College and Research Libraries Letters Quasi-Departmental Libraries To the Editor: Experience from the Royal University Li- brary, Oslo, Faculty of the Social Sciences Division confirms Elrod's observations (let- ter regarding quasi-departmental library, C&RL, September 1977) on the article by Genaway and Stanford (C&RL, May 1977). Before 1968, teaching institutes in the so- cial sciences were scattered throughout Oslo and located many blocks from the university library. As a matter of necessity, the insti- tutes built their own collections through purchases using institute funds and through gifts, and in time these collections contained most of the current social science literature in Norway. As a means of gaining access to these "private" collections, the university library first offered professional help and later other services to aid in purchasing, registering, and caring for these collections. The university library gradually assumed most of the expenses for these services, an~ now the use of institute funds is mainly re- stricted to purchase and binding costs. Since 1968 when buildings were com- pleted for the Faculty of Social Sciences on the University of Oslo campus, the scat- tered collections have been gathered in one library, administered by the university li- brary, located on the fourth floor of a twelve-story building. The teaching insti- tutes have offices and seminar rooms on other floors of this building and connecting buildings, and stairs and elevators provide rapid a~ess to the library. This facility is open from 9:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. and provides all library services from acquisition through circulation and interlibrary loan. The arrangement might now seem' ideal, but to many the library collections no longer seem comfortably close, and during the past ten years the library administration has waged a constant, and partially losing, battle to prevent the growth of new de- partmental libraries. Fairly good control has been maintained by offering rapid purchas- COLLEGE & RESEARCH LIBRARIES ing and cataloging services for all collec- tions, both the "official" ones in the library and the "unofficial" ones in the depart- ments. Also there has been insistence that these QD libraries should be limited to du- plicate and reference works. Still, these col- lections, which are inaccessible to others than members of the individual institutes, have continued to exist and grow, albeit very slowly. It seems clear that proximity of a familiar core of books and the ability to restrict use of a collection to known persons are power- ful attractions for the busy faculty member. In Oslo the attractions have been great enough that institutes are willing to pay for two library collections.-Nancy E. Frank, Leader, Cataloging Section, Faculty of the Social Sciences Division , Royal University Library, Oslo. MCGREGOR "PERSONALIZED SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE" Every customer Is assigned an experienced "Home Office" representative. You corraspond direct; any title needs, changes, cancellations or problems can be handled promptly by letter or phone. This makes your job easier afld keeps you abreast of your subscription needs at all times. With over 45 years experl&nce, McGrtgor has built a reputation of prompt and courteous service on both domestic and International titles. We prepay subscrip- tions ahead of time. Our customers. large and small, like the prompt attention we give them. We think you would tool Ask about McGrtgor's "Automatic Renewal" plan de- scribed In our new brochure. Write today for your free copy. OUR 45th YEAR Mount Morris, llllnolsl1054 I 221 the great library ripoff It goes on in all libraries. The over-zealous students, as well as those out to do malicious damage, decide to take a few pages out of your bound magazines. Your binding investment is depreciated. The vital research content is lessened and the volumes look a mess. Because you are cost conscious, you know that time is money, space is money, and that binding is a losing proposition. That's why University Microfilms International advocates putting your 1977 magazines on microform. Microform is so very, very efficient, and leaves little chance for a ripoff. In fact, the only thing you lose when you convert to microfilm are those rows and rows of bound periodicals. Now, if we could only think of something to do with all that freed space. Write to: Serials Publishing, Dept. 1-ML University Microfilms International 300 North Zeeb Road Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106