ACRL News Issue (B) of College & Research Libraries 51 quire approximately 2,000 feet of shelf space; the same volumes reproduced in ultramicrofiche could be contained in six small card trays that would fit easily on an ordinary bridge table. Ultramicrofiche is similar to microfiche, the form of document storage and retrieval now in wide use in government and industry. How­ ever, microfiche generally contains only 60 to 100 images per card; the ultramicrofiche can contain up to 3,000 images in the same space, at reductions of 150X. W ith the use of a UMF reader, the image is projected from inside the reader onto a viewing screen at normal, or slightly larger-than-normal, page size. The user is able to find and read one image at a time by moving the fiche until identifying coordinates are located, or he can browse through the pages, referring to the page numbers displayed on the screen. Maxi­ mum usefulness will be assured by the crea­ tion of special retrieval and research tools. These include catalogs in four forms—mag­ netic tape, book form, ultramicrofiche, and standard catalog cards—based on Library of Congress classifications, as well as specially- constructed topical bibliographies and research guides. UM F has the potential of providing every student and faculty member w ith his own portable reader. In the future, a student may be able to acquire a sizable library of selected titles in a package no larger than a standard dictation machine, complete with reader and ultramicrofiche, weighing less than five pounds. Some 20,000 volumes will be represented in the first library in the series, The Library of American Civilization, Beginnings to 1914, to be published in the fall of 1970. The UMF Library of American Civilization will range over all aspects of America’s culture, treating every field. I t will cover every period of Ameri­ can life and literature up to 1914, and will include all points of view—from those of the framers of th e Constitution to those of the Indians, Negroes, Mexicans, Orientals, and other groups th at have played im portant parts in the shaping of American society. Future UMF Libraries from Britannica will include collections on Medieval Civilization, English History, International Affairs, Science, Tech­ nology and Art. C ontent of the Britannica UM F Libraries will not include material from th e Encyclopaedia Britannica itself. W ith the basic Britannica UM F Library of American Civilization, and w ith each sub­ sequent library in the series, an institution will receive the ultramicrofiches, five sets of book-form catalogs, five sets of book-form bibliographies and research guides, and 20 sets of ultramicrofiche catalogs. Magnetic tape catalogs and standard card catalogs are op­ tional items. Reading and reproduction equip­ ment will be purchased direct from th e manu­ facturer. Britannica will be conducting sem­ inars at various locations across th e country over the next several months to provide college officials with demonstrations of the ultramicro­ fiche technology and to give details of the first library in the Britannica series. • T he publication of the Catalogue of Hebrew Books of th e H a r v a r d U n i v e r s i t y library was celebrated October 23, 1968, at a reception held in the W idener Memorial Rooms. Professor Harry A. Wolfson, N athan L ittauer Professor of Hebrew Literature and Philosophy, Emeritus, and Honorary Curator of Hebraica and Judaica in the H arvard Col­ lege library, was presented a copy of the Catalogue in recognition of his role as founder of the collection some forty years ago. The publication of the six-volume Catalogue, a photographic reproduction in book form of the 75,000 cards in the library’s Hebrew Card Catalogue, is a major event in Hebrew bib­ liography, and th e Catalogue is an invaluable reference tool for students and scholars through­ out the world. • The academic libraries section of the South D akota Library Association has just published its South Dakota Union L ist of Serials. This union list serves as a finding tool for periodical and serial holdings in fifteen public and private colleges and universities. The 521 pages of the document were pre­ pared through the use of the IBM 1130 com­ puter system. Libraries interested in purchas­ ing copies may write to James L. Dertien, Norman B. Mears Library, Sioux Falls Col­ lege, Sioux Falls, S.D. It is available unbound for $12.00. ■ ■ VERNER CLAPP HONORED News comes from Tokyo that Verner W. Clapp, LC’s chief assistant librarian in 1947- 56 and President of the Council on Library Resources in 1956-67, has been awarded an Order of the Sacred Treasure by the Govern­ m ent of Japan. The National D iet Librarian, Yoshikatsu Kono, presented Mr. Clapp with the magnificent gold and silver medal and the handsome scroll th at accompanies the award in ceremonies at the N D L on November 12, while Mr. and Mrs. Clapp were guests of the N D L during their recent visit to Japan to at­ tend the dedication ceremonies of the NDL. The Orders of the Sacred Treasure were insti­ tuted in eight classes in 1888 for men and women who have rendered “excellent services” to Japan. T he honor was aw arded to Mr. Clapp—now Consultant, Council on Library Resources, Inc.—in recognition of his contri­ butions to the planning and development of the National D iet Library in 1947-48. ■ ■