College and Research Libraries B y A G N E S R E A G A N College Library Exhibits: A n Investigation and Report For an earlier paper on college library ex- hibits, see the December 1943 issue of C o l - l e g e a n d R e s e a r c h L i b r a r i e s . AR E V I E W o f t h e l i t e r a t u r e o f e x h i b i t s y i e l d s c o m p a r a t i v e l y l i t t l e i n f o r m a - t i o n o n t h e n a t u r e o f c o l l e g e l i b r a r y e x - h i b i t s a n d t h e i r p l a c e i n t h e e d u c a t i o n a l p r o g r a m . A n a t t e m p t a t a n y t h i n g m o r e t h a n a s u r f a c e s t u d y o f c u r r e n t e x h i b i t p o l i c y a n d p r a c t i c e m u s t d e p e n d u p o n d a t a d r a w n f r o m o t h e r t h a n p r i n t e d s o u r c e s . F o r t h i s r e a s o n , t h e p r e s e n t a p p r o a c h t o t h e p r o b l e m i s b a s e d u p o n m a t e r i a l c o n - t r i b u t e d b y a g r o u p o f c o l l e g e l i b r a r i a n s i n a n s w e r t o a q u e s t i o n n a i r e . T h e u t i l i - z a t i o n o f a q u e s t i o n n a i r e s e e m s t o b e j u s t i f i e d s i n c e o n l y 2 o f 7 3 1 e x h i b i t s a r e i n d i c a t e d a s h a v i n g b e e n p u b l i c i z e d i n g e n - e r a l l i b r a r y p e r i o d i c a l s . T h e l i s t o f i n s t i t u t i o n s t o r e c e i v e c o p i e s o f t h e q u e s t i o n n a i r e w a s l i m i t e d t o 1 2 0 l i b e r a l a r t s c o l l e g e s . A l l o f t h e c o l l e g e s a r e a c c r e d i t e d b y t h e A s s o c i a t i o n o f A m e r - i c a n U n i v e r s i t i e s a n d t h e l i b r a r y o f e a c h c o n t a i n s a m i n i m u m o f t h i r t y - f i v e t h o u - s a n d v o l u m e s . T h e a c a d e m i c s t a n d i n g o f t h e c o l l e g e a n d t h e a d e q u a c y , s o f a r a s s i z e i s a f a c t o r i n e v a l u a t i o n , a r e t h e r e f o r e p r e s u p p o s e d . O n e h u n d r e d a n d o n e o f t h e 1 2 0 c o l - l e g e l i b r a r i a n s t o w h o m a p r e l i m i n a r y l e t t e r w a s a d d r e s s e d a g r e e d t o m a k e a v a i l - a b l e i n f o r m a t i o n w i t h o u t w h i c h t h e i n v e s t i g a t i o n c o u l d n e v e r h a v e b e e n u n - d e r t a k e n . I t i s r e g r e t t a b l e t h a t t h i s s t u d y m u s t c o n f i n e i t s e l f l a r g e l y t o a r e p o r t o f g e n e r a l f i n d i n g s , a s c o n t r a s t e d w i t h d e - s c r i p t i o n s o f s p e c i f i c e x h i b i t s . T h e l i m i t e d n u m b e r o f e x h i b i t s m e n t i o n e d , h o w e v e r , s p e a k f o r o t h e r s o f s i m i l a r i n t e r e s t a n d e x c e l l e n c e r e p o r t e d f r o m v a r i o u s c o l l e g e l i b r a r i e s t h r o u g h o u t t h e c o u n t r y . F i f t y q u e s t i o n n a i r e s w e r e r e t u r n e d w i t h t h e d a t a c o m p l e t e e n o u g h t o b e t a b u l a t e d , w h i l e o t h e r s w e r e r e t u r n e d u n a n s w e r e d o r i n c o m p l e t e , a c c o m p a n i e d i n a m a j o r i t y o f c a s e s b y l e t t e r s g i v i n g r e a s o n s f o r n o t a n s w e r i n g . G e n e r a l l y s p e a k i n g , f i g u r e s a n d p e r c e n t a g e s q u o t e d b e l o w a r e b a s e d o n 7 3 1 e x h i b i t s f r o m fifty l i b r a r i e s . I n t h e i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s w h i c h a r e m a d e a n d t h e c o n c l u s i o n s w h i c h a r e d r a w n , c o n - s i d e r a t i o n i s g i v e n t o l e t t e r s a s w e l l a s t o q u e s t i o n n a i r e s , s i n c e t h e y o f t e n d i s c l o s e r e a s o n s f o r v a r i a t i o n i n e x h i b i t p o l i c y a n d p r a c t i c e n o t r e a d i l y d i s c e r n i b l e f r o m t h e q u e s t i o n n a i r e s a l o n e . T h e q u e s t i o n n a i r e w a s p l a n n e d t o c o v e r e x h i b i t s s h o w n w i t h i n a p e r i o d o f a y e a r a n d a h a l f b e g i n n i n g S e p t . 1 , 1 9 4 1 , a n d e n d i n g M a r . 1 , 1 9 4 3 . T h a t t h i s p e r i o d h a s i t s i r r e g u l a r i t i e s c a n s c a r c e l y b e d i s - p u t e d a n d t h r o u g h o u t t h e e x h i b i t p r o g r a m s s t u d i e d t h e y a r e r e f l e c t e d . A n y a n a l y s i s o f t h e e x h i b i t s s h o w n s h o u l d t h e r e f o r e r e c o g n i z e t h e f a c t s t h a t f o r a p p r o x i m a t e l y f i f t e e n o f t h e e i g h t e e n m o n t h s c o v e r e d b y t h e q u e s t i o n n a i r e t h e c o u n t r y h a s b e e n e n g a g e d i n a w a r a n d t h a t c o l l e g e l i b r a r y e x h i b i t p r o g r a m s , a s w e l l a s o t h e r a s p e c t s v 246 COLLEGE AND RESEARCH LIBRARIES of college library service, w i l l necessarily show the effects of that w a r . Since a review of exhibit literature brings to light n o universally accepted dis- tinction between " e x h i b i t " and " d i s p l a y , " the term " e x h i b i t " has been defined broad- ly in order that material relevant to the study might not be lost through too rigid a definition. A quotation f r o m a letter sent with the questionnaire shows the interpre- tation placed upon " e x h i b i t : " T h e e n c l o s e d q u e s t i o n n a i r e is d i r e c t e d p r i m a r i l y t o w a r d t h o s e c o l l e g e l i b r a r y e x - h i b i t s w h i c h h a v e g o n e a s t e p b e y o n d t h e c o m p a r a t i v e l y s i m p l e d i s p l a y o f r a p i d l y c h a n g i n g c o m p o s i t i o n d e s i g n e d t o p r o m o t e i m m e d i a t e c i r c u l a t i o n o f a p a r t i c u l a r g r o u p o f b o o k s . I t i s a i m e d , r a t h e r , a t t h o s e e x - h i b i t s o f a m o r e p e r m a n e n t c h a r a c t e r w h i c h , t o b e e f f e c t i v e , m u s t b e p r e s e r v e d a s a w h o l e d u r i n g t h e p e r i o d o f e x h i b i t i o n , w h i c h a r e u s u a l l y l o c a t e d i n c a s e s i n t h e m a i n c o r r i d o r o r l o b b y o r i n a s p e c i a l e x h i b i t r o o m , w h i c h u s u a l l y r e q u i r e s o m e l i t t l e t i m e a n d t h o u g h t i n p r e p a r a t i o n , a n d w h i c h a r e s h o w n a t l e a s t a w e e k a n d o f t e n f o r a m o n t h o r m o r e . T h e questionnaire was devised to cover the essential features of exhibiting—sub- jects, materials, and purposes—and was arranged so as to interrelate the three f o r each exhibit reported. Sections w e r e de- voted to facilities available f o r exhibiting and to reasons f o r a definite placement of responsibility in administering the exhibit program. A n attempt was also made to discover the prevailing practices in regard to amount of preparation time, length of exhibition period, and extent and type of publicity afforded exhibits. Exhibit Subjects F r o m an analysis of the exhibits re- ported it appears that the subjects of c o l - lege library exhibits do not readily c o n f o r m to an inflexible scheme of classifica- tion. T h e s e subjects differ w i d e l y and, occasionally, may be placed w i t h equal appropriateness in t w o or more categories, as may " M u s i c in A r t " and " F r e n c h A r t and A r c h i t e c t u r e . " T h e r e are also ex- hibits with no subjects, in the strictest sense of that term, such as a miscellaneous assortment of gifts f r o m Friends of the Library or a varied collection of books assembled f o r B o o k W e e k . T o avoid as often as possible arbitrary decisions in the grouping of exhibit subjects, the classifica- tion adopted is a broad one. Subjects which appear most frequently a r e : Per cent of Subject total exhibits D e s c r i p t i o n a n d t r a v e l 1 4 C u r r e n t e v e n t s ( i n c l u d i n g t h e w a r , a r m e d f o r c e s , e t c . ) 1 3 A r t 1 2 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 1 0 B o o k a r t s 9 C o l l e g e m a t e r i a l s 9 F o r m o f m a t e r i a l s d i s p l a y e d 9 T h e term " D e s c r i p t i o n and t r a v e l " seems to embrace more adequately than any other, ""the exhibits dealing w i t h a specific locality and covering, in a rela- tively large number of cases, history and geography, art and literature, social life and customs. T h e U n i t e d States and the countries of Central and South A m e r i c a prove the most popular exhibit subjects. L o c a l , state, and regional materials are emphasized in exhibits on various sections of the United States, which are typified by " S c e n i c N e w E n g l a n d , " " T h e D e e p S o u t h , " and " D i s c o v e r i n g East T e n n e s - see." Central and South A m e r i c a n c o u n - tries are usually treated as a unit, and the exhibits are composed of a variety of mate- rials, including books and periodicals, curios, costumes, and products. Exhibits on current affairs emphasize JUNE, 1944 24 7 national defense and the present w a r . Consumer problems and civilian defense, general w a r information, national affairs, and international relations are the broader subjects about which exhibits are centered. M o r e specific subjects, pertinent because of their bearing on this w o r l d w a r , include earlier wars of the U n i t e d States, democ- racy, propaganda, geography and w a r , and postwar planning. It is w o r t h noting that in a number of instances the present policy is to convert the library exhibit program into a direct effort to aid in the w a r . A librarian f r o m the Pacific Coast area w r i t e s : " F o r the past t w o years the under- lying purpose of our exhibits has been to stimulate an interest in the w a r by show- ing books and pictures of the w a r zones and exhibiting books and pamphlets on the aims of w a r and peace." F r o m the M i d d l e W e s t comes this r e p o r t : " W e try to stress particularly at this time pamphlets and bulletins relating to the w a r , the armed forces, and various topics of current interest." T h e librarian responsible f o r exhibits in an Eastern college strikes a similar n o t e : " A t present w e emphasize materials w h i c h have a direct bearing on the w a r and w h i c h encourage a better m o r a l e . " T h e majority of art exhibits are c o m - posed of paintings, prints, lithographs, or similar materials w h i c h are shown either to promote an interest in the field of art or f o r their cultural effect. O t h e r exhibits in this g r o u p are intended to instruct in some artistic process, such as " S i l k Screen as a F i n e A r t s M e d i u m " and " T h e T e c h - nique of Finger P a i n t i n g . " Even art ex- hibits s h o w the influence of the w a r . E x - amples are " A r t f r o m F i g h t i n g C h i n a " and " K n o w and D e f e n d A m e r i c a . " T h e high ranking of English and A m e r - ican literature as an exhibit subject can be attributed primarily to the number of exhibitions of w o r k s of individual authors. T h e range of subjects is f r o m W i l l i a m Blake to T e d M a l o n e , with the names of Dickens, Ruskin, and Shakespeare appear- ing more frequently than any others. T h e number of exhibits of this type w h i c h a library shows depends to some extent upon t w o factors. In the first place, the ap- pearance on the literary calendar of a date such as the one hundredth anniversary of Poe's Murders in the Rue Morgue, or the centenary of the birth of W i l l i a m James, suggests a library exhibit. In the case of a contemporary writer, a visit to the college campus affords an excellent op- portunity to display his w o r k s . T h e strength of the book collection in English and A m e r i c a n literature is a second factor w h i c h may govern the number of such exhibits in a college library. If a library has no materials of unusual interest on P o e or the detective story, o r no early or limited editions of W i l l i a m James, it is likely that P o e and James, as exhibit sub- jects, w i l l be left to other libraries where these particular resources are richer and more extensive. Book Arts Figures show that the college library encourages in students and members of the faculty an appreciation f o r book de- sign and workmanship. A n exhibit may emphasize printing, binding, bookplates, or book illustration, or these features may be combined in an exhibit of the book arts in general. T h e account of an unusually interesting and well-planned exhibit comes f r o m the library of an Eastern college. A s a substitute f o r the " F i f t y Books of the Y e a r , " the library prepared its o w n exhibit to show the features of a g o o d book. T h e books w e r e chosen in c o n - v 2 4 8 COLLEGE AND RESEARCH LIBRARIES sultation w i t h faculty members, and the labels w e r e carefully written to emphasize the points illustrated by specific volumes. M o r e general comments covered, a m o n g other things, the improvements in modern bookmaking and the factors w h i c h c o n - tribute to the making of a g o o d book, in- c l u d i n g paper, typography, binding, and design. Occasionally the g r o w t h and develop- ment of m a j o r departments, publications, and organizations within the college serve as subjects of exhibits relating to the c o l - lege itself. M o r e frequently alumni day or a college anniversary is observed by an exhibition featuring college history and the w o r k of alumni and members of the faculty. T w o of the most extensive ex- hibits in this g r o u p w e r e shown in the libraries of M u h l e n b e r g C o l l e g e and the W o m a n ' s C o l l e g e of the University of N o r t h Carolina. T h e librarian of M u h l e n - berg C o l l e g e w r i t e s : I n t h e s p r i n g o f 1 9 4 2 t h e l i b r a r i a n s e r v e d a s c h a i r m a n o f a c o m m i t t e e t o c o l l e c t a n d a s s e m b l e f o r d i s p l a y i n t h e l i b r a r y r e l i c s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e M u h l e n b e r g f a m i l y , i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h e M u h l e n b e r g b i c e n t e n - n i a l c e l e b r a t i o n a t t h e c o l l e g e . M a t e r i a l w a s b o r r o w e d f r o m l i b r a r i e s , m u s e u m s , c h u r c h e s , a n d i n d i v i d u a l s t h r o u g h o u t t h e E a s t e r n U n i t e d S t a t e s . M o s t o f t h e m a - t e r i a l w a s f r o m t h e c o l o n i a l p e r i o d . . . . T h e e x h i b i t h a d g r e a t s i g n i f i c a n c e a s P e n n - s y l v a n i a - G e r m a n m a t e r i a l . I t l i k e w i s e s e r v e d t o a c q u a i n t t h e c o l l e g e c o m m u n i t y w i t h s o m e o f i t s h i s t o r i c a l a n d c u l t u r a l b a c k g r o u n d . I t w a s v i s i t e d b y s e v e r a l t h o u s a n d v i s i t o r s i n a d d i t i o n t o m e m b e r s o f t h e c o l l e g e c o m m u n i t y . T h e exhibition in the W o m a n ' s C o l l e g e library was assembled at the time of the fiftieth anniversary celebration of the c o l - lege. In addition to exhibits of college historical materials and publications of members of the faculty, books and pamph- lets f r o m the w o m a n ' s collection, gifts to the library, and the holograph collection of manuscript music by N o r t h Carolina composers were displayed. Exhibits in which items are linked by f o r m rather than by subject are generally intended to publicize rare or little-known contents of the library or, as in a display of gifts, to honor library donors. T h e materials may share some such c o m m o n quality as rarity or recency. Exhibits typical of this group i n c l u d e : a selection of bibliographies newly acquired by the l i b r a r y ; " P e r i o d i c a l s Yesterday and T o - d a y ; " an exhibit to acquaint freshmen with rare books in the l i b r a r y ; and autographs of persons famous in history, literature, and science. Materials and Methods of Exhibiting Responsibility for the exhibit program. In eleven colleges the librarian is directly responsible f o r exhibits, while in five others it is a cooperative project between the librarian and a member of the staff. In most libraries where this is the case, the librarian plans and supervises the pro- gram as a whole, with the second person carrying out the actual preparation in- volved. T h e head of the reference depart- ment supervises exhibit w o r k in five libraries. In five other institutions this responsibility is delegated to the associate or assistant librarian, w h o may also hold another position on the staff. Exhibits in the remaining libraries are prepared by various staff members. T h e y may be assigned to the head of the catalog department or to a circulation or catalog assistant; to the art librarian or to the readers' adviser. O n e college library sup- plements its exhibit program by exhibits prepared by students in the library school connected with the college. A second c o l - JUNE1944 249 lege library reports the f o l l o w i n g p o l i c y : A t p r e s e n t a m e m b e r o f t h e f a c u l t y l i - b r a r y c o m m i t t e e h a s c h a r g e o f t h e e x h i b i t s i n t h e c a s e . S h e h a s a s k e d t h e h e a d o f e a c h d e p a r t m e n t t o b e r e s p o n s i b l e f o r a o n e w e e k ' s e x h i b i t . S o f a r t h e p l a n h a s b e e n q u i t e s u c c e s s f u l i n s t i m u l a t i n g t h e i n t e r e s t o f m o s t o f t h e f a c u l t y a n d i n d i r e c t l y t h e i n t e r e s t s o f t h e s t u d e n t s . In another institution exhibit responsibil- ity rests w i t h an exhibits committee of w h i c h the librarian is chairman, serving w i t h the president of the college, t w o trustees, the head of the art department, and the chairman of the committee f o r outside speakers. Division of Responsibility N i n e libraries report w i t h o u t c o m m e n t a division of responsibility f o r exhibits. Such a division may be indicative of a lack of settled policy in administering the ex- hibit program. O n the other hand, it may be explained by the fact that exhibit re- sponsibility is rotated, as it is in a M i d d l e W e s t e r n library, where the librarian plans the first and last exhibits f o r the school year of ten months, w i t h other staff m e m - bers planning one each according to their various fields of interest. Student as- sistants are entirely responsible f o r the planning of exhibits in comparatively f e w instances, although a number of librarians suggest that the interests and abilities of capable students can be used successfully in exhibiting if their w o r k is carefully supervised by a member of the profes- sional staff. A l t h o u g h the librarian more often di- rects the library exhibit program than does any other member of the staff, this condi- tion does not imply that the duties of exhibitor automatically go w i t h the li- brarianship. Instead, the delegation of responsibility is governed, in a m a j o r i t y of cases, by such factors as interest, train- ing, and, less frequently, a relationship between exhibiting and other duties. Spe- cial interests f o r exhibitors may lie in the field of art or in early, first, and rare editions. T r a i n i n g may include previous experience in an art library or special art courses, a course in library publicity, or advanced w o r k in the history of books and historical manuscripts. Duties related to exhibiting may be in the circulation or reference departments. O t h e r reasons ap- pearing f o r the assignment of responsibil- ity to a particular person are length of service, availability, and "sheer c h a n c e . " Facilities for exhibiting. M o r e than one librarian not in a position to cooperate in the investigation because exhibit w o r k w a s outside the scope of his program mentions a lack of exhibit space. O n e w r i t e s : " O u r reading r o o m is greatly o v e r c r o w d e d and I have no r o o m either f o r exhibit cases on the floor or f o r anything on the w a l l s . " F r o m another comes this statement: " C L i b r a r y is one of the many that is t o o c r o w d e d f o r exhibit cases, and w e have had no experience w i t h exhibits and unfortunately no facilities f o r having t h e m . " A third librarian reports his in- ability to answer the questionnaire: " T h e reason is simply that w e lack space facili- ties f o r exhibits." In addition to the amount of floor and wall space which a library may be able to devote to exhibits, the equipment available may also influence the extent and char- acter of the exhibit program. T h e wide variation in the exhibit policies reported is partially explained by the fact that one library fills one table or a bulletin board f o r an exhibit, while another finds it neces- sary to fill a dozen cases. F o u r libraries report that they have no exhibit cases; another reports as many as thirteen. T h e v 250 COLLEGE AND RESEARCH LIBRARIES m e d i a n n u m b e r o f c a s e s f o r t h e f o r t y - n i n e l i b r a r i e s g i v i n g t h i s i n f o r m a t i o n i s t w o . A s a n e x h i b i t p r o g r a m c a n b e c u r t a i l e d b y i n a d e q u a t e f a c i l i t i e s f o r e x h i b i t i n g , i t c a n a l s o o w e i t s e x t e n s i v e n e s s t o a m o r e g e n e r o u s a m o u n t o f s p a c e a n d e q u i p m e n t . A s p e c i a l e x h i b i t r o o m i n t h e l i b r a r y , w h i c h m a y b e a n a r t g a l l e r y , a t r e a s u r e r o o m , o r a m u s e u m , t e n d s t o a d d t o t h e r e l a t i v e i m p o r t a n c e o f e x h i b i t s i n t h e l i - b r a r y ' s s c h e m e o f s e r v i c e . T h e r e f e r e n c e l i b r a r i a n i n o n e i n s t i t u t i o n r e p o r t s t h e f o l - l o w i n g u s e f o r t h e l i b r a r y e x h i b i t r o o m : O n e o f o u r m a j o r p u r p o s e s h a s b e e n s e r v i c e t o t h e l o c a l c o m m u n i t y . T h i s b e i n g t h e b e s t r o o m i n t h e c o u n t y f o r a r t e x h i b i t s w e l e n d i t f r e e l y , t h u s c r e a t i n g l o c a l g o o d w i l l a n d b r i n g i n g i n t o t h e l i b r a r y m a n y p e r s o n s w h o w o u l d n o t o r d i n a r i l y v i s i t i t . A s e c o n d l i b r a r i a n w r i t e s t h a t m a t e r i a l s a r e o f t e n d i s p l a y e d i n t h e l i b r a r y e x h i b i t c a s e s f o r d e p a r t m e n t s o f t h e c o l l e g e a n d f o r s t u d e n t g r o u p s , b e c a u s e t h e y w i l l b e s e e n b y m o r e p e o p l e i n t h e l i b r a r y t h a n a n y w h e r e e l s e . T h i s i s c o n s i d e r e d a p a r t o f t h e l i b r a r y ' s s e r v i c e t o t h e c o l l e g e . Exhibit materials. I n t h e p r e p a r a t i o n o f t h e q u e s t i o n n a i r e , t h i r t y - s i x i t e m s w h i c h m i g h t p o s s i b l y b e u s e d i n c o l l e g e l i b r a r y e x h i b i t s w e r e l i s t e d . T h e i r v a r i a t i o n w a s s u c h a s t o m a k e f o r c a t e g o r i e s a s o b v i o u s a s b o o k s a n d p i c t u r e s a n d a s u n e x p e c t e d a s p u p p e t s a n d p l a y i n g c a r d s . T h e r e s u l t w a s t h a t e v e r y i t e m o n t h e l i s t w a s c h e c k e d a t l e a s t o n e t i m e . I l l u s t r a t e d b o o k s a n d p i c t u r e s a r e e a c h r e p o r t e d a s s h o w n i n s l i g h t l y m o r e t h a n o n e h a l f o f t h e e x h i b i t s , w h i l e l e s s t h a n o n e h a l f o f t h e e x h i b i t s c o n t a i n n o n i l l u s t r a t e d t e x t u a l m a t e r i a l s . P e r i o d i c a l s , p o s t e r s , m a p s , a n d m a n u s c r i p t s f o l l o w i n t h e o r d e r n a m e d . A p p r o x i m a t e - l y 2 0 p e r c e n t o f t h e e x h i b i t s i n c l u d e n o b o o k s o r p e r i o d i c a l s . F r o m t h e m a t e r i a l s u s e d i n e x h i b i t s , i t i s a p p a r e n t t h a t t h e a v e r a g e c o l l e g e l i b r a r y m i g h t h a v e c o n s i d e r a b l e d i f f i c u l t y i n a s - s e m b l i n g t h e i t e m s f r o m l i b r a r y r e s o u r c e s . A n u m b e r o f e x h i b i t s m u s t n e c e s s a r i l y b e o b t a i n e d w h o l l y o r p a r t i a l l y f r o m c o m - m e r c i a l s o u r c e s o r b o r r o w e d f r o m i n d i - v i d u a l s o r f r o m g r o u p s . T w e l v e l i b r a r i e s r e p o r t a l l m a t e r i a l s u s e d a s a v a i l a b l e w i t h - i n t h e l i b r a r y . A p p r o x i m a t e l y 3 0 p e r c e n t o f t h e t o t a l n u m b e r o f e x h i b i t s i n c l u d e r e n t e d o r b o r r o w e d i t e m s s e c u r e d f o r t h e m o s t p a r t f r o m i n d i v i d u a l s n o t d i r e c t l y a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e c o l l e g e , f r o m f a c u l t y a n d s t a f f m e m b e r s , a n d f r o m a r t a s s o c i a - t i o n s a n d m u s e u m s . I t i s e v i d e n t i n s o m e i n s t a n c e s t h a t t h e n u m b e r o f b o r r o w e d e x h i b i t s w h i c h a l i b r a r y s h o w s i s g r e a t e r i f t h e l i b r a r y i s l o c a t e d n e a r o t h e r i n s t i - t u t i o n s w h i c h m a y b e d r a w n u p o n f o r e x - h i b i t m a t e r i a l s . Preparation time. N o d i s c u s s i o n o f c o l - l e g e l i b r a r y e x h i b i t s w o u l d b e c o m p l e t e w i t h o u t s o m e m e n t i o n o f t h e t i m e s p e n t i n t h e i r p r e p a r a t i o n . I f a n e x h i b i t i s p l a n n e d , a s s e m b l e d , a n d a r r a n g e d , a l l w i t h i n a n h o u r , i t m a y b e o p e n t o c r i t i - c i s m o n t h e g r o u n d t h a t i t h a s b e e n t o o t h o u g h t l e s s l y a n d s u p e r f i c i a l l y b r o u g h t t o - g e t h e r t o b e o f a n y r e a l v a l u e . O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , i f t h e p r e p a r a t i o n o f a n e x h i b i t r e q u i r e s a n e x c e p t i o n a l l y l a r g e a m o u n t o f t i m e a n d t h o u g h t , t h e q u e s t i o n m a y b e i n o r d e r : D o t h e r e s u l t s o f t h e e x h i b i t j u s t i f y t h e a m o u n t o f t i m e i n v e s t e d i n i t ? C o l l e g e l i b r a r i a n s w e r e a s k e d t o e s t i - m a t e t h e n u m b e r o f h o u r s s p e n t i n t h e p r e p a r a t i o n o f e a c h e x h i b i t d e s c r i b e d . I n a m a j o r i t y o f c a s e s t h e f i g u r e s a r e a p p r o x i - m a t e , a s f e w l i b r a r y r e c o r d s c a r r y t h i s i n f o r m a t i o n . I n a d d i t i o n , s o m e d i f f e r - e n c e o f o p i n i o n e x i s t s a s t o w h a t a c t u a l l y c o n s t i t u t e s p r e p a r a t i o n t i m e . D o e s i t i n - c l u d e p r e l i m i n a r y p l a n n i n g , a s w e l l a s JUNE, 1944 24 7 a s s e m b l i n g a n d a r r a n g i n g i t e m s i n t h e e x - h i b i t i o n ? I s t h e t i m e s p e n t b y a s t u d e n t a s s i s t a n t o r j a n i t o r i n c l u d e d ? S i n c e v a r i - o u s i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s a r e p l a c e d u p o n " N u m - b e r o f h o u r s t o p r e p a r e , " f i g u r e s a r e l i t t l e m o r e t h a n g e n e r a l i n d i c a t i o n s o f t h e r e l a - t i v e i m p o r t a n c e o f t h e c o l l e g e l i b r a r y e x - h i b i t i n c o l l e g e l i b r a r y s e r v i c e . I n a p p r o x i m a t e l y 5 0 p e r c e n t o f t h e e x h i b i t s t h e a c t u a l p r e p a r a t i o n i s r e p o r t e d a s r e q u i r i n g f r o m o n e t o t h r e e h o u r s , w i t h c l o s e t o o n e h a l f o f t h e s e t a k i n g f r o m o n e a n d a h a l f t o t w o h o u r s . T h e l a r g e s t a m o u n t o f t i m e w a s s p e n t o n e x h i b i t s p r e - p a r e d f o r c o l l e g e a n n i v e r s a r y c e l e b r a t i o n s . T h e n u m b e r o f h o u r s f o r o n e i s i n d i c a t e d a s " o n e h u n d r e d a t l e a s t , " a n d a b o u t a n - o t h e r t h e r e w a s r e p o r t e d : " I t i s i m p o s - s i b l e t o e s t i m a t e t h e n u m b e r o f h o u r s s p e n t a s p r e p a r a t i o n f o r t h e e x h i b i t w a s c a r r i e d o n t h r o u g h o u t t h e e n t i r e y e a r a n d m a n y p e o p l e a i d e d i n t h i s a c t i v i t y . " I n e x h i b i t s o f f e r e d f o r a s e c o n d t i m e a d e - c r e a s e i n p r e p a r a t i o n t i m e i s n o t i c e a b l e , s u g g e s t i n g a r e c o r d o f p r e v i o u s e x h i b i t s . Exhibition time. E v e n t h o u g h o n e c o l - l e g e l i b r a r i a n , i n c o m m e n t i n g u p o n t h e l e n g t h o f t i m e e x h i b i t s a r e s h o w n i n h i s l i b r a r y , w r i t e s : " O n c e a n e x h i b i t i s s e t u p , i t i s a p t t o s t a y t h e r e f o r e v e r , " figures s h o w t h a t t h e m a j o r i t y o f e x h i b i t s a r e a s s e m b l e d f o r a p e r i o d o f t w o w e e k s o r l e s s . T h e y a r e s h o w n m o s t f r e q u e n t l y f o r t w o w e e k s , o n e w e e k , a n d o n e m o n t h . T h e s h o r t e s t l e n g t h o f t i m e f o r w h i c h a n e x h i b i t i s p r e p a r e d i s o n e c l a s s p e r i o d . T h e l o n g e s t t i m e f o r w h i c h a n e x h i b i t i s r e p o r t e d s h o w n i s 3 6 0 d a y s , w i t h n o i n d i - c a t i o n t h a t t h e e x h i b i t w a s i n t e n d e d a s a p e r m a n e n t o n e . F e w o f t h e r e p o r t i n g l i b r a r i e s a s s e m b l e a l l e x h i b i t s f o r e q u a l p e r i o d s o f t i m e . G e n e r a l l y s p e a k i n g , t h e l e n g t h o f t i m e a n e x h i b i t i s h e l d i n m o s t l i b r a r i e s a p p e a r s t o b e i n f l u e n c e d b y f a c t o r s s u c h a s t h e s e : t h e p u r p o s e o f t h e e x h i b i t , t h e a m o u n t o f i n t e r e s t s h o w n b y t h e s t u d e n t s , a n d t h e a m o u n t o f t i m e w h i c h t h e s t a f f i s a b l e t o d e v o t e t o t h e p l a n n i n g a n d a r r a n g i n g o f n e w e x h i b i t s . Publicity. I n a n a n a l y s i s o f t h e p u b - l i c i t y r e c e i v e d b y c o l l e g e l i b r a r y e x h i b i t s , i t s h o u l d b e t a k e n i n t o a c c o u n t t h a t t h e a d e q u a c y o f t h e p u b l i c i t y g i v e n a n e x h i b i t i s d e t e r m i n e d b y t h e p u r p o s e o f t h e e x h i b i t i t s e l f . I f a n e x h i b i t i s s h o w n f o r s t u d e n t s e n r o l l e d i n o n e p a r t i c u l a r c o u r s e , a n a n - n o u n c e m e n t t o t h e c l a s s e s c o n c e r n e d w i l l i n a l l p r o b a b i l i t y p r o v e s u f f i c i e n t . I f a n e x h i b i t i s i n t e n d e d p r i m a r i l y t o i n t e r e s t t h e a l u m n i o f t h e c o l l e g e i n t h e l i b r a r y , e f f e c t i v e p u b l i c i t y w i l l c o m e b y w a y o f t h e a l u m n i p u b l i c a t i o n . I f a n e x h i b i t i s p r e - p a r e d t o i n c r e a s e t h e p r e s t i g e o f t h e l i - b r a r y , a n d i n d i r e c t l y t h a t o f t h e c o l l e g e , i t s h o u l d b e w i d e l y a d v e r t i s e d b e y o n d t h e c a m p u s . T h e s t u d e n t n e w s p a p e r , l i b r a r y p o s t e r s , a n n o u n c e m e n t s t o c l a s s e s , a n d t h e l o c a l n e w s p a p e r a r e u s e d m o s t f r e q u e n t l y a s c h a n n e l s o f e x h i b i t p u b l i c i t y . A p p r o x i - m a t e l y o n e t h i r d o f t h e e x h i b i t s a r e r e - p o r t e d a s h a v i n g r e c e i v e d n o p u b l i c i t y o f a n y k i n d , w h i l e o n l y 8 p e r c e n t w e r e a d - v e r t i s e d t h r o u g h f o u r o r m o r e m e d i u m s o f p u b l i c i t y . A c c o u n t s o f r e l a t i v e l y f e w c o l l e g e l i b r a r y e x h i b i t s a r e p u b l i s h e d i n p r o f e s s i o n a l l i t e r a t u r e . T h e p u b l i c i t y g i v e n e x h i b i t s d e p e n d s i n s o m e d e g r e e u p o n t h e g e n e r a l p o l i c y o f t h e i n d i v i d u a l l i b r a r y . A n e x h i b i t h e l d i n o n e l i b r a r y m a y b e h i g h l y p u b l i c i z e d t h r o u g h a n u m b e r o f m e d i u m s , w h i l e i n a n o t h e r l i b r a r y t h e s a m e e x h i b i t m a y r e - c e i v e v e r y l i t t l e , i f a n y , n o t i c e . A t t i m e s s u c h a d i f f e r e n c e i n p o l i c y i s a t t r i b u t a b l e t o t h e a v e n u e s o f p u b l i c i t y w h i c h a r e o p e n t o a l i b r a r y . F o r e x a m p l e , i f a l i b r a r y v 252 COLLEGE AND RESEARCH LIBRARIES h a s i t s o w n p u b l i c a t i o n , a c c o u n t s o f a l l e x h i b i t s s h o w n w i l l p r o b a b l y b e i n c l u d e d t h e r e . I f a c o l l e g e i s l o c a t e d n e a r a c i t y , l i b r a r y e x h i b i t s m a y o f t e n r e c e i v e p u b - l i c i t y i n o t h e r t h a n l o c a l n e w s p a p e r s . I f t h e r e i s a r a d i o s t a t i o n o n t h e c o l l e g e c a m p u s , a n n o u n c e m e n t s o f o u t s t a n d i n g e x - h i b i t s c a n b e b r o a d c a s t . Purposes of Exhibits I t i s e v i d e n t , i n l o o k i n g b a c k o f t h e e x h i b i t t o t h e p u r p o s e w h i c h i t s e r v e s , t h a t a c o l l e g e l i b r a r y e x h i b i t c a n b e d e s i g n e d f o r o n e o r m o r e o f s e v e r a l e n d s . A n e x - h i b i t i n t e n d e d t o a d v e r t i s e a s p e c i a l c o l - l e c t i o n o f w h i c h a l i b r a r y i s j u s t l y p r o u d m a y , t h r o u g h e f f e c t i v e p u b l i c i t y , r e s u l t i n d o n a t i o n s t o t h a t c o l l e c t i o n . A d i s p l a y o f b o o k s t o s t i m u l a t e r e a d i n g a b o u t M e x - i c o m a y b e r e l a t e d t o t h e w o r k o f t h e h i s t o r y a n d S p a n i s h d e p a r t m e n t s . A n e x h i b i t o f M i l t o n f i r s t e d i t i o n s a s s e m b l e d f o r a c l a s s i n E n g l i s h l i t e r a t u r e a l s o s e r v e s t o a t t r a c t a t t e n t i o n t o b o o k r a r i t i e s i n t h e l i b r a r y . B e c a u s e o f t h e s e a n d o t h e r r e l a - t i o n s h i p s e x i s t i n g a m o n g t h e v a r i o u s p u r - p o s e s o f c o l l e g e l i b r a r y e x h i b i t s , l i b r a r i a n s w e r e a s k e d t o i n d i c a t e f o r e a c h e x h i b i t a s m a n y p u r p o s e s a s a p p l i e d . P u r p o s e s r e - p o r t e d f o r 7 3 1 c o l l e g e l i b r a r y e x h i b i t s a r e a s f o l l o w s : Exhibits Having the Several Purposes Purposes Number Per cent P u b l i c i z e l i t t l e - k n o w n o r r a r e l i b r a r y m a t e r i a l s 2 3 5 3 2 . 1 S t i m u l a t e r e a d i n g f o r i n - f o r m a t i o n , o r r e c r e a - t i o n a l o r c u l t u r a l r e a d - i n g 2 1 0 2 8 . 7 P r o m o t e i n t e r e s t i n a s p e c i f i c s u b j e c t f i e l d o r g r o u p o f r e l a t e d s u b - j e c t f i e l d s 2 0 5 2 8 . 0 O b s e r v e a p a r t i c u l a r a n - n i v e r s a r y o r s p e c i a l o c - c a s i o n 1 8 8 P r o m o t e w o r k o f a n i n - d i v i d u a l t e a c h e r , p r o - m o t e i n t e r e s t i n a s p e c i f i c c o u r s e o r g r o u p o f r e l a t e d c o u r s e s 1 2 3 H o n o r d o n o r s , a t t r a c t d o - n a t i o n s , e n c o u r a g e s y m - p a t h e t i c i n t e r e s t o f F r i e n d s o f t h e L i b r a r y o r o t h e r s 9 9 P r o m o t e c i r c u l a t i o n o f a p a r t i c u l a r c l a s s o f b o o k s 8 9 E n c o u r a g e h o b b i e s 7 1 U n d e f i n e d 5 2 P u b l i c i z e r e s e a r c h o r o t h e r w o r k o f f a c u l t y 5 1 P r o m o t e w o r k o f s t u d e n t o r g a n i z a t i o n s 3 6 2 5 . 7 1 6 . 8 13-5 1 2 . 2 9-7 7.1 7 . 0 4-9 I n a n a l y z i n g t h i s s e c t i o n o f t h e q u e s - t i o n n a i r e i t a p p e a r s t h a t t w o o f t h e p u r - p o s e s l i s t e d a b o v e a c t a s m e a n s r a t h e r t h a n a s e n d s i n t h e m s e l v e s : t h e p r o m o t i o n o f b o o k c i r c u l a t i o n a n d t h e o b s e r v a t i o n o f a s p e c i a l o c c a s i o n o r p a r t i c u l a r a n n i v e r s a r y . E x h i b i t s p l a n n e d t o p r o m o t e b o o k c i r c u - l a t i o n a r e g e n e r a l l y d i r e c t e d t o w a r d a m o r e i n t a n g i b l e p u r p o s e — t o s t i m u l a t e r e a d i n g o r t o i n c r e a s e i n t e r e s t i n t h e s u b - j e c t o f t h e e x h i b i t . A m a j o r i t y o f e x h i b i t s s h o w n o n s p e c i a l o c c a s i o n s o r a n n i v e r s a r i e s a r e i n t e n d e d t o e n c o u r a g e s t u d e n t r e a d i n g a n d i n t e r e s t i n a p a r t i c u l a r s u b j e c t o r t o p u b l i c i z e l i b r a r y m a t e r i a l s w h i c h a r e r e l e - v a n t t o t h e o c c a s i o n . T h e g r e a t e s t r e l a t i v e i m p o r t a n c e i n a c o l l e g e l i b r a r y e x h i b i t p r o g r a m w o u l d s e e m t o b e a s s i g n e d t o e x h i b i t s p l a n n e d t o p u b l i c i z e l i b r a r y m a t e r i a l s , e x h i b i t s d e - s i g n e d t o e n c o u r a g e s t u d e n t r e a d i n g , a n d e x h i b i t s i n t e n d e d t o p r o m o t e i n t e r e s t i n c e r t a i n s u b j e c t f i e l d s . O f l e s s e r g e n e r a l i m p o r t a n c e b u t o f s i g n i f i c a n c e i n t h a t s o m e f e w c o l l e g e l i b r a r y e x h i b i t p r o g r a m s a r e d i r e c t e d c o n s i s t e n t l y t o w a r d t h e s e e n d s , JUNE, 1944 24 7 a r e e x h i b i t s p r e p a r e d t o r e s u l t i n m a t e r i a l g a i n f o r t h e l i b r a r y o r t o a d d t o l i b r a r y a n d c o l l e g e p r e s t i g e a n d e x h i b i t s b e a r i n g d i r e c t l y u p o n c o u r s e s i n t h e c o l l e g e c u r - r i c u l u m . Publicity for library materials. I t e m s s h o w n i n e x h i b i t s i n t h i s g r o u p o f t e n m e r i t p u b l i c i t y b e c a u s e t h e y a r e r a r e o r b e c a u s e t h e y a r e n o t w i d e l y k n o w n . I n c u n a b u l a m a y b e f e a t u r e d a n n u a l l y i n t h e l i b r a r y e x h i b i t c a s e s b e c a u s e t h e i r r a r i t y m a k e s t h e m w o r t h y o f f r e q u e n t e x h i b i t i o n . C u r - r e n t p u b l i c a t i o n s o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s g o v e r n m e n t , w h i c h a s y e t h a v e l i t t l e c l a i m t o r a r i t y , m a y b e d i s p l a y e d i n o r d e r t o b r i n g t o t h e a t t e n t i o n o f s t u d e n t s a n d m e m b e r s o f t h e f a c u l t y s o u r c e s o f i n f o r - m a t i o n w h i c h m a y p r o v e o f u s e t o t h e m . I n o v e r o n e h a l f o f t h e e x h i b i t s p l a n n e d t o p u b l i c i z e r a r e i t e m s , t h e m a t e r i a l s a r e a l s o c h e c k e d a s b e i n g l i t t l e - k n o w n , i n d i - c a t i n g t h a t l i b r a r y r e s o u r c e s w h i c h a r e c o n s i d e r e d r a r e h a v e o f t e n n o t b e e n w i d e l y p u b l i c i z e d . Rare Materials P i c k e d a t r a n d o m f r o m t h e l i s t o f i t e m s d i s p l a y e d b e c a u s e o f t h e i r r a r i t y a r e a u t o - g r a p h s ; b o o k s , i n c l u d i n g o l d B i b l e s a n d h y m n a l s , e a r l y a t l a s e s , e x a m p l e s o f fine p r i n t i n g a n d b i n d i n g ; c l a y t a b l e t s ; p e r i o d i - c a l s , w i t h t h e e m p h a s i s u p o n e a r l y a n d f o r e i g n o n e s ; p i c t u r e s ; a n d r e l i c s . T h e l i b r a r y o f o n e E a s t e r n w o m a n ' s c o l l e g e f e a t u r e d t h e w o r k s o f s c h o l a r l y w o m e n o f t h e s e v e n t e e n t h a n d e i g h t e e n t h c e n t u r i e s i n a n e x h i b i t e n t i t l e d " L e a r n e d L a d i e s . " O t h e r s p e c i f i c e x a m p l e s o f t h i s t y p e o f e x h i b i t i n c l u d e : A m e r i c a n n e w s p a p e r s f o r t h e p e r i o d 1 8 0 0 t o 1 8 6 3 ; s i x t e e n t h - c e n t u r y p r i n t e r s ' d e v i c e s a n d t y p e s ; e a r l y i s s u e s o f Godey's; c a r t o o n s o f t h e F i r s t W o r l d W a r . M a t e r i a l s m a y a l s o b e c o n s i d e r e d r a r e b e c a u s e o f t h e i r s u b j e c t m a t t e r o r a s s o c i a t i o n v a l u e . C h i e f a m o n g t h e s e a r e i t e m s r e l a t i n g t o t h e h i s t o r y o f t h e c o l l e g e , i n c l u d i n g files o f c o l l e g e p u b l i c a t i o n s a n d w r i t i n g s o f f a c u l t y m e m b e r s a n d a l u m n i . L o c a l , s t a t e , a n d r e g i o n a l m a t e r i a l s f a l l w i t h i n t h i s c a t e g o r y , w i t h e m p h a s i s u p o n e a r l y l o c a l i m p r i n t s a n d t h e l i t e r a r y o u t - p u t o f l o c a l a u t h o r s . L i t t l e - k n o w n m a t e r i a l s u s e d i n e x h i b i t s i n c l u d e s u c h i t e m s a s b i b l i o g r a p h i e s , " F i f t y B o o k s o f t h e Y e a r , " d o c u m e n t s , p a m p h l e t s , p o s t c a r d s , a n d t e x t i l e s . P u b l i c a t i o n s o n v o c a t i o n a l g u i d a n c e , a n d b o o k s , p a m p h l e t s , a n d p e r i o d i c a l s f r o m w a r i n f o r m a t i o n c e n - t e r s a r e e x h i b i t e d b e c a u s e t h e y a r e t h o u g h t t o b e u n f a m i l i a r t o s t u d e n t s o n t h e c a m - p u s . O n e e x h i b i t r e p o r t e d , f e a t u r i n g l i - b r a r y r e s o u r c e s o f w h i c h c o l l e g e s t u d e n t s m i g h t b e u n a w a r e , w a s c o m p o s e d o f b o o k s i n t h e l a n g u a g e s o f f o r e i g n c o u n t r i e s w h i c h a r e p r o m i n e n t i n t h e n e w s t o d a y , s u c h a s R u s s i a n , J a p a n e s e , C h i n e s e , N o r w e g i a n , a n d e v e n n a t i v e d i a l e c t s f r o m p a r t s o f A f r i c a . E x h i b i t s i n t h i s g r o u p a r e o f t e n p l a n n e d t o a n s w e r a s e c o n d p u r p o s e : t o p r o m o t e i n t e r e s t i n a s u b j e c t field o r t o s t i m u l a t e r e a d i n g a n d , l e s s f r e q u e n t l y , t o c o m m e m - o r a t e a s p e c i a l o c c a s i o n o r t o p r o m o t e t h e i n s t r u c t i o n a l w o r k o f t h e c o l l e g e f a c u l t y . S t u d y i n g t h e e x h i b i t s c o l l e c t i v e l y , i t w o u l d s e e m t h a t t h e i r e d u c a t i o n a l v a l u e i s s t r e n g t h e n e d i f t h e y a r e m a d e t o s e r v e a d u a l p u r p o s e . S o m e q u e s t i o n m i g h t b e r a i s e d a s t o t h e t i m e t h e a v e r a g e c o l l e g e s t u d e n t s t o p s t o c o n s i d e r a n e x h i b i t o f t h i s t y p e u n l e s s i t r e l a t e s t o h i s c u r r i c u l a r o r 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 . O n e c o l l e g e l i - b r a r i a n s p e a k s o f t h i s : " S t u d e n t s r a r e l y s t u d y a n e x h i b i t c a r e f u l l y . O n e g l a n c e t e l l s t h e m i f t h e s u b j e c t c o n c e r n s t h e m . I f i t d o e s , t h e y m a y g i v e i t a s e c o n d g l a n c e ; i f n o t , t h e y w a l k o f f . " Stimulation of student reading. T h e v 254 COLLEGE AND RESEARCH LIBRARIES i o o G r e a t B o o k s o f S t . J o h n ' s C o l l e g e , t h e R i v e r s o f A m e r i c a s e r i e s , a n d t h e A m e r i c a n G u i d e s f u r n i s h m a t e r i a l s f o r e x h i b i t s i n t h i s g r o u p . O n e c o l l e g e l i b r a r y d i s p l a y e d " R e l i a b l e S o u r c e s o f t h e N e w s , " w h i c h i n c l u d e d e x a m p l e s o f a u t h o r i t a t i v e n e w s p a p e r s , m a g a z i n e s , a n d p a m p h l e t s . A s e c o n d i n s t i t u t i o n s h o w e d p i c t u r e s a n d w r i t i n g s o f p r o m i n e n t f o r e i g n c o r r e s p o n d - e n t s . " T h e N e g r o W r i t e s H i s O w n H i s t o r y " s u r v e y e d t y p i c a l h i s t o r i c a l w o r k s o f N e g r o e s f r o m m i d - n i n e t e e n t h c e n t u r y w r i t i n g s t o c o n t e m p o r a r y s o c i a l h i s t o r y . T h e c a p t i o n " T h e M o o d I s M e t " c o v - e r e d a c o l l e c t i o n o f b o o k s t o a p p e a l t o r e a d e r s i n v a r i o u s m o o d s . A S o u t h e r n w o m a n ' s c o l l e g e r e p o r t s a s e r i e s o f w e e k l y v o c a t i o n a l g u i d a n c e e x h i b i t s d e a l i n g w i t h s u c h t o p i c s a s " W o m e n i n S c i e n c e , " " W o m e n i n M e d i c i n e , " " W o m e n i n W a r W o r k , " " T e a c h i n g , " " L i b r a r i a n s h i p , " " S o c i a l S e r v i c e , " " S e c r e t a r i a l , " a n d " P e r - s o n n e l . " A d i s p l a y o f b o o k s f o r C h r i s t m a s v a c a t i o n r e a d i n g s h o w n i n a n E a s t e r n i n - s t i t u t i o n w a s a c c o m p a n i e d b y a n a n n o t a t e d b o o k l i s t . Stimulating Student Reading E x h i b i t s o f b o o k s a s s e m b l e d f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f i n c r e a s i n g s t u d e n t r e a d i n g o c c u p y a p r i m a r y p l a c e i n t h e e x h i b i t p r o - g r a m s o f a n u m b e r o f t h e l i b r a r i e s c a n - v a s s e d . T w o q u o t a t i o n s f r o m c o l l e g e l i b r a r i a n s s e r v e a s e v i d e n c e . T h e f i r s t l i b r a r i a n w r i t e s : " O u r p u r p o s e i s a l m o s t e n t i r e l y d i r e c t e d t o w a r d l e a d i n g c o l l e g e s t u d e n t s t o d o s o m e r e a d i n g i n a d d i t i o n t o t h a t r e q u i r e d i n t h e i r c o u r s e s . " A n d f r o m t h e o t h e r c o m e s t h e f o l l o w i n g s t a t e - m e n t : " [ T h e p u b l i c i t y p r o g r a m ] i s d e - s i g n e d p r i m a r i l y t o s t i m u l a t e u s e o f b o o k s b y t h e s t u d e n t s , t o m a k e e a s i l y a v a i l a b l e g r o u p s o f b o o k s o f t i m e l y i n t e r e s t , t o k e e p a l l u s e r s o f t h e l i b r a r y i n f o r m e d o f n e w a c q u i s i t i o n s , a n d t o b r i n g t o t h e s t u d e n t ' s a t t e n t i o n f i e l d s o f k n o w l e d g e w h i c h p o s - s i b l y r e c e i v e l i t t l e e m p h a s i s i n h i s c o u r s e o f s t u d y . " S u c h o p i n i o n s w h e n c h e c k e d w i t h t h e s u b j e c t s o f t h e e x h i b i t s i n t h i s g r o u p i n d i c a t e t h a t t h e r e a d i n g w h i c h i s e n c o u r a g e d i s l a r g e l y o f a n e x t r a c u r r i c u l a r n a t u r e . O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , s e v e r a l c o l l e g e l i - b r a r i e s r e p o r t v e r y f e w , i f a n y , e x h i b i t s p l a n n e d t o s t i m u l a t e s t u d e n t r e a d i n g . T h e i n d i c a t i o n i s t h a t t h i s p u r p o s e i s m e t b y t e m p o r a r y d i s p l a y s w h i c h s u p p l e m e n t t h e m o r e f o r m a l e x h i b i t i o n s . Promotion of interest in a subject field or group of subject fields. B a r r i n g t h e f i e l d s o f a r t a n d l i t e r a t u r e w h i c h a r e d i s - c u s s e d a b o v e , n o m o r e t h a n 3 p e r c e n t o f t h e e x h i b i t s a r e r e p o r t e d a s l y i n g i n a n y o n e s p e c i f i c a c a d e m i c f i e l d . F u r t h e r a l o n g i n t h e l i s t i n g o f e x h i b i t s u b j e c t s t h e s e f i e l d s b e g i n t o a p p e a r : r e l i g i o n , w i t h t h e n u m b e r o f e x h i b i t s i n c r e a s e d b y d i s p l a y s o f B i b l e s a n d r e l i g i o u s r e l i c s ; d r a m a ; t h e G r e e k a n d L a t i n c l a s s i c s ; s c i e n c e , w i t h a s c a t t e r i n g o f e x h i b i t s t h r o u g h c h e m i s t r y , b i o l o g y , b o t a n y , a n d m a t h e m a t i c s ; e d u c a - t i o n ; g e o g r a p h y , w i t h t h e e m p h a s i s u p o n m a p s a n d a t l a s e s ; m u s i c ; h o m e e c o n o m i c s , b r o u g h t i n t o t h e p i c t u r e b y a n i n c r e a s e d n u m b e r o f e x h i b i t s d e a l i n g w i t h n u t r i - t i o n ; a r c h i t e c t u r e ; a n d p h y s i c a l e d u c a t i o n . I n a c o n s i d e r a b l e n u m b e r o f i n s t a n c e s i t a p p e a r s t h a t t h e t e r m " s u b j e c t f i e l d " a s u s e d i n c p n n e c t i o n w i t h e x h i b i t i n g i s n o t s y n o n y m o u s w i t h " a c a d e m i c s u b j e c t f i e l d . " T h e w o r d " s u b j e c t " i n e x h i b i t p r a c t i c e i s m o r e n e a r l y a n a l o g o u s t o i t s m e a n i n g i n t h e t e r m " s u b j e c t h e a d i n g " a s u s e d b y a c a t a l o g e r , r e f e r r i n g t o s u c h t o p i c s a s v i t a m i n s , c h i l d r e n ' s b o o k s , v i c t o r y g a r d e n s , a n d L a t i n A m e r i c a . O f t h e 2 0 5 e x h i b i t s p r e p a r e d t o p r o m o t e i n t e r e s t i n a s p e c i f i c s u b j e c t f i e l d o r g r o u p o f r e l a t e d JUNE, 1944 24 7 s u b j e c t fields, n i n e t y - n i n e a r e a l s o d e s i g n e d t o s t i m u l a t e r e a d i n g w h i c h i s l a r g e l y o f a n e x t r a c u r r i c u l a r n a t u r e . T h i s f a c t , c o u p l e d w i t h t h e i n t e r p r e t a t i o n p l a c e d u p o n " s u b j e c t field" i n a r e l a t i v e l y l a r g e n u m b e r o f l i b r a r i e s t o w h i c h t h e q u e s t i o n - n a i r e w a s s e n t , w o u l d s e e m t o i n d i c a t e t h a t e x h i b i t s i n t h i s g r o u p a r e n o t a s c l o s e l y r e l a t e d t o t h e p r o g r a m o f i n s t r u c t i o n a s m i g h t a t first b e s u p p o s e d . Advancement of the instructional pro- gram. T h e f o l l o w i n g q u o t a t i o n c o m e s f r o m D r . B r a n s c o m b ' s Teaching with Books: I n v i s i t i n g t h e l i b r a r i e s o n e s e e s m a n y e x h i b i t s o f b o o k s f o r r e c r e a t i o n a l r e a d i n g , c u r r e n t fiction, b i o g r a p h i e s , t r a v e l b o o k s , a n d t h e l i k e . O n e o f t e n s e e s d i s p l a y s o f n e w b o o k s o f g e n e r a l i n t e r e s t . I h a v e y e t t o s e e a n e x h i b i t o f b o o k s o f i n t e r e s t t o s t u d e n t s i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h a n y c o u r s e o f s t u d y . T h e r e p l y t h a t t h e c o u r s e r e a d i n g s s e t u p b y t h e f a c u l t y c o n s t i t u t e t h e e x h i b i t s i n t h e s e c a s e s i s n o t q u i t e a d e q u a t e i n v i e w o f t h e p o s s i b i l i t i e s o f a d d e d a t t r a c t i v e n e s s a n d i n t e r e s t w h i c h a c a p a b l e a n d i n t e r e s t e d l i b r a r i a n - w o u l d o f t e n s e e i n s u c h s h e l v e s . 1 D r . B r a n s c o m b ' s w o r d s a r e t h r e e y e a r s o l d , a n d t o d a y c l o s e t o 1 7 p e r c e n t o f t h e e x h i b i t s d e s c r i b e d b y c o l l e g e l i b r a r i a n s f a l l i n t o t h e g r o u p w h i c h c a n b e d e s i g n a t e d a s c u r r i c u l a r . F o r t h e m o s t p a r t , h o w e v e r , t h e s e e x h i b i t s a r e f o u n d i n t h e l i b r a r i e s o f a l i m i t e d n u m b e r o f c o l l e g e s a n d a r e c o n - c e n t r a t e d i n a f e w a c a d e m i c s u b j e c t fields. A m o n g t h e l i b r a r i e s d i r e c t i n g a t l e a s t a p a r t o f t h e i r e x h i b i t p r o g r a m s a l o n g c u r - r i c u l a r l i n e s a r e t h e l i b r a r i e s o f W e l l e s l e y C o l l e g e a n d M i d d l e b u r y C o l l e g e . T e a c h - i n g e x h i b i t i o n s a t W e l l e s l e y C o l l e g e c o v e r a n u m b e r o f t h e m a j o r s u b j e c t fields, i n - c l u d i n g t h e c l a s s i c s , m a t h e m a t i c s , a n d h i s - 1 Branscomb, H a r v i e . Teaching with Books: A Study of College Libraries. Chicago, Association of A m e r i c a n Colleges and A m e r i c a n L i b r a r y Associa- tion, 1940, p. 83-84. t o r y , b u t e m p h a s i s i s p r i m a r i l y i n t h e field o f E n g l i s h l i t e r a t u r e , o w i n g t o t h e l i - b r a r y ' s s p e c i a l c o l l e c t i o n o f E n g l i s h p o e t r y . T h e e x h i b i t s , w h i c h a r e c o m p o s e d a l m o s t e n t i r e l y o f r a r e i t e m s , a r e a r r a n g e d b y t h e c u r a t o r o f r a r e b o o k s , w h o t a l k s t o c l a s s e s a b o u t t h e m a t e r i a l s d i s p l a y e d . R a r e i t e m s , t h r o u g h e x h i b i t i o n , a r e r e l a t e d t o s t u d e n t w o r k a n d i n t e r e s t s a n d a r e m a d e t o c o n - t r i b u t e s i g n i f i c a n t l y t o c o l l e g e e d u c a t i o n . C o o p e r a t i o n w i t h t h e t e a c h i n g f a c u l t y i s e v i d e n t i n t h e e x h i b i t p r o g r a m o f M i d - d l e b u r y C o l l e g e . C u r r i c u l a r e x h i b i t s a r e d e s c r i b e d i n t h e Bulletin o f t h e l i b r a r y : " E a c h w e e k t h r o u g h o u t t h e w i n t e r w e h o p e t o h a v e e x h i b i t s s p o n s o r e d b y m e m - b e r s o f t h e f a c u l t y , b r i n g i n g t o t h e a t - t e n t i o n o f t h e s t u d e n t s n o t e w o r t h y p h a s e s i n t h e w o r k o f a l l d e p a r t m e n t s ; " 2 a n d l a t e r : " I n t h e m a i n r e a d i n g r o o m t h e r e h a v e b e e n e x h i b i t s s t a g e d b y d i f f e r e n t d e - p a r t m e n t s o f t h e c o l l e g e , d i s p l a y i n g e v e r y - t h i n g f r o m t h e e x t r a c t i o n o f r u b b e r f r o m g o l d e n r o d t o f a c s i m i l e c o i n s o f t h e d a y s o f J u l i u s C a e s a r . " 3 T h e p s y c h o l o g y d e - p a r t m e n t w a s r e p r e s e n t e d b y a n e x h i b i t o n " M e n t a l T e s t i n g ; " m a t h e m a t i c s b y a n e x h i b i t f e a t u r i n g a n o l d c a l c u l a t i n g m a - c h i n e ; a n d h o m e e c o n o m i c s b y m a t e r i a l s o n f o o d r a t i o n i n g a n d t h e h i s t o r y o f c o s - t u m e . T h a t c e r t a i n o t h e r l i b r a r i e s m a y b e s t u d y i n g t h e i r e x h i b i t p r o g r a m s w i t h a v i e w t o w a r d i n t e g r a t i n g t h e m m o r e c l o s e l y w i t h t h e a c t u a l i n s t r u c t i o n o f t h e c o l l e g e i s s u g g e s t e d b y a s t a t e m e n t f r o m t h e l i - b r a r i a n o f a M i d d l e W e s t e r n c o l l e g e : I n m y j u d g m e n t w e h a v e n o t y e t w o r k e d o u t a w e l l - i n t e g r a t e d p l a n f o r e x h i b i t s w h i c h w o u l d r e l a t e t o a n d r e i n f o r c e t h e c o u r s e s o f f e r e d i n t h e c u r r i c u l u m . I t h a s b e e n m y h o p e t h a t t h e v a r i o u s m e m b e r s o f 1 M i d d l e b u r y C o l l e g e L i b r a r y , M i d d l e b u r y , V t . Bulletin, v. 10, no. 2, October 1942, p. [ 1 ] . Mimeo- graphed. 3 Ibid., v. 10, no. 4, December 1942, p. [ 1 ] . v 2 5 6 COLLEGE AND RESEARCH LIBRARIES t h e f a c u l t y m i g h t b e a r o u s e d t o a g r e a t e r i n t e r e s t i n t h e p o s s i b i l i t i e s . W e h a v e a m p l e i l l u s t r a t i v e m a t e r i a l i n t h e l i b r a r y f o r t h e p u r p o s e , e v e n t h o u g h a g o o d d e a l o f i t i s n o t o r i g i n a l s o u r c e m a t e r i a l . Encouragement of interest in the library on the part of persons not directly asso- ciated with the college. In regard to the contribution which an exhibit can make t o w a r d increasing library and college pres- tige and toward securing the interest of valuable friends, a description of exhibits shown in the W e s l e y a n University Library before the w a r is pertinent: D u r i n g t h e l a s t e i g h t y e a r s w e h a v e h a d s e v e r a l e x h i b i t s o f m o r e t h a n u s u a l i m p o r - t a n c e . O n e , " F i r s t A p p e a r a n c e s o f F a m i l i a r Q u o t a t i o n s , " o n e o n R o b e r t F r o s t , a n d o n e o n G i l b e r t a n d S u l l i v a n . F o r e a c h o f t h e s e w e w e r e f o r t u n a t e i n s e c u r i n g e x c e p t i o n a l l y i m p o r t a n t p r i v a t e c o l l e c t i o n s a n d t h e c o o p e r a t i o n o f t h e o w n e r o f t h e s e c o l l e c t i o n s i n t h e i r d i s p l a y . F o r e a c h o f t h e s e e x h i b i t s w e p u b l i s h e d a c a t a l o g i n b o u n d b o o k f o r m . T h e s e b o o k s w e a t - t e m p t e d t o d o r a t h e r n i c e l y , p r i n t e d t h e m i n l i m i t e d e d i t i o n s , a n d e a c h o n e p r o m p t l y b e c a m e a " c o l l e c t o r ' s i t e m " i n i t s o w n r i g h t . E a c h o f t h e s e e x h i b i t s r e c e i v e d r a t h e r w i d e p u b l i c i t y , i n c l u d i n g f e a t u r e s t o r i e s i n t h e New York Times Book Supplement and s i m i l a r p u b l i c a t i o n s . T h e w a r p u t a t e m p o - r a r y q u i e t u s o n t h i s s o r t o f e x h i b i t . I n t h e c a s e o f o u r m o r e i m p o r t a n t e x h i b i t s w e h a v e t r i e d t o " o p e n " t h e m w i t h t e a s o r l e c t u r e s b y s o m e a u t h o r i t y i n t h e field c o v e r e d o r w i t h s o m e o t h e r s p e c i a l s e n d - o f f . F o r the library unable to hold exhibitions as extensive as those described above, simpler exhibits carefully planned and wisely publicized may in a smaller w a y obtain similar results. O n e college library reports the exhibition of a collection of historical documents of the college timed f o r a meeting of the state historical so- ciety on the campus. Exhibits may also be shown to honor JUNE, 1944 past donors or, as already indicated, to d r a w other donations. Miscellaneous c o l - lections of g i f t books acquired during the college year are exhibited as a courtesy to the donors. Individual donors are hon- ored through exhibits if their gifts are sufficiently noteworthy to deserve exhibi- tion. T h e library of one w o m a n ' s college reports an exhibit of books and manu- scripts f r o m a special collection gathered and financed by the alumnae association of the college. Rarest items were featured and the most important funds and donors were represented. A n exhibit to honor donors may serve to attract additional gifts if it receives thoughtful planning and proper publicity. W i t h the exception of books collected in the V i c t o r y B o o k Campaign, exhibits de- signed to attract donations are usually composed of items, often rare, w h i c h repre- sent a special interest in the l i b r a r y : alumni writings and college memorabilia, fine printing f r o m private presses, letters and documents relating to the early history of the state, first editions of a particular author w h o may be an alumnus of the college. If the library policy is to strengthen certain collections through gifts, exhibits of these collections, if brought to the attention of the proper audience, may exert a favorable influence upon prospective donors. Conclusion Cumulative figures may well be ac- cepted critically and deliberately, since they may at times be affected dispropor- tionately by conditions peculiar to the individual library. O n e librarian w r i t e s : " I t seemed to me when I came to the li- brary that our entire student body should be made more 'art conscious,' " w i t h the result that items f r o m the art library are 257 i exhibited frequently. A second librarian explains the number of exhibits of college materials shown in her library as f o l l o w s : " T h e college is fortunate in having a well-organized and extensive college his- tory collection. T h i s coupled with the fact that w e are one of the oldest of the women's colleges makes it seem advisable to stress the historical aspects of the col- lege." Exhibits in the library of a N e g r o institution may stress the history and achievements of the N e g r o race, while a college library faced with the problem of student misuse of books may utilize the exhibit as one means of educating the stu- dent body to respect library materials. Factors such as these, plus the wide varia- tion in exhibit facilities in college libraries, make one slow to judge an exhibit pro- gram adequate or inadequate or to accept total figures without some reservation. These figures serve only to point the way toward a general interpretation of current exhibit policy and practice. By combining figures from the preced- ing sections of the study, various parts of the questionnaire can be made to w o r k together to supplement and explain one another. A s subjects, materials, purposes, and methods can be linked to sketch a specific exhibit, they can also be related to describe the typical college library ex- hibit. It is an exhibit dealing with a specific country or locality, assembled pri- marily f o r the purpose of publicizing li- brary materials. T h e exhibit is composed mainly of books and pictures, supple- mented by articles borrowed from mem- bers of the faculty and from other indi- viduals. It is shown for t w o weeks in two exhibit cases, and an account appears in the student newspaper. T h e librarian is responsible for planning the exhibit and from one and a half to t w o hours are spent in assembling and arranging it. T h e typical college library exhibit con- sidered in this study, with certain striking exceptions, is not used as an instrument in the integration of the library program with the instructional program. O n the contrary, it is designed chiefly to show the independent resources of the library for self-cultivation and to display "unusual books, books demanded by potential lead- ers."4 In such a use of exhibits the college library shares with the museum, the public library, and the university library in a program planned to serve the community of which it is a part, to give publicity to its holdings, to increase these by the stimu- lation of gifts, and to encourage inde- pendent reading. T h e college library shows an awareness of the effectiveness of these exhibits, but it need not stop with such a conception of its exhibit work. T h e potentialities of the college library exhibit as an implement of college instruction are not as widely recognized. T h e develop- ment of the curricular exhibit will call for new and vigorous plans, to be carried out jointly by the library and departments of instruction. * A d a m s , R . G. Address at the Dedication of the Stockwell Memorial Library at Albion College, June 4, I 9 3 S . A l b i o n C o l l e g e , 1938, p. 18. v 258 COLLEGE AND RESEARCH LIBRARIES