College and Research Libraries By R O D N E Y K. W A L D R O N Implications of Technological Progress For Librarians MO R E A N D M O R E , in the l i t e r a t u r e of d o c u m e n t a t i o n , a u t o m a t i o n , a n d l i b r a r i a n s h i p , articles a p p e a r suggesting the possibilities of a p p l y i n g m a c h i n e s to library jobs once t h o u g h t only p r o p e r l y filled by people. T h e possibilities of m e c h a n i z a t i o n of library processes, a n d the e v e n t u a l realization of a n a u t o m a t i c library will cause p r o b l e m s f o r w h i c h the profession should p r e p a r e . Librari- ans m u s t i n i t i a t e t h e concept; scientists will create the necessary mechanical e q u i p m e n t . Some f o r m of a u t o m a t i o n or integrat- ed d a t a processing is evident now in nearly all facets of business life, a n d is only the b e g i n n i n g of w h a t is yet to come. T h e n e x t decade or two will see b r e a k - t h r o u g h s in a u t o m a t i c processing a n d transmission of d a t a far b e y o n d to- day's i m a g i n a t i o n . T h e s e changes will b e of such i m p o r t a n c e as o p e r a t i n g tools t h a t whole organizations will be re- p l a n n e d . I n business such a r e v o l u t i o n is b e g i n n i n g already. I n libraries, as in businesses, e n t i r e de- p a r t m e n t s will be r e v a m p e d , to r e a p p e a r in a di fferent f o r m a n d to p e r f o r m dif- f e r e n t f u n c t i o n s . L i b r a r i e s will be m u c h slower t h a n business to reorganize. I n time, however, libraries will be b u i l d i n g a data-processing center in the U n i t e d States, p e r c h e d like a spider in the mid- dle of its web, f u n c t i o n i n g as the h u b of a vast d a t a collection network, as- similating i n f o r m a t i o n a n d t r a n s m i t t i n g it as n e e d e d back to p u b l i c i n f o r m a t i o n Mr. Waldron is Administrative Assist- ant, Oregon State College Library, Cor- vallis. u n i t s across the n a t i o n . T h e r e is as thrill- ing a possibility in this concept as there is in any science fiction. If l i b r a r i a n s p u t their best efforts, best minds, a n d best aspirations to it, it will become a thrill- ing fact. A u t o m a t i o n is here today. I t is mani- fested in a u t o m a t i c electric eyes, t a p e controls, servo-mechanisms, signalling, timing, a n d a c t u a t i n g devices, r e c o r d i n g a n d filing systems, a n d c o m m u n i c a t i o n networks. I n general, a u t o m a t i o n is a m a n u f a c - t u r i n g concept. M o r e specifically, it is the a p p l i c a t i o n of m a c h i n e r y to p e r f o r m a n d control a u t o m a t i c a l l y the various aspects of m a n u f a c t u r i n g f r o m raw ma- terial to finished p r o d u c t . It n o t only replaces labor, as simple m e c h a n i z a t i o n will do, it also replaces the reliance on h u m a n s f o r memory, association, a n d decision. T h e concept of a u t o m a t i o n in the li- b r a r y m u s t be paralleled w i t h t h a t in the business enterprise, a l t h o u g h ma- chine differences will occur. T h e con- cept of a u t o m a t i o n is stressed since it is n o t to be confused w i t h the machines involved. 1 T h e basic p r i n c i p l e b e h i n d the need for a u t o m a t i o n is t h a t there is too m u c h h u m a n h a n d l i n g of repetitive informa- tion. Such repetitive h a n d l i n g can be e l i m i n a t e d or a u t o m a t i c a l l y h a n d l e d to such a degree as to effect a n i n t e g r a t i o n in the flow of i n f o r m a t i o n f r o m m a c h i n e to m a c h i n e , or d e p a r t m e n t to depart- m e n t . I n o t h e r words, where certain in- f o r m a t i o n m u s t be h a n d l e d m a n y times, 1 Cf. "Mechanization in Libraries," Library Trends, V ( 1 9 5 6 ) , 1 9 1 - 3 0 8 . 118 COLLEGE AND RESEARCH LIBRARIES t h a t i n f o r m a t i o n can be recorded the first time; succeeding steps in the opera- tional c h a i n can take advantage of the initial step, a n d a d d mechanically only new i n f o r m a t i o n . T h e work or d a t a flows t h r o u g h machines r a t h e r t h a n t h r o u g h people. A u t o m a t i o n in the library is p r i m a r i l y this: A t the first place where any func- tion of the library originates, it should be recorded in a mechanical f o r m a n d s h o u l d be processed f r o m t h a t time o n entirely by machines. T h e objective is faster a n d m o r e accurate p e r f o r m a n c e of all of the essential f u n c t i o n s of the library—order, reference, cataloging, ad- m i n i s t r a t i o n , record keeping, etc. A move along this r o a d involves, however, extensive study a n d simplification of c u r r e n t systems a n d procedures. O n e does n o t achieve the same degree of effi- ciency by s u p e r i m p o s i n g new controls o n a n old assembly line as is d o n e by starting w i t h a new a p p r o a c h to the p r o d u c t i o n of the same p r o d u c t . T h e n a t u r e of this e q u i p m e n t , wheth- er electro-mechanical or electronic, de- p e n d s u p o n the n a t u r e a n d v o l u m e of the d a t a to be processed. P o p u l a r opin- ion to the contrary, a high-speed elec- tronic c o m p u t e r , or one of the o t h e r mechanical " b r a i n s , " is n o t a n indispen- sable p a r t of i n t e g r a t e d data-processing in the library. T r u e , g i a n t " b r a i n s " can p e r f o r m a variety of accounting tasks a n d their ability to r e m e m b e r is valuable. It is possible to feed h u g e q u a n t i t i e s of un- digested d a t a i n t o these m a c h i n e s — f a r more t h a n any h u m a n m i n d can h o l d — a n d t h e n direct the machines t o digest it a n d come u p w i t h specific answers. But n o t yet can they be a d a p t e d whole- sale to library needs. T h e p o i n t at which i n t e g r a t e d data-processing enters the ma- chine stage comes a f t e r p a i n s t a k i n g pre- vious planning—always k e e p i n g in m i n d w h a t is needed, w a n t e d , a n d o b t a i n a b l e . A u t o m a t i o n comes in bits a n d pieces. First, t h e a u t o m a t i n g of a single process, a n d t h e n gradually a tying together of several processes to get a g r o u p or sub- assembly complete. L i n k i n g together di- verse operations a n d f u n c t i o n s is, at present, most conveniently accomplished by a system of symbols influenced a n d controlled by a variety of factors. T h i s system is generally t e r m e d " m a c h i n e language." Already m a n u f a c t u r e r s have come u p w i t h a n impressive array of so-called c o m m o n " m a c h i n e l a n g u a g e " e q u i p m e n t for industry, such as code-sensing ma- chines, perforators, re-perforators, tele- printers, t e l e t y p e w r i t e r s , tape-to-card converters, a n d so f o r t h . Business con- cerns are using c o m b i n a t i o n s of codes, multi-channel " l a n g u a g e " transmitters, p u n c h e d p a p e r tapes, key-punches, tele- typewriters, a n d leased c o m m u n i c a t i o n wires. I n f o r m a t i o n is taped, the tape is p u t i n t o a m a c h i n e a n d f r o m t h e n o n all of the process is d o n e by m a c h i n e with a h i g h e r degree of accuracy t h a n is possible w i t h h u m a n processing. F o r the library, this may lead to e v e n t u a l mechanization of all processes except classification of material. If the concept of a " m a c h i n e lan- g u a g e " were r e d u c e d to a n objective, r a t h e r t h a n a c u r r e n t actuality, a "com- m o n " language w o u l d be a symbol sys- tem t h a t w o u l d actuate all pieces of e q u i p m e n t , i n c l u d i n g c o m m u n i c a t i o n s e q u i p m e n t . M e m o r y u n i t s need a "lan- g u a g e " to express basic ideas in key words or phrases. Such a language is n o t now in existence, a l t h o u g h m a g n e t i c tapes a n d p u n c h e d cards are a p r i m i t i v e language which actuates e q u i p m e n t . A n actual m a c h i n e " l a n g u a g e " may be developed eventually. I t will link hu- m a n t h i n k i n g w i t h m a c h i n e operations. It will serve to i d e n t i f y a n d select docu- ments a n d records p e r t i n e n t to a specific situation or q u e s t i o n . M a c h i n e "lan- MARCH 1958 119- guage," to be effective, m u s t p r o v i d e a connecting link b e t w e e n h u m a n s a n d machines. Knowledge in a specific field m u s t be systematized in such a way t h a t any i n d i v i d u a l original item of i n f o r m a - tion w i t h i n the m a c h i n e m i n d can be instantly available, a n d any conceivable a r r a n g e m e n t of i n d i v i d u a l items of in- f o r m a t i o n can be f o u n d . T h i s concept of " m a c h i n e l a n g u a g e " m u s t also be able to achieve r e j e c t i o n of i n f o r m a t i o n n o t p e r t i n e n t to a given p r o b l e m or q u e s t i o n . Consider a few basic facts a b o u t the electronic e q u i p m e n t in general. First, there are two types of electronic equip- m e n t c o m m o n to a u t o m a t i o n — t h e mem- ory u n i t s a n d the computers. T h e y may be used singly o r c o m b i n e d . If com- b i n e d , the m e m o r y u n i t is called a stor- age u n i t . M e m o r y u n i t s consist of mag- netic d r u m s , disks, tapes, or v a c u u m tubes. Facts are impressed o n the u n i t s in a m a n n e r similar to t h a t of the t a p e recording machine, w i t h facts directed to specific, coded areas. T h e s e facts re- m a i n p e r m a n e n t l y available u n t i l inten- tionally erased. T h e m e m o r y u n i t t h u s serves as a repository of facts. W i t h new kinds of m em ory u n i t s b e i n g developed a l o n g radically d i f f e r e n t lines, present disk, tape, a n d d r u m concepts soon will be as obsolete as the Stanley Steamer. 2 It is p r o b a b l y t r u e t h a t the first de- v e l o p m e n t in library a u t o m a t i o n will be between a central storage center a n d the larger research libraries t h r o u g h o u t the n a t i o n . A private wire service p l a n will play a n a l l - i m p o r t a n t role: first in the transmission of i n f o r m a t i o n , a n d second in p r o v i d i n g for the a u t o m a t i c r o u t i n g , selecting, editing, d u p l i c a t i n g , p e r p e t u - ating, a n d storing. I n d u s t r y a n d business are utilizing private wire services for these very f u n c t i o n s . A n d libraries will be able to d i s t r i b u t e i n f o r m a t i o n speed- ily a m o n g the various c o m p o n e n t parts 2 Albert Pleydell. "The Future in Automation," Of- fice Executive, X X X (1955), 13-15. of a system, no m a t t e r how widespread it may be. Once such i n f o r m a t i o n is re- corded at t h e storage center it can be t r a n s m i t t e d to any or all points, auto- matically, w i t h o u t f u r t h e r m a n u a l copy- ing or retyping. Business has f o u n d , a n d libraries will find too, t h a t the p e r f o r a t e d t a p e is the h e a r t of the o p e r a t i o n a n d t h a t it is a " c o m m o n l a n g u a g e " w h i c h can be read a n d u n d e r s t o o d by electric c o m p u t e r s a n d o t h e r m o d e r n business machines. O n c e the essential i n f o r m a t i o n is placed o n the p e r f o r a t e d tape, in any p a r t of the system, the i n f o r m a t i o n is trans- m i t t e d , edited, sorted, r o u t e d , duplicat- ed, a n d stored, automatically. Consider a n e x a m p l e of i n t e g r a t e d d a t a processing in the catalog depart- m e n t of a very complex state system of h i g h e r e d u c a t i o n , consisting of a cen- tral library office a n d a dozen or m o r e colleges a n d universities of varying size scattered over a single state. C a t a l o g i n g is d o n e by professional personnel. As the typist originates the proof copy, the catalog card is p u n c h e d i n t o a m u l t i - c h a n n e l tape. T y p i n g errors are easily corrected u p o n p a p e r copy a n d in the t a p e b e f o r e transmission. Bas- ic codes are e n t e r e d mechanically f r o m a master tape. T h e cataloging p r o c e d u r e refined even f u r t h e r eliminates the typist. T h e pro- fessional cataloger dictates the informa- tion i n t o a m a c h i n e which codes it a n d types the master tape. T h i s eliminates the h u m a n error m a d e possible by the typist between basic step a n d automa- tion. T h e master t a p e feeds f r o m a ma- chine in the d e p a r t m e n t i n t o the cen- tral c o m m u n i c a t i o n s n e t w o r k where the i n f o r m a t i o n is r o u t e d to the p r o p e r sub- o r d i n a t e u n i t by use of a code e n t e r e d mechanically f r o m the master tape. Ade- q u a t e machines already exist to p e r f o r m this o p e r a t i o n . By a u t o m a t i n g , l i b r a r i a n s can spend 120 COLLEGE AND RESEARCH LIBRARIES m o r e time w i t h their books a n d their c o n t e n t s — r e t u r n i n g to the age w h e n the l i b r a r i a n was an intellectual, a know- er of literature, a n d spent less time w i t h clerical mechanics. R i g h t now complete a u t o m a t i o n is impossible, b u t the use of tabulators, p u n c h e d cards, a n d sorters proves t h a t the services of h u m a n beings may be re- duced in order-processing systems. D e v e l o p m e n t m u s t proceed tentative- ly, in o t h e r library activities, step by step, a n d system by system, i n t e g r a t i n g on a small scale a n d b u i l d i n g u p gradu- ally. T h e time will arrive w h e n all basic h a n d l i n g will be d o n e electronically a n d mechanically. Instead of the conven- tional local or county library w i t h in- complete bookstock, films, pictures, a n d p h o n o g r a p h recordings, a "storage cen- t e r " will include the e n t i r e g a m u t of p u b l i c needs. Such a center would locate a n d store for every library in the area. U n d e r complete a u t o m a t i o n , the build- ing r e q u i r e d would be small; personnel r e q u i r e m e n t s w o u l d be very few; a n d the e q u i p m e n t would be mechanized. H e r e is the library of t o m o r r o w — a n "in- f o r m a t i o n c e n t e r " for difficult-to-find material, for reference sources, for stor- age of vast q u a n t i t i e s of i n f o r m a t i o n . Such a " c e n t e r " eliminates the small li- brary a n d all of its costs a n d problems. T h e "storage center," c o n t a i n i n g the visual a n d g r a p h i c knowledge of man- kind, will o p e r a t e via a closed T V cir- cuit to the i n d i v i d u a l h o m e or to re- search centers located on college cam- puses, i n d u s t r i a l establishments, etc. F r o m the "storage center," by direct fac- simile transmission, the p a t r o n may ob- tain w h a t he wishes on his television screen. W i t h such easy access to t h e re- corded knowledge of m a n , everyone will have a "library c a r d " in his T V set. M e m o r y u n i t s by themselves will soon have a special place of their own in a wholly new a n d u n i q u e field—the elec- tronic recording of i m p o r t a n t facts f o r quick reference. Chemists are already p i o n e e r i n g in the area. Chemical ab- stracts are being recorded in a special electronic m a c h i n e t h a t will quickly re- p o r t all f o r m u l a e already developed f o r given chemicals.3 It is expected t h a t studies now going on will lead to m a j o r advances whereby laws a n d p a t e n t s can be recorded electronically. T h e most significant reason why li- brarians should seriously consider auto- m a t i o n in their libraries relates to the old p r o b l e m of p r o p e r assimilation a n d transmission of technical i n f o r m a t i o n . T h e p r o b l e m has reached the stage at which even m a j o r i m p r o v e m e n t s in ex- isting c o m m u n i c a t i o n techniques c a n n o t keep pace w i t h the p r o l i f e r a t i n g infor- m a t i o n which must be immediately available to the m o d e r n scientist. D u r i n g the last decade t h e unprece- d e n t e d increase in the p u b l i c a t i o n of chemical i n f o r m a t i o n has increased the n u m b e r of abstracts a n d i n d e x entries in Chemical Abstracts. T h e publishers f o u n d it necessary to make the first step toward a u t o m a t i o n , because of the in- creased publications in the field a n d the increased complexity of chemical litera- ture a n d because skilled people f a m i l i a r with chemical terms were difficult to find. T h e present t e c h n i q u e entails the dictation of index entries i n t o m a g n e t i c records, r e q u i r i n g only one team of per- sonnel to be f a m i l i a r with the language of the field.4 A u t o m a t i o n has reduced personnel costs a n d streamlined produc- tion. As late as 1952 it was p o i n t e d o u t t h a t the mechanical aids already available for classifying a n d t r a n s m i t t i n g informa- tion were not being used intelligently a n d m o r e i m p o r t a n t , n o f u n d a m e n t a l research on mechanical a n d intellectual schemes for digesting a n d storing tech- 3 Albert Pleydell. op. cit. 4 "Indexing Is Becoming Mechanized," Chemical and Engineering News, X X X I (1953), 4910. MARCH 1958 121- nical i n f o r m a t i o n was t h e n b e i n g d o n e . 5 L i b r a r i a n s h i p , basically, is a t e c h n i q u e f o r the organization of i n f o r m a t i o n . I t is n o t m e a n t to belittle the i m p o r t a n t e d u c a t i o n a l f u n c t i o n of the library b u t to p o i n t o u t t h a t there exists a n u m b e r of basic library p r o b l e m s concerning or- ganization, dissemination, a n d retrieval of i n f o r m a t i o n . L i b r a r i a n s m u s t keep step w i t h science a n d become interested in f u n d a m e n t a l research in the tech- n i q u e s f o r o r g a n i z a t i o n of i n f o r m a t i o n . Moreover l i b r a r i a n s m u s t realize t h e r e are ways of organizing i n f o r m a t i o n oth- er t h a n o u r present m e t h o d s of classify- ing. A u t o m a t i o n a p p e a r s t o be n o t only t h e answer f o r t a k i n g the clerical as- pects o u t of l i b r a r i a n s h i p , b u t it opens a new avenue f o r the storage a n d organi- zation of i n f o r m a t i o n . P r i n t i n g p r e s s e s , m i c r o - r e d u c t i o n shops, a n d m i m e o g r a p h machines are going too fast f o r libraries to k e e p u p w i t h o u t a d d i n g m o r e a n d m o r e people u s i n g t h e p r e s e n t m a n u a l m e t h o d s (methods which are leaving libraries be- h i n d ) a n d m o r e a n d m o r e space to ac- c o m m o d a t e t h e a c c u m u l a t i o n of mate- rials. W i t h the h e l p of scientists a n d engineers, l i b r a r i a n s m u s t develop elec- t r o n i c techniques f o r the organization of this knowledge a n d the ready-retrieval of it. " T h e o c c u p a t i o n a l disease of li- brarians, t h e tendency toward the ency- clopedic" 6 can be overcome by relegat- ing petty r o u t i n e s a n d memory work to machines. M e m o r y work a n d the knowl- edge of book a n d periodical titles can n o longer be encompassed by any o n e schol- ar, m u c h less by any l i b r a r i a n w h o m u s t also find time a n d energy for adminis- trative duties. Most of the mechanical techniques re- q u i r e d for searching the l i t e r a t u r e are available, n o t w i t h s t a n d i n g recent com- 5 "Executives Learn That Operations Research Is More Than Mathematics," Chemical and Engineering News, X X X ( 1 9 5 2 ) , 2600-05. 6 Georg Leyh. "The Education of the Librarian," College and Research Libraries X V ( 1 9 5 4 ) , 140-47. ments to the effect t h a t there is a paucity of machines " s u i t a b l e to reference needs" of a library. 7 T h e p r o p e r r e d u c t i o n a n d classification of i n f o r m a t i o n to fit a me- chanical system is needed. B u t this prob- lem, too, is only t e m p o r a r y . M a n y agree w i t h V a n n e v a r Bush w h e n h e states: . . . I believe we shall advance our mas- tery over the records we create, r e n d e r i n g them easier to consult by means which would now seem strange a n d bizarre to us, which will m a k e obsolete m u c h of what we now do, but which will give a new power a n d f r e e d o m to the creative m i n d a n d thereby o p e n the way for an- other spurt f o r w a r d of civilization. F o r civilization advances only as it acquires new experience a n d only as it makes its experience a v a i l a b l e a n d u s e f u l . 8 T h e first steps in library a u t o m a t i o n m u s t be t a k e n before we arrive at the u l t i m a t e . T V facsimile transmission may be t h e u l t i m a t e in library service. H o w does the library profession m a k e a n a u t o m a t i o n study? U n d o u b t e d l y , the studies sponsored by the Council on Li- brary Resources, Inc., should h e l p in this respect. B u t the A m e r i c a n L i b r a r y Association m i g h t set u p a c o m m i t t e e to study every possible a p p l i c a t i o n of inte- g r a t e d d a t a processing, at all levels— f r o m a d m i n i s t r a t i o n to paging. T h i s c o m m i t t e e a f t e r studying s t a n d a r d sys- tems a n d procedures, forms, a n d rec- ords, w o u l d call in m a n u f a c t u r e r s of e q u i p m e n t a n d tell t h e m w h a t is w a n t e d . L i b r a r i a n s generally are n o t c o m p e t e n t to evaluate the possibilities of m a c h i n e o p e r a t i o n . It requires quali- fied engineers. E q u i p m e n t m a n u f a c t u r - ers should be able to d e t e r m i n e , func- tion by f u n c t i o n , w h a t machines can d o in the library p r o g r a m . T h e y should be able to lay o u t in sequence the f u n c t i o n s which could be t r a n s f e r r e d to machines; 7 Mortimer Taube. "Machine Retrieval of Informa- tion," Library Trends V ( 1 9 5 6 ) , 301-308. 8 Vannevar Bush. "Data Handling Advance," Auto- mation I I ( 1 9 5 5 ) , 4. 122 COLLEGE AND RESEARCH LIBRARIES they s h o u l d e l i m i n a t e bottlenecks a n d reduce r e p e t i t i o n . A u t o m a t i o n in t h e f u t u r e will h e l p solve m a n y library problems: storage, personnel shortages, declining budgets, rising overheads, a n d repetitious pro- cedures. I t is the need for greater efficiency, lower o p e r a t i n g costs, a n d the p r o b l e m of a n i n a d e q u a t e l a b o r supply which will stimulate a u t o m a t i o n in the library. L i b r a r i a n s w h o do n o t look i n t o the fu- ture, w h o do n o t p l a n for a u t o m a t i o n well may be p e r m i t t i n g f u t u r e libraries to become as f u n c t i o n a l as is the m a n u - ally o p e r a t e d traffic signal or the horse a n d wagon today. T r u e progress requires a d j u s t m e n t . L i b r a r i a n s h i p will have to a d j u s t . For so m a n y l i b r a r i a n s w h o t h i n k something is d o n e the right way "because t h a t is the way it has been d o n e over the years," the a d j u s t m e n t will come h a r d . R e m a r k s of " a u t o m a t i o n is n o t practical," or "au- t o m a t i o n is still in the d r e a m stage," are of course n o t based o n t r u e u n d e r s t a n d - ing of the subject. Scientists have already provided some of the inventions needed f o r complete a u t o m a t i o n a n d truly efficient library service. O t h e r problems are being rapid- ly c o n q u e r e d . Even now, a special vacu- u m t u b e is in p r o d u c t i o n a n d new equip- m e n t is being devised to solve the ran- d o m selection p r o b l e m . J u s t as progress is b e i n g m a d e in the i m p r o v e m e n t of m e m o r y units, machines able to receive m a t e r i a l directly w i t h o u t benefit of codes are o n the way. T h e first m a c h i n e of this type will be able to r e a d "yes" a n d " n o " check marks on questionnaires. I t is i n t e n d e d f o r analyzing the 1960 census r e t u r n s . Military inventors have developed a m a c h i n e able to read the o r d i n a r y p r i n t e d page a n d accept the in- f o r m a t i o n as data. 9 Some day whole libraries may be 9 Arthur Pleydell. op. cit. stored electronically in a relatively small space, t h u s b r i n g i n g together the e n t i r e world's knowledge for the i m m e d i a t e use of scholars a n d scientists. Some day, p a t r o n s will be able to b o r r o w a book f r o m the library by t e l e p h o n e connec- tion w i t h the r i g h t memory u n i t , caus- ing the pages to a p p e a r on a h o m e tele- vision screen.10 T h e concept of a u t o m a t i o n in the li- brary will u n d o u b t e d l y influence the ed- u c a t i o n a l a n d personnel r e q u i r e m e n t s for l i b r a r i a n s h i p . Sir R o b e r t A l e x a n d e r W a t s o n - W a t t , the developer of r a d a r , stated t h a t au- t o m a t i o n w o u l d change o u r e n t i r e way of life f o r the better, a n d everyone, in- cluding e d u c a t i o n a l institutions, should be p l a n n i n g for the change. B u t w i t h all the potentialities of machines, they can- n o t do original thinking. I t will still take h u m a n p l a n n i n g to keep t h e m in o p e r a t i o n . T h e b u t t o n - p u s h e r s activat- ing the machines m u s t k n o w w h a t they are activating a n d the job will have ex- treme responsibility. T h e s e " e d u c a t e d " persons m u s t k n o w s o m e t h i n g a b o u t b o t h the physical sciences a n d liberal arts.1 1 As most library a d m i n i s t r a t o r s are well aware, the labor supply is p u t t i n g the squeeze on d e m a n d . T h e low b i r t h rates of the depression years, the h i g h s t a n d a r d s of living t h a t allow people greater choice in jobs a n d m o r e liberal r e t i r e m e n t policies m a k e some of t h e lower-paying professions h a r d p u t to compete in the labor m a r k e t . Society's need will be f o r engineers, electronic ex- perts, electricians, mechanics, subject specialists. Libraries will w a n t managers a n d creators w h o can take a d v a n t a g e of the promised efficiencies of a u t o m a t i o n . U n d e r these conditions, library schools face a real challenge. (Continued on page 164) 10 Arthur Pleydell. op. cit. 11 Robert Alexander Watson-Watt, president, Logis- tics Research Inc. Address at Oregon State College, Corvallis, Oregon, January 23, 1956/ MARCH 1958 123- The Library and the Researcher (Continued, brarians suggests that the reasons are overwhelming. T h e writer entertains few hopes that the situation can be im- proved. What is fervently to be hoped is that the researcher understand why the librarian has been forced to put certain difficulties in his way. Without this un- m page 106) derstanding, a growing hostility is inev- itable between these two, whose coopera- tion is a sine qua non of successful re- search. It is a subject that ought to be aired. Some librarian can do us all a great service by presenting the facts of this matter from his point of view. Technological Progress (Continued from page 123) With the rapid change around us, it is no longer enough to train our library workers of tomorrow for today's jobs. Observed objectively, the best, most flex- ible library training possible would be a solid grounding in fundamentals, par- ticularly mathematics and sciences. Fun- damentally trained, the library school graduate may thus be able to take ad- vantage of the specialized jobs that de- velop. Inadequate preparation could mean shortage of personnel to man the machines providing the library service, even as it is today. T o d a y , there are pro- fessional routines so close to the clerical routines t h a t e v e n t h e inadequately trained professional may find placement because the supply is smaller than the demand. In automated libraries this might not be possible. Librarians are feeling the pinch today for top-caliber personnel. T h i s shortage, which will grow, soon will force addi- tional streamlining of procedures, short cuts in indexing, cataloging, and in- creased salaries. Personnel shortages will force the first automation. A n d before automation becomes a significant part of library procedures and routines, li- brarians and library schools must face up to the problems of preparing within their own ranks sufficient technically trained people able to perpetuate the advances made and to add others. It is very necessary that library schools be well aware of developments in the field of automation—where they can be applied, and where they may be im- proved. Most librarians, however, are unaware of the magnitude and complex- ity of the problem of switching from present-day libraries even to partially automated libraries. T h e significance of scientific advances, particularly in the field of electronics, requires re-emphasiz- ing and re-examination of the basic prin- ciples of librarianship from which the every day struggle for space, personnel, and money has distracted us. If librarians do not learn to extend their techniques and develop the new techniques required, other agencies, or new professions, will be created to do the job. If librarians restrict their activi- ties to fit within the present framework and structure of librarianship, they will fail in their obligations to society. 164 COLLEGE AND RESEARCH LIBRARIES