College and Research Libraries


B y F R A N C I S P . A L L E N 

Friends of the Library Organisations 

Mr. Allen, librarian of Rhode Island 
State College, has sought through an en-
quiry to throw light on the experience of 
college and university libraries with 
groups of Friends. 

THIS STUDY of F r i e n d s of the L i b r a r y o r g a n i z a t i o n s is in no respect ex-
h a u s t i v e . V i s i t s w e r e m a d e to ten insti-

t u t i o n s . 1 T h r o u g h correspondence i n f o r -

m a t i o n w a s o b t a i n e d f r o m five 2 m o r e 

i n s t i t u t i o n s w h i c h had F r i e n d s g r o u p s and 

f r o m three w h i c h did not. 3 T h e p u b l i c a -

tions of the F r i e n d s of the L i b r a r y o r g a n i -

z a t i o n s in t w e n t y - o n e institutions 4 h a v e 

been Covered, as w e l l as all articles on the 

s u b j e c t listed in Current Library Litera-
ture, 1921-42. 

T h e A m e r i c a n L i b r a r y A s s o c i a t i o n has 

s u m m e d up s e v e r a l of the m o r e p a t e n t p u r -

poses of the F r i e n d s in a m i m e o g r a p h e d 

p u b l i c a t i o n . 5 I t says, in p a r t , " T h e p u r -

pose of the c o l l e g e g r o u p s , a l t h o u g h v a r i -

ously stated, is p r a c t i c a l l y the s a m e : to 

c o n s t i t u t e a body of sleuths to d i s c o v e r 

idle books in p r i v a t e libraries, d u p l i c a t e 

books, special collections. . . O t h e r 

1 Brown, Columbia, Harvard, Massachusetts Insti-
tute of Technology, New Y o r k University, K n o x 
( N e w Y o r k office), Princeton, Rutgers, Wellesley, 
Yale. 

2 Bucknell, Haverford, Michigan State, Washing-
ton State, Wesleyan. 

3 Amherst, Pennsylvania State College, University 
of Rochester. 

4 Brown, Buffalo, Bucknell, Chicago, Colby, Dart-
mouth, Haverford, Harvard, Knox, Princeton, Rut-
gers, Michigan State. New York Universitv, Duke, 
Washington State, Wellesley, Wesleyan, Massachu-
setts Institute of Technology, Yale, Columbia, Johns 
Hopkins. 

6 American L i b r a r y Association. Friends of the 
Library Groups. C h i c a g o , A . L . A . , 1938. 47P. M i m -
eographed. 

e q u a l l y i m p o r t a n t o b j e c t i v e s of F r i e n d s 

o r g a n i z a t i o n s a r e : 

( 1 ) T o supplement the library budget by 
cash contributions. T h e librarian at C o l b y 
specifically mentions this as an objective, and 
all of the t w e n t y - f o u r institutions in this 
study anticipate cash contributions as dues 
or g i f t s or both. 

( 2 ) T o make the library more u s e f u l to 
students and faculty. B r o w n and N e w 
Y o r k University place emphasis on this 
point. 

( 3 ) T o provide an understanding of the 
w o r k of the library. W e l l e s l e y , N e w Y o r k 
University, and B r o w n feel this is im-
portant. 

( 4 ) T o build up a g r e a t e r realization of 
the importance of the library to the f u t u r e 
development of the university. N e w Y o r k 
University mentions this. 

( 5 ) T o stimulate the cultivation of an 
educated interest in their alma mater by the 
alumni. B r o w n hopes to achieve this. 

T h e l i t e r a t u r e of F r i e n d s g r o u p s is f u l l 

of i n t e r e s t i n g a c c o u n t s of h o w v a r i o u s 

g r o u p s w e r e f o u n d e d , d e s c r i b i n g the initial 

dinners, the first d r i v e s f o r m e m b e r s , and 

the first n u m b e r s of the b u l l e t i n s . T h e 

idea o r i g i n a t e d in E u r o p e . F r a n k l y n E . 

P a r k e r , J r . , and A r c h i b a l d C o o l i d g e , then 

d i r e c t o r of the H a r v a r d L i b r a r y , spent 

considerable time in E u r o p e i m m e d i a t e l y 

a f t e r W o r l d W a r I c o l l e c t i n g m a t e r i a l f o r 

the H a r v a r d l i b r a r y . T h e y w e r e impressed 

w i t h the F r i e n d s of the L i b r a r y g r o u p at 

the P a r i s B i b l i o t h e q u e N a t i o n a l e , w h i c h 

w a s started in 1 9 1 3 , and succeeded in 

l a u n c h i n g a g r o u p at their a l m a m a t e r in 

1 9 2 5 . T h e idea spread a l m o s t at once to 

SEPTEMBER., 1944 347 



Y a l e a n d C o l u m b i a and since to a l l sec-

tions of the U n i t e d S t a t e s a n d to a l l types 

of i n s t i t u t i o n s . 

T h e m o s t g e n e r a l type of F r i e n d s or-

g a n i z a t i o n has no p e r m a n e n t s e c r e t a r y a n d 

no c o n s t i t u t i o n . I t has c o m p u l s o r y a n n u a l 

dues a n d a p u b l i c a t i o n issued at i r r e g u -

l a r i n t e r v a l s . Y a l e , P r i n c e t o n , W e s l e y a n , 

M i c h i g a n S t a t e , a n d B r o w n h a v e a c o u n c i l 

w h i c h acts in an a d v i s o r y c a p a c i t y . T o 

h o l d an a n n u a l m e e t i n g at w h i c h officers 

are elected is c o m m o n p r a c t i c e . T h e li-

b r a r i a n acts as s e c r e t a r y of the F r i e n d s a t 

P r i n c e t o n , D u k e , H a v e r f o r d , W a s h i n g t o n 

S t a t e , M i c h i g a n S t a t e , J o h n s H o p k i n s , 

a n d C h i c a g o . H i s office, or t h a t of the 

assistant l i b r a r i a n , serves as h e a d q u a r t e r s 

f o r the o r g a n i z a t i o n a t W e l l e s l e y , P r i n c e -

t o n , B r o w n , D u k e , H a v e r f o r d , R u t g e r s , 

Y a l e , W a s h i n g t o n S t a t e , a n d W e s l e y a n . 

T h e F r i e n d s of the K n o x C o l l e g e L i -

b r a r y operate f r o m the N e w Y o r k office 

of an a l u m n u s , E d w a r d C a l d w e l l , a n d 

keep g o i n g t h r o u g h a l u m n i s u p p o r t . A t 

N e w Y o r k U n i v e r s i t y , D a r t m o u t h , R u t -

gers, a n d H a r v a r d one or m o r e m e m b e r s 

of the f a c u l t y are responsible f o r the 

i n i t i a l a c t i v i t y of the g r o u p a n d aid the 

l i b r a r i a n in k e e p i n g it a l i v e . 

A ctivities 

F r i e n d s o r g a n i z a t i o n s are e n g a g e d in a 

m u l t i t u d e of a c t i v i t i e s . A t J o h n s H o p -

kins, K n o x , N e w Y o r k U n i v e r s i t y , 

B r o w n , and W e l l e s l e y t h e y s t u d y desid-

e r a t a lists a n d r e a d r e p o r t s u p o n the pro-

gress of the l i b r a r y . J o h n C a r t e r B r o w n 

F r i e n d s m a k e visits t o the l i b r a r y , t h e r e b y 

i n f o r m i n g t h e m s e l v e s of its activities. 

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

the l i b r a r y a t J o h n s H o p k i n s , C h i c a g o , 

H a r v a r d , W e l l e s l e y , B r o w n , Y a l e , and 

N e w Y o r k U n i v e r s i t y . F r i e n d s quite 

g e n e r a l l y g i v e books and m o n e y f o r books 

f o r the r e f e r e n c e c o l l e c t i o n , a n d at K n o x 

they m a k e c o n t r i b u t i o n s t o w a r d a d d i t i o n a l 

copies f o r c o l l a t e r a l r e a d i n g and f o r c u r -

r e n t p e r i o d i c a l subscriptions. A t W e l l e s -

ley, N e w Y o r k U n i v e r s i t y , H a r v a r d , Y a l e , 

P r i n c e t o n , a n d B r o w n they donate specific 

items l a c k i n g in special c o l l e c t i o n s . A t 

Y a l e they h a v e specialized in c o n t r i b u t i o n s 

to the r a r e book r o o m . T h e F r i e n d s at 

N e w Y o r k U n i v e r s i t y f u r n i s h e d a f i l m -

r e a d i n g m a c h i n e . 

S o m e t i m e s special p r o j e c t s are p r o m o t e d 

by F r i e n d s g r o u p s . A t P r i n c e t o n F r i e n d s 

h a v e aided in r a i s i n g f u n d s f o r a n e w 

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

g r a p h i c a r t s p r o g r a m . A t the U n i v e r s i t y 

of T o l e d o they h a v e sponsored an e n d o w -

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

l i b r a r y . A t H a v e r f o r d t h e y h a v e v o l u n -

t a r i l y served to keep the t r e a s u r e room 

open a n d to receive guests on S u n d a y 

a f t e r n o o n s . T h e U n i v e r s i t y of B u f f a l o 

F r i e n d s use some of their f u n d s f o r a 

l e n d i n g l i b r a r y of n e w fiction a n d nonfic-

tion and i n c l u d e a h o m e d e l i v e r y service. 

F i n a l l y , one of the m a j o r a c t i v i t i e s of 

m o s t g r o u p s is the p u b l i c a t i o n of b u l l e t i n s . 

Finances 

T h e chief r e g u l a r income of the F r i e n d s 

is f r o m a n n u a l dues. C o m p u l s o r y dues 

are m o s t c o m m o n , b u t B r o w n has v o l u n -

t a r y dues. H a r v a r d encloses a subscrip-

tion o r d o n a t i o n c a r d w i t h its n e w s 

b u l l e t i n . D a r t m o u t h , M . I . T . , W e s l e y a n , 

and K n o x ask f o r no r e g u l a r a n n u a l con-

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

tions of m o n e y f o r g e n e r a l expenses, f o r 

their p u b l i c a t i o n s , a n d f o r book purchases, 

either g e n e r a l o r specific. M a n y g r o u p s 

s u g g e s t t h a t m e m b e r s l e a v e m o n e y to the 

F r i e n d s as bequests. D u e s at R u t g e r s g o 

c h i e f l y f o r the p u b l i c a t i o n of the Journal 
of the R u t g e r s U n i v e r s i t y L i b r a r y . A t 

v 348 COLL EGE AND RESEARCH LIBRARIES 



P r i n c e t o n they are devoted to t w o pur-

poses, the graphic arts project and the 

Library Chronicle. A t C o l b y all money 
collected in dues goes f o r book purchases, 

and at N e w Y o r k U n i v e r s i t y the same is 

true a f t e r r u n n i n g expenses and costs of 

the bulletin have been met. T h e N e w 

Y o r k U n i v e r s i t y procedure is believed to 

prevail commonly elsewhere. 

T h e accompanying chart presents a 

v a r i e t y of information about F r i e n d s or-

ganizations. 

F R I E N D S O R G A N I Z A T I O N S 

0 8 a 
s 8.2 

• 1 1 
O 3 s 

v 8 ^ t? 
2 8 ^ . g c q 

> § <a Ds<0 
B r o w n 1 9 3 8 Y e s V o l . Q 
B u c k n e l l 1936 N o N o n e 3 a y e a r 
B u f f a l o 1936 N o C o m p . I r r e g . 
C h i c a g o 1 9 3 4 Y e s C o m p . 3 a ^ y e a r 

C o l b y 1 9 3 5 N o C o m p . 

3 a ^ y e a r 

C o l u m b i a 1928 Y e s C o m p . I r r e g . 
D a r t m o u t h 1 9 3 8 N o N o n e I r r e g . 

D u k e 1 9 3 5 N o C o m p . I r r e g . 

H a r v a r d 1 9 2 S . N o N o n e I r r e g . 

H a v e r f o r d 1 9 4 3 N o C o m p . I r r e g . 

J o h n s H o p k i n s 1930 N o C o m p . Q 
K n o x 1 9 3 1 N o N o n e I r r e g . 

M . I . T . 1 9 3 7 N o N o n e I r r e g . 

M i c h i g a n S t a t e 1 9 4 3 Y e s C o m p . I r r e g . 

N . Y . U . 1 9 3 3 Y e s C o m p . Q 
P r i n c e t o n 1930 N o C o m p . Q 
R u t g e r s 1 9 3 7 Y e s C o m p . S e m i a n n . 

Washington State 1 9 3 8 Y e s C o m p . I r r e g . 
W e l l e s l e y 1 9 3 3 N o C o m p . I r r e g . 

Wesleyan 1 9 3 1 N o N o n e Q 
Y a l e 1928 Y e s C o m p . Q 
a V o l . — v o l u n t a r y 

Comp.—compulsory 
b Q — Q u a r t e r l y 

I r r e g . — I r r e g u l a r l y 
Semiann.—Semiannually 

T h e annual dinner has been discon-

tinued f o r the duration at P r i n c e t o n , 

D u k e , and W a s h i n g t o n State. T h e publi-

cations of the F r i e n d s o r g a n i z a t i o n have 

been continued at most institutions, but 

have been suspended at K n o x , C o l u m b i a , 

H a r v a r d , D a r t m o u t h , and D u k e . A 

drive f o r increased membership has been 

postponed until a f t e r the w a r at P r i n c e -

ton. T h e K n o x o r g a n i z a t i o n has been 

inactive due to w a r activities on the K n o x 

campus. Preoccupation of alumni and 

f a c u l t y w i t h the w a r has centered activities 

of F r i e n d s groups to an enlarged extent in 

the office of the librarian. 

1. Friends groups occur in l a n d - g r a n t 

colleges and universities, small liberal arts 

colleges, and large privately endowed uni-

versities. F i n a n c i a l l y speaking, the results 

n a t u r a l l y have been greatest in the insti-

tutions w i t h a large group of w e a l t h y 

alumni, many of w h o m are interested in 

books and book collecting. 

2. G r o u p s conducted chiefly by alumni 

tend to fluctuate g r e a t l y in their effective-

ness over a l o n g period of time. Interest 

w a n e s and the group becomes inactive. 

H a r v a r d , Y a l e , P r i n c e t o n , C o l u m b i a , and 

K n o x have experienced this. 

3. F a c u l t y management has b r o u g h t 

about the same results as that of alumni. 

4. A continuity of interest is best main-

tained w h e n the group is directed f r o m 

the library, although this requires a great 

amount of time and effort on the part of 

the librarian or some member of his staff. 

5. F r i e n d s of the L i b r a r y publications 

are u n i f o r m l y v a l u a b l e in p r o m o t i n g the 

interests of the library. A n elaborate, ex-

pensive publication, although desirable, is 

not indispensable. A t w o - or four-page 

n e w s sheet, preferably printed but even 

mimeographed, serves to call attention to 

important needs and activities of the li-

brary. 

6. F r i e n d s groups have spread to the 

extent w h e r e they may compete w i t h each 

other in urban centers. F r e q u e n t l y this 

competition w o r k s to the a d v a n t a g e of 

each unit concerned, by stimulating greater 

activity and achievement. 

7. F r i e n d s groups are effective in 

spreading g o o d w i l l f o r the library and in 

g i v i n g recognition to the important role 

played by the library in the realm of higher 

education. 

SEPTEMBER., 1944 349 



Some Periodical Publications by and Relating to 

Library Friends Included in This Study 
B r o w n U n i v e r s i t y . Books at Brown. Issued 

quarterly. 4 - 6 p . V . I, no. i , June 1 9 3 8 . 
A news bulletin with desiderata lists. A t t r a c t i v e l y 

printed. 

B u c k n e l l U n i v e r s i t y . Bibliotheca Bucknellensis. 
I r r e g u l a r . 4 - 6 p . V . I , no. 1, November 1 9 3 6 . 

A n e w s sheet. 

C h i c a g o U n i v e r s i t y . Courier. Issued three times 
a year. V . I , no. .1, D e c e m b e r 1934. 

N e w s items and articles dealing with collections. 

D u k e U n i v e r s i t y . Library Notes. Issued ir-
regularly. 4 - 6 p . V . I , no. 1, M a r c h 1 9 3 6 . 

A news bulletin. 

C o l b y College. Colby Library Quarterly. I s s u e d 
J a n u a r y , M a r c h , June, October. i 6 - 2 o p . Ser. I , 
110. 1, J a n u a r y 1935. 

A r t i c l e s are literary, dealing chiefly with Colby li-
b r a r y exhibitions and collections. 

C o l u m b i a U n i v e r s i t y . Bibliotheca Columbiana. 
Issued irregularly. O n l y f o u r issued: A p r i l 1933. 
i 2 p . ; December 1 9 3 4 , 2 o p . ; J u n e 1 9 3 6 , i 6 p . ; A u g u s t 
1937, 9p. 

A r t i c l e s are news items dealing chiefly with Co-
lumbia library exhibitions and collections. 

D a r t m o u t h College. Library Bulletin. Issued 
irregularly. i 6 p . V . I , no. 1, A p r i l 1 9 3 1 ; v . I V , 
no. 2 , A p r i l 1 9 4 3 . Suspended f o r the duration. 

B e g i n n i n g with v. I I , no. 1 0 , M a r c h 1 9 3 8 , issues 
of the Library Bulletin of the B a k e r L i b r a r y contain 
news items, lists of donors, information about the 
F r i e n d s of the D a r t m o u t h library. T h i s literary 
publication is otherwise strictly a publication of the 
library and not of the Friends. 

H a r v a r d U n i v e r s i t y . Library Notes. Issued 
quarterly, sop. V . I . no. 1, June 1 9 2 0 . 

A publication of the H a r v a r d library of high 
literary quality. I t occasionally contains brief r e f e r -
ences to the F r i e n d s of the H a r v a r d library. 

News of the Harvard Library. Issued f o r the 
L i b r a r y Friends at intervals from C a m b r i d g e . I r -
regular. 2 p . V . I, no. 1, N o v e m b e r 1941. 2 p . 
V . I., no. 2 , F e b r u a r y 1 9 4 2 . 2 p . N o more issued. 

A news sheet g i v i n g brief reports on collections, 
g i f t s , etc. 

H a v e r f o r d College. Library Associates' Bulletin. 
Irregular. 4 p . N o . 1, N o v . 2 0 , 1943- Mimeo-
graphed. 

A news sheet. 

Johns H o p k i n s U n i v e r s i t y . Ex Libris. Issued 
quarterly. 4 - 8 p . V . I, no. 1, M a y 1 9 3 1 . 

A news sheet. 

K n o x College. Books for the Knox College Li-
brary. Irregular. 4-16p. N o . 1, A p r i l 1 9 3 2 . Sus-
pended for the duration. 

A news bulletin and desiderata list. 

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 . Footnotes. 
Issued irregularly. 4 - 6 p . S p r i n g , 1 9 3 8 , D . B . 
U p d i k e , M e r r y m o u n t P r e s s ; spring, 1 9 3 9 , W . A . 
D w i g g i n s ; summer, 1 9 4 1 , ouglas M c M u r t r i e ; sum-
mer, 1 9 4 2 , B e r k l e y P r e s s ; summer, 1 9 4 3 , Southworth-
A n t h o e n s e n Press. 

E a c h one is an outstanding piece of typographic 
design. A news bulletin. E a c h issue contains 
articles on the F r i e n d s of the M . I . T . L i b r a r y . 

N e w Y o r k U n i v e r s i t y . S o c i e t y for the Libraries. 
Bulletin. Issued quarterly. 8p. V . I , no. 1, Janu-
a r y 1934. 

A news bulletin with lists of desiderata. Hand-
somely printed. 

P r i n c e t o n U n i v e r s i t y . Biblia. I s s u e d irregularly. 
4 o p . V . I - X , June 1 9 3 0 - D e c e m b e r 1 9 3 8 . 

A publication of the Princeton library and v e r y 
good in literary quality. 

Library Chronicle. Issued quarterly. 4 o p . V . 
I, 1 9 3 9 . Continues Biblia. 

Contains descriptive articles based on collections in 
Princeton U n i v e r s i t y L i b r a r y . M a n y issues contain 
a section called " B i b l i a , " which carries news notes 
on F r i e n d s of the Princeton L i b r a r y . 

R u t g e r s U n i v e r s i t y . The Journal. Issued semi-
annually, D e c e m b e r and June. 4 0 P . V . I, no. 1, 
D e c e m b e r 1 9 3 7 . 

A r t i c l e s are literary, dealing with material in 
R u t g e r s library. E x c e l l e n t . 

W a s h i n g t o n S t a t e College. Record. I s s u e d ir-
regularly. 8 - i 2 p . V . I, no. 1, F e b r u a r y 1 9 3 9 . 

A n e w s bulletin, listing donors, members, g i f t s . 

W e l l e s l e y College. Bulletin. Issued irregularly. 
4-i6p. No. 1, 1937. 

O u t s t a n d i n g f r o m literary standpoint. N u m b e r s 
4 and s are especially impressive, based on material 
in W e l l e s l e y College L i b r a r y and including desiderata 
lists and mention of notable acquisitions. 

W e s l e y a n U n i v e r s i t y . About Books. Issued 
quarterly. i 2 - i 6 p . V . I, no. 1, O c t o b e r 1 9 3 0 . 

D e a l s largely with collections in W e s l e y a n . A 
library publication with v e r y i n f r e q u e n t reference to 
F r i e n d s ' organization. L i s t s new books. 

Y a l e U n i v e r s i t y . Library Gazette. Issued quar-
terly. 2 4 - 4 8 P . V . I, no. 1. June 1 9 2 6 . 

C h i e f l y a publication of the library, with occasional 
reference to F r i e n d s of the L i b r a r y . 

v 350 COLL EGE AND RESEARCH LIBRARIES