College and Research Libraries


raphy arranged by type of application. Ci-
tations are listed within application in ·re-
verse chronological order. 

The chapter on problems is general; it 
is organized around the difficulties of three 
groups of people: computer center and sys-
tems personnel, suppliers of hardware and 
software, and librarians. Three other types 
of problems are also discussed: poor plan-
ning, · poor design, and poor implementa-
tion. 

The final chapter on prospects touches 
on networks, standards, minicomputers, 
commercial systems, and future develop-
ments. This chapter is short, general, and 
not especially insightful, but may stimulate 
questions from those beginning their ex-
amination of library automation systems 
and trends. 

In summary, the book is easy and inter-
esting reading. It contains a wealth of in-
formation presented in a free-flowing, 
pleasant manner and is a good starting 
point for those desiring an orderly review 
of what has gone on before. Also, the au-
thor and publisher succeeded in publishing 
material that was as timely as possible up 
to the point of publication. However, the 
$24.50 price tag is going to be hard to 
swallow.-Eleanor Montague, Project Di-
rector, Western Network Project, Western 
Interstate Commission for Higher Educa-
tion. 

Cole, John Y., ed. Ainsworth Rand Spof-
ford: Bookman and Librarian. The Her-
itage of Librarianship Series, no. 2. Lit-
tleton, Colo.: Libraries Unlimited, Inc., 
1975. 203p. $11.50. (LC 75-31517) 
(ISBN 0-87287-117-7) 
In the foreword to this volume, series ed-

itor Michael Harris indicates that the sub-
ject of this book is "the rise of the Library 
of Congress to a position of unrivaled su-
premacy among American libraries" (p.5). 
That rise was the work of Ainsworth Rand 
Spofford. His own writings and the intro-
ductory background describe what he did 
for the Library of Congress. 

John Y. Cole is, perhaps, preeminently 
qualified to edit this volume and to discuss 
Spofford's career. Cole's doctoral disserta-
tion is entitled "Ainsworth Spofford and the 
National Library," and he has written seven 

Recent Publications I 375 

lengthy articles about the Library of Con-
gress and Spofford. Part I of this work is a 
well-documented, precisely written history 
of Spofford's professional life. These details 
provide the background necessary to estab-
lish the context of the selections presented 
in Part II. The important features of Spof-
ford's philosophy about the library and his 
profession are also highlighted in this sum-
mary. A skillful use of quotations encour-
ages the reader to move directly and will-
ingly into the selection of writings. 

Part II is one of the most pleasant sur-
prises this reviewer has had recently. Spof-
ford was an opinionated, articulate person 
who had clearly defined goals and equally 
definite methods of achieving them. No li-
brarian today would agree with all of his 
ideas. But any discussion about reference 
service or the role of the Library of Con-
gress or book selection or the qualifications 
of a librarian or even classification could be 
vigorously stimulated by a reading of these 
essays. Would you characterize the Library 
. of Congress as the "book palace of the 
American people" (p.43)? Spofford did, in 
1899. He also saw the public library as the 
"people's university" (p.22). "Everyone 
seeking to know anything, should find the 
librarian a living catalogue" (p.152), he 
concluded. 

Several of his writings may offer "new" 
solutions to hoary problems. His "First An-
nual Report" could serve as a model for a 
librarian describing library needs to a non-
librarian supervisor. Present-day adminis-
trators might find that his arguments for 
more space in "A 'Wholly Distinct' Library 
Building" could be used with great effec-
tiveness. ALA's GODORT members will 
want to read his memo on "An Index to the 
Documents and Debates of Congress." 

Librarians and library school students 
should read this book and study this man's 
ideas. The volume is a necessary acquisi-
tion for collections concerned with library 
history and library philosophy. John Y. Cole 
has reestablished an important figure in our 
professional heritage.-Judy H. Fair, Direc-
tor of the Library, The Urban Institute, 
Washington, D.C. 

Martin, Susan K., and Butler, Brett, eds. 
Library Automation: The State of the