College and Research Libraries


B y D O N A L D E . S T R O U T 

The University Library and 
International Understanding1 

Dr. Strout is director, University of Den-
ver Library. 

IMPLICIT i n any d i s c u s s i o n of i n t e r n a t i o n a l u n d e r s t a n d i n g r e v o l v i n g , a s i t d o e s , 
a r o u n d t h e b a s i c c o n c e p t s of i n t e r c h a n g e of 
i d e a s , o p i n i o n s a n d i n f o r m a t i o n , is t h e r o l e 
of t h e l i b r a r y t h r o u g h i t s m a n i f o l d p r o -
g r a m s of i n d i v i d u a l a n d g r o u p s e r v i c e b y 
m e a n s of b o o k s a n d r e l a t e d m a t e r i a l s . S u c h 
a c o n f e r e n c e a s t h e o n e h e l d a t E s t e s P a r k , 
C o l o . , i n J u n e 1 9 4 9 , s e r v e s t o b r i n g i n t o 
s h a r p f o c u s c e r t a i n f a c t s a n d o p i n i o n s i n -
d i c a t i v e of t h e i m p o r t a n c e of t h i s r o l e , 
p a r t i c u l a r l y a s r e g a r d s c o l l e g e a n d u n i v e r -
s i t y l i b r a r i e s . 

A s a g e n e r a l i z a t i o n it s h o u l d b e o b s e r v e d 
a t t h e o u t s e t t h a t b y t h e i r c o m m e n t s a n d 
q u e s t i o n s m a n y of t h o s e i n a t t e n d a n c e a t 
t h i s c o n f e r e n c e ( a n d t h e d i s t i n c t m a j o r i t y 
w e r e m e m b e r s of f a c u l t i e s of c o l l e g e s a n d 
u n i v e r s i t i e s ) b e t r a y e d a n i g n o r a n c e of o r a 
l a c k of f a m i l i a r i t y w i t h t h e k i n d of s e r v i c e 
t h a t a l l b u t t h e m o s t p o o r l y - e q u i p p e d c o l -
l e g e o r u n i v e r s i t y l i b r a r i e s a r e p r e p a r e d t o 
g i v e . S o m e of t h e s e s e r v i c e s i n c l u d e t h e 
p r o c u r i n g of s p e c i a l i z e d m a t e r i a l s , s u c h as 
t h e p u b l i c a t i o n s of t h e U . S . G o v e r n m e n t , 
U . N . a n d U n e s c o ; b o r r o w i n g t h r o u g h 

1 A t the invitation of the American Council on Edu-
cation, delegates representing agencies of government, 
professional organizations and associations met at Estes 
I'ark, Colo. June 19-22, 1949, to discuss " T h e Role of 
Colleges and Universities in Furthering International 
Understanding." Over 100 representatives of the vari-
ous organizations which make up the council were in 
attendance, together with delegates from governmental 
and private agencies, such as the U . S . Department of 
State, Unesco, and the Hazen Foundation. James 
Hodgson, Ralph Esterquest, and Donald E . Strout repre-
sented the American L i b r a r y Association, the last-
named also serving as the representative of the A . C . R . L . 

i n t e r l i b r a r y l o a n ; a n d p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n t h e 
a c q u i s i t i o n of n o n b o o k m a t e r i a l s , e s p e c i a l l y 
i n t h e r e a l m of a u d i o - v i s u a l m a t e r i a l s . F o r 
e x a m p l e , a t o n e p o i n t t h e d i s c u s s i o n h i n g e d 
o n t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o n e a c h c a m p u s of a 
c l e a r i n g h o u s e of i n f o r m a t i o n o n g o v e r n -
m e n t a l a n d n o n g o v e r n m e n t a l p r o g r a m s , o n 
p r o g r a m s of s t u d y a b r o a d a n d o n r e l a t e d 
t o p i c s , s u c h a s e x c h a n g e of f o r e i g n s t u d e n t s . 
C e r t a i n l y t h e r e is n o b e t t e r p l a c e o n t h e 
a c a d e m i c s c e n e f o r t h e p r o v i s i o n of s u c h 
i n f o r m a t i o n t h a n t h e l i b r a r y , e q u i p p e d as 
it is n o t o n l y t o i n i t i a t e t h e c o l l e c t i o n of 
s u c h i n f o r m a t i o n b u t a l s o t o see t h a t i t is 
k e p t u p t o d a t e . G r a n t e d t h a t t h i s m i g h t 
r e q u i r e a d d e d p e r s o n n e l a n d c o n s e q u e n t l y a 
l a r g e r b u d g e t , t h e E s t e s P a r k c o n f e r e n c e 
d e m o n s t r a t e s c l e a r l y t h e n e e d f o r s u c h a 
s e r v i c e . A t t h e s a m e t i m e it p o i n t s t o t h e 
n e e d f o r f a r g r e a t e r p u b l i c i t y r e g a r d i n g 
k i n d r e d s e r v i c e s w h i c h u p - t o - d a t e c o l l e g e 
a n d u n i v e r s i t y l i b r a r i e s a r e a l r e a d y p r e p a r e d 
t o g i v e . 

W h a t a b o u t t h e m o r e s p e c i f i c a s p e c t s of 
t h e l i b r a r y ' s p a r t in f u r t h e r i n g a p r o g r a m 
of i n t e r n a t i o n a l u n d e r s t a n d i n g ? M a j o r 
" w o r k a r e a s " f o r t h e c o n f e r e n c e w e r e d e -
fined a s : U . S . g o v e r n m e n t a l p r o g r a m s c a l l -
i n g f o r c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h c o l l e g e s a n d u n i -
v e r s i t i e s , i n t e r g o v e r n m e n t a l p r o g r a m s , c o -
o p e r a t i o n b e t w e e n v o l u n t a r y o r g a n i z a t i o n s 
a n d c o l l e g e s , t h e t r a i n i n g of s p e c i a l i z e d p e r -
s o n n e l f o r p o s i t i o n s b e a r i n g o n i n t e r n a t i o n a l 
u n d e r s t a n d i n g , t h e c u r r i c u l u m a n d t h e a d -
v i s o r y s y s t e m , e x t r a c u r r i c u l a r a c t i v i t i e s , 
a d u l t e d u c a t i o n , a n d t h e f o r m a t i o n of a n 

106 COLLEGE AND RESEARCH LIBRARIES 



international organization of universities. 
As deliberations proceeded on these major 
work areas it became increasingly apparent 
that the full realization of the possibilities 
in each of these areas involves the library 
to some degree. By concept and tradition 
the library, certainly on the American 
scene and in some foreign lands as well, 
more nearly approaches the ideal of an 
international civil servant than any other 
one institution. If ever a concept, service, 
or formal organization possessed a degree 
of universality, it is the library. T h e U.S. 
libraries abroad, though not completely 
free from the taint of propaganda, do much 
in a direct way to f u r t h e r international 
understanding by bringing the United 
States closer to the hearts and minds of 
native populations. Similarly college and 
university libraries in this country can go 
far in furthering the cause of international 
understanding. T h e libraries could do this 
by providing the background information 
at the undergraduate level and by acting as 
centers of information for more specialized 
information at the graduate level—such as 
information on research programs in inter-
national understanding being undertaken by 
the various voluntary, governmental and 
intergovernmental agencies, to mention but 
one example. 

A few of the specific observations and 
recommendations coming out of the Estes 
Park conference may serve to show most 
adequately not only the direction of think-
ing of the conference, but may point to the 
ways in which the library can participate 
effectively in furthering a program of 
international understanding. 

One section recommended the establish-
ment of a national central coordinating 
committee or agency to act as a clearing 
house for the needs and services of govern-
mental, intergovernmental and nongovern-
mental agencies on the one hand and col-
leges and universities on the other.2 T h e 

section working on the programs of inter-
governmental agencies suggested that "basic 
kits should be developed and placed in 
institutions to answer the majority of ques-
tions regarding achievements, structure and 
problems of the [intergovernmental] agen-
cies."3 T h i s section continued with the 
suggestion that a central committee should 
inform colleges and universities of the 
needs for specialized personnel as well as 
the opportunities for possible research and 
thesis topics presented by the issues under 
investigation by such agencies.4 

T h e section concerned directly with 
aspects of cooperation between voluntary 
organizations and colleges and universities 
offered a specific recommendation that 
"voluntary agencies are encouraged to sug-
gest to university libraries books and ma-
terials in the field of international under-
standing."5 

In such matters as the creation of a 
university clearing house office, recom-
mended by Section I I I , the individual li-
brary could well assume an active and con-
tinuing role. T h e establishment of such an 
office was recommended as an aid "toward 
building a more effective partnership be-
tween institutions of higher learning and 
voluntary organizations,"6 through the cen-
tralizing of information regarding foreign 
student affairs, student religions, cultural 
and humanitarian activities, and "all the 
existing points of contact between it as an 
institution and the voluntary organizations 
serving the campus community."7 

Section V I recommends "a general basic 
course in international affairs which all 

2 Report of Section I : " U n i t e d S t a t e s Government 
P r o g r a m s T h a t Call for Cooperation with Colleges and 
U n i v e r s i t i e s . " Russell I . M a c k r e y , chairman, (mimeo-
graphed) 

3 'Report on Section I I : " I n t e r g o v e r n m e n t a l Pro-
g r a m s . " Donald J. S h a n k , chairman, (mimeographed) 

4 Ibid. 
5 Report of Section I I I : "Cooperation between Vol-

untary Organizations and Colleges and U n i v e r s i t i e s . " A . 
B u r n s Chalmers, chairman, (mimeographed) 

6 Ibid. 
7 Ibid. 

APR1L, 1950 107 



s t u d e n t s s h o u l d b e e n c o u r a g e d t o t a k e . " 8 

T h e r e a r e d e f i n i t e l i b r a r y i m p l i c a t i o n s i n 

t h a t p a r t of t h e r e c o m m e n d a t i o n c a l l i n g 

f o r t h e p r o v i s i o n of s u p p l e m e n t a r y m a -

t e r i a l s i n a c o n s t a n t l y e x p a n d i n g field. 

T h e s e i m p l i c a t i o n s a r e a l s o p r e s e n t i n t h e 

a c c o m p a n y i n g r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s f o r t h e 

p r o v i s i o n of c o u r s e s f o r t h e s t u d e n t w h o 

w i s h e s " b r o a d e r t r a i n i n g i n t h e field of 

i n t e r n a t i o n a l r e l a t i o n s , w i t h o r w i t h o u t a n y 

v o c a t i o n a l i n t e n t , " 9 o n a m y r i a d of t o p i c s 

r a n g i n g f r o m t h e p r o b l e m of w a r i n m o d e r n 

s o c i e t y t o a c o u r s e o n c o m p a r a t i v e 

l i t e r a t u r e . 

T h e s e c t i o n o n a d u l t e d u c a t i o n n o t e d t h e 

n e e d f o r a r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s p e c i f i c a l l y d e s i g -

n a t e d " t o m a i n t a i n c o n t a c t w i t h g o v e r n -

m e n t a l , i n t e r g o v e r n m e n t a l , a n d v o l u n t a r y 

a g e n c i e s a s a m e a n s of s e c u r i n g s p e a k e r s , 

i n f o r m a t i o n , a n d s o u r c e m a t e r i a l s f o r . . . 

a d u l t g r o u p s i n t h e a r e a s e r v e d b y t h e 

u n i v e r s i t y . " 1 0 S u c h a r e p r e s e n t a t i v e c o u l d 

w e l l b e a m e m b e r of t h e l i b r a r y s t a f f , 

e s p e c i a l l y s i n c e t h e s e c t i o n u r g e s , i n a n o t h e r 

p a r t of i t s r e p o r t , a c l o s e r r e l a t i o n s h i p b e -

t w e e n u n i v e r s i t y a n d c o m m u n i t y g r o u p s i n 

s u c h m a t t e r s a s a s p e a k e r s ' b u r e a u , t h e 

e x t e n s i o n of l i b r a r y s e r v i c e s , t h e p r o v i s i o n 

of a u d i o - v i s u a l a n d d u p l i c a t i n g e q u i p m e n t , 

a n d t h e l i k e . 

A c l o s e r c o o r d i n a t i o n , a m o n g c o l l e g e s 

a n d u n i v e r s i t i e s , of i n f o r m a t i o n o n p r o -

g r a m s i n v o l v i n g l i a i s o n w i t h f o r e i g n s t u -

d e n t s a n d t e a c h e r s o n t h e i n d i v i d u a l c a m -

p u s e s , a s w e l l a s t h e s e n d i n g of U . S . s t u -

d e n t s t o s t u d y a b r o a d a n d t h e c o l l e c t i o n 

a n d d i s s e m i n a t i o n of i n t e r n a t i o n a l i n f o r -

m a t i o n , a s p r o p o s e d b y a n o t h e r s e c t i o n , 1 1 

f a l l s p r o p e r l y a n d d i r e c t l y w i t h i n t h e s p h e r e 

of t h e s e r v i c e s w h i c h t h e l i b r a r y is a b l e t o 

8 Report of Section V I : " C u r r i c u l u m and A d v i s o r y 
S y s t e m . " Helen D w i g h t Reid, chairman, (mimeo-
g r a p h e d ) 

9 Ibid. 
10 Report of Section V I I I : " A d u l t E d u c a t i o n . " I . O. 

H o r s f a l l , chairman, (mimeographed) 
1 1 Report of Section V I I : " E x t r a - c u r r i c u l a r A c t i v i -

t i e s . " Rev. V i n c e n t J. F l y n n , c h a i r m a n , (mimeo-
g r a p h e d ) 

108 CO 

p r o v i d e , w o r k i n g c l o s e l y , i n s u c h a n i n -

s t a n c e , w i t h o t h e r c a m p u s o f f i c e s a n d 

o r g a n i z a t i o n s . 

T h e c o l l e g e a n d u n i v e r s i t y l i b r a r y b e -

c o m e s d i r e c t l y i n v o l v e d i n a n y p l a n s s u c h 

a s a r e u n d e r c o n s i d e r a t i o n f o r t h e f o r m a -

t i o n of a n i n t e r n a t i o n a l o r g a n i z a t i o n of 

u n i v e r s i t i e s ( u n i v e r s i t y i n t h i s s e n s e r e -

f e r r i n g t o colleges and universities i n t h e 

A m e r i c a n s e n s e ) a l o n g t h e l i n e s i n i t i a l l y 

d r a w n a t t h e U t r e c h t c o n f e r e n c e , A u g . 

2 - 1 3 , 1 9 4 8 , f o r w h i c h a f u l l r e p o r t h a s b e e n 

p u b l i s h e d . 1 2 T h e d e l i b e r a t i o n s of t h i s h i s -

t o r i c c o n f e r e n c e w e r e c o n t i n u e d a n d a m p l i -

fied f r o m t h e A m e r i c a n p o i n t of v i e w a t t h e 

E s t e s P a r k c o n f e r e n c e , w h i c h d r e w u p a 

s p e c i f i c s e t of r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s a n d s u g -

g e s t e d p r o c e d u r e s , a m o n g w h i c h t h e f o l l o w -

i n g r e l a t e s d i r e c t l y t o t h e c o l l e g e a n d u n i -

v e r s i t y l i b r a r y : 

T h e c o n f e r e n c e f i r m l y believes t h a t t h e r e 
should also be some f o r m of association a m o n g 
the universities of the w o r l d . A u n i v e r s i t y 
has e v e r y t h i n g to gain by the d e v e l o p m e n t of 
closer official connection w i t h sister institu-
tions in o t h e r countries, w h i c h could be ob-
tained u n d e r the auspices of such an associa-
tion. T h e s t i m u l a t i o n of research into prob-
lems of u n i v e r s i t y l i f e and w o r k , and the 
h o l d i n g of periodic c o n f e r e n c e s , could be bet-
ter p r o m o t e d by an o r g a n i z a t i o n of this sort 
than by any o t h e r . . . , 1 3 

O n e of t h e s p e c i f i c p u r p o s e s of s u c h a n 

o r g a n i z a t i o n w o u l d b e : 

T o a d m i n i s t e r an i n t e r n a t i o n a l U n i v e r s i t i e s 
B u r e a u w i t h the purpose of f u r t h e r i n g di-
rectly or indirectly the f o l l o w i n g o b j e c t s : a ) 
the collection and dissemination of i n f o r m a -
tion r e l a t i n g to institutions of higher educa-
tion t h r o u g h o u t the w o r l d ; as f o r e x a m p l e 
— . . . p r o v i d i n g f o r the publication at r e g u l a r 
i n t e r v a l s of c o m p r e h e n s i v e d i r e c t o r i e s of in-
stitutions of higher education, establishing a 

12 U n e s c o : Report of P r e p a r a t o r y C o n f e r e n c e of Repre-
sentatives of U n i v e r s i t i e s , convened at U t r e c h t , A u g . 2-
13, 1948, by U n e s c o in collaboration with the Nether-
lands Government. ( U n e s c o publication 228) P a r i s , 
Unesco, 1948. 

18 Report of Section I X : " I n t e r n a t i o n a l O r g a n i z a t i o n 
of U n i v e r s i t i e s . " Robert W . Goss, chairman, (mimeo-
g r a p h e d ) 

LLEGE AND RESEARCH LIBRARIES 



l i b r a r y of w o r k s of r e f e r e n c e and official pub-
lications of the v a r i o u s universities . . d ) 
the f o r m a t i o n of m e a s u r e s f o r the better 
distribution and e x c h a n g e of l a b o r a t o r y m a -
terials, books, and o t h e r equipment f o r uni-
v e r s i t y study and research a m o n g the coun-
tries of the w o r l d . 1 4 

T h e a c t i v i t i e s of l i b r a r i a n s in g e n e r a l , 

a n d of c o l l e g e a n d u n i v e r s i t y l i b r a r i a n s in 

p a r t i c u l a r , in g a t h e r i n g b o o k s a n d o t h e r 

m a t e r i a l s f o r t h e w a r - d e v a s t a t e d a r e a s a r e 

t o o w e l l k n o w n t o n e e d f u r t h e r m e n t i o n 

h e r e . A l e t t e r f r o m A l i c e D u l a n y B a l l , of 

t h e U . S . B o o k E x c h a n g e , t o H o w a r d L e e 

N o s t r a n d , e x e c u t i v e o f f i c e r of t h e c o n f e r -

e n c e , c o n t a i n s s e v e r a l s p e c i f i c s u g g e s t i o n s 

w h i c h c o l l e g e a n d u n i v e r s i t y l i b r a r i a n s 

m i g h t c o n s i d e r c a r e f u l l y as w a y s a n d m e a n s 

of a s s u m i n g a d i r e c t a n d p o s i t i v e rol'e in t h e 

f u r t h e r a n c e of i n t e r n a t i o n a l u n d e r s t a n d i n g 

a n d g o o d w i l l . A m o n g o t h e r t h i n g s the 

l e t t e r m e n t i o n s : 

( 1 ) T h e shipment of books and book col-
lections ( l a t e books, in good condition, in 
s u b j e c t s u s e f u l to a m o d e r n college or r e -
search s t u d e n t ) to U . S . B . E . w h i c h , t h o u g h 
it c a n n o t pay shipment costs to W a s h i n g t o n , 
w i l l sort, pack and a r r a n g e f o r costs of 
o v e r s e a s shipment. ( I f the donor w i s h e s to 
s p e c i f y a given institution as recipient, this 
can be a r r a n g e d , provided suitable g r o u n d -
w o r k f o r the g i f t has been l a i d . ) 

( 2 ) T h e n e w C A R E book p r o g r a m , in the 
p u r c h a s e field, m a k e s it possible f o r donors 
to choose the c o u n t r y , the type of institution, 
and the c a t e g o r y of books to be sent, all 
w i t h the same g u a r a n t e e as other C A R E 
shipments. 

( 3 ) T h e donation of c u r r e n t subscriptions 
to p r o f e s s i o n a l periodicals f o r institutions 
a b r o a d , m a k i n g use of the U . S . B . E . and the 
U n e s c o in P a r i s f o r names of institutions most 
in need of this service. 

( 4 ) T h e sending of books to individual 
scholars, students, and p r o f e s s o r s f o r their 
p r i v a t e use, along the lines of a plan w h i c h 
could be developed j o i n t l y by the S t a t e D e -
p a r t m e n t , A . L . A . , U . S . B . E . and U n e s c o , 
w h i c h , a l o n g w i t h o t h e r interested o r g a n i z a -

" Ibid. 

tions, could develop the b r o a d outlines of a 
p r o g r a m of requests and donations l e a d i n g 
to the continued provisions of m a t e r i a l s badly 
needed by such individuals o v e r s e a s . 

A s w a s s t a t e d at t h e o p e n i n g of t h i s 

a r t i c l e , the r o l e of t h e l i b r a r y is i m p l i c i t 

in a n y p r o g r a m of i n t e r n a t i o n a l u n d e r -

s t a n d i n g . T h e i n d i v i d u a l l i b r a r y , l i b r a r i e s 

as a w h o l e , a n d l i b r a r y o r g a n i z a t i o n s c a n 

p e r f o r m a t w o - f o l d r o l e : ( 1 ) A s c e n t e r s 

f o r t h e c o l l e c t i o n , o r g a n i z a t i o n a n d d i s t r i b u -

t i o n of m a t e r i a l s a n d i n f o r m a t i o n o n a l l 

a s p e c t s of i n t e r n a t i o n a l u n d e r s t a n d i n g ; a n d 

( 2 ) as i n i t i a t o r s of t h o u g h t at t h e l o c a l a n d 

n a t i o n a l l e v e l , r e g a r d i n g t h e u n d e r s t a n d i n g 

of i n t e r n a t i o n a l a f f a i r s , by d i s c o v e r i n g t h e 

p e r s o n s a n d the o u t l e t s t h r o u g h w h o m s u c h 

u n d e r s t a n d i n g c a n best be a c h i e v e d a n d b y 

t a k i n g a positive a n d aggressive p a r t t h r o u g h 

a c t i v e p a r t i c i p a t i o n in f u r t h e r i n g s u c h 

u n d e r s t a n d i n g . 

T h e s p e c i f i c a n d g e n e r a l w a y s by w h i c h 

l i b r a r i e s c a n f u l f i l t h i s d u a l r o l e a r e l e g i o n . 

T h e f i r s t step is t h e p r o c u r e m e n t of m a -

t e r i a l s , s u c h as the p u b l i c a t i o n s a n d lists of 

i n f o r m a t i o n f r o m t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s . T h e 

m o r e i m p o r t a n t step is the interpretation of 

these m a t e r i a l s — t o f a c u l t y , s t u d e n t s a n d 

t o w n s p e o p l e . T h e a s s i s t a n c e in the c o m -

p i l a t i o n of lists of v o l u n t a r y o r g a n i z a t i o n s , 

g o v e r n m e n t n e e d s a n d i n s t i t u t i o n a l re-

s o u r c e s , so u r g e n t l y n e e d e d at t h e m o m e n t ; 

t h e f a c i l i t a t i n g of d i s s e m i n a t i o n of i n f o r m a -

t i o n t h r o u g h o u t c a m p u s a n d c o m m u n i t y 

r e g a r d i n g p r o v i s i o n s f o r f o r e i g n e x c h a n g e s , 

f o r e i g n s t u d y p r o g r a m s , a n d t h e l i k e ; t h e 

s y s t e m a t i c c o l l e c t i o n a n d i n t e r p r e t a t i o n of 

i n f o r m a t i o n r e g a r d i n g o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r 

s t u d y a n d r e s e a r c h a t f o r e i g n i n s t i t u t i o n s as 

p r o v i d e d by t h e i r c a t a l o g s a n d a n n o u n c e -

m e n t s — b y these w a y s a n d m a n y o t h e r s a 

c o l l e g e a n d u n i v e r s i t y l i b r a r y c a n a i d in the 

s u c c e s s f u l p r o s e c u t i o n of a p r o g r a m l e a d i n g 

t o b e t t e r i n t e r n a t i o n a l u n d e r s t a n d i n g . 

(Continued on page 114) 

APR1L, 1950 109 



The Person in the Body—Hensie—Norton 
The Doctor's Job—Binger—Norton 
The Happy Family—Levy a n d M o n r o e — 

Knopf 
Our Age of Unreason—Alexander—Lippin-

cott 
Living Wisely and Well—Terhune—Dut-

t o n 
It's How You Take It—Caner—Coward-

McCann 
The History of Medical Psychology— 

Zilboorg—Norton 
The Emotional Problems of Living—Eng-

lish and Pearson—Norton 
Fundamentals of Psychoanalysis—Alex-

ander—Norton 
Facts and Theories of Psychoanalysis— 

Hendrick—Knopf 

U n d u e p u b l i c i t y f o r b o o k s of t h i s t y p e 
w o u l d p r o b a b l y n o t b e j u s t i f i e d . T h e f a c t 
t h a t s u c h b o o k s a r e in t h e l i b r a r y a n d a v a i l -
a b l e t o a l l c a n b e m a d e k n o w n b y s u i t a b l e 
a n n o u n c e m e n t s o n t h e u s u a l b u l l e t i n b o a r d s 
o r o t h e r n o r m a l p u b l i c i t y c h a n n e l s . S i n c e 
p s y c h i a t r y l e n d s itself so r e a d i l y t o o v e r -
s t a t e m e n t s , a n d t o e x p l o i t a t i o n b y i t s w o u l d -
be f r i e n d s , i t w o u l d p r o b a b l y b e w i s e t o 
l e t t h e s e b o o k s g e t i n t o c i r c u l a t i o n s l o w l y 
a n d n a t u r a l l y a n d l e t t h e m m a k e t h e i r o w n 
w a y . I f , in t h e c o l l e g e s a n d u n i v e r s i t i e s , 
i n t e r e s t e d d e p a r t m e n t s s t i m u l a t e t h e i r u s e , 
so m u c h t h e b e t t e r . I n f a c t , e a c h c o l l e g e 
l i b r a r i a n m i g h t w e l l h a v e a p s y c h i a t r i s t as 
a n u n o f f i c i a l m e m b e r of h i s a d v i s o r y s t a f f , 
t o h e l p h i m i n t h e s e l e c t i o n of n e w b o o k s 
in t h i s field as t h e y a p p e a r . 

L i b r a r i a n s h a v e in t h e i r h a n d s t h e p o w e r 
of m a k i n g o r b r e a k i n g t h e m a j o r i t y of n e w 
b o o k s . A s r e c e n t figures c o m p i l e d b y t h e 
Library Journal s h o w , U n i t e d S t a t e s p u b l i c 
l i b r a r i e s b u y f r o m 1 , 0 0 0 t o 3 , 0 0 0 c o p i e s of 
m o s t of t h e t r a d e b o o k s t h e y d e c i d e t o p u r -
c h a s e . I f b o o k s s u c h as a r e o n t h i s l i s t 
c o u l d be d i s t r i b u t e d t o l i b r a r i e s i n s u c h 
q u a n t i t i e s , t r u e m e n t a l h e a l t h m i g h t be a 
s o m e w h a t n e a r e r p o s s i b i l i t y . 

T h e a i m s of t h e l i b r a r i a n a n d t h e psy-
c h i a t r i s t a r e r e a l l y n o t v e r y d i f f e r e n t in 
p r i n c i p l e , t h o u g h q u i t e d i f f e r e n t i n a p p l i c a -
t i o n . T h e l i b r a r i a n is t h e c u s t o d i a n of t h e 
i n f o r m a t i o n f r o m w h i c h t h e s t u d e n t ac-
q u i r e s t h e e d u c a t i o n w h i c h is t o a i d h i m in 
g e t t i n g a l o n g w i t h h i s f e l l o w s a n d l i v i n g a 
f u l l a n d s a t i s f y i n g l i f e ; b u t h e is n o t s a t i s -
fied w i t h b e i n g m e r e l y t h e c u s t o d i a n . H e 
e x e r t s h i m s e l f t o m a k e t h e r a w m a t e r i a l s of 
a n e d u c a t i o n r e a d i l y a v a i l a b l e in t h e f a c e of 
v e r y r a p i d m u l t i p l i c a t i o n of r e s o u r c e s . 
L i k e w i s e t h e p s y c h i a t r i s t m u s t c o m e o u t of 
h i s i s o l a t i o n w i t h i n t h e h o s p i t a l a n d m a k e 
t h e k n o w l e d g e g a i n e d f r o m t h e s t u d y of 
h u m a n f a i l u r e of a d j u s t m e n t a v a i l a b l e t o 
a l l t h e p e o p l e in t h e h o p e of p r e v e n t i n g 
e m o t i o n a l i l l n e s s . A s I a g o G a l d s t o n h a s 
so w e l l p h r a s e d i t , " I d o a f f i r m t h a t t h e r e is 
l i t t l e h o p e f o r i m p r o v e m e n t i n h u m a n r e -
l a t i o n s u n t i l t h e b o d y of k n o w l e d g e a v a i l -
a b l e in m o d e r n p s y c h i a t r y h a s b e e n m a d e 
c o m m o n i n t h e k n o w l e d g e , t h i n k i n g , a n d 
m o t i v a t i o n of t h e c o m m o n m a n . " 

I t m a y be a p p r o p r i a t e t o c l o s e w i t h o n e 
t a n g i b l e e x a m p l e of w h a t l i b r a r i e s c a n d o 
in t h i s p r o g r a m . A m o n g t h e p r o p o s a l s 
a d o p t e d a t t h e E s t e s P a r k c o n f e r e n c e w a s 
o n e w h i c h s t a t e d u n e q u i v o c a l l y t h e n e e d 
f o r a g o o d b a s i c r e a d i n g list t o f o s t e r i n t e r -
n a t i o n a l u n d e r s t a n d i n g , w h i c h l e d t o a f o r -

International Understanding 
(Continued from page iog) 

m a l r e q u e s t t o t h e A m e r i c a n L i b r a r y A s s o -
c i a t i o n t o t a k e t h e l e a d i n t h e p r e p a r a t i o n 
of s u c h a l i s t . T h e e f f e c t i v e n e s s of s u c h a 
l i s t is v e r y d i r e c t l y a n d i n t i m a t e l y d e p e n d -
e n t u p o n t h e i n d i v i d u a l l i b r a r y — a n d t h e 
i n d i v i d u a l l i b r a r i a n — a n d t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y 
is a v e r y g r a v e o n e , i n d e e d . 

114 COLLEGE AND RESEARCH LIBRARIES