College and Research Libraries B y J A M E S A . H U L B E R T Development of Reference Work, USIS Library, Paris' Mr. Hulbert is librarian, United States Information Service Library, Paris. A FTER n e a r l y ten years of u n i q u e service i l in P a r i s , that a n i m a t e d n e r v e c e n t e r of F r e n c h i n t e l l e c t u a l l i f e , the U n i t e d S t a t e s I n f o r m a t i o n S e r v i c e L i b r a r y has r e a l i z e d a high professional place and a fine r e p u t a t i o n f o r service a m o n g the r e a d i n g public. T h i s r e p u t a t i o n has been gained in p a r t by stand- ard p u b l i c l i b r a r y d e v i c e s — t h e open shelf system of a r r a n g i n g books, a t t r a c t i v e read- i n g rooms, and g e n e r o u s l e n d i n g p r i v i l e g e s — b u t especially by a d o c u m e n t a t i o n and r e f e r e n c e service c a r e f u l l y developed to m e e t F r e n c h needs f o r i n f o r m a t i o n on the l i f e and c u l t u r e of the U n i t e d States. I n a d d i t i o n t o this service the l i b r a r y m a k e s a v a i l a b l e a f r e e l e n d i n g service of s t a n d a r d and c u r r e n t books, periodicals, and o t h e r materials. A t h i r d m a j o r area of service is t h a t of extension loans by m a i l of F r e n c h t r a n s l a t i o n s of A m e r i c a n books. A l l of these services reach the provinces by means of five branches m a i n t a i n e d in B o r d e a u x , L i l l e , L y o n , M a r s e i l l e , and S t r a s b o u r g . T h e P a r i s l i b r a r y f u n c t i o n s as a c e n t r a l a g e n c y f o r book acquisitions, g i v e s super- vision to o r g a n i z a t i o n and technical routines, and acts as a c l e a r i n g house f o r such i n f o r - 1 T h e chief sources are the official U S I S reports of the librarian, dated J a n u a r y 1945-June 1948, and of the general staff meetings f r o m A u g u s t 1945 to date. S e v - eral l i b r a r y staff members have seen continuous s e r v i c e since 1946, and their assistance is g r a t e f u l l y acknowl- edged. T h e author, now director of the l i b r a r y , has s e r v e d under two previous directors. T h e article, " U S I S L i b r a r y : P a r i s " ( L i b r a r y Journal, June 1, 1953* pp. 945-948) by the author of this article, and G l a d y s Solomon's " ' I n f o r m a t i o n P l e a s e ' — P a r i s S t y l e " ( C h r i s - tian Science Monitor, D e c e m b e r 1 7 , 1949, p. 1 3 ) h a v e also been used. m a t i o n and m a t e r i a l s w h i c h the branches are u n a b l e to p r o v i d e . M O D E S T B E G I N N I N G I N 1 9 4 5 A u n i t of the n e w G o v e r n m e n t I n f o r m a - tion S e r v i c e w h i c h succeeded the O f f i c e of W a r I n f o r m a t i o n in 1 9 4 5 , the " d o c u m e n t a - tion c e n t e r " m a r k e d its official o p e n i n g in F e b r u a r y of t h a t y e a r . I t s modest b e g i n n i n g w a s on the P l a c e de l ' O p e r a in a l i t t l e room s e a t i n g e x a c t l y t w e n t y - f i v e persons and w i t h a n u c l e u s of b e t w e e n 400 and 500 " r e p r e - s e n t a t i v e " A m e r i c a n books. A n n o u n c e - ments of the v e n t u r e w e r e sent to key offi- cials, citizens, and g r o u p s of s c h o l a r l y inter- e s t s : " T h e C e n t e r w i l l be open daily f o r the use of the F r e n c h public w h o w i s h to i n f o r m themselves c o n c e r n i n g A m e r i c a and t h i n g s A m e r i c a n . " P u b l i c response w a s i m m e d i a t e and d r a m a t i c . H u n d r e d s of people w a i t e d in line d u r i n g the first w e e k s , m a n y desiring o n l y s t a n d i n g room a r o u n d the w a l l s to reach the m a t e r i a l s displayed. Serious and p o p u l a r readers vied w i t h each o t h e r f o r service, and f o r a time the l i b r a r i a n w a s u n d e c i d e d w h i c h g r o u p to f a v o r ; this ques- tion w a s l a t e r resolved w h e n the q u a r t e r s w e r e e n l a r g e d to d o u b l e the s e a t i n g c a p a c i t y and a separate room w a s obtained to house the r e f e r e n c e and technical m a t e r i a l s . Space c o n t i n u e d to be a p r o b l e m and the l i b r a r y w a s destined to u n d e r g o t w o o t h e r m o v e s b e f o r e c o m i n g to its present location on the C h a m p s Elysees. D E M A N D S F O R S C I E N C E S E R V I C E S F r o m the outset and c o n t i n u i n g u n t i l re- 58 COLLEGE AND RESEARCH LIBRARIES c e n t l y there w a s an almost e x a g g e r a t e d con- cern w i t h the sciences and t e c h n o l o g y . T h i s policy w a s u n d o u b t e d l y due in l a r g e meas- u r e to the excessive needs of the p o s t w a r period and the c o n s e q u e n t l y h e a v y d e m a n d s m a d e upon the l i b r a r y by practitioners in scientific fields, especially doctors. F r e n c h scientific l i f e had l o n g been cut off f r o m f o r e i g n d e v e l o p m e n t s by the b l a c k - o u t of w a r , and its n o r m a l l y v i g o r o u s and crea- tive n a t u r e had been stifled. R e p o r t s of the l i b r a r i a n r e g u l a r l y m e n t i o n e d the g r e a t use by specialists in 1 9 4 5 . S o n u m e r o u s w e r e requests f o r technical and m e d i c a l j o u r n a l s d u r i n g the first w e e k s t h a t loans w e r e limited t o a period of f o r t y - e i g h t h o u r s ; m a n y of these w e r e used f o r the photostat- i n g of c e r t a i n articles. I n M a y there w e r e o v e r 5,000 inquiries and r e f e r e n c e questions noted in a r e p o r t f o r the previous six-weeks p e r i o d ; the l a r g e m a j o r i t y of these w e r e in the fields of c h e m i s t r y , medicine, engineer- ing, radio, housing, and a r c h i t e c t u r e . T h e n u m b e r of visitors to the l i b r a r y in A u g u s t exceeded 1 0 , 0 0 0 ; by O c t o b e r the f i g u r e had reached 13,000. L i s t s of l i b r a r y periodicals distributed to other libraries and research centers b r o u g h t i n c r e a s i n g demands. I n a single m o n t h of this y e a r a t o t a l of f i f t y - o n e scientific and technical o r g a n i z a t i o n s w e r e f u r n i s h e d d o c u m e n t a t i o n of v a r i o u s kinds. T h e t r e n d w a s the same in 1 9 4 6 . T h e d o c u m e n t a t i o n service in medicine had be- c o m e so i m p o r t a n t that other centers w e r e p r o v i d i n g m a t e r i a l s to s t r e n g t h e n the U S I S c o l l e c t i o n s ; it w a s r e p o r t e d t h a t a g i f t of books had been received f r o m the E c o l e de M e d e c i n e of the U n i v e r s i t e de P a r i s , and t h a t 200 m e d i c a l periodicals had been ac- quired f r o m the l i b r a r y of the S o r b o n n e . E x t e n s i v e purchases of books w e r e m a d e w i t h the N a t i o n a l R e s e a r c h C o u n c i l bibliog- r a p h y , Scientific, Medical and Technical Books . . . 1930-1944, as a g u i d e ; F r e n c h professors w e r e invited to participate in this selection. C o p i e s of this b i b l i o g r a p h y w e r e presented to a p p r o p r i a t e P a r i s libraries. P h o t o s t a t i n g of scientific articles u n a v a i l a b l e in P a r i s , w h i c h had f o r m e r l y been r e f e r r e d to W a s h i n g t o n f o r p r o c u r e m e n t , had to be discontinued, so l a r g e w a s the v o l u m e of re- q u e s t s ; h o w e v e r , this service received n e w l i f e w h e n the C e n t r e N a t i o n a l de la R e c h e r c h e Scientifique o f f e r e d to assume responsibility f o r it. T h e i m p o r t a n c e of the l i b r a r y ' s services w a s f u r t h e r heightened w i t h the closing of a l l of the F r e n c h min- isterial i n f o r m a t i o n centers, due to reasons of e c o n o m y , and the r e s u l t i n g increased de- m a n d s f o r scientific d o c u m e n t a t i o n c o m i n g f r o m g o v e r n m e n t officials. T o assist w i t h this r a p i d l y e x p a n d i n g service, a y o u n g F r e n c h m a n h a v i n g special t r a i n i n g in the sciences w a s appointed. I n 1948 an A m e r i c a n l i b r a r i a n , a special- ist in science r e f e r e n c e w o r k , a r r i v e d to supervise this phase of the l i b r a r y p r o g r a m . A special d e p a r t m e n t had been begun, and the book collections in the 500's and 6 o o ' s and the files of periodicals in science and t e c h n o l o g y had become the l a r g e s t and the most i m p o r t a n t classes in the l i b r a r y . T h e science trend w a s s t r e n g t h e n e d w i t h the l a u n c h i n g of the E c o n o m i c C o o p e r a t i o n A d - m i n i s t r a t i o n p r o g r a m in F r a n c e , f o r it w a s U S I S policy to closely support the M a r s h a l l P l a n o b j e c t i v e s . T e c h n o l o g y exhibits, book- lists on " p r o d u c t i v i t y , " and the p u b l i c i z i n g of u s e f u l m a t e r i a l s on the m a n y and v a r i e d topics h a v i n g to do w i t h l a b o r , m a n a g e - m e n t , and the s t i m u l a t i o n of business and industry w e r e i m p o r t a n t f u n c t i o n s of the n e w d e p a r t m e n t . S t r o n g interest in A m e r i - can m e d i c a l books and j o u r n a l s c o n t i n u e d d u r i n g this y e a r , and it w a s reported to U S I S officials that the P a r i s physicians w e r e desirous t h a t the l i b r a r y remain open d u r i n g the e v e n i n g s to p e r m i t their visits a f t e r busi- ness h o u r s — a request w h i c h c o u l d n o t be g r a n t e d because of i n a d e q u a c y of staff. JANUARY, 1955 59 C H A N G E O F E M P H A S I S T h i s emphasis on science and t e c h n o l o g y c o n t i n u e d u n t i l 1 9 5 2 w h e n it began to be obvious t h a t the c o l l e c t i o n s w e r e deficient in A m e r i c a n l i t e r a t u r e , fine arts and music, and certain of the social sciences. T h e r e w e r e by this time f e w e r r e q u i r e m e n t s f o r scientific r e f e r e n c e and, c o n v e r s e l y , a g r o w - i n g n u m b e r of requests f o r i n f o r m a t i o n in non-scientific s u b j e c t s ; c i r c u l a t i o n in the n a t u r a l and applied sciences had f a l l e n con- s i d e r a b l y . D e f i n i t e d e v e l o p m e n t s in the in- t e r n a t i o n a l p u b l i s h i n g field w e r e f a c t o r s in this lessening interest in science, as f a r as the specific l i b r a r y services of U S I S w e r e concerned. F r e n c h libraries and institu- tions, as w e l l as i n d i v i d u a l s themselves, w e r e r e s u m i n g their subscriptions to A m e r i - can periodicals. B o o k purchases f r o m across the A t l a n t i c , first s t i m u l a t e d by the E c o - nomic C o o p e r a t i o n A d m i n i s t r a t i o n , began to be m o r e than a t r i c k l e . T h e D e p a r t m e n t of S t a t e had t a k e n o v e r the I n f o r m a t i o n a l M e d i a G u a r a n t e e p r o g r a m , a i d i n g f o r e i g n booksellers and A m e r i c a n publishers by u n d e r w r i t i n g d o l l a r r e t u r n s f o r p a y m e n t s made in l o c a l currencies. U N E S C O book coupons came into use. F r a n c o - A m e r i c a n bookseller c o n t a c t s w e r e being r e n e w e d and w i d e n e d . In short, the f r e e e x c h a n g e of printed m a t t e r w a s a g a i n w e l l u n d e r w a y w i t h the i m p r o v e d economic s i t u a t i o n and there no l o n g e r existed the need f o r the p h e n o m e n a l science services w h i c h the li- b r a r y had supplied d u r i n g its e a r l y years. I M P O R T A N C E O F C U L T U R E A c c o r d i n g l y the l i b r a r y staff decided t h a t as f a r as the o b j e c t i v e s of the l i b r a r y w e r e concerned, other s u b j e c t fields w e r e e q u a l l y as i m p o r t a n t as the sciences, if not m o r e so. T h e r e c o u l d be no j u s t i f i c a t i o n f o r n e g l e c t of the h u m a n i t i e s and the social sciences in d e v e l o p i n g the l i b r a r y s e r v i c e s : a scientific v i e w as the sole perspective of A m e r i c a n society w a s simply an i n a c c u r a t e one. F u r t h e r m o r e , one of the most distorted con- tentions of a n t i - A m e r i c a n p r o p a g a n d a , ac- ceptable even to m a n y s y m p a t h e t i c E u r o - peans, w a s that, a l t h o u g h A m e r i c a n s ex- celled in t e c h n o l o g y , they w e r e devoid of c u l t u r e , i.e., c u l t u r e in the sense of artistic and s p i r i t u a l creativeness. C r i t i c s w e r e absorbed w i t h the p r o b l e m of A m e r i c a n c i v i l i z a t i o n , the c h a r a c t e r i s t i c symbols of w h i c h , at least in their t h i n k i n g , w e r e pro- duction lines and the d o l l a r sign. I t w a s difficult to point out to such critics t h a t there existed a massive v o l u m e of c u l t u r a l a c t i v i t y of a l l kinds in the U n i t e d States, t h a t some libraries and m u s e u m s had richer h o l d i n g s t h a n m a n y E u r o p e a n ones, and t h a t d r a m a , s y m p h o n i c c o n c e r t s and exhibi- tions w e r e v e r y w i d e l y supported. F r e n c h visitors to the States a d m i t t e d l y w e r e astonished at such a c t i v i t y b u t even their reports m a d e l i t t l e impression upon p r e v a i l - i n g criticism. A B L U E P R I N T P R O V I D E D I n 1 9 5 3 the Science and T e c h n o l o g y de- p a r t m e n t w a s discontinued and the room w a s g i v e n over to w o r k w i t h periodicals. B o o k s in the 500's and 6 o o ' s w e r e w e e d e d o u t and then shelved w i t h i n their class lo- cations in the g e n e r a l c o l l e c t i o n . T h e files of m e d i c a l and t e c h n o l o g i c a l periodicals w e r e c o n s i d e r a b l y reduced and o l d e r r u n s w e r e presented to a p p r o p r i a t e libraries and institutions. I m m e d i a t e attention w a s di- rected to the expansion of the book collec- tions in the deficient s u b j e c t areas. T h e f o l l o w i n g s t a t e m e n t of l i b r a r y policy as re- l a t i n g to science and t e c h n o l o g y w a s pro- posed : 1. A l i m i t e d n u m b e r of s u b j e c t fields s h o u l d be d e t e r m i n e d , t h e p a r a m o u n t c o n s i d e r a t i o n s b e i n g g e n e r a l r e f e r e n c e n e e d s and b r o a d l i b r a r y u s e f u l n e s s , a ) T h e s e fields s h o u l d p r o v i d e a b l u e - p r i n t f o r t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of t h e 60 COLLEGE AND RESEARCH LIBRARIES t h e sciences a n d t e c h n o l o g y collec- tions, a n d f o r r e f e r e n c e activities. 2. M a t e r i a l s , in g e n e r a l , s h o u l d be l i m i t e d t o t h e f o l l o w i n g : a ) B o o k s of a h i s t o r i c a l n a t u r e , l i m i t e d to, o r e m p h a s i z i n g A m e r i c a n c o n t r i - b u t i o n s . b ) G e n e r a l s u r v e y s of c u r r e n t a c t i v i t i e s a n d p e c u l i a r l y A m e r i c a n topics. c ) Y e a r b o o k s a n d c o m p i l a t i o n s w i t h i n c e r t a i n special fields, e.g., m e d i c i n e . d ) C a t a l o g s and b u y i n g guides, e.g., in i n d u s t r y a n d e n g i n e e r i n g . e) P e r i o d i c a l s s h o u l d be g e n e r o u s l y p r o - vided, r e p r e s e n t i n g m a n y s u b j e c t s no l o n g e r f o u n d in t h e book collections. 3. G e n e r a l l y t h e l i b r a r y w i l l d i s a v o w t h e label of " r e s e a r c h l i b r a r y " n o r w i l l science c o l l e c t i o n s be e i t h e r c o n t i n u e d o r d e v e l o p e d w i t h t h e a i m s of r e s e a r c h in v i e w — e x c e p t , i n c i d e n t a l l y , as t h e m a t e r i a l s w h i c h a r e p r o v i d e d m a y be f o u n d t o be of special use. A l t h o u g h this statement has not been officially adopted, it does represent the think- i n g of the l i b r a r y staff and it is s e r v i n g as an i n t e r i m g u i d e in book selection and r e f e r e n c e w o r k . T h e l i b r a r y r e f e r e n c e service is based upon a s m a l l but adequate c o l l e c t i o n of f a m i l i a r A m e r i c a n r e f e r e n c e books. T h e s t a n d a r d encyclopedias, dictionaries, and y e a r b o o k s are supplemented by m a n y special aids, i n c l u d i n g those f o r science and tech- n o l o g y w h i c h are m e n t i o n e d in the policy s t a t e m e n t above. T e l e p h o n e directories of the l a r g e r A m e r i c a n cities are f r e q u e n t l y used sources. A unique type of A m e r i c a n a of g r e a t interest to the F r e n c h is the mail o r d e r house c a t a l o g . D e s c r i p t i v e m a t e r i a l s on A m e r i c a n cities and states, such as t r a v e l guides, maps and street guides, and c h a m b e r of c o m m e r c e brochures, are never sufficient f o r the demands. E d u c a t i o n a l directories and files of c o l l e g e and u n i v e r s i t y c a t a l o g s are c o n s t a n t l y used by e x c h a n g e students and professors. P r o f e s s i o n a l registers in medi- cine, l a w , business, and the arts f a c i l i t a t e transoceanic contacts f o r m a n y persons. D i c t i o n a r i e s of A m e r i c a n i s m s , c o l l o q u i a l usage and s l a n g p r o v i d e help f o r astonished students of the " A m e r i c a n l a n g u a g e " and f r u s t r a t e d t r a n s l a t o r s of H e m i n g w a y and F a u l k n e r . D O C U M E N T A T I O N C E N T E R T h e l i b r a r y is a "special l i b r a r y " o n l y in the sense that it is a g o v e r n m e n t l i b r a r y , or that it is limited to m a t e r i a l s on the U n i t e d States. T o the F r e n c h it is a " d o c u m e n t a - tion c e n t e r " and it is included in the list of such centers in the official Repertoire des Bibliotheques de France. T h e t o t a l of the book c o l l e c t i o n is a p p r o x i m a t e l y 20,000 v o l - umes, of w h i c h about 6 , 5 0 0 are F r e n c h t r a n s l a t i o n s — a l l r e p r e s e n t i n g a choice of r e c e n t l y published w o r k s on A m e r i c a n l i f e and c u l t u r e . P e r i o d i c a l subscriptions ex- ceed 450, m a n y of w h i c h are in medicine and t e c h n o l o g y — a concession to p a t r o n s in- terested in these fields since the discontinu- ance of the special science r o o m . A m o n g these subscriptions are f o u n d the outstand- i n g titles in l i t e r a t u r e , music, art, and re- l i g i o n . E d u c a t i o n , business, p s y c h o l o g y , and l i b r a r y science also are w e l l represented. E x c e l l e n t w o r k i n g relations are m a i n - tained w i t h some of the m a j o r libraries of P a r i s . E x c h a n g e of r e f e r e n c e i n f o r m a t i o n is f r e q u e n t . T h e l i b r a r y o f t e n makes g i f t s of duplicates and n e w books to these li- braries w h e n the m a t e r i a l s are outside of its o w n fields of interest. I t also advises and aids w i t h the official I n f o r m a t i o n S e r v i c e presentations of selected A m e r i c a n books to F r e n c h universities. R e g u l a r c o n t a c t s are had w i t h the libraries of the S o r b o n n e , S a i n t e - G e n e v i e v e , the F a c u l t e de M e d e c i n e of the U n i v e r s i t e de P a r i s , and the B i b l i o - theque N a t i o n a l e . T h e libraries of i n t e r n a - t i o n a l agencies, especially U N E S C O , N A T O and S H A P E , also m a k e use of the l i b r a r y ' s services. Since the b e g i n n i n g of JANUARY, 1955 61 the I n f o r m a t i o n S e r v i c e p r o g r a m in F r a n c e , good relations h a v e been m a i n t a i n e d w i t h the A m e r i c a n L i b r a r y in P a r i s , a p r i v a t e subscription l i b r a r y d e v o t e d to both E n g l i s h and A m e r i c a n l i f e . S i m i l a r contacts, c u l - m i n a t i n g in r e f e r e n c e service, loans to stu- dents, and professional l i b r a r y advice, are had w i t h the l i b r a r y of the F o n d a t i o n des f i t a t s - U n i s of C i t e U n i v e r s i t a i r e . B y f a r the g r e a t e r p a r t of the r e f e r e n c e service is required f o r i n f o r m a t i o n of con- t e m p o r a r y i m p o r t a n c e . C u r r e n t A m e r i c a n m a t e r i a l s like n e w s p a p e r s , g o v e r n m e n t pub- lications, and special reports of g o v e r n - m e n t a l and p r i v a t e agencies m a y be in de- m a n d in F r a n c e a l m o s t as q u i c k l y as in the U n i t e d States. A m e r i c a n activities of all kinds, especially those of i n t e r n a t i o n a l c h a r - acter, are i m m e d i a t e l y m a d e p u b l i c since F r e n c h press services in the U n i t e d States are as a c t i v e as the A m e r i c a n ones in F r a n c e . S u c h sensational, t h o u g h n e w s w o r t h y , items as the K e f a u v e r and the K i n s e y reports w e r e also of f r o n t page interest in F r a n c e . T h e E i s e n h o w e r E c o n o m i c R e p o r t and his historic d e c l a r a t i o n on the p e a c e f u l uses of a t o m i c p o w e r w e r e of i n f i n i t e l y w i d e r sig- nificance, g e o g r a p h i c a l l y , t h a n in the U n i t e d States. I n M a y 1 9 5 4 , o n l y a f e w days a f t e r the S u p r e m e C o u r t ' s decision on s e g r e g a t i o n in e d u c a t i o n , F r e n c h p u b l i c a t i o n s w e r e f e a t - u r i n g stories on this topic s i m u l t a n e o u s l y w i t h the A m e r i c a n press. I n d e e d , A m e r i - cans o f t e n are surprised to l e a r n h o w closely their ideas and opinions are f o l l o w e d in F r a n c e . A m e r i c a n periodicals are m o r e w i d e l y read t h a n it w o u l d be a s s u m e d ; the m a j o r ones of n e w s and p o p u l a r v a l u e are f o u n d on most of the l a r g e n e w s s t a n d s in P a r i s . C e r t a i n l y no c o n t r o v e r s i a l a r t i c l e escapes a t t e n t i o n . T h e e l a b o r a t e and f a r - f e t c h e d w a r issue of Collier's a p p e a r i n g in 1 9 5 2 created a f u r o r of discussion as to A m e r i c a n f o r e i g n policy. Life m a g a z i n e ' s a r t i c l e on I n d o - C h i n a in 1 9 5 3 and its special issue on G e r m a n y this y e a r caused o n l y a l i t t l e less excited a t t e n t i o n and c o m m e n t . T h e r e are f e w d e v e l o p m e n t s in the U n i t e d States w h i c h do not h a v e implications f o r the l i b r a r y , w h e t h e r they be in f o r e i g n policy, i n d u s t r y , l i t e r a t u r e and art, or in re- h a b i l i t a t i o n of the physically h a n d i c a p p e d — a l l m a y h a v e n e w s significance in F r a n c e and set up c u r r e n t s of interest a m o n g g r o u p s and i n d i v i d u a l s h a v i n g p a r a l l e l interests and specializations. W O R K I N G W I T H T E A C H E R S If A m e r i c a n science and t e c h n o l o g y h a v e d e t e r m i n e d past l i b r a r y emphasis in r e f e r - ence and reader services, it appears n o w that the h u m a n i t i e s and social sciences w i l l pre- scribe m u c h of the w o r k of the f u t u r e . T h e m a j o r i t y of l i b r a r y r e g i s t r a n t s are people w i t h such i n t e r e s t s — u n i v e r s i t y professors, lycee teachers, and s t u d e n t s c o n s t i t u t i n g one l a r g e g r o u p ; in addition to these are j o u r n a l - ists, l a w y e r s , publishers, t r a n s l a t o r s , and c r e a t i v e w o r k e r s in l i t e r a t u r e and art. T h e first g r o u p is v e r y significant, the teachers p r o v i d i n g the best, and almost the o n l y c o n t a c t t h r o u g h w h i c h U S I S is able to reach y o u n g people w i t h A m e r i c a n books. O n e means by w h i c h this c o n t a c t is ex- ploited is the a n n u a l series of A m e r i c a n a D a y p r o g r a m s sponsored by the C u l t u r a l Section of the I n f o r m a t i o n S e r v i c e f o r the benefit of F r e n c h teachers of E n g l i s h . T h e s e p r o g r a m s u t i l i z e a p p r o p r i a t e lectures, f i l m s and exhibitions and are b u i l t a r o u n d some i m p o r t a n t t h e m e f r o m A m e r i c a n l i f e , pos- sibly in l i t e r a t u r e , history or sociology. T h e y are c a r r i e d o u t e n t i r e l y in the E n g l i s h l a n g u a g e . T h e A m e r i c a n n o v e l , A m e r i c a n I n d i a n s , the N e g r o , and e d u c a t i o n h a v e been s u b j e c t s of successful A m e r i c a n a D a y s . T h e l i b r a r y participates w i t h exhibits of books, e.g., on the t e a c h i n g of E n g l i s h , the " A m e r - ican l a n g u a g e , " and c h i l d r e n ' s l i t e r a t u r e . B o o k lists are d i s t r i b u t e d and announce- 62 COLLEGE AND RESEARCH LIBRARIES ments of l i b r a r y services are m a d e . E a c h of the six I n f o r m a t i o n C e n t e r s has at least one such p r o g r a m each y e a r and the audiences are most enthusiastic. N e a r l y a thousand copies of the list, Books on the English Language and Ameri- can Civilization, compiled by the l i b r a r y s t a f f , w e r e distributed to teachers in the P a r i s - C h e r b o u r g area alone. C i r c u l a r s de- s c r i b i n g l i b r a r y services w e r e i n c l u d e d w i t h the lists. T h e effectiveness of such a con- tact w a s m o r e than p r o v e d ; in one f i v e - w e e k period, f o r instance, the recipients of these lists sent in t h i r t y - f i v e letters of i n q u i r y about l i b r a r y services, there w e r e ten visits of teachers f r o m P a r i s lycees and cours complementaires, and loans of o v e r 300 books w e r e m a d e . T h e P a r i s teachers are a l w a y s interested in simple and readable m a t e r i a l s in A m e r i c a n history and g e o g r a - phy f o r use in their classes. I n this connec- tion the Picture Book of the States series, w r i t t e n by B e r n a d i n e B a i l e y and published by A l b e r t W h i t m a n and C o m p a n y , has been f o u n d so u s e f u l that the l i b r a r y stocks indi- v i d u a l titles in duplicates f o r all six libraries. T h i s teacher c o n t a c t w i t h lycee students is u t i l i z e d f o r special l i b r a r y p r o g r a m s ; f o r e x a m p l e , the book f a i r f o r c h i l d r e n and y o u n g people c a r r i e d o u t in 1 9 5 2 , and the A m e r i c a n h o l i d a y p r o g r a m s d u r i n g the same y e a r . H u n d r e d s of y o u n g P a r i s i a n scholars h a v e been i n t r o d u c e d to A m e r i c a n l i f e and t h o u g h t by m e a n s of A m e r i c a n books, as w e l l as films, music and story hours. L I B R A R Y E X H I B I T S A T T R A C T R E A D E R S I n p u b l i c i z i n g the services of the l i b r a r y , exhibitions combined w i t h special p r o g r a m s are e f f e c t i v e l y e m p l o y e d to reach other g r o u p s t h a n school c h i l d r e n . T h e publica- tion of H e m i n g w a y ' s The Old Man and the Sea in F r e n c h t r a n s l a t i o n w a s the occasion in the l i b r a r y f o r a c o l o r f u l display of A m e r i c a n books in t r a n s l a t i o n , w h i c h w a s opened w i t h an a p p r o p r i a t e p r o g r a m before a g r o u p of translators, publishers, book re- v i e w e r s , and professors. T h e f e a t u r e d speaker w a s J e a n D u t o u r d , p r o m i n e n t a u t h o r and the t r a n s l a t o r of the H e m i n g - w a y book. A similar c e r e m o n y in A p r i l 1 9 5 4 w a s that of the o p e n i n g of an e x h i b i t of first and special editions e n t i t l e d , " A m e r i - can B o o k s , 1 6 5 5 - 1 9 5 4 , " o r i g i n a l l y displayed in L o n d o n by the T i m e s B o o k s h o p and l a t e r loaned to the P a r i s I n f o r m a t i o n S e r v i c e . T h i s p r o g r a m w a s dignified by the a t t e n d - ance of the A m e r i c a n A m b a s s a d o r , the D i - rector G e n e r a l of U N E S C O , and s e v e r a l i m p o r t a n t F r e n c h publishers. L i b r a r y ex- hibits are a r e g u l a r l y used device to i n f o r m and s t i m u l a t e the prospective reader, and considerable t h o u g h t and p l a n n i n g are g i v e n to t h e m . R e c e n t exhibits w h i c h h a v e at- t r a c t e d m u c h attention w e r e one on L o u i s i - ana timed to appear w i t h the m a g n i f i c e n t F r e n c h exhibit m a r k i n g the sesquicentennial of the L o u i s i a n a P u r c h a s e , and another, " T h e W e s t in F i c t i o n , " the W e s t b e i n g a s u b j e c t of perennial interest to the F r e n c h . O t h e r lesser ones have been based on a n u m - ber of topics, r a n g i n g f r o m A m e r i c a n cook- ery to p r e f a b r i c a t e d houses. A m o n g other pertinent l i b r a r y r e f e r e n c e services is the close cooperation w i t h the w o r k of the other book p r o g r a m s of the I n - f o r m a t i o n S e r v i c e . T h e s e p r o g r a m s are those of the P r e s e n t a t i o n s and T r a n s l a t i o n s U n i t s , the f o r m e r h a v i n g the responsibility f o r large-scale b u y i n g of select A m e r i c a n books f o r planned distribution and g i f t s t h r o u g h o u t F r a n c e , and the l a t t e r f o r the e n c o u r a g e m e n t of the l o c a l p u b l i s h i n g of t r a n s l a t i o n s of A m e r i c a n books. T h e li- b r a r y serves as a b i b l i o g r a p h i c c e n t e r f o r these activities, and staff m e m b e r s occasion- a l l y assist in the f o r m a l presentations of g i f t s . E v a l u a t i o n s of books, authors, and t r a n s l a t o r s as w e l l as other i n f o r m a t i o n are r e g u l a r l y i n t e r c h a n g e d a m o n g these three JANUARY, 1955 63 units a l l o w i n g a comprehensive approach to both A m e r i c a n and F r e n c h p u b l i s h i n g fields as r e g a r d i n g books of p r o g r a m u t i l i t y . R E F E R E N C E P R O C E D U R E S I n conclusion it m a y be of interest to sum- m a r i z e s o m e t h i n g r e l a t i v e to r e f e r e n c e pro- cedures and the questions. I n q u i r i e s reach the l i b r a r y by telephone, by letters, and, of course, by personal visits. T h e r e are seven F r e n c h staff m e m b e r s h a n d l i n g these ques- tions, t w o of them b e i n g assigned to the periodicals room. T h i s staff is supervised by an A m e r i c a n professional l i b r a r i a n . I n - quiries c o m i n g by phone are routed to the proper desk a l t h o u g h , g e n e r a l l y , there is no specialization except f o r questions in science and t e c h n o l o g y ; the l i b r a r y is f o r t u n a t e , h o w e v e r , in h a v i n g a m o n g the r e f e r e n c e staff m e m b e r s b a c k g r o u n d s in E n g l i s h , art, economics, and music in a d d i t i o n to l i b r a r y science. T e l e p h o n e inquiries, w h i c h are v e r y n u m e r o u s , m a y come f r o m g o v e r n - m e n t ministries, business firms, o t h e r li- braries, and the m a n y A m e r i c a n and inter- n a t i o n a l agencies in P a r i s . S u c h requests m a y be f o r m a t t e r s of q u i c k r e f e r e n c e , such as an address, the price of a book, or some statistical f i g u r e ; or they m a y be f o r i n f o r - m a t i o n r e q u i r i n g a l e n g t h y search, such as b a c k g r o u n d f a c t s on f e d e r a l services to e d u c a t i o n , or h o w the official price indices are d e r i v e d . R e f e r e n c e l e t t e r s are quite c o m m o n and P a r i s receives as m a n y as a h u n d r e d in one m o n t h . Some inquiries are r e f e r r e d f r o m the branches a n d , o c c a s i o n a l l y , f r o m the F r e n c h colonies and possessions w h e r e there are U S I S centers. M a n y inquiries are of a t e c h n i c a l n a t u r e r e q u i r i n g considerable time and e f f o r t to compile the a n s w e r s . O n e person is o f t e n assigned to h a n d l e the l e t t e r s and no m a t t e r h o w difficult they m a y be, a l l receive serious attention w i t h replies u s u a l l y mailed w i t h i n one to three days. T h e questions v a r y as m u c h as they do in any A m e r i c a n p u b l i c l i b r a r y . A n a u t h o r w r i t i n g a book on B e a u m a r c h a i s w i s h e d to have details a b o u t m a t e r i a l s on the A m e r i - can R e v o l u t i o n in the N a t i o n a l A r c h i v e s in W a s h i n g t o n . T h e A m e r i c a n F r i e n d s S e r v - ice C o m m i t t e e needed a loan of books on h u m a n relations f o r an i n t e r n a t i o n a l con- ference in S w i t z e r l a n d . T h e F r e n c h di- vision of G e n e r a l M o t o r s w a n t e d advice as to the o r g a n i z a t i o n of a technical r e a d i n g room f o r its employees. U N E S C O re- quired d o c u m e n t a t i o n f o r a special issue of the Courier. A v i s i t i n g g r o u p f r o m the N a t i o n a l R e s e a r c h C e n t e r of Y u g o s l a v i a w i s h e d to see the operations of the l i b r a r y and hear a b o u t its o r g a n i z a t i o n . T h e w o m - a n ' s m a g a z i n e , Femina needed d a t a on the c o n s u m p t i o n and the prices of eggs in the U n i t e d States. A t h e a t r i c a l g r o u p w a n t e d addresses of A m e r i c a n universities in order to plan an i t i n e r a r y f o r the presentation of F r e n c h plays. R E S E A R C H A I D T O A U T H O R S M a n y i m p o r t a n t researches h a v e been based in part upon m a t e r i a l s and assistance f u r n i s h e d by the l i b r a r y . T h e r e f e r e n c e s t a f f , u n d e r s t a n d a b l y , takes g r e a t pride in some of the c o m p l e t e d p r o j e c t s . A n e a r l y e x a m p l e w a s an i m p o r t a n t book on the uses of penicillin in m e d i c a t i o n as practiced in the U n i t e d States. T h e t w o w a r books of G e o r g e s B l o n d , Le Survivant du Pacifique and D'Arromanches a Berlin are other ex- amples, the first b e i n g an a c c o u n t of the air- c r a f t c a r r i e r " E n t e r p r i s e " in the P a c i f i c theater of operations and the second d e a l i n g w i t h the N o r m a n d y c a m p a i g n . A n o t h e r re- cent e x a m p l e is the m u c h discussed book, Tableau des Etats-Unis by A n d r e S i e g f r i e d ; the s a v a n t of the A c a d e m i e F r a n g a i s e not o n l y u t i l i z e d l i b r a r y m a t e r i a l s but he also i n t e r v i e w e d A m e r i c a n l i b r a r y staff m e m b e r s on c e r t a i n topics. T h e editors of Realites, 64 COLLEGE AND RESEARCH LIBRARIES an o u t s t a n d i n g and b e a u t i f u l l y i l l u s t r a t e d e x a m p l e of F r e n c h j o u r n a l i s m , called upon the l i b r a r y f o r s u p p l e m e n t a r y i n f o r m a t i o n f o r their special issue on the U n i t e d States w h i c h w a s published in 1 9 5 3 in separate F r e n c h and E n g l i s h editions. M a n y lec- t u r e r s rely upon l i b r a r y r e f e r e n c e aid w h i c h has been p r o v i d e d upon such subjects as A m e r i c a n y o u t h , A m e r i c a n w o m e n , and the blind in the U n i t e d States. A n d the r e f e r - ence l i b r a r i a n s are still s e n t i m e n t a l o v e r the pictures of A m e r i c a n dress of the C i v i l W a r period w h i c h they f u r n i s h e d f o r the design- i n g of costumes f o r a m a s q u e r a d e ball spon- sored by the f i r m P a r f u m s G u e r l a i n — t h e theme, " G o n e W i t h the W i n d . " R E F E R E N C E S T A F F T h e F r e n c h staff m e m b e r s are c o n s t a n t l y e n g a g e d in s t u d y i n g A m e r i c a n r e f e r e n c e tools and m a t e r i a l s , an a c t i v i t y g u i d e d and e n c o u r a g e d by their A m e r i c a n colleagues. In-service t r a i n i n g , of necessity, is a con- t i n u o u s process. T h o u g h m u c h of it re- quires i n d i v i d u a l personal e f f o r t , there are planned staff talks, reports, and book re- v i e w s . I t is essential that they have as m u c h b a c k g r o u n d k n o w l e d g e of the U n i t e d States as possible, and e v e r y a c t i v i t y is stressed w h i c h w i l l c o n t r i b u t e to their u s e f u l in- f o r m a t i o n . G r e a t reliance is placed upon the aid of each assistant in r e f e r e n c e proced- ures, and the close cooperation of F r e n c h and A m e r i c a n s is o f t e n i m p e r a t i v e in the i n t e r p r e t a t i o n of questions. E v e r y printed resource, i n t e l l e c t u a l b a c k g r o u n d , and h u m a n experience w i t h i n the o r g a n i z a t i o n is c a l l e d upon w h e n there is n e e d ; if these f a i l , other libraries and agencies are con- t a c t e d . I n special cases questions m a y even be r e f e r r e d to W a s h i n g t o n f o r f u l l e r in- f o r m a t i o n . O n the w h o l e the success of the staff is quite high w h e n measured by stand- ards of initiative, resourcefulness, l o g i c a l f o l l o w - t h r o u g h , and speed. T h e position of the F r e n c h staff is o f t e n a difficult one w h e n a i d i n g w i t h subjects of a c o n t r o v e r s i a l n a t u r e . D i s p l a y by patrons of a n t i - A m e r i c a n sentiment calls f o r c a r e f u l h a n d l i n g . B u t the policy of o b j e c t i v i t y , rooted in good sense and good manners, does not blind t h e m to a sense of high p u r - pose in their w o r k , to a belief in the aims f o r w h i c h the l i b r a r y stands. B e i n g in a f a v o r e d position as f a r as i n f o r m a t i o n is con- cerned, they have c a u g h t a vision of the real A m e r i c a , a vision shorn of the t r a n s i e n t events of the d a y and the o b s c u r i n g t h i n g s of o n l y superficial r e l e v a n c e . T h e U n i t e d States is no easy c o u n t r y either to under- stand, or to i n t e r p r e t — p a r t i c u l a r l y in times of i n t e r n a t i o n a l stress as these t o d a y . T Y P I C A L L Y A M E R I C A N A T M O S P H E R E A m e r i c a n concepts of f r e e d o m of i n q u i r y and the o b j e c t i v e pursuit of k n o w l e d g e , as observed in the l i b r a r y , c o m m a n d respect simply because they are identical w i t h the concepts of the F r e n c h . A n o t h e r impressive t h i n g about the l i b r a r y to the F r e n c h is its t y p i c a l l y A m e r i c a n atmosphere, so d i f f e r e n t f r o m the p r e v a l e n t situation in m a n y E u r o - pean libraries. T h e i n f o r m a l i t y and f r e e - dom w h i c h c h a r a c t e r i z e its activities are g e n u i n e l y i n v i t i n g — a c c e s s is f r e e , loans are f r e e , m o v e m e n t is u n c h a l l e n g e d . O n e m a y read or look as he wishes, b r o w s e , r e m o v e books f r o m the shelves, sit w h e r e he pleases, leave w h e n he p l e a s e s — a l l of these t h i n g s w i t h o u t the restraints of officialdom and red tape. M a t e r i a l s and r e f e r e n c e service are f r e e l y available to be u t i l i z e d as the reader wishes. A l i b r a r y as an institution can be no g r e a t e r than the aims f o r w h i c h it stands. T h e U n i t e d States I n f o r m a t i o n S e r v i c e L i - b r a r y , t h e r e f o r e , is a modest b u t e f f e c t i v e s y m b o l of F r a n c o - A m e r i c a n cooperation and u n d e r s t a n d i n g . JANUARY, 1955 65