not admit of the standardized treatment given conventional bo~ks. . .. Segregation for protection, proc- essmg, and storage has resulted.2 The terms "rare books" and "rare book 1 LII~ (September 15, 1928), 733 -38. 2 c;ec\1, ~· Byrd, "Rare Book s in University Li- branes, LJbrary Trends, V (April 1957), 441. SEPTEMBER 1963 BY WILLIAM J. NYE Mr. Nye is Special Collections Librarian Illinois State Normal University. · ' collections" will be used in this article to include the whole realm of rare book research libraries, special collections, and rare book collections. In 1961, while making plans for rare book quarters at Illinois State Normal yniversity, the writer found only a lim- I~ed amount of material in the library l~terat~re. For additional help, a ques- tiOnnaire was sent to seventy public, college, university, and special libraries. In addition, aid was sought from the Li- brary Technology Project. The answers received from this questionnaire form the basis for this article. Its purpose is to state the present trends in facilities to care for library materials which re- quire special handling and storage and hav~ come to be designated by the ge- ~enc ~erm "rare books." It is hoped that hbranes planning similar facilities may be able to benefit from the material that has thus been gathered and organized and is reported here. What kind of quarters do rare book rooms occupy? Are there general state- ments that can be made? What, if any, ~re the trends? Perhaps the most prom- ment. e~ample of what can be done by comb1mng the latest architectural ad- vances and the best in library tech- nology is the new rare book library to be completed at Yale University in 1963.3 Thjs building will feature a six-story shaft with a capacity of 180,000 volumes. Storage stacks in the basement will bring the total capacity to 820,000 volumes. All stacks will be linked by book lift, 3 "New Rare Book Library for Yale," Library l01trnal, LXXXV (Dece mber 1, 1960), 4337. 377 pneumatic tube, and tunnel to Yal:'s Sterling Library. Beneath the stacks Will be the library's "working heart"-a re- search center containing a central con- trol desk, offices, workrooms, reading, and seminar rooms. The building will harmonize with the Gothic-Classical buildings which surround it. 4 This, however, is not typical of rare book facilities. At the other extreme many libraries reported that only limited facilities-perhaps a wired-off corner of the stacks-were available. Less than one half of the thirty-two responding li- braries reported having more than three rooms in their quarters. The Library of Congress reported forty-one rooms; John Carter Brown library had nineteen, and the Free Public library at Philadelphia, eighteen. Five libraries had only one room for their collection. In general, the institutions with more recently estab- lished quarters had fewer rooms. Many of the libraries indicated that plans were being drawri at their institutions for new libraries with more adequate rare book quarters. . . Decorative schemes within the quar- ters housing rare books are Modern, Tra- ditional, Georgian, Italian Renaissance -to name the schemes most frequently mentioned. The trend appears to be toward Modern decor in the institutions of the west and the middle west. The Lilly library at Indiana Univer- sity has succeeded in having planned the decor of individual rooms to enhance the collections. The Lincoln Room has a patterned damask on the walls wh~ch "has been copied from a dam~sk whic~ hung in the White House dunng Presi- dent Lincoln's occupancy .... The fur- nishings . . . are of the Lincoln era and include an authenticated desk which was used by Mr. Lincoln in Springfield from 1841 to 1844."5 In twenty libraries informal furniture • "Rare Building for Rare Books," Architectural Forum CXIII (November 1960),.139-4~. . a Indiana University. The L•l!y Ltbrary._ DedJca- tion of the Lilly Library (Bloommgton, Indtana: In- diana University, October 3, 1960) [PP- 4-SJ. -Occasional chairs, sofas, or coffee tables -were used. Informal notes appended to the replies to the questionnaires indi- cated an awareness of the need for a gracious, hospitable mood or .at.mosphere and that facilities for entertaining guests -perhaps potential donors-should be considered in planning quarters. Almost all libraries reported using both wooden and metal shelves. There s~emed to be no clear-cut preference for wall shelves or free-standing shelves. Twenty-six libraries used free-standing shelves and twenty-eight used wall shelves. Twenty used both wall and free- standing shelves. One correspondent quoted the head of th~. department of conservation of the Bnush Museum as stating that wooden shelves are to be preferred because they react to atmos- pheric changes and thus protect the books. Metal shelves, on the other hand, apparently do no react well to atmos- pheric changes. Thirteen libraries use glass bookcases to protect the books from dust, ~tmos­ pheric pollution, theft, a?d mOisture. Seven libraries use metal gnlls to protect the bookshelves. Glass appears to be pre- ferred if the air is polluted and grillwork if the air is not polluted. Sixteen libraries reported using tile floors and ten libraries wooden floors. Concrete, especially concrete covered with linoleum, was quite popular as a floor covering. Eleven of the thirty-two responding libraries reported usi?g r~gs on most of their floors. These hbranes were: John Carter Brown, William L. Clements, Colby College, University ~f Colorado, Dalhousie University, Detroit Public, Duke University, Free Library of Philadelphia, Indiana Uni~ersi~y, University of Kentucky, and U.nive~sity of North Carolina. Several hbranans mentioned the value of rugs in absorb- ing sound, in protecting the books by r.e- acting to atmospheric changes, and In providing dignity and atmosph.ere. Twenty libraries reported using wall 378 COLLEGE AND RESEARCH LIBRARIES exhibit cases, twenty-nine used museum exhibit cases, and seventeen reported using both wall and museum exhibit cas- es. The following libraries, among oth- ers, reported using museum cases only: John Carter Brown, William L. Clem- ents, Library of Congress, University of Illinois, Library Company of Philadel- phia, and New York Public. Ellen Shaffer, rare book librarian, the Free Library of Philadelphia, explained why she believes that wall cases are gen- erally unsatisfactory: The Free Library of Philadelphia has fifteen flat-top exhibit cases. These I feel are par- ticularly satisfactory for exhibit purposes, as they allow rare materials to be displayed with a minimum of strain. Upright cases are indeed attractive looking, but supporting books in such cases is sometimes unsatisfac- tory. A great many of these upright cases have sliding glass doors. We have had ex- perience with this type of sliding door, and we find that it admits far more dust and dirt than anyone would believe possible. Also on occasion these glass doors interfere with each other and chip.6 Basil Stuart-Stubbs, head, special col- lections, University of British Columbia, added a word of caution on the problems of exhibiting rare books in libraries: ... Watch the design of exhibit cases care- fully: no artificial lighting of any kind un- less air conditioning is adequate. Reason: if you bring a book from 50 per cent humidity into a warm and dry exhibit case you will buckle the covers. The light does wonders for that red morocco, but it also ruins the book.7 Reports revealed that only seven li- braries-University of California (Berke- ley), Library of Congress, Detroit Public, Duke University, Free Library of Phil- adelphia, Indiana University, and New York Public-have facilities for binding and repair within the rare book quarters. Only six libraries-John Carter Brown, Colby College, Indiana University, Me- e Letter, November 13, 1961. 7 Letter, November 21, 1961. SEPTEMBER 1963 Gill University, University of Mississip- pi, New York Public, and University of Toronto--have facilities for photodupli- cation services within the rare book quar- ters. Most libraries reported using central library facilities to bind and repair ma- terials, or that needed work was done by a commercial service. Almost all libraries reported that photoduplicating services were available in the central library. About one-third reported having storage shelves in the workroom, two-thirds had cabinets, two-thirds had sinks, and nearly all had typewriters. Frazer G. Poole, director, Library Technology Project, has stated that "If the collection is likely to grow to some size a small adjacent workroom may be desirable in order that bindings may be treated and minor repairs made without removing the materials from the area."s Most librarians were not as conservative in statement as Mr. Poole, however. Some libraries reported entrusting fragile ma- terials to central library facilities or com- mercial services and having the materials returned much the worse for their ex- perience. General sentiment favored large workrooms with specialized equip- ment and staff to handle the special ma- terials. Rare books, wherever housed, require constant protection from the enemies of books-fire, water, insects, dust, humid- ity, excessive temperatures, light, thieves, and destructive users. Howard H. Peck- ham, director, William L. Clements li- brary, points out the characteristics of materials in a rare book collection that make conservation methods necessary: It is expensive. The average cost of each book added to a public library is about four dollars; to a university library, about six dol- lars. The price paid per acquisition at the William L. Clements library last year (1956) averaged $92; at the John Carter Brown library, $97. These figures are unexception- able and probably are exceeded by a few other institutions. 8 Letter, November 9, 1961. 379 It is so scarce as to be difficult or impos- sible of replacement. Two copies of a book are not bought in the first acquiring of a title, and reordering in case of a loss is use- less. Manuscript items are, of course, unique. More than text is important. Rare books may be prized for their pictures or maps, for their binding or association, for their printer or place of publication, for their scarcity or other factors. Priority puts a premium on first editions. In such libraries it does make a difference in what form a text reaches their shelves. Compared to modern publishing output and the size of city libraries, m a terial eligi- ble for inclusion in a r are book library is small in quantity. Usually it has been sifted by generations of scholars and collectors. A rare book library, therefore , is almost never a big library. 9 · Twenty-nine libraries reported that the walls of their quarters were fireproof, twenty-two used a fire alarm system, and eighteen reported having both fireproof walls and a fire alarm system. One of the outstanding examples of making a li- brary as fireproof as possible is the New- berry library. The following features are incorporated as protective devices: l. Controls for smoke and heat detec- tion. 2. A system of compartmentation insur- ing that a fire will not involve more than ten per cent of the building. 3. Rewiring and replumbing. 4. Automatic Detection Telegraph Serv- ice. 5. Agreement . with the fire department not to use water. Seven libraries-Detroit Public, Uni- versity of Florida, Free Library of Phil- adelphia, Washington University, New York Public, University of Kentucky, and University of Kansas-reported hav- ing fumigation facilities in the rare book quarters. Such facilities in the rare book rooms are relatively scarce because in- sects are not a problem in most of the libraries reporting or because commer..: 9 "Introduction [to Rare Book Libraries a nd Collec · tion sJ," L i br ary Trends, V (April 1957) , 417 -18. cial services are adequate in those areas where infestation by insects is a problem. Sixteen libraries reported maintaining a constant relative humidity: one at 35- · 50 per cent; one at 40-60 per cent; one at 45 per cent; two at 45-50 per cent; eight at 50 per cent; one at 50-55 per cent; one at 54 per cent; and one at 67 per cent. Preference here is clearly shown for a relative humidity of about fifty per cent. Several libraries reported housing their collections in the basement as the humid- ity and temperature there were more constant. One library reported maintain- ing a constant temperature of 65 ° -75 ° F; three of 68° F; one of 68°-70 ° F; seven of 70 ° F; one of 70 °-75 ° F; four of 72 ° F; two of 75° F; and one of 75 °-85 ° F. Twenty-three libraries reported having air conditioning; fifteen have both air conditioners and air filters. Both the Lilly library at Indiana University and the Harry S. Truman library have elec- trostatic filter systems, the Lilly library throughout and the Harry S. Truman library in the rare book room. Five librarieS-John Carter Brown, Lilly, New York Public, St. Louis Uni- versity, and Washington University- reported using burglar alarms. Other li- braries reported that frequent checks by watchmen made burglar alarms unneces- sary. Howard H. Peckham has made certain observations about the way rare book libraries maintain security b y screening potential readers: Use is restricted. Circulation outside the building is never permitted, and reading rooms are supervised. Cautions are given about handling rarities. Readers have to identify themselves and sometimes prove their competence by deposing that they have exhausted the secondary materials on their subject. Since most of the patrons are doing research, a very high percentage of them are scholars, as distinguished from the lay public and children.lO Georgia C. Haugh, curator of printed 10 Ibid . 380 COLLEGE AND RESEARCH LIBRARIES books, William L. Clements library, has explained other ways in which rare book libraries seek to maintain security of their collections when they are being used by readers: All rare book libraries shelve their collec- tions in locked stacks, or locked cases, or locked cases in locked stacks; often the great- est rarities are kept in special vaults, or "vault rooms." Reference works, however, are found often in open areas with easy access by the reader .... Occasionally a trustworthy read- er with special requirements will be taken to the shelves by a staff member. Any photo- graphing of materials is arranged by the staff. Smoking is prohibited in reading areas.ll Twenty-four of the thirty-two respond- ing libraries permitted readers to read in the rooms where the books are housed. This relationship is no doubt limited in most cases to the less rare books, yet even these are usually covered with a grill or encased in glass. Too, the reading room is usually attended by a staff member. A number of librarians referred to the care that should be taken, especially in exhibit cases, to use proper fluorescent lights. Document glass was recommended for exhibit cases. Protection of books in the event of enemy atta.ck is a concern of many li- braries. The Lilly library is equipped with two large vaults, both bombproof. Transfer of records vital to national se- curity could be necessary to insure con- tinuity of government in case of a bomb attack. A large majority of rare book collec- tions are now being housed in quarters not originally designed for that purpose. Most rare book collections are housed in buildings built when little was known of library technology for conventional ma- terials and even less was known of the specialized facilities needed for the care of what we now regard as "rare books." No substantial body of literature exists 11 "Reader Policies in Rare Book Libraries, " Li- brary Tr ends, V (April 1957) , 47 2 . SEPTEMBER 1963 to guide the library planner in his quest to learn of the appropriate facilities for the care of rare books. Librarians with experience and success in planning rare book libraries have apparently not pub- lished in this area. As a consequence, less experienced rare book librarians have had to depend upon the resources of informal professional associations and the examination of established rare book libraries. In the responses to the ques- tionnaire used in this study, the author noted the emergence of definite and gen- erally accepted principles of rare book library facilities current in the library world today. Principles of planning for the care of nonconventional library materials over- lap a great deal with the principles for caring for conventional materials. There is a concern for durability, utility, beau- ty, security, and, more recently, flexibil- ity. Traditionally, rare booJ.s libraries have placed a heavy emphasis on beauty and security. The net result of this over- emphasis has created an imbalance in rare book library facilities. Libraries of great aesthetic appeal offering splendid protection for their collections have been established. Unfortunately, many of these libraries have existed more as showpieces to enhance the image of an institution rather than as agencies to serve the needs of the scholars who use the books which they contain. The trend now, however, is toward greater balance in libraries without a resultant loss of security or reduction in dignity. Almost all libraries are trying to provide more workroom facilities to care for the cataloging, conservation, restoration, and photoduplication needs of their collections. A change in library philosophy toward greater concern for the problems of the reader has caused libraries to plan more space for readers to study rare materials and to consult bibliographical works auxiliary to the collection. 381 Recently established rare book librar- ies are attempting to provide facilities in keeping with the needs of the institu- tions that they serve rather than trying to model their libraries after the pattern of the established rare book libraries of great tradition and prestige. Security has continued to be a prom- inent concern, but the harsh, metallic, security "machinery" so often offensive to library patrons is being replaced by an acceptance of the qualified patron as a partner in the intellectual quest. The rare book librarian is becoming less of a proprietor and more of a gracious host. Grounds for encouragement in the de- velopment of rare book library facilities are many. Optimism prevailed through- out the responses to the questionnaire. Even those librarians with the most in- adequate facilities were eagerly making ambitious plans for the day when new library building plans would make pos- sible more desirable quarters and special- ized equipment. The Library Technol- ogy Project is making materials and equipment standards available to the li- brary profession. Much of this informa- tion will prove most helpful to the rare book librarian. A close liaison with archivists, museum curators, and business records manage- ment specialists should be mutually ben- eficial. The establishment of courses in library schools dealing with the problems of rare book library facilities would be most appropriate. Increased publication by rare book librarians in the problems of rare book library facilities is sorely needed. •• ALA Representatives at Academic Ceremonies 382 ALA REPRESENTATIVES at recent academic ceremonies were: Joseph Rea- son, ACRL executive secretary, at the dedication of Trinity College li- brary, Washington, D.C. on May 31; Oivind M. Hovde, libarian, Luther College, Decorah, Iowa, at the inauguration of Elwin D. Farwell as presi- dent of the college on May 11; Margaret M. Kinney, chief librarian, U.S. Veterans Administration Hospital library, at the inauguration of Rose- mary Park as president of Barnard College on April 22; Bernard Kreiss- man, librarian of City College of the City University of New York, at the Charter Centenary of Manhattan College on April 20; Gustave Harrer, director of Boston University libraries, at the Centennial Convocation of that university on April 20; Bruce M. Brown, librarian, Colgate Uni- versity, Hamilton, N.Y., at the inauguration of Vincent MacDowell Bar- nett, Jr., as president of the university on April 19; William D. Joyce, librarian, Massachusetts State College at Worcester, Mass., at the inaug- uration of Clifton Woodford Emery, Jr., as president of Worcester Junior College on April 8; Ned C. Morris, acting librarian, Texas College of Arts and Industries, Kingville, Tex., at the inauguration of James Coffey Jernigan as president of the college on March 25; and Yuan Tao-Feng of Long Island University at the inauguration of Ralph Gordon Hoxie as president of C. W. Post College of the university, on December 16. • • COLLEGE AND RESEARCH LIBRARIES