College and Research Libraries Editorial A. F. Kuhlman was the first editor of College & Research Libraries. In his introductory edito- rial fifty years ago Kuhlman listed the purposes of the new journal. Some still apply: pro- vide news, publish articles, build bridges of understanding, promote research, and im- prove the practice of academic librarianship. The news function changed with the formation of College & Research Libraries News in 1966. Most of the goals are ongoing, but one has been realized-"help to develop the ACRL . into a strong and mature professional organization.'' In a contributed article, '' ACRL' s Fif- tieth Anniversary: For Reflection, for Celebration, and for Anticipation,'' Edward G. Hol- ley describes how the association has grown and prospered. Several authors who will be contributing articles to each issue of this anniversary volume have noted a similarity of themes between then and now. In Kuhlman's first editorial, he discussed the crisis in higher education. In this issue, Barbara B. Moran follows the crisis of the late 1930s up to the present and beyond. One can infer from her title, ''The Unintended Revolution,'' that the crisis has continued. Legendary figures played a major role as authors in the inaugural issue: Robert B. Downs, Ralph E. Ellsworth, Lawrence Clark Powell, Louis Shores, Carl M. White, and Louis Round Wilson discussed everything from buildings, rare books, and library educa- tion, to trends, and buying for large and small libraries. As time passes, the type of contrib- utor has changed greatly: today many more articles are written by women, coauthors are much more prevalent, and geographical representation has broadened. In "A Statistical Profile of College & Research Libraries,'' Paul Metz provides a detailed account of what C&RL was and is. . It has been a fascinating fifty years. In a reprint of Fremont Rider's article ''The Future of the Research Library,'' taken from his book, The Scholar and the Future of the Research Library, one can see how magnificent, creative ideas sometime fade in the full glare of reality. Yet Rider's micro format solution to the access and storage problems facing librarians in the 1940s remains as a voiceless tribute to the inquiring minds in our profession. Guest editorials by previous editors David Kaser, Richard M. Dougherty, Richard D. Johnson, and C. James Schmidt will appear in the next four issues. Each will also select an article published during his tenure as editor to appear as a reprint. Many librarians have made C&RL into the premier research journal in academic librarian- ship. From all the past editors to all authors, past and future, a debt of appreciation must be passed along. You have improved service, created knowledge, and provided understand- ing. Our clients, our libraries, and our institutions have benefited enormously. As we all carry out the promise inherent in the unintended revolution, let us stay true to our heritage and build onto our already strong service ethos. Harold L. Leupp, Librarian at the University of California, worded it better fifty years ago: I have never heard the idea advanced that Omar was a university librarian, but certainly he expressed the heartfelt yearnings of many such, struggling to render adequate service in unadaptable tombs of literature, when he warbled to his girl friend: Ah Love! could thou and I with Fate conspire 7 8 College & Research Libraries To grasp this sorry Scheme of Things entire, Would not we shatter it to bits and then Re-mould it nearer to the Heart's Desire! January 1989 Happy fiftieth anniversary, College & Research Libraries. CHARLES MARTELL From our genesis we have been strangely aloof from introspection. The reasons are fairly appar- ent. We have not had much time for self-analysis. For half a century our energies were absorbed in developing methods for administering our geometrically growing collections and for making them available to a wide variety of users for a wide variety of purposes. The task was (and is) a difficult and complex one. In considerable measure we have succeeded. We are undeniably ex- cellent housekeepers. -G. Flint Purdy, "Investigating Library Problems" (March 1940), p.141 It's All in the Pages of BA/RR/fll~ ! BAIRRM provides coverage of meetings, patents, books and more! Between the covers of Biological Abstracts! RRM • (Reports, Reviews, Meetings) lies the difference between having it all and needing more . BAI RRM is· the only publication that provides you with com- prehensive coverage of life science symposia papers. unique in- ternational meeting abstracts, review publications , bibliographies, research communications, books, book chapters and U.S. patents . 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