College and Research Libraries B y W I L L I A M H . H Y D E Engineering Libraries: Their Purpose and Organisation AT R U E e v a l u a t i o n of e n g i n e e r i n g l i b r a r -ies c a n n o t be m a d e w i t h o u t f i r s t c o n - s i d e r i n g t h e p l a c e of e n g i n e e r i n g in t h e m o d e r n w o r l d . T o d o t h i s i n v o l v e s c o n - s i d e r a t i o n of t h e b r a n c h e s of e n g i n e e r i n g , t h e i r f u n c t i o n a l b r e a k d o w n a n d t h e i r r e l a - t i o n t o t h e basic s c i e n c e s . T h e o r g a n i z a t i o n of a n e n g i n e e r i n g l i b r a r y t h e n l o g i c a l l y m u s t f o l l o w t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n of e n g i n e e r i n g i n t o its v a r i o u s b r a n c h e s a n d f u n c t i o n s . E n g i n e e r i n g is t h e p r o f e s s i o n a l a n d sys- t e m a t i c a p p l i c a t i o n of s c i e n c e t o t h e e f f i c i e n t u t i l i z a t i o n of n a t u r a l r e s o u r c e s t o p r o d u c e w e a l t h . 1 E n g i n e e r i n g , b e i n g n o t a s c i e n c e b u t r a t h e r a n a p p l i c a t i o n of s c i e n c e , n o t o n l y d e p e n d s f o r its s u s t e n a n c e u p o n t h e b a s i c l a w s of s c i e n c e , p r i m a r i l y t h o s e of p h y s i c s , m a t h e m a t i c s , a n d c h e m i s t r y , b u t a l s o f i n d s i t s e l f in a h i g h l y c o m p e t i t i v e w o r l d i n t i m a t e l y r e l a t e d t o o u r e c o n o m i c l i f e . H e r e i n lies o n e of t h e m a j o r d i f f e r e n c e s b e t w e e n s c i e n c e a n d e n g i n e e r i n g . E n g i - n e e r i n g e x c e p t in s p e c i a l cases, s u c h as g o v - e r n m e n t w o r k , m u s t p r o d u c e a p r o f i t . A l - t h o u g h t h e f u n d a m e n t a l l a w s on w h i c h a l l w o r k is b a s e d a r e c o n s t a n t , m o d e r n d e s i g n m u s t a l w a y s r e f l e c t a n i m p r o v e m e n t o v e r e x i s t i n g t h o u g h t s o r e q u i p m e n t . T h e f a c t t h a t e n g i n e e r i n g is so c l o s e l y d e p e n d e n t u p o n o u r e c o n o m i c s t r u c t u r e a n d t h a t its m o t i v e is so p r e d o m i n a n t l y f o r p r o f i t , g r e a t l y a f f e c t s p u b l i c a t i o n s in t h e f i e l d s of e n g i n e e r i n g l i t e r a t u r e . T h e c o n v e n t i o n a l b r a n c h e s of e n g i n e e r - i n g a r e p r o b a b l y b e s t e x e m p l i f i e d b y t h e 1 Hoover, Theodore J. The Engineering Profession. London, O x f o r d U n i v e r s i t y Press, 1941, p. 10. d e p a r t m e n t s e x i s t i n g i n o u r l a r g e t e c h n i c a l i n s t i t u t i o n s w h i c h , t e a c h i n g as t h e y d o t h e f u n d a m e n t a l s of e n g i n e e r i n g , m u s t c a r e f u l l y w e i g h t h e s u b j e c t m a t t e r of t h e i r d i f f e r e n t t e c h n i c a l f i e l d s . T h e s e f i e l d s a r e c i v i l , m e - c h a n i c a l , e l e c t r i c a l , c h e m i c a l , m e t a l l u r g i c a l , a e r o n a u t i c a l , a n d s u c h m i s c e l l a n e o u s f i e l d s as n a v a l a r c h i t e c t u r e , f i r e p r o t e c t i o n , a n d s a f e t y . I n t h e s e e n g i n e e r i n g f i e l d s , e a c h of w h i c h h a s b e c o m e h i g h l y s p e c i a l i z e d , t h e r e a r e c o n t i n u a l l y n e w d e v e l o p m e n t s w h i c h a f f e c t t h e i r l i t e r a t u r e . C i v i l e n g i n e e r i n g , t h e o l d - est b r a n c h , h a s p r o g r e s s e d f r o m t h e r e m a r k - a b l e b u t e s s e n t i a l l y s i m p l e a c h i e v e m e n t s s u c h as t h e S p h i n x a n d t h e C o l i s e u m w h i c h u t i l i z e d p r i m a r i l y s i m p l e r e l a t i o n s h i p s in g e o m e t r y a n d s t a t i c s , t o t h e p r e s e n t h i g h l y m a t h e m a t i c a l p l a n e w h i c h p r o v i d e s u s t o d a y w i t h s t r u c t u r e s s u c h as t h e E m p i r e S t a t e B u i l d i n g a n d B o u l d e r D a m . T h e c i v i l e n g i n e e r t o d a y is n o l o n g e r o n l y a c o n s t r u c - t o r b u t is a n a d m i n i s t r a t o r as w e l l . T h i s m o d e r n c i v i l e n g i n e e r i n g d e p e n d s u p o n a n d is i n t e g r a t e d w i t h a h o s t of n e w f i e l d s a n d t e c h n i q u e s s u c h as soil m e c h a n i c s , w e l d i n g , r e i n f o r c e d c o n c r e t e s t r u c t u r e , w a t e r , a n d s e w a g e t r e a t m e n t . E l e c t r i c a l e n g i n e e r i n g , d e v e l o p e d w i t h - in t h e p a s t 1 0 0 y e a r s a n d h a v i n g its c o n - c e p t i o n in a v e r y f e w e m p i r i c a l d i s c o v e r i e s , is t h a t b r a n c h of e n g i n e e r i n g w h i c h h a s used t o t h e f u l l e s t e x t e n t t h e s c i e n c e of m a t h e m a t i c s . T h e e a r l i e s t d e v e l o p m e n t s c o n s i s t e d of e x p e r i m e n t a l a n d t h e o r e t i c a l d e s i g n of e q u i p m e n t s u c h as m o t o r s , g e n e r a - t o r s , t r a n s m i s s i o n l i n e s , a n d c i r c u i t b r e a k e r s . J A N U A R Y , 1948 59 T h e d i s c o v e r y of the v a c u u m t u b e t r e m e n - d o u s l y e x p a n d e d the f i e l d . I n t e n s i v e eco- n o m i c c o m p e t i t i o n a n d , m o r e r e c e n t l y , m i l i t a r y r e q u i r e m e n t s , h a v e b r o a d e n e d elec- t r i c a l e n g i n e e r i n g i n t o the fields of u l t r a - h i g h f r e q u e n c y , w i t h r a d a r as the m a i n d e v e l o p m e n t and d i e l e c t r i c h e a t i n g , i n d u s - t r i a l e l e c t r o n i c s all a p p e a r i n g a n d p l a y i n g a part in e l e c t r i c a l t e c h n o l o g y in the past ten y e a r s . I n a d d i t i o n to v e r t i c a l o r g a n i z a t i o n b y b r a n c h e s of e n g i n e e r i n g , t h e r e is also a u s e f u l and f a r - r e a c h i n g s u b d i v i s i o n by f u n c - tion. I n each b r a n c h of e n g i n e e r i n g , there exists the g e n e r a l m a i n divisions of p r o f e s - sional research and d e v e l o p m e n t , sales, a d - m i n i s t r a t i o n , and i n s t r u c t i o n . E n g i n e e r i n g c o l l e g e s o n l y r e c e n t l y h a v e t a k e n c o g n i - z a n c e of this f u n c t i o n a l b r e a k d o w n . I n m a n y t e c h n o l o g i c a l schools in a d d i t i o n to a f u n d a m e n t a l f o u r - y e a r p r o g r a m , in m e - c h a n i c a l e n g i n e e r i n g f o r e x a m p l e , a s t u d e n t n o w m a y elect c e r t a i n o p t i o n s w h i c h best fit h i m f o r one of the a b o v e f u n c t i o n a l t y p e s of e n g i n e e r i n g . I n research and d e v e l o p m e n t , e n g i n e e r - i n g m o s t c l o s e l y resembles its p a r e n t sci- ences b y a d a p t i n g the l a w s a n d resources of n a t u r e to u t i l i t a r i a n purposes. W o r k e r s in this field are interested in source m a t e r i a l on basic f u n d a m e n t a l s . P a t e n t l i t e r a t u r e is one i m p o r t a n t source of i n f o r m a t i o n f o r this g r o u p . T h e p r o f e s s i o n a l e n g i n e e r as such f o r m s the l a r g e s t p e r c e n t a g e in the n u m b e r of p r a c t i c i n g engineers, and is the b a c k b o n e of e n g i n e e r i n g . T h e sales e n g i n e e r is in- terested in a c c o u n t i n g , h u m a n relations, business p o l i c y , e c o n o m i c s , and m a n a g e m e n t , and requires still d i f f e r e n t m a t e r i a l f o r his special interests. Engineers and Libraries E n g i n e e r i n g d i f f e r s in no w a y f r o m o t h e r professions in d e p e n d i n g u p o n the p r i n t e d w o r d f o r m o s t of its l e a r n i n g , and engineers, l i k e scholars, g e n e r a l l y t u r n to libraries in o r d e r to e x t e n d their k n o w l e d g e b e y o n d their i m m e d i a t e e x p e r i e n c e . T h i s is t r u e in all the f u n c t i o n s of e n g i n e e r i n g as w e l l as in t h e b r a n c h e s a n d it is the purpose of the l i b r a r y to p r o v i d e i m m e d i a t e access to p u b l i s h e d m a t e r i a l w i t h l i t t l e d e l a y a n d at m o d e r a t e cost. T h e t e a c h i n g f u n c t i o n of the l i b r a r y , w h i c h is n o w b e c o m i n g m o r e g e n e r a l l y rec- o g n i z e d , has on the w h o l e been b a d l y n e g - l e c t e d in the past. F e w e n g i n e e r i n g libraries o f f e r m o r e t h a n a g e n e r a l l e c t u r e or, at the m o s t , a series of l e c t u r e s to e n t e r - i n g f r e s h m e n . I t is the u n u s u a l l i b r a r i a n w h o has been able to g a i n the s u p p o r t of his a d m i n i s t r a t i o n to c o n d u c t even one course in t e a c h i n g the use of the l i b r a r y a n d its resources a l t h o u g h the d i f f i c u l t y in u s i n g this s p e c i a l i z e d m a t e r i a l m a y be a c k n o w l - e d g e d . I t w o u l d be m o r e e f f e c t i v e if en- g i n e e r i n g school libraries w e r e a d m i n i s t e r e d f o r a c t i v e c o o p e r a t i o n in the e d u c a t i o n a l p l a n t h e y serve, w i t h a d e f i n i t e place in the e n g i n e e r i n g c u r r i c u l u m . P r e s s u r e f r o m business concerns, a w a r e of the g r a d u a t e s ' i n a b i l i t y to c o l l e c t and l o c a t e w a n t e d in- f o r m a t i o n f o r reports and i n v e s t i g a t i o n s , is h a v i n g some e f f e c t , a n d w i t h m o r e pressure f r o m b e t t e r - t r a i n e d and e q u i p p e d l i b r a r i a n s to o f f e r or require such courses, some p r o - vision m a y be m o r e g e n e r a l l y d e v e l o p e d in the f u t u r e . T h e salient role of the e n g i n e e r i n g li- b r a r y is n o t o n l y to p r e v e n t d u p l i c a t i o n of e f f o r t and to a v o i d w a s t e of time, m o n e y , and e n e r g y on the p a r t of those e n g a g e d in o r i g i n a l i n v e s t i g a t i o n s in t e c h n o l o g y b u t also to f u r n i s h the m a t e r i a l n e e d e d b y those p r a c t i c i n g t h e f u n c t i o n s of a n y of the b r a n c h e s of e n g i n e e r i n g . T h i s i n f o r m a t i o n i n c l u d e s n o t o n l y the b a c k g r o u n d l i t e r a t u r e and the basic u n d e r l y i n g p r i n c i p l e s b u t f u l l y as i m p o r t a n t , the latest d e v e l o p m e n t s 60 COLLEGE AND RESEARCH LIBRARIES as w e l l . A d e q u a t e use of l i b r a r y f a c i l i t i e s w o u l d do m u c h to o v e r c o m e t w o serious errors f r e q u e n t l y m a d e b y scientists and t e c h n o l o g i s t s , d u p l i c a t i o n of w o r k a l r e a d y described c o m p l e t e l y and the f a i l u r e t o ap- preciate i n v e s t i g a t i o n s described a l m o s t v e r - b a t i m in the l i t e r a t u r e . T o o o f t e n there has been the f a i l u r e to u n c o v e r m a n y in- v e s t i g a t i o n s p u b l i s h e d in r a t h e r obscure f o r m because of i n c o m p l e t e or i n a d e q u a t e s e a r c h i n g of the l i t e r a t u r e . T h e l i b r a r y also f u r n i s h e s the m e a n s of l o c a t i n g the i n f o r m a - tion if it is to be f o u n d in p r i n t e l s e w h e r e t h a n in the i m m e d i a t e c o l l e c t i o n b e i n g used. Employer Must Approve Publication M u c h of the research done b y a p r i v a t e i n d i v i d u a l is not w r i t t e n f o r p u b l i c a t i o n . T h e r e is no reason f o r an e n g i n e e r t o rush i n t o p r i n t w i t h the latest i n v e n t i o n or de- sign e x c e p t f o r a d v e r t i s i n g purposes and then o n l y the f i n a l result is discussed and n o t the m e t h o d of a c c o m p l i s h i n g it. M u c h of the criticism f o r this l a c k of p u b l i c a t i o n is n o t j u s t i f i e d . A n article w r i t t e n b y an e m p l o y e e of a n y of our big, m o d e r n e n g i - n e e r i n g c o m p a n i e s , such as D u P o n t or G e n - eral E l e c t r i c m u s t be a p p r o v e d by their e n g i n e e r i n g , p u b l i c i t y , and l e g a l d e p a r t - m e n t s b e f o r e it c a n be p u t into p r i n t . T h e question " w h o are the w r i t e r s of e n g i n e e r - i n g p u b l i c a t i o n s " m a y w e l l be expressed in t h e d i f f e r e n c e s in their t y p e of e m p l o y m e n t , t h a t is, b y universities, p u b l i c utilities, m u - nicipal, or p r i v a t e c o m p a n i e s ; the e m p l o y e e s w h o are f u r t h e s t r e m o v e d f r o m p r i v a t e g a i n are those w h o w r i t e m o s t f r e e l y . T h i s is one reason w h y so m a n y n e w e n g i n e e r i n g a c h i e v e m e n t s are presented to the w o r l d as a c c o m p l i s h e d f a c t s w i t h no a d v a n c e p u b l i c a t i o n s of n e w p r i n c i p l e s in- v o l v e d . T h i s p o l i c y h o l d s t r u e in times of peace as w e l l as w a r . T h e g e n e r a l p u b l i c is n o t a w a r e of the f a c t t h a t this is so b u t e n g i n e e r i n g c o r p o r a t i o n s h a v e l o n g since g i v e n up hope of f i n d i n g i n f o r m a t i o n in a l i b r a r y as to w h a t their c o m p e t i t o r s are d o i n g and p l a n n i n g . O n l y the e n g i n e e r i n g l i b r a r i a n r e a l i z e s i n t e n s e l y t h a t the situa- tion exists w h e n he g e t s repeated requests f o r i n f o r m a t i o n w h e r e i n the i n q u i r e r insists t h a t he k n o w s t h a t the w o r k is in progress and c a n n o t u n d e r s t a n d w h y it is n o t a v a i l - able in p r i n t in the l i b r a r y . E n g i n e e r i n g libraries m a y be of v a r i o u s t y p e s b u t all are p r i m a r i l y d e p a r t m e n t a l in t h a t t h e y serve a h i g h l y s p e c i a l i z e d field of interest. T h e r e are i n d e p e n d e n t t e c h - n o l o g i c a l i n s t i t u t i o n s s u p p o r t e d by p r i v a t e , state, or f e d e r a l f u n d s , separate c o l l e g e s a t t a c h e d to l a r g e universities, d e p a r t m e n t s of p u b l i c libraries and also p r i v a t e c o r p o r a - tions and businesses all of w h i c h m a i n t a i n libraries of this s p e c i a l i z e d c h a r a c t e r . T h e s e libraries o f f e r a w i d e r a n g e in size and purpose, f r o m such as J o h n C r e r a r in C h i c a g o , 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 in C a m b r i d g e , and the E n g i n e e r i n g Societies' L i b r a r y in N e w Y o r k w h o s e c o l - lections c o n t a i n h u n d r e d s of t h o u s a n d s of v o l u m e s and are a d m i n i s t e r e d by l a r g e w e l l - trained professional s t a f f s , to c o l l e c t i o n s of a f e w h a n d b o o k s , texts, and c u r r e n t issues of p r o f e s s i o n a l p u b l i c a t i o n s f o r q u i c k r e f e r - ence use in the office of a p r a c t i c i n g e n g i n e e r or p r o f e s s o r and cared f o r by a s e c r e t a r y . Engineering Literature Important L i t t l e a t t e n t i o n has been g i v e n to the li- b r a r y needs of the e n g i n e e r in the past and provision f o r engineers in e v e n the l a r g e s t universities a n d p u b l i c libraries has been b e l o w the l e v e l m a i n t a i n e d f o r o t h e r de- p a r t m e n t s . I n f a c t , the d e v e l o p m e n t of e n g i n e e r i n g libraries as such has been a p h e n o m e n o n a l m o s t e n t i r e l y of the t w e n - tieth c e n t u r y . H o w e v e r , as e n g i n e e r i n g has b e c o m e m o r e of a science a n d less of an art, its l i t e r a t u r e has also become m o r e i m - p o r t a n t . S c i e n t i f i c l i t e r a t u r e t o d a y has at- JANUARY, 1948 61 t a i n e d g r e a t p r o p o r t i o n s a n d i t s v o l u m e i n c r e a s e s a t a f a s t e r r a t e t h a n i t c a n be r e a d i l y d i g e s t e d a n d e f f i c i e n t l y u t i l i z e d . T h i s h a s r e s u l t e d i n a r e c o g n i t i o n of t h e f a c t t h a t o n l y t h r o u g h l i b r a r i e s c a n t h e a d e q u a t e r e c o r d of e n g i n e e r i n g p r o g r e s s be k e p t a n d e n g i n e e r s k e e p in c o m p l e t e t o u c h w i t h p r o f e s s i o n a l d e v e l o p m e n t s . S i n c e t h e p r o p e r use of a t e c h n i c a l l i b r a r y p r e s u p - poses a k n o w l e d g e of its f a c i l i t i e s , f a m i l i a r - i t y w i t h l i b r a r y r e s e a r c h p r o c e d u r e s , a n d a n a p p r e c i a t i o n of t h e s c o p e a n d c h a r a c t e r of t h e l i t e r a t u r e of e a c h s u b j e c t f i e l d , it is u n f o r t u n a t e t h a t t h e a v e r a g e u s e r of l i b r a r y f a c i l i t i e s w h e n l e f t t o his o w n r e s o u r c e s h a s l i t t l e c o n c e p t i o n of h o w t o use t h e l i b r a r y a i d s w h i c h a r e a t his d i s p o s a l . I n a s u r v e y s p o n s o r e d b y t h e C a r n e g i e C o r p o r a t i o n , 2 t h e l i b r a r i e s of t h i r t y t e c h - n o l o g i c a l i n s t i t u t e s of v a r i o u s t y p e s w e r e f o u n d t o be o n t h e w h o l e n e g l e c t e d , h a v i n g u n s a t i s f a c t o r y q u a r t e r s ( f e w h a v e s e p a r a t e b u i l d i n g s as s u c h ) , c r o w d e d s h e l v e s , a n d i n s u f f i c i e n t s p a c e f o r r e a d e r s a n d s t a f f . T h e b u d g e t s f o r b o o k s a n d p e r i o d i c a l s w e r e s m a l l , a n d w i t h s t a f f s m u c h t o o l i m i t e d t o h a n d l e a d e q u a t e l y t h e h e a v y b u r d e n of r o u t i n e w o r k w i t h a r e s u l t a n t c o n f u s i o n i n t h e r e c o r d s d u e t o a l a c k of t r a i n e d s u p e r v i s i o n a n d a d e q u a t e c e n t r a l c o n t r o l . I n m a n y cases d e p a r t m e n t a l i s m in s i m i l a r l i b r a r i e s a t - t a c h e d t o t h e l a r g e r u n i v e r s i t i e s h a s b e e n p u s h e d so f a r t h a t t h e r e is n o c e n t r a l l i b r a r y w o r t h y of t h e n a m e . L i b r a r i a n s of t e c h n o - l o g i c a l i n s t i t u t i o n s a r e g e n e r a l l y a b o v e t h e a v e r a g e i n a b i l i t y a n d a l e r t n e s s a n d c e r - t a i n l y a r e h a r d w o r k i n g . E v e n l a r g e r a n d s t r o n g e r i n s t i t u t i o n s u s u a l l y h a v e s m a l l b u d g e t s f o r t h e p u r c h a s e of b o o k s a n d p e - r i o d i c a l s a n d a c o m p a r i s o n of e x p e n d i t u r e s s h o w s t h a t l i b e r a l a r t s c o l l e g e s s p e n t 1 . 9 7 p e r c e n t of t h e i r t o t a l i n s t i t u t i o n a l e x p e n d i - t u r e s f o r t h e p u r c h a s e of b o o k s a n d p e r i o d i - 2 B a r c u s , Thomas R. " T h e C a r n e g i e S t u d y of the L i b r a r i e s of Technological Colleges." Journal of En- gineering Education, v. 32, 1942, p. 424-33. c a l s , u n i v e r s i t i e s 1 . 4 p e r c e n t , t e a c h e r s c o l - l e g e s 1 . 3 4 p e r c e n t , a n d t e c h n o l o g i c a l c o l - l e g e s . 7 8 5 p e r c e n t . 3 A n o t h e r r e c e n t s u r v e y of e i g h t e e n e n g i n e e r i n g s c h o o l l i b r a r i e s in t h e m i d d l e A t l a n t i c s t a t e s 4 s h o w s a s i m i l a r p e r c e n t a g e f o r l i b r a r y e x p e n d i t u r e s w i t h e v i - d e n c e t h a t as a r u l e , b o o k s a n d p e r i o d i c a l s r a t h e r t h a n s a l a r i e s r e c e i v e d t h e b u l k of these l i m i t e d b u d g e t s . Periodical Sources hnportant S t a n d a r d t e x t b o o k s a n d i m p o r t a n t p e r i - o d i c a l s a r e t h e b a s i c s o u r c e s of a n y c o l l e c - t i o n i n p r o v i d i n g a c o m p l e t e , s u r e a n d u p - t o - d a t e s o u r c e of k n o w l e d g e of t h e s t a t u s of e n g i n e e r i n g a n d r e l a t e d s c i e n c e . H o w - e v e r , e n g i n e e r i n g l i b r a r i e s f i n d t h a t w h i l e b o o k s f o r m t h e b a c k g r o u n d of w h a t h a s b e e n a c o m p l i s h e d , s i n c e t h e y p r e s e n t in p e r m a n e n t f o r m g e n e r a l l y a c c e p t e d t h e o r i e s a n d f a c t s w h i c h o f t e n h a v e a p p e a r e d in p e r i o d i c a l p u b l i c a t i o n s a t a n e a r l i e r d a t e , i n t h e f i e l d s of a c t i v e d e v e l o p m e n t s u c h as s c i e n c e a n d t e c h n o l o g y , p e r i o d i c a l s w h i c h p r o v i d e t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t s o u r c e s of c u r - r e n t i n f o r m a t i o n , h a v e p u s h e d t h e b o o k i n t o t h e b a c k g r o u n d . T h e r e s u l t is t h a t t h e s t r e n g t h of s u c h a l i b r a r y is m o r e e f f e c t i v e l y m e a s u r e d b y its p e r i o d i c a l c o n t e n t t h a n b y t h e s i z e of its b o o k c o l l e c t i o n , a n d t h e k i n d a n d n u m b e r of c u r r e n t s u b s c r i p t i o n s t o c u r - r e n t p e r i o d i c a l s is of m o r e i m p o r t a n c e t h a n t h e i n c l u s i o n of c o m p l e t e sets of o n l y a f e w t i t l e s . B o o k s i n a t e c h n i c a l l i b r a r y h a v e b e c o m e of s e c o n d a r y i n t e r e s t , n o t o n l y b e c a u s e of t h e t i m e e l e m e n t s n e c e s s a r y f o r w r i t i n g , p u b l i s h i n g , a n d d i s t r i b u t i n g t h e y n e c e s s a r i l y l a g b e h i n d c u r r e n t k n o w l e d g e , b u t a l s o b e c a u s e w i t h t h e e x c e p t i o n of a c o m p a r a - t i v e l y f e w c l a s s i c s , t h e i r use is c h i e f l y f o r i n s t r u c t i o n a n d f o r q u i c k r e f e r e n c e . I n 3 A.L.A. Bulletin F e b r u a r y 1941, p. 97. 4 O ' F a r r e l l , John B . " T h e Mechanical Engineering L i b r a r y Collection; A S u r v e y and A p p r a i s a l , " ( U n - published paper given at A . L . A . Midwinter meeting. Chicago, December 1946.) 62 COLLEGE AND RESEARCH LIBRARIES the past, books in e n g i n e e r i n g fields h a v e been l i t t l e m o r e t h a n t e x t s of a l i m i t e d appeal p r o v i d i n g e l e m e n t a r y f u n d a m e n t a l s and d e s c r i p t i o n . F e w e n g i n e e r i n g books are read t h r o u g h f r o m b e g i n n i n g to e n d a n d t h e y are used c h i e f l y as sources of i n f o r m a t i o n o n specific s u b j e c t s . F o r this reason m o s t t e c h n i c a l b o o k s are e q u i p p e d w i t h w e l l - w o r k e d - o u t indexes, a n d it l o g i - c a l l y f o l l o w s t h a t t o m a k e the m o s t e f f e c t i v e use of these books it is necessary t o p r o v i d e n o t o n l y m o r e , b u t m o r e specific s u b j e c t entries in the c a r d c a t a l o g t o m a k e t h e i r c o n t e n t s r e a d i l y a v a i l a b l e . R e c e n t l y a n e w and b e t t e r t e n d e n c y in t e c h n i c a l w r i t i n g a n d p u b l i s h i n g has de- v e l o p e d as the p r o f e s s i o n as a w h o l e has be- c o m e a w a r e t h a t its a c t i v i t i e s rest u p o n scientific f o u n d a t i o n s and d e p e n d u p o n re- l a t e d fields f o r t h e i r d e v e l o p m e n t , a n d the i m p r o v e m e n t and d u r a b i l i t y of e n g i n e e r i n g l i t e r a t u r e is the r e s u l t . W e c o n s t a n t l y hear t h a t o u r scientific a n d t e c h n i c a l books lose their v a l u e m o r e q u i c k l y t h a n t h e a v e r a g e p u b l i c a t i o n s and c e r t a i n l y t h e need is a l m o s t a l w a y s f o r the l a t e s t m a t e r i a l , the o l d e r m a t e r i a l b e i n g n o t o n l y o u t - o f - d a t e b u t o f t e n is t e c h n i c a l l y w r o n g . O b s o l e s c e n c e in t e c h n i c a l m a t e r i a l is t h e r e f o r e v e r y h i g h , a n d f i v e y e a r s of use- f u l l i f e is p r o b a b l y a f a i r e s t i m a t e of the v a l u e of the a v e r a g e b o o k . N e w e d i t i o n s of a t i t l e are also m o r e p r e v a l e n t a n d the e i g h t e d i t i o n s of J o h n s o n ' s Materials of Construction in f o r t y - t w o years ( 1 8 9 8 - ! 9 3 9 ) is n o t an e x c e p t i o n . Aids to Check Buying Q u a l i t y r a t h e r t h a n q u a n t i t y w o u l d seem to be t h e best p l a n f o r t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of the c o l l e c t i o n s in these libraries a t t e m p t - i n g to secure the best a n d latest b o o k s a n d p e r i o d i c a l s . S i n c e " b e s t " a n d " l a r g e s t " are n o t s y n o n y m o u s , t h e g o a l m i g h t w e l l be to h a v e e v e r y i t e m needed f o r the purpose of the specific c o l l e c t i o n a n d n o t a s i n g l e i t e m w h i c h c a n n o t be j u s t i f i e d b y use. N e w t e c h n i c a l and s c i e n t i f i c books are u s u a l l y b o u g h t i m m e d i a t e l y u p o n the publishers' a n n o u n c e m e n t s w i t h o u t a c r i t i c a l e x a m i n a - tion as to w h e t h e r or n o t the m a t e r i a l a d d s t o i n f o r m a t i o n a l r e a d y a v a i l a b l e or w h e t h e r the book is a d e q u a t e and r e l i a b l e in its in- f o r m a t i o n r a t h e r t h a n w a i t i n g f o r the r e g u - l a r r e v i e w s w h i c h so o f t e n appear o n l y m o n t h s l a t e r . T h u s the u s u a l book selection aids, such as Publishers' Weekly, Cumula- tive Book Index, Technical Book Reviews, New Technical Books, Bibliography of Scientific and Industrial Reports become checks r a t h e r t h a n g u i d e s f o r b u y i n g . S u c h technical journals as Science and Mechani- cal Engineering c a r r y i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t n e w books in some f o r m or o t h e r , b u t v e r y f e w of t h e m h a v e a n y consistent or a d e q u a t e p r o g r a m f o r p r o v i d i n g this i m p o r t a n t in- f o r m a t i o n a n d c o m p l e t e b i b l i o g r a p h i c a l in- f o r m a t i o n is o f t e n l a c k i n g . T h e a n n u a l o u t p u t of n e w A m e r i c a n t e c h n i c a l books v a r i e s b e t w e e n 3 0 0 a n d 5 0 0 n e w titles, w i t h o v e r 1 0 0 n e w or revised editions. F o r these t w o reasons, the h i g h obso- lescence r a t e a n d the m e a n s used f o r selec- tion, d i s c a r d i n g f r o m t h e c o l l e c t i o n becomes as i m p o r t a n t as a c q u i r i n g in o r d e r t o m a i n - tain n o t o n l y a d e q u a t e b u t u s e f u l b o o k c o l - l e c t i o n s . T h e r e is n o t o n l y the p r o b l e m of p r o v i d i n g the l a t e s t m a t e r i a l b u t also t h a t of k e e p i n g o n l y the c o r r e c t i n f o r m a t i o n since this l i t e r a t u r e is c h i e f l y f a c t u a l and d e s c r i p t i v e r a t h e r t h a n c r i t i c a l . T h e s t a f f s of these e n g i n e e r i n g libraries h a v e a l m o s t a l w a y s been w e l l u n d e r the a v e r a g e t o be f o u n d in o t h e r libraries in size, t r a i n i n g , a n d salaries. T h i s is due n o t o n l y t o l a c k of i n t e r e s t on t h e p a r t of a d m i n i s t r a t o r s a n d f a c u l t y b u t also to the f a c t t h a t the p r o f e s s i o n a l e n g i n e e r has n e v e r been a t t r a c t e d b y the l o w e r salaries o f f e r e d to l i b r a r i a n s . O n l y t h r e e l i b r a r i a n s of JANUARY, 1948 63 t h e 1 3 4 a c c r e d i t e d e n g i n e e r i n g s c h o o l s a r e k n o w n t o h a v e e n g i n e e r i n g d e g r e e s , a n d m a n y d o n o t h a v e l i b r a r y d e g r e e s . T h i s c o n d i t i o n is b e l i e v e d t o be e v e n m o r e p r e - v a l e n t in t h e l i b r a r y s t a f f s m a i n t a i n e d b y p r i v a t e i n d u s t r i e s . I t h a s g e n e r a l l y b e e n f e l t b y t h e a d m i n i s t r a t o r s t h a t it is m o r e s a t i s f a c t o r y t o t e a c h a l i b r a r i a n t h e n e e d s of t h e e n g i n e e r s t h a n t o a t t e m p t t o t e a c h a n e n g i n e e r h o w t o o p e r a t e a l i b r a r y . W i t h t h e r e c e n t p r o m o t i o n of e n g i n e e r i n g l i b r a r - ies a n d t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of r e s e a r c h , t h e s t a f f p e r s o n n e l h a s b e e n i m p r o v e d a n d i n - c r e a s e d g e n e r a l l y a l t h o u g h m u c h r e m a i n s t o be d o n e . O l d e r , m o r e i n b r e d i n s t i t u t i o n s a r e s l o w e r a n d m o r e r e l u c t a n t t o c h a n g e a n d t o a d m i t t h e n e e d of p r o v i d i n g b e t t e r l i b r a r i e s b u t w i t h m o r e a n d n e w e r a p p o i n t - m e n t s b e i n g m a d e f r o m g r a d u a t e s of o t h e r i n s t i t u t i o n s , e v e n t h e s e i n s t i t u t i o n s are f e e l - i n g t h e n e e d t o d e v e l o p t h e i r l i b r a r i e s in o r d e r t o p r o v i d e t h e i r f a c u l t i e s w i t h f a c i l i - ties f o r c o n t i n u e d r e s e a r c h a n d s t u d y a n d t h e s t u d e n t s w i t h t h e m a t e r i a l f o r p r e p a r a - t i o n in w r i t i n g r e p o r t s a n d r e a d i n g o u t s i d e of t e x t b o o k s . Organized Societies M u c h h a s b e e n d o n e in t h e p a s t f i v e y e a r s t o i m p r o v e n o t o n l y t h e s t a t u s of t h e s e l i b r a r i e s b u t t h e i r c o l l e c t i o n s , s e r v i c e , a n d s t a f f s as w e l l . I n 1 9 4 0 e n g i n e e r i n g s c h o o l l i b r a r i a n s o r g a n i z e d s e c t i o n s w i t h i n 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 a n d t h e A m e r i c a n S o c i e t y f o r E n g i n e e r i n g E d u c a - t i o n t o p r o m o t e n o t o n l y a b e t t e r r e c o g n i - t i o n of t h e i r p u r p o s e s a n d n e e d s b u t a l s o t o t h e n e c e s s i t y of s u p p l y i n g t h i s l i b r a r y s e r v i c e t o e n g i n e e r s . 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 g r o u p h a d t h e s p e c i a l p u r - pose : to strive to promote library service and li- brarianship in engineering schools, encourage mutual cooperation with other organizations in the field of engineering education, and carry out a program of activities designed to advance the standards of library service in engineering schools.5 T h e s e c t i o n of t h e A m e r i c a n S o c i e t y f o r E n g i n e e r i n g E d u c a t i o n a i m s m o r e t o w a r d a b e t t e r c o o r d i n a t i o n of t h e l i b r a r y w i t h i n t h e c u r r i c u l u m , t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of t h e t e a c h i n g f u n c t i o n of t h e l i b r a r y b y m o r e o r less f o r m a l i n s t r u c t i o n in t h e use of t h e l i b r a r y f a c i l i t i e s , a n d t h e p r o m o t i o n of t h e l i b r a r i a n as a f a c u l t y m e m b e r . A s i m i l a r g r o u p w i t h i n t h e S p e c i a l L i b r a r i e s A s s o c i a - t i o n c o n s t i t u t e s t h e l a r g e s t s e c t i o n n u m e r i - c a l l y b u t its m e m b e r s h i p h a s m o r e o f a n i n d u s t r i a l b a c k g r o u n d a n d is i n t e r e s t e d in t h e e x c h a n g e of i d e a s a n d m a t e r i a l s a n d t e c h n i q u e s r a t h e r t h a n t h e b r o a d e r p r i n c i - p l e s of d e v e l o p m e n t . 5 "Constitution, Engineering School L i b r a r i e s Sec- t i o n , " Association of College and R e f e r e n c e L i b r a r i e s . Progress Report of the Junior College Section, A . C . R . L . E d i t e d b y M a r y H a r r i s o n C l a y , s e c t i o n c h a i r m a n , a m i m e o g r a p h e d " P r o g r e s s R e - p o r t " of t h e J u n i o r C o l l e g e S e c t i o n of A . C . R . L . w a s issued l a s t A u g u s t . I n a d d i t i o n t o a s t a t e m e n t b y M i s s C l a y c o n c e r n i n g t h e y e a r ' s a c t i v i t i e s a n d f u t u r e p r o s p e c t s f o r d e v e l o p m e n t , t h e r e a r e a l s o r e p o r t s f r o m t h e v a r i o u s r e g i o n a l c h a i r m e n : N e w E n g l a n d , b y K a t h r y n E . P a r k e ; P a c i f i c N o r t h w e s t , b y H e l e n R u t h M o n t a g u e ; C a l i f o r n i a , b y E l i z a b e t h N e a l ; N o r t h C e n t r a l S t a t e s , b y A l i c e E l i z a b e t h G o l d e n ; M i d d l e S t a t e s , s e n t t h r o u g h D o r o t h y H i l l S t a p l e s ; a n d S o u t h e r n A s s o c i a t i o n , b y L o l a R i v e r s T h o m p s o n . T h e r e p o r t as a w h o l e r e v e a l s t h e g r e a t v a r i e t y of p r o b l e m s in t h e j u n i o r c o l l e g e l i b r a r i e s of t h e c o u n t r y . T h e r e p o r t s h o u l d be of m u c h v a l u e t o j u n i o r c o l l e g e l i b r a r i a n s as w e l l as t o t h e f u t u r e o f f i c e r s o f t h e j u n i o r c o l l e g e s e c t i o n . 64 COLLEGE AND RESEARCH LIBRARIES