College and Research Libraries


By M A U R I C E F . T A U B E R 

Investigations and Research Projects 
in the Field of College Libraries1 

WE LIKE to think that research into 
problems of librarianship is both a 

scholarly and practical pursuit. By objective 
analysis of our problems w e anticipate the 
skeletonizing or isolation of principles in-
volved in librarianship and, perhaps, although 
it does not always happen, w e apply the prin-
ciples immediately to practical situations. 
A b o u t 20 years ago, when the G r a d u a t e L i -
brary School w a s just starting, there w e r e 
some librarians w h o w e r e skeptical of the 
value of research, especially the formalized 
research as carried on in an academic atmos-
phere. T h e r e are still some librarians w h o 
see little or no value in research, especially 
since they have not, as a^pesult of research, 
been able to reduce library service costs, to in-
crease efficiency, or to raise the reading level 
of their patrons. T h e critics have been ap-
prehensive, and with some justification, that 
students would fail to do more than collect 
facts. T h e proponents of systematic research, 
whether in the library school or in some other 
academic department, have recognized this 
danger. T h e y have also insisted that one of 
the real contributions of library research is 
to encourage and develop critical thinking 
about our problems. H a v e w e been doing 
this? W h a t are w e learning about college 
library problems? W h a t ways and means are 
being determined for the improvement of pro-
cedures leading to a more effective meeting of 
the demands upon the college library? It is 
the purpose of this paper to review w h a t stu-
dents and others have been doing in the w a y of 
studying problems which are of both scholarly 
and practical concern. 

W e can arbitrarily divide the research being 
done on a functional basis, and consider such 
problems as those related to organization and 
administration, personnel, finance, etc. O r , w e 
can consider studies from a methodological 
base, such as historical, experimental, or prog-

1 P a p e r p r e s e n t e d at the meeting: of t h e College 
L i b r a r i e s Section, A . C . R . L . , Chicago, J a n . 27, 1950. 

nostic. F o r the purposes of this discussion it 
would seem that the functional approach 
would be more meaningful. T h e effort will 
be made, then, to show w h a t research has 
been going on in the following areas of li-
brarianship: foundations and historical back-
grounds; general administrative problems; 
public relations and extension service; per-
sonnel; finance; relations of faculty and cur-
riculum; selection and acquisition of printed 
materials; problems of nonprint materials; 
cataloging and classification; binding and con-
servation; circulation work, including inter-
library loans; reference and bibliography; 
instruction in the use of the l i b r a r y ; evalua-
tion of collections and services; buildings and 
equipment; cooperation; and reading prob-
lems. Since College and Research Libraries 
has just celebrated its tenth anniversary, it 
seems fitting to limit studies to the past 10 
years. It was not possible to examine every 
unpublished study, of course, so that some 
studies are merely mentioned to indicate the 
direction of investigation. M a n y of the pub-
lished studies have been examined. A n effort 
has been made to include those studies which 
have made a contribution to our knowledge 
of college librarianship, but there is no claim 
that all such studies have been noted. Sources 
include the C o l e list in the Library Quarterly, 
the Charles' annotated list of Chicago studies, 
the current "Research in Progress in L i b r a r i -
anship," issued by Sarah R . Reed of the 
G r a d u a t e L i b r a r y School, and Library Litera-
ture. 

Foundations and Historical Backgrounds 
Just as members of staffs of other social in-

stitutions have been interested in the begin-
nings of their enterprises, so have librarians. 
Several studies which may be classified as his-
torical have been made during the past f e w 
years. Some have been concerned with li-
braries of particular states, while others are 
studies of specific institutions. Ruth E . Bo-

3-2 I 



g a r t , f o r e x a m p l e , s t u d i e d " C o l l e g e L i b r a r y 

D e v e l o p m e n t s in N e w Y o r k S t a t e d u r i n g t h e 

N i n e t e e n t h C e n t u r y , " 2 w h i l e N . O . R u s h w a s 

c o n c e r n e d w i t h c o l l e g e l i b r a r i e s in M a i n e . 3 

F r a n c e s L . S p a i n , in h e r s t u d y of " L i b r a r i e s 

o f S o u t h C a r o l i n a , " 4 i n c l u d e d m a t e r i a l r e l a t -

i n g t o 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 m o n g 

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

( E a r l h a m C o l l e g e ) , 5 K n i g h t e n ( S o u t h w e s t e r n 

L o u i s i a n a I n s t i t u t e ) , 6 K r u e g e r ( C a r r o l l C o l -

l e g e ) , 7 I r w i n ( I o w a W e s l e y a n ) , 8 a n d E n g l e y 

( A m h e r s t ) . 9 I t m i g h t b e s a i d t h a t h i s t o r i c a l 

s t u d i e s , e v e n w i t h t h e e a r l i e r o n e s b y S h o r e s , 1 0 

S t o r i e , 1 1 S a t t e r f i e l d , 1 2 D u n c a n 1 3 a n d A t k i n s 1 4 

a r e r e l a t i v e l y f e w . I n d e e d , it m i g h t be s a i d 

t h a t t h e s t o r y of c o l l e g e l i b r a r i a n s h i p in 

A m e r i c a s t i l l n e e d s t o b e t o l d . A m o n g c u r -

r e n t s t u d i e s is t h e o n e by T . S . H a r d i n g , w h o 

is s t u d y i n g " C o l l e g e L i b r a r y S o c i e t i e s of t h e 

N i n e t e e n t h C e n t u r y : T h e i r C o n t r i b u t i o n s t o 

t h e D e v e l o p m e n t o f A c a d e m i c L i b r a r i e s " 

( C h i c a g o ) . 

O f w h a t v a l u e a r e s u c h s t u d i e s , in a d d i t i o n 

t o g i v i n g s t u d e n t s a n e x e r c i s e in w r i t i n g a b o u t 

a r e l e v a n t h i s t o r i c a l s u b j e c t ? E x p e r i e n c e of 

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

n e c e s s a r y t o d e l v e i n t o t h e h i s t o r y of t h e i n -

s t i t u t i o n a n d i t s l i b r a r y in o r d e r t o e x p l a i n 

c u r r e n t s i t u a t i o n s . T h e h i s t o r i c a l s e c t i o n s of 

t h e s u r v e y s of S o u t h C a r o l i n a , C o r n e l l , 

V . P . I . , A . P . I . , F l o r i d a , G e o r g i a a n d o t h e r l i -

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

r e s u l t e d in d i f f i c u l t l i b r a r y s i t u a t i o n s . A s y s -

t e m a t i c h i s t o r i c a l s t u d y o f a l i b r a r y , t h e r e f o r e , 

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

2 M. S., Columbia, 1948. 
3 " A History of College Libaries in M a i n e . " M.S., 

Columbia, 1945. 
4 P h . D . , Chicago, 1944. 
5 Stanley, Ellen M. " T h e H i s t o r y of the Earl-

ham College L i b r a r y . " M.A., Illinois, 1947. 
6 Knighten, Loma. " H i s t o r y of the Southwestern 

Louisiana Institute Library, 1900-1948." M.S., Co-
lumbia, 1950. 

7 K r u e g e r , H a n n a h . " H i s t o r y of Carroll College 
L i b r a r y . " M.A., Chicago, 1943. 

8 I r w i n , Maurine. " H i s t o r y of Iowa Wesleyan Uni-
versity L i b r a r y . " M.A., California, 1941. 

9Engley, Donald. " T h e Emergence of the A m h e r s t 
College Library, 1821-1911." M.A., Chicago, 1947. 

10 Shores, Louis. Origins of the American College 
Library, 1638-1800. Nashville, George Peabody Col-
lege, 1934. 

11 Storie, C. P . " W h a t Contributions Did the 
American College Society Make to the College Li-
b r a r y ? " M.S., Columbia, 1938. 

12 Satterfield, V . " T h e History of College Libraries 
in Georgia as Interpreted f r o m the Study of Seven 
Selected L i b r a r i e s , " M.S., Columbia, 1936. 

13 Duncan, R. B. " A H i s t o r y of George Peabody 
College Library, 1785-1910." M.A., George Peabody 
College, 1940. 

14 Atkins, Eliza. " A History of Fisk University 
L i b r a r y and I t s S t a n d i n g in Relation to Other Com-
parable I n s t i t u t i o n s . " M.A., California, 1930. 

f a c t s r e g a r d i n g a p a r t i c u l a r i n s t i t u t i o n , b u t it 

a d d s t o t h e t o t a l p i c t u r e of c o l l e g e l i b r a r y d e -

v e l o p m e n t in A m e r i c a . M o r e s t u d i e s of t h i s 

k i n d n e e d to be e n c o u r a g e d , a l t h o u g h it is a d -

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

a n d c o n s i d e r c u r r e n t q u e s t i o n s , t h e y a r e l i k e l y 

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

a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p r o b l e m s . 

General Administrative Problems 

I n The University Library, t h e s t a t e m e n t 
is m a d e t h a t " T h e c o n t r o v e r s i e s w h i c h c e n t e r 

a b o u t c e r t a i n t y p e s of a d m i n i s t r a t i v e o r g a n i z a -

t i o n o f l i b r a r i e s w i l l n o t b e s e t t l e d u n t i l s y s -

t e m a t i c s t u d y is m a d e of t h e e f f i c i e n c y of 

e x i s t i n g p a t t e r n s . " 1 5 T h e r e h a s a p p a r e n t l y 

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

p r o b l e m s of o r g a n i z a t i o n a n d a d m i n i s t r a t i o n . 

G u y R . L y l e ' s b o o k o n The Administration of 
the College Library,16 n o w in i t s s e c o n d e d i -
t i o n , h a s b e e n a u s e f u l c o n t r i b u t i o n in s u m -

m a r i z i n g a n d e v a l u a t i n g d a t a a s w e l l a s in 

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

t h e m a n a g e m e n t of t h e c o l l e g e l i b r a r y . I n -

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

i z a t i o n a n d a d m i n i s t r a t i o n , h o w e v e r , a r e 

l i m i t e d t o s u c h i n v e s t i g a t i o n s a s F e l i x R e i c h -

m a n n ' s " T h e L o c a t i o n of B o o k s o n t h e C o l -

l e g e C a m p u s , " 1 7 E l i z a b e t h F . K i e n t z l e ' s 

" S t u d y of A d m i n i s t r a t o r a n d L i b r a r y C o m -

m i t t e e R e l a t i o n s h i p s in 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 , " 1 8 T a i s t o N i e m i ' s " P r o b l e m s 

a n d C o n s i d e r a t i o n s C o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e I n c e p -

t i o n o f a S c i e n c e D e p a r t m e n t a l L i b r a r y a t 

W e s t e r n M i c h i g a n C o l l e g e o f E d u c a t i o n , " 1 9 

a n d E l i O b o l e r ' s " T h e P r o c e s s C h a r t a s a 

M a n a g e m e n t D e v i c e f o r 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 : w i t h S p e c i a l R e f e r e n c e t o C i r -

c u l a t i o n R o u t i n e s . " 2 0 

A n u m b e r of c o l l e g e l i b r a r i a n s h a v e f o l -

l o w e d t h e p a t t e r n w h i c h is b e i n g e s t a b l i s h e d 

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

v i d i n g t h e i r o r g a n i z a t i o n s i n t o r e a d e r s ' a n d 

t e c h n i c a l s e r v i c e s d i v i s i o n s . J o s e p h L . C o h e n ' s 

s t u d y of " T h e T e c h n i c a l S e r v i c e s D i v i s i o n in 

L i b r a r i e s " 2 1 h a s a l r e a d y r e v e a l e d t h a t t h e r e 

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

l i b r a r y o r g a n i z a t i o n . 

15 Wilson, L. R., and Tauber, M. F. The University 
Library. Chicago, University of Chicago Press, 1945, 
p. 3 3 7 . 

16 New York, H . W . Wilson, 1949. 
17 M.A., Chicago, 1942. 
18 M.A., Denver, 1948. 
19 M.A., Denver, 1948. 
20 M. A., Chicago, 1949. 
21 I n process, Columbia. 

322 COLLEGE AND RESEARCH LIBRARIES 



Public Relations and Extension Service 
Although college librarians are concerned 

with the problems of public relations, few 
studies in this area have been carried on in-
tensively. T h e survey made by Barcus in 
194622 included many of the aspects of a 
public relations program. A recent study by 
W i l l i a m s w a s concerned with " C o l l e g e L i -
brary Publications as M e d i a for Public Rela-
tions."2 3 Agnes Reagan made a detailed study 
of the incidence and problems of college li-
brary exhibits.24 W h i l e university libraries 
and land-grant college libraries have been in-
cluded in a f e w studies relating to extension 
w o r k (e.g., H . E. Helmrich, "Relationship of 
State Universities and L a n d - G r a n t Colleges in 
the Pacific N o r t h w e s t to State-Wide Library 
Service," M . S . , Columbia, 1939; M i l d r e d H . 
L o w e l l , College and University Library Con-
solidations, Eugene, O r e g o n State System of 
Higher Education, 1942; and J. G . Hodgson, 
" R u r a l Reading M a t t e r as Provided by L a n d -
G r a n t Colleges and Libraries," P h . D . , Chi-
cago, 1946) there have been no systematic 
investigations of the service in the liberal 
arts college library as a separate entity. A 
f e w reading studies, commented upon in a 
later section, include w o r k with alumni. 

Personnel 

Studies of personnel problems include in-
vestigations of the w o r k of student assistants,25 

the activities of librarians in Mississippi,26 the 
reading of librarians,2 7 staffs in N e g r o col-
leges,28 academic status of N e g r o college li-
brarians,2 9 retirement plans,30 w o r k e r morale 

22 B a r c u s , T . R. " I n c i d e n t a l Duties of the College 
L i b r a r i a n , " College and Research Libraries, 7:14-23, 
J a n u a r y 1946. 

23 Williams, D a g n y H . "College L i b r a r y Publica-
tions as Media for Public Relations." M . A . , Denver, 
1948. 

24 R e a g a n , A g n e s . "College L i b r a r y E x h i b i t s : A n 
Investigation and R e p o r t , " College and Research Li-
braries, 5:246-58, J u n e 1944. 

25 Oberheim, G r a c e M . " P r e d i c t i n g Success of 
S t u d e n t A s s i s t a n t s in College L i b r a r y W o r k . " M . S . , 
Columbia, 1941. Also Brown, H e l e n M., "Conditions 
C o n t r i b u t i n g to the Efficient Service of S t u d e n t As-
sistants in a Selected G r o u p of College L i b r a r i e s . " 

26 H a r k i n s , A n n a E . " T h e Activities of L i b r a r i a n s 
in the U n i v e r s i t i e s and Senior Colleges of the S t a t e 
of M i s s i s s i p p i / ' M . S . , Columbia, 1943. 

27 Hotaling, Donald O. " R e a d i n g P a t t e r n s of Col-
lege and U n i v e r s i t y L i b r a r i a n s . " M . S . , Columbia, 
1948. 

28 H u t t o n , Leonelle M . " L i b r a r y Personnel in N e g r o 
Colleges." M . A . , Chicago, 1948. 

29_Copeland, Emily A . " A c a d e m i c S t a t u s of Li-
b r a r i a n s in I n s t i t u t i o n s of H i g h e r E d u c a t i o n for 
N e g r o e s . " M . S . , Columbia, 1948. 

80 Stieg, Lewis F . " R e t i r e m e n t P l a n s for College 
and U n i v e r s i t y L i b r a r i a n s , " College and Research Li-
braries, 11:10-16, J a n u a r y 1950. 

OCTOBER., 1950 

among college catalogers,3 1 and faculty rank 
of college and university librarians.3 2 T h e 
last mentioned study, by Frank A . Lundy, is 
a detailed study of present practice in 35 col-
lege and university libraries. In addition to 
presenting new material gathered through 
correspondence, it is also a summary of a 
number of studies of personnel made in in-
dividual institutions. Undoubtedly, the Bryan 
study of public librarians (a report of the 
Public L i b r a r y Inquiry) w i l l contain sugges-
tions which w i l l be applicable to academic 
librarians. 

Finance 
Investigations of problems in financing of 

the college library have dealt with compara-
tive statistics,33 administration of book 
funds,3 4 budgets of N e g r o college libraries,3 5 

and records.36 T h e effort to develop stand-
ards of library support, based on certain 
criteria, continues although libraries are 
having a more difficult time with appropriat-
ing bodies.37 Several of the university and 
land-grant college library surveys contain ma-
terial on financial problems which should be 
useful to college librarians. O n the whole, 
however, it might be said that research into 
problems of finance has been relatively meager. 
Knapp's study38 of costs in a preparation de-
partment of a college library is an example of 
the type of project that other individual li-

31 H e r r i c k , M a r y D. " S t a t u s of W o r k e r Morale 
a m o n g College Catalogers," College and Research 
Libraries, 11:33-39, J a n u a r y 1950. 

32 " F a c u l t y R a n k of P r o f e s s i o n a l L i b r a r i a n s . " M . L . S . , 
California, 1948. See also G e l f a n d , M o r r i s A. ' T h e 
College L i b r a r i a n in the Academic C o m m u n i t y , " Col-
lege and Research Libraries, 10:129-34, April 1949. 

33 S t r a u s s , Lovell H . " T h e Liberal A r t s College 
L i b r a r y , 1929-1940; A Comparative I n t e r p r e t a t i o n of 
F i n a n c i a l Statistics of Sixty-Eight Representative 
and T w e n t y Selected Liberal A r t s College L i b r a r i e s . " 
M . A . , Chicago, 1942'. 

34 Muller, H a n s . " T h e A d m i n i s t r a t i o n of Book 
F u n d s in College L i b r a r i e s . " M . A . , Chicago, 1941. 
See also Ellsworth, R. E . " S u r v e y of C u r r e n t Prac-
tices in Colleges a n d U n i v e r s i t i e s with Respect to 
M a n a g e m e n t of Book F u n d s , " College and Research 
Libraries, 3:252-54, J u n e 1942. 

33 P e t e r s , W i l k S. " L i b r a r y B u d g e t s in Negro 
Colleges." M . S . , Columbia, 1941. 

36 T r e n t , Robert M . " F i n a n c i a l Records of College 
L i b r a r i e s . " M . S . , Columbia, 1939. (Although dated 
1939, t h i s is one of the i m p o r t a n t s t u d i e s of financial 
problems of college libraries.) 

37 A . L . A . Board on Salaries, Staff and T e n u r e . 
Subcommittee on Budgets, Compensation and Schemes 
of Service. Classification and Pay Plans for Institu-
tions of Higher Education, 2nd ed., vol. I I , "Degree-
c o n f e r r i n g F o u r Y e a r I n s t i t u t i o n s . " Chicago, A . L . A . , 
1947. See also Carlson, W i l l i a m H . , c h a i r m a n . 
College and University Libraries and Librarianship; 
An Examination of Their Present Status and Some 
Proposals for Their Future. Chicago, A . L . A . , 1946. 

38 Knapp, P a t r i c i a B. " A Cost S t u d y of the Prep-
aration D e p a r t m e n t of a Small College L i b r a r y , " 
Library Quarterly, 13:335-37, October 1943. 

323 



braries probably have carried on in order to 
justify expenditures. 

Relations of Faculty and Curriculum 
E f f o r t s on the part of students to study the 

library's relations to the educational program 
have also been f e w , despite the importance of 
the problem. Hagan, for example, studied the 
" L i b r a r i e s of Six Liberal A r t s Colleges O p e r -
ating under Progressive Education P r o -
grams," 3 9 while Coleman w a s concerned with 
"Changes Needed in the Library of a Small 
L i b e r a l A r t s College to M e e t the Needs of 
the N e w C u r r i c u l u m . " 4 0 W r a y approached 
the problem from the standpoint of holdings.41 

Sister Rose W a r b u r t o n examined the litera-
ture on the question of the " A t t i t u d e of the 
Educator towards the College L i b r a r y . " 4 2 

Selection and Acquisition of Printed Mate-
rials 

W h i l e almost any study of library materials 
— b o o k s , periodicals, pamphlets and other 
forms—should be potentially significant to 
all librarians, special efforts have been made 
by students of college libraries to investi-
gate problems related to the building up of 
collections. A t Columbia, a series of studies 
has been made concerning reviewing in pe-
riodicals in certain subject fields—food and 
nutrition,4 3 biology,44 political science,45 clas-
sics,46 music,47 English and American litera-
ture,4 8 economics,49 higher education,50 tech-
nology,5 1 philosophy,52 and general w o r k s 5 3 — 

3 9 H a g a n , H e l e n . M . A . , C o l u m b i a , 1941. 
40 C o l e m a n , L. Z e n o b i a . M . A . , C o l u m b i a , 1943. 
4 1 W r a y , Carolyn. " C o o r d i n a t i o n of L i b r a r y H o l d -

ings with C u r r i c u l u m at G a r d n e r - W e b b C o l l e g e . " 
M . A . , P e a b o d y , 1948. 

4 2 M . A . , C h i c a g o , 1945. 
4 3 C u l l i p h e r , M a r t h a R . " B o o k R e v i e w i n g A d e -

q u a c y f o r College L i b r a r y Book Selection of C e r t a i n 
T e c h n i c a l P e r i o d i c a l s R e l a t i n g to F o o d s a n d N u t r i -
t i o n . " M . S . , C o l u m b i a , 1939. 

44 D o g g e t t , M a r g u e r i t e V . " E x t e n t t o W h i c h t h e 
Book R e v i e w s i n C e r t a i n Biological J o u r n a l s M e e t 
t h e N e e d s of C o l l e g e L i b r a r y Book ' S e l e c t i o n . " M . S . , 
C o l u m b i a , 1940. 

45 H e n r y , E u g e n i a M . " B o o k R e v i e w i n g A d e -
q u a c y of S o m e A m e r i c a n J o u r n a l s of P o l i t i c a l Sci-
e n c e . " M . S . , C o l u m b i a , 1939. 

48 S i s t e r J a n e F r a n c e s . " B o o k R e v i e w i n g A d e -
q u a c y of Certain C l a s s i c a l P e r i o d i c a l s f o r College 
L i b r a r y Book C o l l e c t i o n s . " M . S . , C o l u m b i a , 1039. 

47 H a w k i n s , J a n e S . " B o o k R e v i e w i n g A d e q u a c y 
of C e r t a i n Musical J o u r n a l s f o r College L i b r a r y Book 
S e l e c t i o n . " M . S . , Columbia, 1941. 

48 K o g a n , M a r i e J . " V a l u e of Book R e v i e w s of 
E n g l i s h a n d A m e r i c a n L i t e r a t u r e f o r College L i b r a r y 
Book S e l e c t i o n . " M . S . , C o l u m b i a , 1941. 

4 9 R o g e r s , M a r y E . " B o o k R e v i e w i n g A d e q u a c y 
of C e r t a i n E c o n o m i c P e r i o d i c a l s f o r U s e in C o l l e g e 
L i b r a r y Book S e l e c t i o n . " M . S . , C o l u m b i a , 1942. 

50 Steele, R e a J . " B o o k R e v i e w i n g A d e q u a c y of 
C e r t a i n P e r i o d i c a l s in t h e F i e l d of H i g h e r E d u c a t i o n . " 
M . S . , C o l u m b i a , 1940. 

51 W h i t f o r d , R o b e r t H . " E v a l u a t i o n of C e r t a i n 
T e c h n i c a l R e v i e w i n g M e d i a a s Book S e l e c t i o n A i d s 

for book selection purposes for college li-
braries. H o w much college librarians have 
used these studies—they represent a type of 
study that requires periodic revision—is a 
question which needs to be answered by a 
separate study. Essentially, the methodology 
is to examine reviews in a group of periodicals 
in a special subject field and appraise them on 
the basis of certain criteria of evaluation. 

Another approach to book selection has been 
through analysis of publications. T h i s has 
been don® by considering book usage,5 4 or 
selecting lists of books on the basis of minimal 
needs,55 or for background purposes,56 or for 
the requirements of certain college libraries.5 7 

Again, these studies w i l l have a certain value 
for the time when they appear. It should be 
pointed out that these studies, as w e l l as those 
of book reviewing adequacy, tend to add little 
in the w a y of new approaches to studying li-
brary problems. T h e y f a l l within the category 
of critical bibliography. 

In addition to these studies dealing with the 
selection of books, there has also been some 
interest in the collecting of such materials as 
serials in the field of sociology,58 chemical 
engineering periodicals,59 and maps.60 A num-
ber of similar studies w e r e made prior to the 
period being covered by this review. Insofar 
as acquisitions administration is concerned, 
three recent Columbia studies may be noted. 
T h e s e are L e n a Biancardo's " D e s i d e r a t a Files 
in College and University Libraries," (1950) ; 
A . F . Lane's "Exchange W o r k in College and 
University Libraries," ( 1 9 5 0 ) ; and R. W . 
Christ's "Acquisition W o r k in T e n College 
Libraries," ( 1 9 4 8 ) . 

in a C o l l e g e T e c h n o l o g y L i b r a r y . " M . S . , C o l u m b i a , 
1 9 3 9 -52 M a x f i e l d , D . K . " T h e A d e q u a c y of t h e R e v i e w s 
of C e r t a i n J o u r n a l s of P h i l o s o p h y f o r Book S e l e c t i o n 
in C o l l e g e L i b r a r i e s . " M . A . , C o l u m b i a , 1946. 

5 3 B o y c e , M a r g a r e t . " B o o k R e v i e w i n g A d e q u a c y of 
C e r t a i n L i t e r a r y J o u r n a l s f o r College L i b r a r y Book 
S e l e c t i o n . " M . S . , C o l u m b i a , 1939. 

54 B l a c k n e y , A n n a L . " P r i n c i p l e s of Book S e l e c -
tion B a s e d on a n A n a l y s i s of Book U s a g e in a L i b e r a l 
A r t s C o l l e g e . " M . A . , C h i c a g o , 1941. 

55 D u n n , S i s t e r H e l e n . " M i n i m u m B a s i c L i s t of 
S p a n i s h B o o k s f o r t h e F o u r Y e a r L i b e r a l A r t s Col-
l e g e . " M . A . , C o l u m b i a . 1940. 

5 6 M a r i e L . C e l i n e , S i s t e r . " B a c k g r o u n d B o o k s i n 
t h e Biological S c i e n c e s f o r t h e F i r s t T w o Y e a r s of 
L i b e r a l A r t s C o l l e g e s . " M . A . , C o l u m b i a , 1945. 

57 Moll, B o n i f a c e E . " B a s i c L i s t of Books i n So-
ciology f o r C a t h o l i c L i b e r a l A r t s C o l l e g e s . " M . S . , 
C o l u m b i a , 1942. 

5 8 G a n f i e l d , J a n e . " T h e M o s t D e s i r a b l e S e r i a l s in 
t h e F i e l d of Sociology f o r a F o u r Y e a r L i b e r a l A r t s 
College L i b r a r y . " M . A . , C o l u m b i a , 1943. 

5 9 S m i t h , M a u r i c e H . " S e l e c t i o n of C h e m i c a l E d u -
c a t i o n P e r i o d i c a l s in t h e C o l l e g e L i b r a r y . " M . A . , 
C o l u m b i a , 1942. 

00 R i e s n e r , M a r i a n n a . " T h e A c q u i s i t i o n of M a p 
M a t e r i a l f o r a College L i b r a r y . " M . A . , I l l i n o i s , 1948. 

324 COLLEGE AND RESEARCH LIBRARIES 



Problems of Nonprint Materials 

E x a m i n a t i o n of p e r i o d i c a l l i t e r a t u r e w i l l r e -

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

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

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

c r e a t e d b y t h e s e m a t e r i a l s , h o w e v e r . I n a d -

d i t i o n t o an e a r l y s t u d y o n t h e h a n d l i n g of 

s e r i a l s , 6 1 r e c e n t t h e s e s h a v e i n v e s t i g a t e d t h e 

p r o b l e m s of e d u c a t i o n a l f i l m s a n d r e c o r d s , 6 2 

a n d t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n of m i c r o f i l m in l i b r a r i e s 

in O h i o . 6 3 

Cataloging and Classification 

U n d e r t h e h e a d i n g of g e n e r a l a d m i n i s t r a -

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

i n g w i t h c e n t r a l i z a t i o n o f w o r k , 6 4 s i z e of 

s t a f f s , 6 5 a n d s a t i s f a c t i o n of c a t a l o g e r s in t h e i r 

w o r k . 6 6 T h e v a r i o u s s t u d i e s a t t h e L i b r a r y 

of C o n g r e s s b y L u c i l e M o r s c h a n d o t h e r s 

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

l o g i n g in c o l l e g e l i b r a r i e s . A n u m b e r of 

s t u d e n t s h a v e b e e n c o n c e r n e d w i t h t h e c h a r -

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

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

h o l d i n g s , 6 7 t h e p r a c t i c e of m a k i n g a n a l y t i c s , 6 8 

a n d t h e d i v i s i o n of t h e c a t a l o g . 6 9 A n o t h e r 

s t u d y h a s b e e n m a d e of t h e c o n t e n t a n d u s e of 

t h e s h e l f l i s t . 7 0 T h e i n v e s t i g a t i o n b y K n a p p 

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

t h e u s e o f t h e c a r d c a t a l o g in t h e c o l l e g e l i -

b r a r y . 7 1 S t u d i e s by A . E . M a r k l e y , L . C . 

M e r r i t t a n d W . H . B r e t t , n o w in p r o g r e s s a t 

t h e U n i v e r s i t y of C a l i f o r n i a , w i l l p r o b a b l y 

61 Rothman, F . B., and Ditzion, S. " P r e v a i l i n g 
Practices in H a n d l i n g Serials," College and Research 
Libraries, 1:165-69, March 1940. Summary of a 
longer study. 

62 Grass, Sister M a r y W i n i f r e d . " T h e Administra-
tion, Organization, and Distribution of Educational 
Films and Recordings in College L i b r a r i e s . " M.S., 
Columbia, 1947. 

03 Cornell, George. " A Survey of Microfilm in 
Some Ohio College and University L i b r a r i e s . " M.A., 
W e s t e r n Reserve, 1949. 

64 Dickson, J a n e t S. "Centralized Cataloging in 
College and University Libraries." M.S., Columbia, 
1948- . ^ 

60 Dean, Hazel. " S i z e of Cataloging Staffs in Aca-
demic L i b r a r i e s , " College and Research Libraries, 
7:52-57, J a n u a r y 1946. 

66 Herrick, M a r y D. " S t a t u s of W o r k e r Morale 
among College Catalogers," College and Research Li-
braries, 11:33-39, J a n u a r y 1950. 

67 Wimersberger, Evelyn G. "Methods of Indicating 
Serial Holdings in the Catalogs of College and Uni-
versity L i b r a r i e s . " M.S., Columbia, 1939. 

68 Meyer, Jean E . "Policy and Practice of Making 
of Analytics in the Catalogs of Medium-Sized Col-

• lege and University Libraries in New England and 
the Middle Atlantic States." M.S., Columbia, 1945. 

69 Thom, I a n W . " T h e Divided Catalog in College 
and University Libraries." M.S., Columbia, 1948. 

70 Wallach, Eileen L. " T h e Content and Present 
Use of the Shelflist in the Small College L i b r a r y . " 
M.S., Coumbia, 1943. 

71 Knapp, Patricia B. " T h e Subject Catalog in 
the College L i b r a r y : A n Investigation of Terminology." 

r M.A., Chicago, 1943. 

p r o v i d e n e w i n s i g h t s i n t o p r o b l e m s r e l a t i n g t o 

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

l e v e l . 

A c t u a l l y , l i t t l e s t u d y h a s b e e n m a d e of p r o b -

l e m s of c l a s s i f i c a t i o n . O n e s t u d e n t h a s a s s e m -

b l e d i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t s p e c i a l c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s in 

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 . 7 2 T h e p r o b -

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

s i d e r e d . 7 3 

Binding and Conservation 

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

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

p r o b l e m s f o r l i b r a r i a n s , t h e o n l y s t u d y p r e -

p a r e d d u r i n g t h e p e r i o d is M a r g a r e t H . 

H u g h e s ' " P e r i o d i c a l B i n d i n g S c h e d u l e s of 

I m p r o v e d R e a d e r S e r v i c e in U n i v e r s i t y a n d 

C o l l e g e L i b r a r i e s . " 7 4 

Circulation Work 

A s p e c t s of c i r c u l a t i o n w o r k c o n s i d e r e d by 

s t u d e n t s i n c l u d e g e n e r a l s t u d i e s of u s e , 7 5 t h e 

l e n d i n g of p i c t u r e s t o c o l l e g e s t u d e n t s , 7 6 a p -

p l i c a t i o n o f m i c r o f i l m t o i n t e r l i b r a r y l o a n , 7 7 

a n d p r o b l e m s of t h e r e s e r v e b o o k r o o m . 7 8 

C o l l e g e l i b r a r i a n s , l i k e p u b l i c l i b r a r i a n s , h a v e 

b e c o m e k e e n l y i n t e r e s t e d in t h e a p p l i c a t i o n of 

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

p h o t o g r a p h i c , in c i r c u l a t i o n w o r k . C o m p a r a -

t i v e s t u d i e s of t h e s e m a c h i n e s h a v e n o t b e e n 

m a d e by l i b r a r i a n s . 

Reference and Bibliography 

I n t h e a r e a of r e f e r e n c e a n d b i b l i o g r a p h y , 

it m a y be r e p e a t e d t h a t w i t h a f e w e x c e p t i o n s 

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

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

l i b r a r i a n as he d e a l s w i t h h i s s t u d e n t s a n d 

f a c u l t y m e m b e r s . S o m e of t h e l i b r a r y s c h o o l s , 

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

r a t i o n of b i b l i o g r a p h i e s . T h e s e s e l d o m g e t 

i n t o p r i n t , h o w e v e r . I t m i g h t be s u g g e s t e d 

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

72 Scott, M a r y E. "Special Classifications in Me-
dium Sized College and University L i b r a r i e s . " M . S . , 
Columbia, 1943. 

73 Tauber, M. F . "Recataloging and Reclassification 
of Materials in College and University Libraries." 
P h . D . , Chicago, 1941. 

74 M.S., Columbia, 1949. 
75 Steig, Lewis F. "Circulation Records and the 

Study of College-Library U s e , " Library Quarterly, 
12:94-108, J a n u a r y 1942. 

74 Whitten, Joseph N. " P i c t u r e Loans to College 
Students f o r Their Personal U s e . " M.S., Columbia, 
1949. 

77 Leonard, Richard. " A S t u d y of the Application 
of Microfilm to Interlibrary Loans in College and 
University Libraries." M.A., Denver, 1949. 

78 Lansberg, William R. " C u r r e n t T r e n d s in the 
Reserve Book Room." Paper, Simmons, 1949. 

OCTOBER., 1950 325 



either print, offset or other photographic re-
production, to provide access to such studies. 

A l t h o u g h there have been several studies 
relating to reference w o r k , 7 9 the only study 
directly relating to reference w o r k in the col-
lege library is Frances Cheney's " T h e R e f e r -
ence Function of the Southern College L i -
b r a r y " (Peabody, 1949). 

Instruction in the Use of the Library 
Allied to reference w o r k is the problem of 

instruction in the use of the library. T w o 
studies in this area may be called to your at-
tention. T h e first is A n n C o n w a y ' s "Readers' 
Advisory W o r k in the L i b e r a l A r t s College," 8 0 

and the second, Johanna B . Smith's " L i b r a r y 
Instruction in L i b e r a l A r t s C o l l e g e s . " 8 1 O n 
the basis of articles which have appeared in the 
literature it would seem that this particular 
aspect of college library service could be sub-
jected to a thorough examination. 

Evaluation of Collections and Services 
In a preceding section, attention w a s given 

to the appraisal of materials in the selecting 
process of the library. In addition to the 
relatively large number of such studies, there 
have been several investigations of college li-
brary holdings which might be noted. T h e s e 
include studies of collections in philosophy,82 

education83 and sociology,84 as w e l l as exami-
nations of recent noncurricular books85 and 
current publications received by college li-
braries.86 Such reports as that by Rugg, 8 7 

" M o d e r n A u t h o r s in N e w England College 
Libraries," provide helpful information to li-
brarians without necessarily involving evalua-
tion. 

T h e several surveys of libraries, of course, 
provide information to librarians of w h a t par-
ticular institutions have been doing in their 
collecting activities. Similarly, they also pro-

79 F o r example: Cole, Dorothy E . " A n A n a l y s i s of 
A d u l t R e f e r e n c e W o r k in L i b r a r i e s . " M . A . , Chicago, 
I 9 4 3 -

80 M . A . , Denver, 1948. 
81 M . A . , W e s t e r n Reserve, 1949. 

—>82 Falvey, Daniel P . " S u r v e y of H o l d i n g s in Phi-
losophy of R e p r e s e n t a t i v e College L i b r a r i e s , with a n 
A u t h o r i t a t i v e List of Books in the F i e l d . " M . S . , 
Columbia, 1940. 

83 B e r r y , Leona. " A S u r v e y of the E d u c a t i o n Col-
lection of the M a r y Reed L i b r a r y of the U n i v e r s i t y 
of D e n v e r . " M . A . , D e n v e r , 1949. 

84 Logsdon, R . H . " T h e I n s t r u c t i o n a l L i t e r a t u r e 
of Sociology and the A d m i n i s t r a t i o n of College Li-
b r a r y Book Collections." P h . D . , Chicago, 1942. 

85 Hoskinson, Alice L . " R e c e n t N o n - c u r r i c u l a r 
Books in College L i b r a r i e s . " M . A . , Chicago, 1943. 

88 K r e h b i e l , Leona G. " C u r r e n t P u b l i c a t i o n s a n d 
College L i b r a r y Accessions." M . A . , Chicago, 1941. 

87 College and Research Libraries, 6:54-57, Decem-
ber 1944. 

vide evaluations of services. Several surveys 
of particular institutions which have appeared 
in College and Research Libraries give other 
estimates of collections and services. 

Checklists issued by the various accrediting 
associations have been used constantly by col-
lege librarians in developing their collections. 
Eileen M . T h o r n t o n has prepared a study 
which seeks to re-evaluate the N o r t h C e n t r a l 
Association checklist holdings of a group of 
college libraries by weighted values instead of 
by a numerical count.88 T h i s study represents 
a distinct departure in the approach to check-
lists. Gosnell 8 9 and Stieg90 have analyzed 
problems of obsolescence and evaluation by 
use, respectively. 

Buildings and Equipment 
In the matter of library buildings, one may 

find in the literature a large number of de-
scriptions of individual libraries, as w e l l as 
statements concerning new ideas and princi-
ples of construction. In 1946, Reynolds made 
a study of university library buildings in the 
United States (1890-1939). 9 1 Earlier, A n -
drews, considered trends in college library 
buildings,92 and Buchanan studied library 
buildings of teachers colleges.93 T h e Chicago 
Institute of 1947 contained a number of papers 
which have application to college libraries as 
w e l l as to other types of libraries.9 4 T h i s is 
also true of the recent book by Burchard and 
others.95 Undoubtedly, w e have not reached 
the end of studies of buildings. 

F e w studies of equipment have appeared. 
T h e use of photographic and other equipment 
in circulation w o r k has resulted in a number of 
articles in journals. A t the present time, a 
study by Blasingame on the use of I . B . M . 
equipment in libraries is under way, 9 6 while 
M c G a w is investigating the use and applica-

88 T h o r n t o n , Eileen M . " T h e North C e n t r a l Asso-
ciation on Check-list: Some E x p e r i m e n t s in I t s Appli-
c a t i o n . " M . A . , Chicago, 1945. 

89 Gosnell, Charles F . "Obsolescence of Books in 
College L i b r a r i e s , " College and Research Libraries, 
5:115-25, M a r c h 1944. 

90 Stieg, L . F . " T e c h n i q u e for E v a l u a t i n g the Col-
lege L i b r a r y Book Collection," Library Quarterly, 
13:33-34, J a n u a r y , 1943. 

91 Reynolds, H . M . " U n i v e r s i t y L i b r a r y Buildings 
in the U n i t e d States, 1890-1939." M . A . , Illinois, 1946. 

92 A n d r e w s , T h e l m a . " T r e n d s in College L i b r a r y 
B u i l d i n g s . " M . A . , Chicago, 1945. 

93 B u c h a n a n , Lillian M . " L i b r a r y B u i l d i n g s of 
T e a c h e r s Colleges, 1932-1942." M . A . , Columbia, 1944. 

94 F u s s i e r , H . H . , ed. Library Buildings for Library 
Service. Chicago, A . L . A . , 1948 

96 B u r c h a r d , J . E., etc. Planning the University 
Library Building. P r i n c e t o n , P r i n c e t o n U n i v e r s i t y 
P r e s s , 1949. 

90 Blasingame, R a l p h U . " T h e Applications of 
I . B . M . in L i b r a r i e s . " ( I n process at Columbia.) 

326 COLLEGE AND RESEARCH LIBRARIES 



t i o n of m a r g i n a l p u n c h e d c a r d s in 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 . 9 7 

Cooperation 

A s p e c t s of c o o p e r a t i o n a r e i n c l u d e d in s p e -
c i a l i z a t i o n in a c q u i s i t i o n s p r o g r a m s , in c o n -
t r i b u t i o n s t o u n i o n c a t a l o g s a n d b i b l i o g r a p h i c 
c e n t e r s , in i n t e r l i b r a r y l e n d i n g , a n d r e g i o n a l 
c o o r d i n a t i o n . 9 8 College and Research Librar-
ies h a s d u r i n g t h e p a s t 10 y e a r s p u b l i s h e d 
a r t i c l e s in a l l of t h e s e a r e a s . W h i l e t h e y 
h a v e n o t b e e n e x h a u s t i v e , t h e y h a v e a d d e d 
t o o u r k n o w l e d g e of t h e v a r i o u s a c t i v i t i e s a n d 
o p p o r t u n i t i e s in c o o p e r a t i o n . C o l l e g e l i b r a r i e s 
in t h e N e w Y o r k m e t r o p o l i t a n a r e a h a v e b e e n 
p a r t i c i p a t i n g in d i s c u s s i o n s o n c o o p e r a t i o n h e l d 
d u r i n g t h e p a s t t h r e e y e a r s . 

Reading Problems 

U n d e r t h e r u b r i c of r e a d i n g p r o b l e m s m a y 
b e l i s t e d s t u d i e s r e l a t i n g t o b o t h r e a d i n g a n d 
o t h e r u s e of t h e l i b r a r y . A m o n g r e c e n t 
s t u d i e s a r e t h o s e w h i c h i n v o l v e s t u d e n t s a s 
a g r o u p , 9 9 f r e s h m e n , 1 0 0 w o m e n s t u d e n t s , 1 0 1 

a l u m n a ? , 1 0 2 a n d f a c u l t y m e m b e r s . 1 0 3 T h e u s e 

97 McGaw, Howard F . " M a r g i n a l Punched Cards— 
Their Use in College and University Libraries." 
( E d . D . , in process at Columbia Teachers College.) 

08 Hoole, W . S. " L i b r a r y Cooperation in the N o r t h 
T e x a s Region," College and Research Libraries, 5: 
3 2'7-3o, September 1944; Sampley, A. M. " F i v e 
Years of L i b r a r y Cooperation in the North T e x a s 
Region," College and Research Libraries, 10:24-26, 68, 
J a n u a r y 1949. 

89 Willoughby, Mabel E . " L i b r a r y Service at 
H o w a r d College in Relation to the Reading of Faculty 
and Students. M.S., Columbia, 1941; Ream, Bessie 
E. " T h e Reading of Students and Faculty at Chi-
cago Teachers College." M.A., Chicago, 1943; H o r t , 
Margaret J . " T h r e e Areas of S t u d e n t Use at Russell 
Sage College, 1940-1944." M.S., Columbia, 1947; 
Connor, E. Faye. "Reading 'Interests of Huntington 
College S t u d e n t s . " M.S., Michigan, 1947; Kavanagh, 
Sister Clarence Marie. " A Study of Non-curricular 
Reading at Marian College." M.A., Chicago, 1948; 
McLeod, Joyce. " P l e a s u r e Reading of the College 
S t u d e n t s . " M.A., Denver, 1948; Todd, Ann M. 
" U n d e r g r a d u a t e Student Reading at the University of 
Missouri." M.A., Chicago, 1948; Rappel, Josephine 
E . " S t u d e n t Use of the College L i b r a r y and I t s Re-
lation to the Student Use of the Public L i b r a r y . " 
M.S., Columbia, 1949; M a r y Elvira, Sister. " H o w 
Much Do College Students R e a d ? " Catholic Library 
World, 17:271-76, May 1946; Thorne, J . A. "Anal-
ysis of College Student Book Loans in Relation to 
Intelligence Ratings and Reading I n t e r e s t s : A S t u d y 
at Plymouth Teachers College." M.S., Columbia, 
1946; Smith, G. Donald. " N a t u r e of Student Read-
ing." P h . D . , Chicago, 1946; Bell, M a r t h a S. " U s e 
of Randolph-Macon W o m a n ' s College L i b r a r y as 
Shown by Student L o a n s . " M.A., Columbia, 1942. 

100 Kemp, Frances E. " F r e s h m a n Reading in a 
Progressive College." M.S., Columbia, 1941. 

101 Melania Grace, S i s t e r . " A n Analysis of the 
E x t r a - C u r r i c u l a r Reading of College W o m e n in Re-
lation to T h e i r Personality T r a i t s and Other Charac-
teristics." M.A., Chicago, 1942. 

102 Tiplady, Charlotte M. "Reading and Reading 
I n t e r e s t s of Alumnae of Hollins College." M.S., Co-
lumbia, 1940. 

103 Nicholsen, Margaret E. "College Faculty Read-
ing and P o p u l a r Books." M.A., Chicago, 1940. 

OCTOBER., 1950 

of r e a d i n g m a t e r i a l a s a f a c t o r in a t t i t u d e s of 
c o l l e g e s t u d e n t s c o n c e r n i n g s o c i a l p r o b l e m s 
w a s a l s o i n v e s t i g a t e d . 1 0 4 P r i m a r i l y , t h e 
m e t h o d o l o g y of t h e r e a d i n g s t u d i e s is t h e 
a n a l y s i s of c i r c u l a t i o n r e c o r d s o r t h e m a n i p u -
l a t i o n of d a t a o b t a i n e d t h r o u g h q u e s t i o n n a i r e 
a n d i n t e r v i e w . 

Summary 

T h i s r e v i e w of s t u d i e s of t h e l a s t 10 y e a r s 
is c o n c e r n e d w i t h m o r e t h a n 100 s t u d i e s w h i c h 
h a v e b e e n m a d e of p r o b l e m s c o n c e r n i n g t h e 
l i b e r a l a r t s c o l l e g e l i b r a r y . A n o t h e r 5 0 o r so 
s t u d i e s c o u l d b e a d d e d if t h e t e a c h e r s c o l l e g e 
l i b r a r i e s , j u n i o r c o l l e g e l i b r a r i e s , a n d u n i v e r -
s i t y l i b r a r i e s w e r e i n c l u d e d . T h e s e f i g u r e s e x -
c l u d e t h e n u m e r o u s b i b l i o g r a p h i c a l s t u d i e s of 
a d e s c r i p t i v e a n d e n u m e r a t i v e t y p e . H i s t o r i -
c a l s t u d i e s , a n d i n v e s t i g a t i o n s of p r o b l e m s of 
p e r s o n n e l , c o l l e c t i o n s a n d u s e p r e d o m i n a t e . 

O n e final w o r d o n m e t h o d o l o g y is p e r t i n e n t . 
M a n y of t h e s t u d i e s h a v e b e e n c a r r i e d o n 
t h r o u g h t h e d e v i c e of o b t a i n i n g d a t a by q u e s -
t i o n n a i r e s . M a n y c o l l e g e a n d o t h e r l i b r a r i a n s 
a r e a n n o y e d b y t h e n e v e r - e n d i n g q u e s t i o n -
n a i r e s a n d c h e c k l i s t s w h i c h c o m e t o t h e m f r o m 
s t u d e n t s w o r k i n g o n t h e s e s a n d d i s s e r t a t i o n s . 
L i b r a r i a n s i n t e r e s t e d in s u b s t a n t i a l a n s w e r s 
t o q u e s t i o n s d i s t u r b i n g t h e m a l s o n e e d t o u s e 
t h e q u e s t i o n n a i r e t o o b t a i n i n f o r m a t i o n . C o r -
r e c t l y u s e d , h o w e v e r , t h e q u e s t i o n n a i r e is a n 
a p p r o p r i a t e i n s t r u m e n t f o r g a t h e r i n g d a t a . 

O n t h e b a s i s of q u e r i e s w h i c h h a v e b e e n 
n o t e d , t h e r e s e e m t o b e s o m e l i b r a r i a n s w h o 
a p p a r e n t l y h a v e n o t t a k e n f u l l a d v a n t a g e of 
m a n y of t h e s t u d i e s m a d e . T h e n e e d f o r d i s -
s e m i n a t i o n of findings of s t u d i e s of g e n e r a l i n -
t e r e s t h a s b e e n e m p h a s i z e d by t h e C o m m i t t e e 
o n R e s e a r c h of t h e A s s o c i a t i o n of A m e r i c a n 
L i b r a r y S c h o o l s . S o f a r a s p o s s i b l e , s t u d i e s 
a r e l i s t e d in College and Research Libraries, 
a n d a n e f f o r t is m a d e t o p r e s e n t in p a r t i a l 
f o r m s o m e of t h e s t u d i e s . O t h e r l i b r a r y p e -
r i o d i c a l s a l s o c o n t a i n r e p o r t s of s t u d i e s of c o l -
l e g e l i b r a r y p r o b l e m s . T h e A . C . R . L . office in 
C h i c a g o h a s b e e n c o l l e c t i n g s i g n i f i c a n t d o c u -
m e n t s r e f l e c t i n g c u r r e n t p r a c t i c e s in c o l l e g e , 
u n i v e r s i t y a n d r e f e r e n c e l i b r a r i e s , a v a i l a b l e 
o n l o a n t o m e m b e r s of A . C . R . L . A r e s u m e 
of t h e m a t e r i a l s c o l l e c t e d , p r e p a r e d by O r w i n 
R u s h , a p p e a r s in t h i s i s s u e of College and 
Research Libraries. , 

104 Gordon, E d n a C. " R e a d i n g Materials as a Fac-
tor in the Attitudes of College Students concerning 
Certain Social Problems." M.S., Columbia, 1948. 

327