College and Research Libraries B y A N D R E W D . O S B O R N The N e w England Deposit Library As assistant librarian in charge of the catalog department at the Harvard Col- lege Library, Mr. Osborn has observed the need for storage facilities in and around Boston and has been in close touch with the deposit library project as it has developed. THE NEW ENGLAND D e p o s i t L i b r a r y , w h i c h is s i t u a t e d in t h e p a r t of B o s - t o n k n o w n as A l l s t o n , w a s o p e n e d M a r c h 2, 1 9 4 2 . I t s f i r s t l i b r a r i a n w a s R o b e r t L . W o r k , w h o is n o w in the N a v y . C o n - s t r u c t i o n w a s s t a r t e d in J u l y 1 9 4 1 , so t h a t , w h i l e p r i o r i t i e s a f f e c t e d t h e b u i l d i n g in s e v e r a l m a j o r respects a n d in m a n y m a t - t e r s of d e t a i l , c o n t r a c t s w e r e in g e n e r a l f i l l e d r e a s o n a b l y w e l l . I t w a s i n d e e d f o r t u n a t e t h a t t h e d e p o s i t l i b r a r y w a s a v a i l a b l e f o r use s h o r t l y a f t e r the o u t s e t of the w a r , f o r it has r e l i e v e d s o m e of t h e o v e r c r o w d i n g in t h e c o o p e r a t - i n g l i b r a r i e s at a t i m e w h e n c o n d i t i o n s of w o r k m a d e s u c h r e l i e f d o u b l y d e s i r a b l e . A t H a r v a r d , f o r e x a m p l e , t h e A r m y or N a v y h a s t a k e n o v e r a n u m b e r of b u i l d - i n g s c o n t a i n i n g l i b r a r i e s o r has o c c u p i e d space in a l i b r a r y in s u c h a w a y t h a t the books h a d t o be s h i f t e d at v e r y s h o r t no- tice. M a n y of the b o o k s t h a t w e r e a f f e c t e d h a v e been s t o r e d in the deposit l i b r a r y , t h o u g h m o s t of t h e m w i l l n o t r e m a i n t h e r e a f t e r the end of t h e w a r . T h e business a n d l a w school l i b r a r i e s a r e t w o of t h e d e p a r t m e n t a l l i b r a r i e s w h i c h h a v e sent s o m e of t h e i r m a t e r i a l t o m a k e r o o m f o r the s e r v i c e t r a i n i n g p r o g r a m . A n e n t i r e c o l l e c t i o n w a s sent t o the deposit l i b r a r y w h e n the F r e s h m a n U n i o n w a s t a k e n o v e r by the N a v y . T h e u n i o n h a d h o u s e d the M o d e r n L a n g u a g e C e n t e r , w h e r e t h e r e w e r e s e v e r a l t h o u s a n d b o o k s a n d p e r i o d i - cals, c h i e f l y r e c e n t F r e n c h a n d G e r m a n m a t e r i a l . T h e s e b o o k s are n o w s t o r e d f o r the d u r a t i o n a n d c a n be b r o u g h t b a c k w h e n e v e r t h e y a r e n e e d e d a g a i n . A c - c o m m o d a t i o n has been f o u n d s i m i l a r l y f o r t h e l i b r a r i e s t h a t s o m e of the f a c u l t y m e m - bers, c a l l e d i n t o g o v e r n m e n t o r w a r s e r v - ice, h a d in t h e i r offices a n d studies. W i t h o u t t h e deposit l i b r a r y t o c a r e f o r s u c h items, the l i b r a r y staff a t H a r v a r d w o u l d h a v e h a d to c o n t e n d w i t h g r a v e p r o b l e m s of s t o r a g e . T h e m a i n l i b r a r y w o u l d h a v e been c a l l e d u p o n t o a s s u m e m u c h of the b u r d e n a t a t i m e w h e n it w a s a l r e a d y c r i t i c a l l y c r o w d e d . S u c h a s i t u a - t i o n w o u l d p r o b a b l y h a v e m e a n t t h a t t h e b o o k s w o u l d h a v e r e m a i n e d b o x e d u p f o r t h e d u r a t i o n , w h e r e a s n o w t h e y c a n be s h e l v e d , s e r v i c e d , a n d c a r e d f o r p r o p e r l y in the deposit l i b r a r y . N o t a l l the m a t e r i a l s t o r e d t o m e e t w a r e x i g e n c i e s has been books. W h e n t h e N a v y t o o k o v e r d o r m i t o r i e s a t t h e H a r - v a r d B u s i n e s s S c h o o l a n d i n s t a l l e d d o u b l e - d e c k e r beds, the s i n g l e beds w e r e s t o r e d on one l e v e l of t h e deposit l i b r a r y w h i c h h a d n o t y e t been s h e l v e d . T h e s e beds h a v e since been r e m o v e d f o r use, b u t t h e i r p l a c e has been t a k e n by f u r n i t u r e b e l o n g i n g t o t h e F o g g A r t M u s e u m . E v e n b e f o r e t h e b u i l d i n g w a s o f f i c i a l l y o p e n e d it w a s c a l l e d o n t o s e r v e a w a r DECEMBER, 1943 21 f u n c t i o n , f o r in J a n u a r y 1 9 4 2 it b e c a m e the h e a d q u a r t e r s of t h e r e g i o n a l V i c t o r y B o o k C a m p a i g n . F o r e i g h t e e n m o n t h s v i c t o r y books w e r e r e c e i v e d , s t o r e d , s o r t e d , a n d sent o u t f r o m t h e d e p o s i t l i b r a r y , t h e b a s e m e n t a n d one o t h e r floor b e i n g g i v e n o v e r to t h e c a m p a i g n . T h i s s u m m e r t h e v i c t o r y b o o k s w e r e r e m o v e d to the B o s t o n P u b l i c L i b r a r y because of t h e d i f f i c u l t y of g e t t i n g v o l u n t e e r h e l p to A l l s t o n w i t h o u t the use of a u t o m o b i l e s . T h e A r m y h a s o c c u p i e d t h e f i r s t s t a c k l e v e l f o r a y e a r , u t i l i z i n g t h e space f o r r e s e a r c h l a b o r a t o r i e s . S i n c e t h e s t a c k s w e r e w i n d o w l e s s , t h e A r m y a s k e d f o r a n d w a s g r a n t e d p e r m i s s i o n t o c o n s t r u c t w i n - d o w s o n this l e v e l ; it has a l s o p u t in a d o o r to p r o v i d e a s e p a r a t e o u t s i d e e n t r a n c e to its q u a r t e r s . T h e s e w i n d o w s a n d t h e d o o r w i l l p r e s u m a b l y be r e m o v e d a t t h e end of t h e w a r . The Building and Its Equipment T h e d e s i g n of t h e b u i l d i n g is s i m p l i c i t y i t s e l f , f o r t h e w h o l e s t r u c t u r e is s e v e r e l y u t i l i t a r i a n . T h e s t r u c t u r e is l i t t l e m o r e t h a n a b r i c k s h e l l , e i g h t y - e i g h t by s i x t y - f o u r f e e t , s u r r o u n d i n g an i n e x p e n s i v e t y p e of s t a c k w i t h six l e v e l s . T h e floors f o r e a c h l e v e l a r e of r e i n f o r c e d c o n c r e t e w i t h s u p p o r t i n g p i l l a r s . A l l the s p a c e is g i v e n o v e r t o s h e l v i n g e x c e p t f o r a f i v e - f o o t cen- t e r aisle. T h e o n l y w i n d o w s in t h e b o o k - s t a c k a r e a t t h e e n d s of t h i s aisle, b o t h f r o n t a n d r e a r . T h r e e q u a r t e r s of the s h e l v i n g p r o v i d e d is f o r books, the rest f o r n e w s p a p e r s . B e t w e e n t h e b o o k r a n g e s t h e aisles a r e t w e n t y - s i x i n c h e s w i d e a n d be- t w e e n the n e w s p a p e r r a n g e s , t h i r t y inches. D u e to w a r c o n d i t i o n s , o n l y o n e l e v e l c o u l d be b u i l t w i t h steel. W o o d e n s h e l v e s h a v e been p r o v i d e d f o r t h e o t h e r floors. T h e l u m b e r has been c u t a n d the u p r i g h t s i n s t a l l e d , b u t t h e s h e l v e s a r e p u t in p l a c e o n l y w h e n t h e r e is need f o r t h e m . T h e w o o d e n s h e l v e s a r e n o t q u i t e as s a t i s f a c - t o r y as steel w o u l d h a v e b e e n , b u t t h e y s e r v e v e r y w e l l . A f i r e - r e s i s t a n t p a i n t w a s used on t h e m . B o t h t h e steel a n d the w o o d e n s h e l v i n g a r e a d j u s t a b l e , b u t o n l y w i t h d i f f i c u l t y . T h i s is one r e a s o n w h y t h e s h e l v e s a r e n o t i n s e r t e d u n t i l t h e r e is need f o r t h e m . A t t h a t t i m e the c a r p e n t e r c a n f i x the w o o d e n s h e l v e s a t the r e q u i r e d h e i g h t s . I n these c i r c u m s t a n c e s a l l o w a n c e has to be m a d e f o r t h e f a c t t h a t the s h e l v e s o n b o t h sides of a d o u b l e r a n g e h a v e to be set a t e x a c t l y the same h e i g h t . T h e w o o d e n s h e l v e s a r e s u p p o r t e d by c l e a t s w h i c h t a k e a w a y a c e r t a i n a m o u n t of t h e h e i g h t at e a c h e n d . F i x e d s h e l v e s of t h i s t y p e , l i k e t h e n a r r o w aisles, a r e a h a n d i c a p in the f i r s t s h e l v i n g of books. T h e r e a f t e r this d i s a d v a n t a g e t e n d s t o d i s a p p e a r , since use of the s h e l v e s is s l i g h t a n d the b o o k s w i l l n o t be m o v e d f r o m one l o c a t i o n to a n o t h e r . I n f r o n t of the b o o k s t a c k t h e r e is a u n i t c o n s i s t i n g of a r e a d i n g r o o m , s h i p p i n g r o o m , a n d w o r k r o o m s . T h i s u n i t is o n l y o n e s t o r y in h e i g h t , w i t h the w o r k r o o m s o c c u p y i n g the b a s e m e n t . T h e r e a d i n g r o o m h a s a c c o m m o d a t i o n f o r t w e n t y r e a d - ers, w h i c h is l i k e l y t o p r o v e a m p l e f o r a v e r y c o n s i d e r a b l e t i m e . T h e s h i p p i n g r o o m c o u l d w e l l h a v e been l a r g e r f o r the i n i t i a l s h i p m e n t s . C o n g e s t i o n t h e r e , h o w - e v e r , h a s been d u e in no s m a l l m e a s u r e t o t h e v e r y l a r g e q u a n t i t i e s of v i c t o r y b o o k s t h a t k e p t a r r i v i n g a l o n g w i t h m a t e r i a l be- i n g r e g u l a r l y d e p o s i t e d . T h e b u i l d i n g is n o t air c o n d i t i o n e d b u t h a s f o r c e d v e n t i l a t i o n . F o r e s i g h t w a s dis- p l a y e d in t h e i n s t a l l a t i o n of a c o n v e r t i b l e oil o r c o a l f u r n a c e . O i l w a s used u n t i l c o n v e r s i o n b e c a m e n e c e s s a r y u n d e r w a r - t i m e c o n d i t i o n s , a n d t h e n t h e s y s t e m w a s c h a n g e d to c o a l . T h e c a p a c i t y is s u f f i c i e n t 22 COLLEGE AND RESEARCH LIBRARIES to t a k e c a r e of the second u n i t w h e n t h a t is e r e c t e d . T h e r e is space f o r a p p r o x i m a t e l y e i g h t h u n d r e d t h o u s a n d b o o k s p l u s a c o n s i d e r - a b l e n u m b e r of n e w s p a p e r s . A t the r a t e the b u i l d i n g is b e i n g f i l l e d u p , a second u n i t w i l l be r e q u i r e d w i t h i n the n e x t f i v e y e a r s . T h i s n e w u n i t m a y w e l l h a v e a n u m b e r of f e a t u r e s w h i c h w e r e n o t c o n - sidered d e s i r a b l e w h e n the p r e s e n t b u i l d - i n g w a s p l a n n e d . N e w f e a t u r e s m a y i n c l u d e special p r o v i s i o n f o r n o n b o o k m a - t e r i a l s , c e r t a i n g i f t c o l l e c t i o n s w h i c h m u s t be h e l d t o g e t h e r as u n i t s , e t c . T h e p r e s e n t u n i t cost $ 2 1 2 , 5 0 0 f o r the b u i l d i n g a n d its e q u i p m e n t , i n c l u d i n g the s h e l v i n g on five floors. I f b u i l d i n g costs do n o t increase g r e a t l y , a second u n i t , w h i c h w o u l d n o t need a r e a d i n g r o o m , s h i p p i n g r o o m , or h e a t i n g u n i t , c o u l d be b u i l t f o r a b o u t $ 1 7 5 , 0 0 0 . E a c h c o o p e r a t - i n g l i b r a r y r e n t s a c e r t a i n a m o u n t of space. T h e r e n t a l c h a r g e f o r a section e i g h t f e e t , t h r e e inches in h e i g h t is $ 5 . 5 0 per a n n u m or t w e n t y c e n t s a f o o t . T h i s is e n o u g h t o t a k e c a r e of a l l c h a r g e s , w h i c h i n c l u d e i n t e r e s t a n d a m o r t i z a t i o n , m a i n t e n a n c e , a n d s e r v i c e . I f t w o t h i r d s of the b u i l d i n g is r e n t e d , a n d m o r e t h a n t h a t is a l r e a d y , t h e r e is a s u r p l u s w h i c h m a y be used to p a y off the m o r t g a g e m o r e r a p i d l y , to re- d u c e the r e n t paid by the c o o p e r a t i n g l i b r a r i e s , or to l a y aside to h e l p b u i l d a n e w u n i t . Shelving the Books E a c h c o o p e r a t i n g l i b r a r y is responsible f o r s h i p p i n g a n d s h e l v i n g its o w n m a t e r i a l a n d also f o r filing its c a r d s in the deposit l i b r a r y c a t a l o g . T h e p r o c e d u r e in each l i b r a r y is to select b o o k s s u i t a b l e f o r de- posit, c h a n g e w h a t e v e r r e c o r d s m a y be n e c e s s a r y ( m a k i n g an e x t r a c a r d f o r t h e deposit l i b r a r y if need b e ) , p a c k the b o o k s in b o x e s t h a t a r e p r o v i d e d by the deposit l i b r a r y , a r r a n g e f o r t r a n s p o r t a t i o n , a n d t h e n u n p a c k and s h e l v e the books. A t r u c k l o a d consists of a b o u t fifty boxes, a n d it h a s been f o u n d t h a t e i g h t to ten b o x e s c a n be p a c k e d in an h o u r . N e w s p a p e r s a r e shipped w i t h o u t b e i n g b o x e d . S i n c e M a r c h 1 9 4 2 H a r v a r d C o l l e g e L i b r a r y has m a i n t a i n e d a s t e a d y s c h e d u l e on this basis. O t h e r l i b r a r i e s h a v e shipped m a t e r i a l as the o c c a s i o n arose. F i v e of the c o o p e r a t i n g l i b r a r i e s h a v e a d o p t e d a c l a s s i f i c a t i o n b y size, a d d i n g a r u n n i n g n u m b e r to the c l a s s m a r k w h i c h d e s i g n a t e s the h e i g h t of a b o o k . T h e f o l - l o w i n g is t h e c l a s s i f i c a t i o n w h i c h H a r v a r d C o l l e g e L i b r a r y , M a s s a c h u s e t t s I n s t i t u t e of T e c h n o l o g y , a n d S i m m o n s C o l l e g e a r e u s i n g . T h e B o s t o n A t h e n a e u m a n d T u f t s h a v e used e x a c t l y the same c l a s s i f i c a t i o n , o n l y s u b s t i t u t i n g the l e t t e r s " A T " or " T U " f o r " K . " T h e c l a s s i f i c a t i o n is as f o l l o w s : K C up to and including 6 1 " K D over 61" and up to K E over 7 ! " and up to 8 3 " K F over 8£" and up to 9 I " K G over 9 V and up to i l l " K H over 1 1 1 " and up to 1 3 ! " K J over 1 3 ! " and up to 1 9 " K N newspapers and books over 1 9 " K P C - K P J poor paper, etc. K S C - K S J incomplete serials T h e m e a s u r e m e n t s w i l l p r o b a b l y be ad- j u s t e d w h e n a n e w u n i t w i t h steel s h e l v i n g is e r e c t e d . T h i s c l a s s i f i c a t i o n w a s a r r i v e d a t s i m p l y by figuring the d i s t a n c e t h e r e w o u l d be b e t w e e n s h e l v e s i f , f o r e x a m p l e , ten s h e l v e s w e r e to be used to a s e c t i o n . W i t h a n u m b e r of the classes t h e r e m i g h t be s e v e r a l inches of w a s t e space in e a c h s e c t i o n if it c o n t a i n e d o n l y b o o k s b e l o n g i n g to o n e class. A c t u a l l y no w a s t - a g e o c c u r s , f o r l a r g e r books h a v e been p u t on the b o t t o m shelf w h e r e v e r s u c h a situa- DECEMBER, 1943 23 tion a r o s e . S h e l v i n g d e v i c e s of a l l k i n d s a b o u n d , i n c l u d i n g v e r t i c a l a n d h o r i z o n t a l r i b b o n i n g . N o a t t e m p t h a s been m a d e t o k e e p w h o l e classes of b o o k s t o g e t h e r o r w h o l e r u n s of serials, u n l e s s t h e y h a p p e n to be d e p o s i t e d a t t h e s a m e t i m e . A de- t a i l e d s t a c k d i r e c t o r y e n a b l e s classes to be l o c a t e d r e a d i l y , e v e n t h o u g h t h e y a r e b r o k e n u p i n t o s e v e r a l p a r t s . I n t h e case of n e w s p a p e r s , w h e r e n o c l a s s i f i c a t i o n has been used a n d w h e r e t h e t i t l e s w e r e n o t shipped in a l p h a b e t i c a l o r d e r , t h e d i r e c t o r y g i v e s the l o c a t i o n of e a c h t i t l e . V e r y l a r g e n e w s p a p e r s h a v e been s h e l v e d in the e n d sections o n t h e c e n t e r aisle. T h e y a r e t u r n e d s i d e w i s e so t h a t t h e t i t l e s c a n be r e a d f r o m t h e c e n t e r aisle. S o m e b o o k s in end s e c t i o n s h a v e b e e n p i l e d o n t h e i r sides, so t h a t t h e i r t i t l e s c a n be r e a d f r o m the c e n t e r aisle. T h i s g i v e s g r e a t e r s h e l v i n g c a p a c i t y , t h u s m a k i n g a v i r t u e of a dis- a d v a n t a g e a r i s i n g f r o m t h e use of w o o d e n s h e l v e s . T h e i n i t i a l s h e l v i n g of b o o k s is m o r e d i f f i c u l t t h a n w o u l d be t h e case in r e g u l a r b o o k s t a c k s . O n e f a c t o r is the n a r r o w n e s s of t h e aisles b e t w e e n r a n g e s ; a n o t h e r is a c o n s e q u e n c e of the e c o n o m i c a l m e t h o d s of p r e p a r i n g t h e b o o k s f o r t h e d e p o s i t li- b r a r y , w h i c h r e s u l t in m o s t of t h e b o o k s h a v i n g n o l o c a t i o n s y m b o l o n the spine. T h i s , c o u p l e d w i t h the f a c t t h a t the less- e x p e r i e n c e d h e l p used to p a c k or u n p a c k t h e b o o k s f r e q u e n t l y g e t s t h e b o o k s c o n - s i d e r a b l y o u t of o r d e r , m a k e s t h e i n i t i a l s h e l v i n g a r e l a t i v e l y s l o w process. O n c e m a t e r i a l r e g u l a r l y d e p o s i t e d has been s h e l v e d , the i n t e n t i o n is t h a t it w i l l n o t be s h i f t e d f r o m o n e l o c a t i o n t o a n - o t h e r . W h e n l a t e r u n i t s of t h e deposit l i b r a r y a r e e r e c t e d , s o m e s h i f t of m a t e r i a l s m a y w e l l be d e s i r a b l e in o r d e r , f o r e x a m - ple, t o c o n c e n t r a t e the h o l d i n g s of a p a r - t i c u l a r l i b r a r y o r t o b r i n g t o g e t h e r s c a t t e r e d p a r t s of a class. A p a r t f r o m s u c h c o n s i d e r a t i o n s , the g e n e r a l t h e o r y is t h a t s p a c e w i l l be s t e a d i l y a n d s y s t e m a t i - c a l l y o c c u p i e d t h r o u g h o u t a n e n t i r e u n i t u n t i l t h a t u n i t is c o m p l e t e l y f u l l a n d t h a t t h e r e w i l l be n o g e n e r a l s h i f t of m a t e r i a l s u c h as m u s t t a k e p l a c e in o r d i n a r y b o o k - s t a c k s f r o m t i m e to t i m e . Simplified Cataloging at Harvard F o r m o r e t h a n t w o y e a r s H a r v a r d C o l - l e g e L i b r a r y has been c a t a l o g i n g books f r o m its c u r r e n t accessions to be sent di- r e c t l y t o the deposit l i b r a r y . I t is s t i l l t o o e a f l y t o s t a t e w h a t p r o p o r t i o n of the c u r - r e n t accessions c a n be t r e a t e d in this m a n n e r , b u t the f i g u r e m i g h t w e l l be in the v i c i n i t y of 2 0 per c e n t . P r a c t i c a l l y a l l this m a t e r i a l f a l l s in t h e class of l i t t l e - used books. R e c e n t l y , h o w e v e r , the w h o l e a r c h i v e s of t h e M a s s a c h u s e t t s W . P . A . w e r e sent d i r e c t l y to the deposit l i b r a r y , t h u s s a v i n g m a n y p r o b l e m s of c a t a l o g i n g a n d h a n d l i n g . S i m p l i f i e d c a t a l o g i n g has been a d o p t e d f o r b o o k s w h i c h a r e o r i g i n a l l y c a t a l o g e d f o r t h e d e p o s i t l i b r a r y . T h i s r e s u l t s in c u t t i n g t h e c o s t of c a t a l o g i n g a t l e a s t in h a l f f o r s u c h m a t e r i a l . S o m e w h a t less a t t e n t i o n is g i v e n to t h e e s t a b l i s h i n g of a u t h o r s ' n a m e s f o r these books, b u t the t i t l e p a g e is t r a n s c r i b e d e x a c t l y as it w o u l d be f o r o t h e r m a t e r i a l . T h e e n t i r e c o l l a - t i o n is o m i t t e d e x c e p t f o r t h e s t a t e m e n t of v o l u m e s a n d the series n o t e . T h e o n l y n o t e s t h a t a r e used a r e those w h i c h a r e essential f o r the i d e n t i f i c a t i o n of a b o o k . A d d e d e n t r i e s a n d s u b j e c t s a r e o m i t t e d if o t h e r e d i t i o n s a r e a l r e a d y in H a r v a r d C o l - l e g e L i b r a r y . I f n o o t h e r e d i t i o n is pres- e n t , a d d e d e n t r i e s a r e m a d e w h e r e n e c e s s a r y a n d s u b j e c t h e a d i n g s w i t h i n l i m i t s . W h e n t h e r e a r e m a n y e d i t i o n s of a b o o k a l r e a d y in H a r v a r d C o l l e g e L i - 24 COLLEGE AND RESEARCH LIBRARIES b r a r y , c a r d s are o m i t t e d f r o m the p u b l i c c a t a l o g f o r t h e copies in the deposit li- b r a r y . I n s t e a d , a g e n e r a l r e f e r e n c e c a r d is f i l e d u n d e r the a u t h o r r e f e r r i n g t h e r e a d e r to the official c a t a l o g f o r a f u l l s t a t e m e n t of the l i b r a r y ' s h o l d i n g s . A s this p a r t i c u l a r p r a c t i c e g r o w s , it has in a s m a l l w a y the e f f e c t of w e e d i n g t h e c a r d c a t a l o g in m u c h t h e same w a y t h a t the s h e l v e s a r e b e i n g w e e d e d . E c o n o m i e s a r e also p r a c t i c e d in p r e p a r - i n g t h e b o o k s f o r the s h e l v e s . N o b i n d i n g o r r e p a i r i n g is d o n e f o r books g o i n g t o the d e p o s i t l i b r a r y . U n b o u n d books a r e b u n d l e d w h e n p a p e r c o v e r s a r e too l i g h t or w h e n the c o n d i t i o n of the b o o k c a l l s f o r some s t r e n g t h e n i n g . B o o k s w i t h loose b i n d i n g s a r e firmly t i e d . T h e s a v i n g in b i n d i n g costs a l o n e has a l r e a d y r u n i n t o s e v e r a l t h o u s a n d d o l l a r s . B o o k t a g s a r e p l a c e d on e v e r y t e n t h v o l u m e instead of on e a c h b o o k . T h e t a g g o e s on e a c h b o o k w h o s e r u n n i n g n u m b e r e n d s in a z e r o . I n the case of l o n g sets e v e r y t e n t h v o l u m e , r e g a r d l e s s of its r u n - n i n g n u m b e r , is t a g g e d . Types of Material F o u r of t h e c o o p e r a t i n g l i b r a r i e s h a v e n o t y e t deposited a n y m a t e r i a l . T h e y a r e B o s t o n C o l l e g e , B o s t o n U n i v e r s i t y , M a s s a - c h u s e t t s H i s t o r i c a l S o c i e t y , a n d R a d c l i f f e C o l l e g e . T h e m a t e r i a l d e p o s i t e d by the o t h e r c o o p e r a t i n g l i b r a r i e s m a y b r i e f l y be c h a r a c t e r i z e d as f o l l o w s : Boston A t h e n a e u m : F i l m s , newspapers, pho- tostats, and a long run of l a r g e accession books Boston P u b l i c L i b r a r y : N e w s p a p e r s H a r v a r d C o l l e g e L i b r a r y : B o o k s , n e w s - papers, and serials H a r v a r d G r a d u a t e School of Business A d - m i n i s t r a t i o n : N e w s p a p e r s and an exten- sive collection of business manuscripts H a r v a r d G r a d u a t e School of E n g i n e e r i n g : Serials H a r v a r d L a w S c h o o l : B o o k s and l a w re- ports M a s s a c h u s e t t s Institute of T e c h n o l o g y : Books, encyclopedias, and serials M a s s a c h u s e t t s State L i b r a r y : N e w s p a p e r s and duplicate holdings of M a s s a c h u s e t t s documents Simmons C o l l e g e : B o o k s T u f t s C o l l e g e : B o o k s S o f a r t h e r e has been a s t o n i s h i n g l y l i t t l e d u p l i c a t i o n of t i t l e s d e p o s i t e d . I t m a y be f o u n d t h a t the c o o p e r a t i n g l i b r a r i e s a r e s u f f i c i e n t l y v a r i e d so t h a t w h a t is l i t t l e used in one i n s t i t u t i o n m a y be in d e m a n d in a n o t h e r . T h u s M a s s a c h u s e t t s I n s t i t u t e of T e c h n o l o g y has deposited a set of the Preussische Jahrbiicher, w h i c h w o u l d be i n d i s p e n s a b l e in H a r v a r d C o l l e g e L i b r a r y . O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , H a r v a r d has d e p o s i t e d a set of U n i t e d S t a t e s P a t e n t S p e c i f i c a - tions w h i c h M a s s a c h u s e t t s I n s t i t u t e of T e c h n o l o g y u n d o u b t e d l y w o u l d n o t do. S i n c e m o s t of t h e m a t e r i a l d e p o s i t e d is a v a i l a b l e to a n y of the c o o p e r a t i n g l i b r a r - ies, a b e n e f i c i a l r e s u l t of s u c h deposits m a y w e l l be t h a t in m a n y cases l i b r a r i e s w i l l be able to u t i l i z e t h e deposited i t e m s as m u c h - n e e d e d second copies in r e s e r v e . T h e p r a c t i c e f o l l o w e d a t H a r v a r d in s e l e c t i n g m a t e r i a l f r o m t h e s t a c k s f o r t r a n s f e r to the deposit l i b r a r y has been to choose m a t e r i a l w h e r e l i t t l e or n o r e c o r d w o r k w o u l d be i n v o l v e d . W h o l e classes w e r e t a k e n first; t h e n serials w h e r e a shelf or m o r e c o u l d be sent a t a t i m e ; l a s t l y , sets s u c h as G i b b o n ' s Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, of w h i c h t h i r t y - s e v e n sets w e r e sent to t h e deposit l i b r a r y w h i l e fifteen w e r e k e p t in H a r v a r d C o l l e g e L i - b r a r y . A f t e r this m a t e r i a l h a s been e x - h a u s t e d , the process w i l l b e c o m e m o r e e x p e n s i v e , as m o r e r e c o r d w o r k w i l l t h e n h a v e to be d o n e . DECEMBER, 1943 25 Use of the Deposit Library I n t h e f i r s t e i g h t e e n m o n t h s t h a t the deposit l i b r a r y w a s o p e n , f i f t y - t h r e e r e a d - ers used b o o k s a n d n e w s p a p e r s on the s p o t . S i x of these r e a d e r s w e r e sent t h e r e f r o m t h e B o s t o n P u b l i c L i b r a r y , f o u r f r o m t h e H a r v a r d G r a d u a t e S c h o o l of B u s i n e s s A d - m i n i s t r a t i o n , t h r e e f r o m t h e B o s t o n A t h e n a e u m ; t h e r e m a i n d e r c a m e f r o m H a r v a r d C o l l e g e L i b r a r y , w h i c h h a s by f a r the l a r g e s t a m o u n t of m a t e r i a l o n de- posit. R e a d e r s w h o g o d i r e c t l y to t h e deposit l i b r a r y m u s t h a v e an i n t r o d u c t i o n f r o m a c o o p e r a t i n g l i b r a r y . T h e y h a v e m o s t l y g o n e to w o r k w i t h n e w s p a p e r s , serials, or e n c y c l o p e d i a s . I n the case of n e w s p a p e r s , r e a d e r s a r e g e n e r a l l y e x p e c t e d to g o to t h e deposit l i b r a r y i n s t e a d of h a v i n g the v o l u m e s r e t u r n e d f o r use in the c o o p e r a t i n g l i b r a r y . S e r i a l s a n d e n - c y c l o p e d i a s , l i k e books, c a n be m a d e a v a i l - a b l e w i t h i n t w e n t y - f o u r h o u r s at a n y of t h e c o o p e r a t i n g l i b r a r i e s , b u t o c c a s i o n a l l y it is b e t t e r f o r a r e a d e r to g o t o the deposit l i b r a r y w h e n he has a f a i r l y e x t e n s i v e a m o u n t of m a t e r i a l to c o n s u l t . T h i s w a s t h e case w i t h one r e a d e r f r o m H a r v a r d w h o w a n t e d to c o m p a r e the f i r s t n i n e edi- t i o n s of t h e Encyclopaedia Britannica. I n t h e f i r s t e i g h t e e n m o n t h s of o p e r a - t i o n a t o t a l of 6 5 2 t i t l e s w a s c i r c u l a t e d , i n c l u d i r f g e i g h t y n e w s p a p e r s . T h i s f i g u r e i n c l u d e s use in t h e b u i l d i n g a n d b o o k s sent o u t to the c o o p e r a t i n g l i b r a r i e s . B y f a r t h e g r e a t e s t use is m a d e of s e r i a l s a n d n e w s p a p e r s . N e x t c o m e d i r e c t o r i e s a n d e n c y c l o p e d i a s , f o l l o w e d by f i c t i o n a n d j u v e n i l e l i t e r a t u r e . T h e s a m e b o o k is sel- d o m c a l l e d f o r t w i c e . A l l c h a r g e s a r e b e i n g p r e s e r v e d , since t h e y w i l l u n d o u b t e d l y s e r v e as the basis f o r m a k i n g m a n y s t u d i e s of r e a d e r i n t e r - est in l i t t l e - u s e d b o o k s . F r o m s u c h a p o i n t of v i e w t h e d e p o s i t l i b r a r y s h o u l d p r o v e t o be a l a b o r a t o r y w h e r e m u c h use- f u l i n f o r m a t i o n c a n be d e r i v e d c o n c e r n i n g m a t t e r s s u c h as the l i f e span of b o o k s a n d t h e d e s i r a b i l i t y of c o o p e r a t i v e a c q u i s i t i o n a n d s t o r a g e f o r v a r i o u s t y p e s of books. Duties of the Librarian S i n c e the l i b r a r i a n of the deposit l i b r a r y m a y h a v e no o t h e r assistant t h a n a j a n i t o r , he o b v i o u s l y has to be a j a c k of a l l t r a d e s . A s r e g a r d s i n c o m i n g m a t e r i a l , his responsi- b i l i t y is to a l l o c a t e t h e n e c e s s a r y space a n d g i v e a d v i c e w h e n t h a t is d e s i r e d . H e m u s t m a i n t a i n t h e s t a c k d i r e c t o r y so t h a t he c a n b e g i n t o s e r v i c e the m a t e r i a l o n c e it h a s been s h e l v e d . H e m u s t be e x c e e d i n g l y v e r s a t i l e , f o r t h e r e is no t e l l i n g w h a t m a y be s h i p p e d to h i m n e x t . O n one o c c a s i o n a t r u c k d r e w u p at the d o o r w i t h a t w e n t y - ton a r t o b j e c t w h i c h w a s supposed to be s t o r e d in t h e deposit l i b r a r y . T h e d r i v e r e x p e c t e d h e l p f r o m the l i b r a r y staff in u n l o a d i n g his t r u c k , b u t a g l a n c e a t t h e t r e m e n d o u s o b j e c t s h o w e d t h a t t h e r e w a s no w a y of g e t t i n g it i n t o the l i b r a r y , so the l i b r a r i a n h a d to see t h a t a r r a n g e m e n t s w e r e m a d e to h a v e it s t o r e d e l s e w h e r e . O n e of the d u t i e s of the l i b r a r i a n w h i c h has n o t y e t been c a l l e d i n t o p l a y b u t w h i c h is e x p e c t e d t o d e v e l o p a p p r e c i a b l y in t h e c o u r s e of t i m e , is the h a n d l i n g of d u p l i c a t e copies d e p o s i t e d by t w o o r m o r e l i b r a r i e s . I f , f o r e x a m p l e , b o t h H a r v a r d C o l l e g e L i b r a r y a n d S i m m o n s d e p o s i t t h e i r b a c k files of t h e Publishers' Trade List Annual, it is m o r e t h a n l i k e l y t h a t o n e of the sets c a n a n d s h o u l d be d i s c a r d e d . T h e p l a n is f o r the l i b r a r i a n t o s t u d y the d u p l i c a t e sets a n d r e c o m m e n d t o the l i b r a r i e s c o n - c e r n e d t h a t o n e set be d i s c a r d e d a n d t h a t the o t h e r t h e n b e c o m e the p r o p e r t y of the « deposit l i b r a r y f o r the c o n t i n u i n g use of a l l i n t e r e s t e d p a r t i e s . N e w d e v e l o p m e n t s a r e p r o v e d by t i m e , 26 COLLEGE AND RESEARCH LIBRARIES a n d the deposit l i b r a r y has e s t a b l i s h e d its v a l u e in a c o m p a r a t i v e l y s h o r t p e r i o d . T h e m o s t v a l u a b l e m a t e r i a l it c o n t a i n s is u n d o u b t e d l y the serials a n d n e w s p a p e r s , a n d h e r e s t e a d y b u t r e l a t i v e l y s m a l l use m a y be e x p e c t e d . I t is c l e a r t h a t l i t t l e - used b o o k s c a n be selected r e a s o n a b l y w e l l f r o m the h o l d i n g s a n d accessions of r e f e r - ence l i b r a r i e s , to be p r e s e r v e d f o r the occa- s i o n a l use of t h e h i s t o r i a n a n d t h e b i b l i o g - r a p h e r f o r the m o s t p a r t . B o o k s t a c k s h a v e been i m p r o v e d by j u - d i c i o u s w e e d i n g , o v e r c r o w d i n g in t h e s t a c k s has been r e d u c e d or e l i m i n a t e d f o r t h e t i m e , p r o c e s s i n g costs h a v e been de- c r e a s e d , a n d r e f e r e n c e s e r v i c e has been b u t s l i g h t l y i n c o n v e n i e n c e d . P a r t of the suc- cess of t h e s c h e m e u n d o u b t e d l y h a s been d u e t o w i s e s e l e c t i o n of m a t e r i a l to be d e p o s i t e d a n d t o c o n s i d e r a t e t r e a t m e n t w h e n d o u b t f u l cases h a v e arisen. W i t h the deposit l i b r a r y n o w a g o i n g a n d s u c c e s s f u l c o n c e r n , t h o u g h t s c a n soon be t u r n e d t o w a r d s d e v e l o p i n g it s t i l l f u r - t h e r . A m o n g ideas t h a t m a y be c o n s i d e r e d a r e the f o l l o w i n g : ( i ) H a r v a r d C o l l e g e L i b r a r y has sent its e n t i r e c o l l e c t i o n of t e x t b o o k s , w h i c h is one of t h e v e r y best in the c o u n t r y , to the d e p o s i t l i b r a r y . S h o u l d o t h e r l i b r a r i e s in the r e g i o n c o n - sider s e n d i n g e l e m e n t a r y a n d s e c o n d a r y t e x t b o o k s t h e r e in o r d e r to m a k e one m a g - n i f i c e n t j o i n t c o l l e c t i o n ? ( 2 ) M a n y of the p o p u l a r p u b l i c l i b r a r i e s h a v e l i t t l e - used b o o k s w h i c h s h o u l d n o t be s i m p l y s o l d or d e s t r o y e d a n d w h o s e r e m o v a l w o u l d m a k e these l i b r a r i e s i n t o b e t t e r w o r k i n g c o l l e c t i o n s . S h o u l d s t a t e g o v e r n m e n t s be a p p r o a c h e d t o p r o v i d e f u n d s f o r s u c h l i t - tle-used b o o k s as are w o r t h p r e s e r v i n g t o N E W E N G L A N D D E P O S I T L I B R A R Y DECEMBER, 1943 27 be stored in the deposit l i b r a r y ? ( 3 ) S o m e of t h e p u b l i c l i b r a r i e s and o t h e r s m a l l e r i n s t i t u t i o n s h a v e rarities w h i c h they can- not p r e s e r v e p r o p e r l y or w h i c h they m u s t house in b u i l d i n g s t h a t are n o t f i r e p r o o f . A g a i n it m i g h t be desirable to o b t a i n state f u n d s f o r the p r o p e r p r e s e r v a t i o n of such m a t e r i a l in a u n i t of t h e deposit l i b r a r y specially c o n s t r u c t e d t o t a k e c a r e of a l i m i t e d n u m b e r of r a r e books. W i t h the w h o l e s a l e d e s t r u c t i o n of c u l t u r a l o b j e c t s in E u r o p e , increased responsibility f a l l s on the s h o u l d e r s of A m e r i c a n s to see t h a t r a r e and v a l u a b l e m a t e r i a l in l i b r a r i e s here is p r o p e r l y p r e s e r v e d . H e r e is one m e a n s by w h i c h r a r i t i e s c o u l d be safe- g u a r d e d f o r s m a l l e r i n s t i t u t i o n s a n d y e t be m a d e a v a i l a b l e to t h e m f o r use w h e n needed. References M a s s a c h u s e t t s . L a w s , Statutes, etc. " A n A c t to Incorporate N e w England Deposit L i b r a r y and R e g u l a t i n g the O p e r a t i o n of Said L i b r a r y and A u t h o r i z i n g C e r t a i n L i - braries to M a k e U s e of Its Facilities." ( I n Massachusetts. G e n e r a l C o u r t . Acts and Resolves, 1941, chapter 240.) M e t c a l f , K e y e s D . " T h e N e w England Deposit L i b r a r y . " Library Quarterly 12:622-28, J u l y 1942. O s b o r n , A n d r e w D . " B o o k s f o r the D e - posit L i b r a r y . " Harvard University Li- brary Notes 4:80-83, M a r c h 1942. W o r k , R . L . " N e w England Deposit L i - b r a r y . " Library Journal 67:358, A p r i l 1942. B y H A R O L D L . L E U P P Storage of Little-Used Library Materials Mr. Leupp is librarian of the University of California Library, Berkeley. DESPITE t h e o r e t i c a l o b j e c t i o n s to divi-sion of the collections, in t h e c o l d l i g h t of f i n a n c i a l a n d o t h e r p r a c t i c a l con- siderations the s t o r a g e m e t h o d of d e a l i n g w i t h a c c u m u l a t i o n s of l i t t l e - u s e d m a t e r i a l s in a l a r g e l i b r a r y c e r t a i n l y h a s its points. T h e p r i n c i p a l difficulties i n v o l v e d , no one of w h i c h seems necessarily i n s u r m o u n t a b l e , appear to be a b o u t as f o l l o w s : (1) Difficulty of selecting material to be stored T o c o m b o u t the c o l l e c t i o n s title by title w o u l d be a f o r m i d a b l e u n d e r t a k i n g . R e c o r d s of use w o u l d n o t help m u c h , since the u n r e c o r d e d use of c e r t a i n m a t e r i a l s is e x t e n s i v e a n d i m p o r t a n t . V e r y l a r g e li- braries p r o b a b l y w i l l i n c l u d e c o n s i d e r a b l e g r o u p s of l i t t l e - u s e d m a t e r i a l , t r a n s f e r of w h i c h to s t o r a g e w o u l d be n o t o n l y a r e l a t i v e l y simple m a t t e r b u t w o u l d release a m a x i m u m of shelf space w i t h s l i g h t ex- p e n d i t u r e of time and l a b o r . B u t e v e n H a r v a r d , w i t h its f o u r m i l l i o n v o l u m e s , a c c o r d i n g to m y i n f o r m a t i o n , p l a n s to s t o r e o n l y t h r e e h u n d r e d t h o u s a n d , o r 28 COLLEGE AND RESEARCH LIBRARIES