College and Research Libraries B y S C O T T A D A M S The Army Medical Library and Other Medical Libraries of the Nation1 Mr. Adams is acting librarian, Army Medical Library. JO I N T R e s o l u t i o n N o . 8 of t h e F i f t y -S e c o n d C o n g r e s s , F i r s t S e s s i o n , 1 8 9 2 , r e a d s as f o l l o w s : WHEREAS, Large collections illustrative of the various arts and sciences and facilitating literary and scientific research have been ac- cumulated by the action of Congress through a series of years at the national capital; and WHEREAS, It was the original purpose of the Government thereby to promote research and the diffusion of knowledge, and is now the settled policy and present practice of those charged with the care of these collections especially to encourage students who devote their time to the investigation and study of any branch of knowledge by allowing them all proper use thereof; and WHEREAS, It is represented that the enum- eration of these facilities and the formal statement of this policy will encourage the establishment and endowment of institutions of learning at the seat of Government, and promote the w o r k of education by attracting students to avail themselves of the advantages aforesaid under the direction of competent instructors: T h e r e f o r e , be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Rep- resentatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, T h a t the facilities for research and illustration in the following and any other Governmental collections now existing or hereafter to be established in the city of Washington for the promotion of knowledge shall be accessible, under such rules and restrictions as the officers in charge of each collection may prescribe, subject to such authority as is now or may hereafter be permitted by law, to the scientific investiga- 1 P a p e r presented at the Conference of Eastern Col- lege Librarians, Columbia U n i v e r s i t y , Nov. 29, 1947. tors and to students of any institution of higher education now incorporated or here- after to be incorporated under the laws of Congress or of the District of Columbia, to w i t : One. O f the Library of Congress. Six. O f the Army Medical Museum. Seven. O f the Department of Agriculture. I h a v e c i t e d t h i s a u t h o r i t y in f u l l b e c a u s e i t s h o w s t h e c l e a r i n t e n t of t h e C o n g r e s s in e n c o u r a g i n g t h e e x t e n s i o n of t h e s e r v i c e s o f t h e f e d e r a l l i b r a r i e s . S u p p l e m e n t e d b y a r i d e r t o t h e A p p r o p r i a t i o n A c t f o r t h e G e o l o g i c a l S u r v e y , 1 9 0 1 , p r o v i d i n g f o r s e r v i c e s t o " d u l y q u a l i f i e d i n d i v i d u a l s , s t u - d e n t s , a n d g r a d u a t e s of i n s t i t u t i o n s of l e a r n - i n g in t h e s e v e r a l S t a t e s a n d T e r r i t o r i e s , " a n d b y A r m y R e g u l a t i o n 4 0 - 4 0 5 d e s c r i b - i n g t h e A r m y M e d i c a l L i b r a r y ' s s t a t u s a n d f u n c t i o n s , it s u p p o r t s a p p r o p r i a t i o n r e q u e s t s a n d d e l i m i t s p l a n n i n g . T h e s e d o c u m e n t s t o g e t h e r f o r m o u r c h a r t e r f o r n a t i o n a l s e r v i c e . E a c h of t h e t h r e e n a t i o n a l l i b r a r i e s h a s C o n g r e s s i o n a l a u t h o r i t y f o r its s e r v i c e s t o t h e n a t i o n . T h e c h a r a c t e r a n d d e g r e e of s u c h l e g i s l a t e d a u t h o r i t i e s v a r y . T h e a m b i - t i o n s of t h e t h r e e l i b r a r i e s are l i m i t e d , n o t o n l y b y l e g i s l a t i v e a c t i o n , b u t a l s o , as t h o s e w h o h a v e r e a d t h e L i b r a r y of C o n g r e s s b u d g e t h e a r i n g s r e c o g n i z e , b y t h e C o n g r e s - s i o n a l c o m m i t t e e s m a k i n g a p p r o p r i a t i o n s . L e n d e r d i f f e r i n g a u t h o r i t i e s , in d i f f e r e n t b r a n c h e s of t h e f e d e r a l e s t a b l i s h m e n t , e a c h of t h e t h r e e l i b r a r i e s h a s its o w n p r o b l e m s of n a t i o n a l s e r v i c e . E a c h l i b r a r y h a s a r r i v e d a t its p r e s e n t p o s i t i o n b y a d i f f e r e n t p a t h ; 126 COLLEGE AND RESEARCH LIBRARIES each has its o w n p r o g r a m s , its o w n p u b l i c , and its o w n t r a d i t i o n s . N e v e r t h e l e s s , each is a l i b r a r y p e r f o r m - i n g n a t i o n a l services. C a n w e define this p h r a s e ? A r e there f u n c t i o n s and services w h i c h can be exercised o n l y by a f e d e r a l l y s u p p o r t e d i n s t i t u t i o n ? D o t h e y v a r y in t y p e or in degree f r o m those proper to a p r i v a t e i n s t i t u t i o n ? I s u g g e s t t h a t the na- ture and e x t e n t of the l i b r a r y services per- f o r m e d f o r the other libraries of the n a t i o n d e t e r m i n e this d e f i n i t i o n . O n l y w i t h an u n d e r s t a n d i n g of w h a t responsibilities h a v e been a c c e p t e d , w h a t services are o f f e r e d , and w h a t f u n c t i o n s the libraries are a c t u a l l y p e r f o r m i n g can these questions be a n s w e r e d . T h e a n s w e r s i n e v i t a b l y i n v o l v e the o t h e r re- search libraries of the n a t i o n , since to a con- siderable degree it is t h r o u g h t h e m t h a t the g o v e r n m e n t libraries reach the " s c i e n t i f i c i n v e s t i g a t o r " and " d u l y q u a l i f i e d i n d i v i d - uals, s t u d e n t s , and g r a d u a t e s of i n s t i t u t i o n s of l e a r n i n g in the several S t a t e s a n d T e r r i - t o r i e s . " National Services I n c o n t r i b u t i n g the A r m y M e d i c a l L i - b r a r y ' s share to this p r o g r a m , I propose to discuss its n a t i o n a l services in three l a r g e a r e a s : l i b r a r y resources, b i b l i o g r a p h i c c o n - trols, and p u b l i c services. F o r those w h o are not f a m i l i a r w i t h the A r m y M e d i c a l L i b r a r y and its r e o r g a n i z a - tion, I shall p r o v i d e first, a brief historical b a c k g r o u n d , a n d second, a description of the l i b r a r y ' s s e t t i n g a m o n g the o t h e r m e d i c a l libraries of the c o u n t r y . T h e A r m y M e d i c a l L i b r a r y is the l i b r a r y of the S u r g e o n G e n e r a l of the A r m y . A l t h o u g h it w a s f o u n d e d in 1 8 3 6 , it re- m a i n e d a s m a l l office l i b r a r y f o r the use of the S u r g e o n G e n e r a l u n t i l J o h n S h a w B i l l i n g s took c h a r g e of a d m i n i s t e r i n g sur- plus hospital f u n d s , o f f i c i a l l y c a l l e d the " s l u s h f u n d , " in 1 8 6 5 . F r o m the earliest d a y s B i l l i n g s had a vision of n a t i o n a l serv- ice. The Specimen Fasciculus for the I n d e x - C a t a l o g u e , published in 1 8 7 6 , bears the w o r d s " N a t i o n a l M e d i c a l L i b r a r y " on the title p a g e . I n 1 8 7 9 he f o u n d e d the Index-Medicus, and in 1880 the first vol- ume of the Index-Catalogue was published. W i t h these p u b l i c a t i o n s B i l l i n g s proposed to p r o v i d e a d e q u a 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 to the entire m e d i c a l profession of the U n i t e d S t a t e s . W h e n he l e f t the A r m y . M e d i c a l L i b r a r y in 1 8 9 5 , it had become the l a r g e s t m e d i c a l l i b r a r y in the country,, and a l t h o u g h its rate of g r o w t h has s u f f e r e d fluctuations, it has n e v e r relinquished this position. U n d e r m i l i t a r y a p p r o p r i a t i o n acts, and s u b j e c t to a rapid t u r n o v e r of a d m i n i s t r a t o r s , its f o r - t u n e s v a r i e d . W h e n the W o r l d W a r I I c a m e , it w a s i l l - p r e p a r e d . A s u r v e y o r d e r e d by the S u r g e o n G e n e r a l disclosed m a n y de- ficiencies, and s u g g e s t e d a c o m p l e t e r e h a b i l i - t a t i o n . A c q u i s i t i o n s had s l o w e d d o w n d a n - g e r o u s l y ; the l a c k of a c o m p l e t e c a r d c a t a - l o g , a shelflist, even a classification ( f o r B i l l - ings believed in s h e l v i n g b r o a d s u b j e c t g r o u p s w i t h o u t a n o t a t i o n s y s t e m ) m a d e it a l m o s t impossible to l o c a t e m a t e r i a l s . T h e Index-Catalogue appeared to h a v e s t r a y e d f r o m its o r i g i n a l p u r p o s e ; the loan and r e f - erence services w e r e n o t w h a t t h e y s h o u l d h a v e been. A l t o g e t h e r , the l i b r a r y f a c e d the p r o b l e m of l i f t i n g itself b y its boot straps f r o m the n i n e t e e n t h c e n t u r y into the t w e n t i e t h . S o m u c h f o r history. U n d e r F r a n c i s R . S t . J o h n , and later u n d e r W y l l i s E . W r i g h t , the first steps w e r e t a k e n . T o d a y the li- b r a r y , still w i t h m a n y i n h e r i t e d d e f e c t s , is t r y i n g to assume the f u l l responsibilities of n a t i o n a l service. Services to a Specialized Group A s a l a r g e special l i b r a r y , the A r m y M e d i c a l L i b r a r y p r o v i d e s services to a APRIL, 1948 127 s p e c i a l i z e d g r o u p . F i r s t , it serves its p a r e n t o r g a n i z a t i o n , the O f f i c e of the S u r g e o n G e n e r a l ; second, g o v e r n m e n t a g e n c i e s w i t h an interest in m e d i c a l r e s e a r c h ; t h i r d , the c i v i l i a n m e d i c a l libraries of the c o u n t r y ; and f o u r t h , the i n d i v i d u a l c i v i l i a n p h y s i c i a n . I t is of course the t h i r d g r o u p w h i c h c o n - s t i t u t e s f o r the A r m y M e d i c a l L i b r a r y " t h e o t h e r research libraries of the n a t i o n . " I n recent y e a r s m e d i c a l libraries t h r o u g h - o u t the U n i t e d S t a t e s h a v e g r o w n g r e a t l y in n u m b e r a n d i n c i z e . T h e r e exists no ade- q u a t e d i r e c t o r y f o r t h e m . T h e last Ameri- can Medical Association Directory lists 324 l i b r a r i e s ; t h e M e d i c a l L i b r a r y A s s o c i a t i o n has 2 5 3 l i b r a r y m e m b e r s , and S p e c i a l L i - b r a r y R e s o u r c e s lists some 2 2 5 libraries w i t h an interest in m e d i c i n e . T h e f a c t t h a t these statistics m u s t be assembled f r o m such d i - verse sources d e m o n s t r a t e s the d i f f e r i n g c o m p o s i t i o n and interests of libraries in the field of m e d i c a l research. A cross-section w i l l s h o w m a n y t y p e s . T h e r e are the g o v - e r n m e n t l i b r a r i e s : n a t i o n a l , such as t h a t of the P u b l i c H e a l t h S e r v i c e ; state, such as t h a t of the N e w Y o r k S t a t e M e d i c a l L i - b r a r y ; or l o c a l , such as t h a t of the P u b l i c H e a l t h D i v i s i o n , N e w Y o r k C i t y M u n i c i - p a l R e f e r e n c e L i b r a r y . T h e r e are t h e m e d i c a l society and association libraries, led b y the N e w Y o r k A c a d e m y of M e d i c i n e and the B o s t o n M e d i c a l L i b r a r y . I n the a c a d e m i c w o r l d there are the libraries of the u n i v e r s i t y schools of m e d i c i n e , of p h a r m - a c y a n d d e n t i s t r y . T h e n t h e r e is a l a r g e g r o u p of m o r e s p e c i a l i z e d libraries, the libraries of i n s t i t u t i o n s , f o u n d a t i o n s , a n d clinics, libraries of p h a r m a c e u t i c a l concerns, and f i n a l l y , hospital libraries of a l l descrip- tions. A l l of these serve m e d i c i n e ; all of these use the A r m y M e d i c a l L i b r a r y . Medical Library Association F o r a l l of these libraries too, the M e d i c a l L i b r a r y A s s o c i a t i o n p r o v i d e s a m e e t i n g g r o u n d . T h i s association has h a d an i n d e - p e n d e n t existence d a t i n g to 1 8 9 8 . I t is a m e m b e r of the C o u n c i l of N a t i o n a l L i b r a r y A s s o c i a t i o n s , an a c t i v e s u p p o r t e r of the A m e r i c a n B o o k C e n t e r . I t c o n d u c t s a s u c - c e s s f u l d u p l i c a t e e x c h a n g e ; it has an a c t i v e i n t e r e s t in the i m p r o v e m e n t of m e d i c a l bib- l i o g r a p h y , e d u c a t i o n f o r l i b r a r i a n s h i p , in- t e r n a t i o n a l e x c h a n g e of s t u d e n t s , a n d t h e b e t t e r m e n t of m e d i c a l l i b r a r y s e r v i c e t h r o u g h o u t t h e c o u n t r y . A s its l a r g e s t m e m b e r , the A r m y M e d i c a l L i b r a r y w o r k s w i t h a n d t h r o u g h the association t o a c h i e v e m a n y c o m m o n g o a l s . T h e l i b r a r y is c o n - scious of its responsibilities as the l a r g e s t m e m b e r of a s p e c i a l i z e d n a t i o n a l l i b r a r y association. T h e association looks t o the A r m y M e d i c a l L i b r a r y f o r service a n d f o r l e a d e r s h i p . I. Resources F o r these m e d i c a l libraries, the A r m y M e d i c a l L i b r a r y p r o v i d e s resources b e y o n d those w h i c h m a y be a v a i l a b l e l o c a l l y . S u c h p r o v i s i o n is in p a r t a r e s p o n s i b i l i t y based on the l i b r a r y ' s i n h e r i t a n c e , a n d in p a r t a p l a n n e d c o n t i n u i n g a c t i o n . T h e l i b r a r y has o v e r 1 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 titles, 1 7 , 5 0 0 of w h i c h are serial. I t s c o l l e c t i o n of p u b l i c h e a l t h reports, despite m a n y gaps, is u n e q u a l l e d . I t s c o l l e c t i o n of f o r e i g n dis- sertations is m o s t e x t e n s i v e ; it h o l d s l o n g r u n s of e d i t i o n s f o r the m e d i c a l classics. W i t h 5 0 0 i n c u n a b u l a a n d 2 8 , 0 0 0 v o l u m e s p u b l i s h e d b e f o r e 1 8 0 0 , its resources f o r the s t u d y of m e d i c a l h i s t o r y h a v e g r e a t d e p t h . U n f o r t u n a t e l y , the s u b j e c t c o l l e c t i o n s f o r the t w e n t i e t h c e n t u r y are n o t so c o m p r e - h e n s i v e ; this w a s a d e f e c t n o t e d b y the s u r v e y . T h e A r m y M e d i c a l L i b r a r y ' s c o l l e c t i o n is t w i c e the size of the l a r g e s t c i v i l i a n m e d i - cal l i b r a r y . I t s resources h a v e been b u i l t t h r o u g h the y e a r s w i t h t w o o b j e c t i v e s : first, to m a k e a c o l l e c t i o n w o r t h y of a n a t i o n a l 128 COLLEGE AND RESEARCH LIBRARIES m e d i c a l l i b r a r y , a n d second, t h r o u g h s u b j e c t b i b l i o g r a p h y , to serve m e d i c i n e . I n 1 9 4 4 the l i b r a r y d r e w u p a d i r e c t i v e f o r its a c q u s i t i o n p o l i c y , d e f i n i n g fields of interest, and s e t t i n g as an i d e a l the acquisi- t i o n of one c o p y of a n y w o r k of i m p o r t a n c e to m e d i c a l research, r e g a r d l e s s of l a n g u a g e and d a t e of p u b l i c a t i o n . I n c a r r y i n g o u t this d i r e c t i v e , the l i b r a r y has assumed the responsibility of s u p p l y i n g to agencies of the f e d e r a l g o v e r n m e n t all l i b r a r y m a t e r i a l s in the f i e l d of m e d i c i n e necessary t o the n a - t i o n a l interest. A s a c o r o l l a r y the l i b r a r y has a c c e p t e d responsibility u n d e r the F a r m - i n g t o n P l a n of a c q u i r i n g these m a t e r i a l s in the interest of the p r i v a t e research libraries of the n a t i o n . II. Bibliographic Controls A m e r i c a n m e d i c i n e has a l o n g t r a d i t i o n of b e i n g w e l l - s e r v e d b y the s y s t e m a t i c in- d e x i n g a n d c a t a l o g i n g of its l i t e r a t u r e . E a c h of the three c o m p r e h e n s i v e A m e r i c a n i n d e x e s c o v e r i n g the entire field of m e d i c i n e had its o r i g i n in the A r m y M e d i c a l L i b r a r y : T h e Index-Medicus in 1879, the Index- Catalogue in 1880, and the Current hist of Medical Literature in 1 9 4 1 . T h e s e words f r o m the p r e f a c e to V o l . I of the Index- Medicus s h o w B i l l i n g s ' interest in c u r r e n t as w e l l as r e t r o s p e c t i v e . m e d i c a l b i b l i o g - r a p h y : I have for some time been engaged in pre- paring an Index-Catalogue of the library of the Surgeon General's Office . . . which is intended to show under each subject heading not only the separate books, but all important original articles in medical periodicals and transactions of all countries relating to that subject. . . . It has often been suggested that it is highly desirable that such a catalogue should be supplemented by some current publication, which would show all recent works, together with articles in periodicals, arranged by subject. T h e necessity of s u p p l e m e n t i n g w h a t is p e r h a p s the f u l l e s t a n a l y t i c a l c a t a l o g in book f o r m of a n y l i b r a r y in the w o r l d w i t h a c o n t i n u i n g c u r r e n t s e r v i c e existed in 1 8 7 9 . I t still exists t o d a y . T h e Index-Catalogue, now in its 54th v o l u m e and in the m i d d l e of its f o u r t h a l - p h a b e t i c a l series, is the b e s t - k n o w n of the l i b r a r y ' s c o n t r i b u t i o n s t o m e d i c a l b i b l i o g - r a p h y . A s a r e f e r e n c e t o o l its g r e a t e s t de- f e c t is s t r u c t u r a l ; it c u m u l a t e s r e f e r e n c e s a l p h a b e t i c a l l y f o r d e f e r r e d p u b l i c a t i o n . T h o u s a n d s u p o n t h o u s a n d s of i m p o r t a n t m e d i c a l r e f e r e n c e s are b u r i e d in the A r m y M e d i c a l L i b r a r y ' s files a w a i t i n g p u b l i c a t i o n at a l a t e r d a t e . T o be s p e c i f i c : the l i b r a r y m a i n t a i n s a s t o r a g e file of one and a h a l f m i l l i o n c a r d s ; last y e a r the l i b r a r y ' s p u b l i c m a d e b u t 1 , 7 0 0 v i s i t s t o this file. I n a d d i - tion, the Index-Catalogue has a l t e r e d its f o r m f r o m B i l l i n g s ' o r i g i n a l c o n c e p t i o n a n d has b e c o m e a g i g a n t i c a l p h a b e t i c a l - c l a s s e d c a t a l o g , n e c e s s i t a t i n g i n t e n s i v e a p p l i c a t i o n b y the user. T h e t r e m e n d o u s increase of m e d i c a l l i t e r a t u r e has s l o w e d its p u b l i c a t i o n in a l p h a b e t i c a l series; the n e x t v o l u m e w i l l be l i m i t e d to " M - M E Z . " T h e s u b j e c t file f o r the l a t t e r p a r t of the f o u r t h a l p h a b e t is distended a n d s w o l l e n b e y o n d b e l i e f . M a t e r i a l on t u b e r c u l o s i s n u m b e r s n o w some 8 5 , 0 0 0 references, sufficient to p u b l i s h a c o m p l e t e v o l u m e of d e t a i l e d s u b j e c t b i b l i o g - r a p h y . I t is no s m a l l w o n d e r , t h e r e f o r e , t h a t the s u r v e y o r s q u e s t i o n e d , and the li- b r a r y c o n t i n u e s to question, the a d v i s a b i l i t y of continuing the Index-Catalogue in its present f o r m . T h e possibility of c h a n g e and the possi- b i l i t y of c o o r d i n a t i o n w i t h the Quarterly Cumulative Index-Medicus h a v e been l o n g discussed. T h e d i r e c t o r of t h e l i b r a r y , C o l o n e l J o s e p h H . M c N i n c h , has proposed t h a t an e d i t o r i a l a d v i s o r y b o a r d be estab- lished t o consider t h o r o u g h l y the c u r r e n t needs and t e c h n i q u e s of m e d i c a l b i b l i o g - r a p h y in o r d e r to establish p o l i c y f o r the Index-Catalogue and the Current List of APRIL, 1948 129 Medical Literature, and f u r t h e r , t h a t this board be f o r m e d in c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h the A m e r i c a n M e d i c a l A s s o c i a t i o n so t h a t the question of the f u t u r e of the Quarterly Cumulative Index-Medicus might be ex- p l o r e d s i m u l t a n e o u s l y . A n i n f o r m a l c o m - m i t t e e m e t in O c t o b e r to define the p r o b l e m and to s u g g e s t m e m b e r s h i p f o r such an a d v i s o r y b o a r d . I n a n t i c i p a t i o n of the in- quiries of the board, the l i b r a r y is p r o v i d i n g i n v e s t i g a t i o n in the field of m e d i c a l s u b j e c t b i b l i o g r a p h y . T h e r e w i l l be no basic c h a n g e s in the Index-Catalogue or the Current List of Medical Literature until the board has de- t e r m i n e d p o l i c y f o r the l i b r a r y . T h e basic question f a c i n g the b o a r d is t h a t of p l a n - n i n g s y s t e m a t i c a l l y f o r the l i b r a r y ' s p a r t i c i - p a t i o n in the e f f e c t i v e i n d e x i n g of the w o r l d ' s m e d i c a l l i t e r a t u r e . T h e l i b r a r y ' s c o n t r i b u t i o n s to the s t u d y of the h i s t o r y of m e d i c i n e are w e l l - k n o w n to the s m a l l , b u t h i g h l y a c t i v e a n d a r t i c u - late g r o u p of h u m a n i s t i c scholars w o r k i n g in this field. C o l l e c t i o n s as e x t e n s i v e as those in t h e l i b r a r y ' s H i s t o r y of M e d i c i n e D i v i s i o n in C l e v e l a n d impose u p o n the li- b r a r y a c o n t i n u i n g b i b l i o g r a p h i c responsi- b i l i t y . A c a t a l o g of the l i b r a r y ' s 5 0 0 m e d i c a l i n c u n a b u l a , t h e w o r k of D o r o t h y S c h u l l i a n of this division, is in process of p u b l i c a t i o n b y H e n r y S c h u m a n . T h e S p e c i m e n F a s c i - c u l u s of D r . C l a u d i u s F . M a y e r ' s B i o - b i b l i o g r a p h y of 1 6 t h C e n t u r y M e d i c i n e , p r i n t e d in the V o l . I V of the c u r r e n t series of the Index-Catalogue, s h o w s w h a t m a y be a c c o m p l i s h e d in this r e l a t i v e l y u n e x - p l o r e d field. T h e l i b r a r y ' s i n c u n a b u l a are b e i n g m i c r o - filmed ; once the c a t a l o g is p u b l i s h e d , it w i l l be possible f o r o t h e r libraries and scholars to a c q u i r e at the cost of r e p r o d u c t i o n film cooies f o r their use. T h e l i b r a r y ' s c u r r e n t c a t a l o g i n g a c t i v i t i e s h a v e a v e r y i m p o r t a n t m e a n i n g f o r o t h e r libraries. T h r o u g h its c o n t r i b u t i o n to the M E D c a r d series p u b l i s h e d and d i s t r i b u t e d by the L i b r a r y of C o n g r e s s , its n e w classifi- c a t i o n and s u b j e c t h e a d i n g s are b e c o m i n g k n o w n . C l o s e c o o p e r a t i o n b e t w e e n t h e A r m y M e d i c a l L i b r a r y and the L i b r a r y of C o n g r e s s in the field of c o o p e r a t i v e c a t a l o g - i n g has l o n g been the g o a l of a d m i n i s t r a t o r s of b o t h libraries. I n O c t o b e r 1 9 4 6 an a g r e e m e n t w a s reached f o r f u l l c o o p e r a t i o n on c a t a l o g i n g b e t w e e n the A r m y M e d i c a l L i b r a r y a n d the L i b r a r y of C o n g r e s s . T h e M E D c a r d series w a s a n n o u n c e d s h o r t l y t h e r e a f t e r , re- p l a c i n g the e a r l i e r S G O series. T h e A r m y M e d i c a l L i b r a r y has a g r e e d to p r o v i d e c o m p l e t e c a r d c o p y f o r all titles it c a t a - l o g s f o r w h i c h p r i n t e d c a r d s are not a v a i l - able ; this i n c l u d e s c h e c k i n g of the L i - b r a r y of C o n g r e s s a u t h o r i t y files. T h e L i b r a r y of C o n g r e s s has a g r e e d to accept the s i m p l e r f o r m s of d e s c r i p t i v e c a t a l o g i n g a d o p t e d by the A r m y M e d i c a l L i b r a r y , and to p r i n t the A r m y M e d i c a l L i b r a r y ' s copy w i t h the a d d i t i o n of L i b r a r y of C o n g r e s s s u b j e c t h e a d i n g s and c l a s s i f i c a t i o n . F o r a f u l l u n d e r s t a n d i n g and i n t e r p r e t a - tion of the A r m y M e d i c a l L i b r a r y ' s c a t a l o g c a r d s in the M E D series some a t t e n t i o n s h o u l d be d e v o t e d to its rules f o r descrip- t i v e c a t a l o g i n g , its c l a s s i f i c a t i o n , and s u b j e c t h e a d i n g s . D u r i n g the period w h e n the li- b r a r y of C o n g r e s s w a s d e v e l o p i n g its re- c e n t l y p u b l i s h e d rules f o r d e s c r i p t i v e c a t a l o g i n g , the A r m y M e d i c a l L i b r a r y es- t a b l i s h e d its o w n rules. I t had no t r a d i t i o n to respect and c o u l d t h e r e f o r e f e e l f r e e t o s i m p l i f y a l o n g p r a g m a t i c lines. I n o r d e r to a c h i e v e c o n s i s t e n c y w i t h L i b r a r y of C o n - gress p r a c t i c e , it is c a r e f u l l y s t u d y i n g the preliminary edition of Rules for Descriptive Cataloging. I n 1 9 4 4 a c o m m i t t e e of special c o n s u l - t a n t s m e t t o consider a scheme of classifica- tion f o r the m e d i c a l h o l d i n g s of the A r m y M e d i c a l L i b r a r y and the L i b r a r y of C o n - 130 COLLEGE AND RESEARCH LIBRARIES gress. A t first it w a s t h o u g h t possible to d e v e l o p a n d revise the " Q " and " R " sched- ules. A s the c o m m i t t e e s t u d i e d the p r o b l e m it w a s f e l t desirable to d e v e l o p instead the u n u s e d l e t t e r s " Q S - Q Z " f o r the p r e c l i n i c a l m e d i c a l sciences, and " W " f o r c l i n i c a l m e d i - cine and o t h e r c l o s e l y r e l a t e d s u b j e c t s . T h e A r m y M e d i c a l L i b r a r y is a h u g e special l i b r a r y c o m p r i s i n g all of the m e d i c a l sciences. T h e L i b r a r y of C o n g r e s s is a h u g e g e n e r a l l i b r a r y c o m p r i s i n g all disci- plines, i n c l u d i n g the m e d i c a l sciences. T h e one v i e w s m e d i c i n e f r o m the i n s i d e ; the o t h e r f r o m the outside. T h e " W " classifi- c a t i o n , prepared f o r the c o m m i t t e e b y M a r y L o u i s e M a r s h a l l , of T u l a n e , w a s s u b m i t t e d in d r a f t f o r m to the l i b r a r y d u r i n g 1 9 4 6 . T h e l i b r a r y has tested its use, r e s e r v i n g d i s t r i b u t i o n u n t i l it has been p r o v e d t h o r - o u g h l y p r a c t i c a b l e . O n e e x c e p t i o n w a s a concession to the V e t e r a n s A d m i n i s t r a t i o n w h o w i s h e d to use the n e w classification f o r its m e d i c a l libraries. T h e V e t e r a n s A d - m i n i s t r a t i o n published a g r e a t l y a b b r e v i - ated i n f o r m a t i o n a l o u t l i n e . T h e l i b r a r y is n o w a b o u t t o publish a p r e l i m i n a r y e d i t i o n of its classification w h i c h w i l l be d i s t r i b u t e d g e n e r o u s l y ; it is hoped t h a t c r i t i c i s m w i l l be e q u a l l y g e n e r o u s . A s w i t h the L i b r a r y of C o n g r e s s sched- ules, the A r m y M e d i c a l L i b r a r y ' s classi- fication is a book classification based on the l i b r a r y ' s h o l d i n g s of m e d i c a l l i t e r a t u r e . I t is n o t a t h e o r e t i c a l c l a s s i f i c a t i o n ; it is n o t designed f o r the s m a l l e r l i b r a r y to f o l l o w w i t h o u t i n t e r p r e t a t i o n , and it is designed to be used w i t h other L . C . schedules. I n the field of m e d i c a l s u b j e c t h e a d i n g s the l i b r a r y is o n l y too conscious t h a t no a d e q u a t e list exists. M e d i c i n e has a l w a y s been a c t i v e in n o m e n c l a t u r e . T h e question of s t a n d a r d i z e d systems has been a d i f f i c u l t one. T h e A r m y M e d i c a l L i b r a r y is n o t o n l y b u i l d i n g its o w n list of m e d i c a l sub- j e c t h e a d i n g s , b u t is also e n c o u r a g i n g con- s i d e r a t i o n of the m a n y p r o b l e m s on b o t h a philosophic and p r a c t i c a l basis. I t is i m p o r t a n t f o r the l i b r a r y t o c o o r d i n a t e its w o r k in m e d i c a l s u b j e c t h e a d i n g s w i t h t h a t of the L i b r a r y of C o n g r e s s ; c e r t a i n l y the c o n f u s i o n r e s u l t i n g f r o m s i m u l t a n e o u s use of t w o lists of m e d i c a l s u b j e c t h e a d i n g s is one of the g r e a t e s t i m p e d i m e n t s f o r users of the M E D card series. T h e f o r e g o i n g are l i b r a r y a c t i v i t i e s of n a t i o n a l c o n c e r n in the area of b i b l i o g r a p h i c c o n t r o l s . T h e y f o l l o w f r o m the necessity of m a k i n g k n o w n the c o n t e n t s of the li- b r a r y ' s v a s t c o l l e c t i o n s , of g u i d i n g research w o r k e r s to specific i n f o r m a t i o n . T h e i r in- fluence e x t e n d s f a r b e y o n d the w a l l s of the A r m y M e d i c a l L i b r a r y . T h e Index-Cata- logue and the Current List index the hold- ings of other libraries. T h e M E D c a r d s are b e i n g used w h e r e v e r L i b r a r y of C o n - gress c a r d s g o . T h e " W " classification and the l i b r a r y ' s s u b j e c t h e a d i n g s w i l l be c o n - sidered f o r a d o p t i o n by m e d i c a l libraries of m a n y types. III. Public Services W i t h the l a r g e s t c o l l e c t i o n s in the n e w w o r l d at its disposal, and w i t h a l o n g t r a - dition of s u p p o r t f o r the m e d i c a l libraries of the c o u n t r y , the A r m y M e d i c a l L i b r a r y has d e v e l o p e d one of the l a r g e s t i n t e r l i b r a r y l o a n services in the c o u n t r y . L a s t y e a r the l i b r a r y l o a n e d o v e r 2 0 , 0 0 0 items t h r o u g h o u t the U n i t e d S t a t e s . T r a d i t i o n a l l y it has been g e n e r o u s , r e s t r i c t i n g service o n l y f o r o l d e r and i r r e p l a c e a b l e w o r k s . I t r e c o g - n i z e s its responsibility in m a k i n g i n f r e - q u e n t l y held and o c c a s i o n a l l y u n i q u e m a - terials f r e e l y a v a i l a b l e to o t h e r research libraries, b u t , since it refers p r i v a t e requests f o r m e d i c a l l i t e r a t u r e b a c k t o the l o c a l m e d i c a l libraries, its l o a n services are c l e a r l y defined as s u p p l e m e n t a r y , n o t c o m p e t i t i v e . R e a d i n g r o o m use of the c o l l e c t i o n s has a l w a y s been m o d e s t . S i x t y per c e n t of the use of m a t e r i a l s has been t h r o u g h i n t e r - l i b r a r y l o a n and p h o t o d u p l i c a t i o n . APRIL, 1948 131 T h e s e c o - e x i s t i n g t e c h n i q u e s f o r m a k i n g the l i b r a r y ' s resources g e n e r a l l y a v a i l a b l e to science h a v e d e v e l o p e d the use of the c o l - l e c t i o n s to an a m a z i n g e x t e n t . B e g i n n i n g in 1 9 4 1 , u n d e r the e n t h u s i a s t i c auspices of D r . A t h e r t o n S e i d e l l , the A r m y M e d i c a l L i b r a r y has e x p e r i m e n t e d w i t h the s u p p l y of m i c r o f i l m in lieu of the l o a n of p u b l i c a - tions. L a s t y e a r 1 , 1 2 0 , 0 0 0 p a g e s w e r e m i c r o f i l m e d ; a b o u t 8 0 per c e n t of this w a s d i s t r i b u t e d w i t h i n the U n i t e d S t a t e s . S u c h use of m i c r o f i l m is n o t w i t h o u t p r o b l e m s . W e l e n d t o l i b r a r i e s ; w e s u p p l y m i c r o f i l m to a n y p r i v a t e i n v e s t i g a t o r , as w e l l as to libraries. I n its p u r e f o r m , as c o n c e i v e d by D r . S e i d e l l , the use of m i c r o f i l m in lieu of the loan of books c o n s t i t u t e s a g r a t u i t o u s service of the f e d e r a l g o v e r n m e n t , subsi- d i z i n g m e d i c a l research. T h e r e are m a n y a r g u m e n t s f o r such g r a t u i t o u s s e r v i c e . I t m a y be a r g u e d t h a t it is a c t u a l l y c h e a p e r t h a n a l o a n . T h e r e are also m a n y a r g u - m e n t s a g a i n s t it, a n d n o t the least of these is l a c k of s t a t u t o r y a u t h o r i t y . I n F e b r u a r y of this y e a r the l i b r a r y i n s t i t u t e d a system of c h a r g i n g f o r m i c r o f i l m at cost. T h e l i b r a r y has p r o v i d e d p h o t o d u p l i c a t i o n ser- v i c e t h r o u g h the O f f i c e of the P u b l i c a t i o n B o a r d , D e p a r t m e n t of C o m m e r c e , f o r the P u b l i c a t i o n B o a r d ' s r e p o r t s w h i c h h a v e m e d i c a l i n t e r e s t . N e a r l y 5 0 0 , 0 0 0 p a g e s of these w e r e copied a n d d i s t r i b u t e d last y e a r . I t is the field of r e f e r e n c e and b i b l i o g r a - p h y in w h i c h the A r m y M e d i c a l L i b r a r y is least a d e q u a t e l y o r g a n i z e d to p r o v i d e the t y p e of n a t i o n a l service c o m m e n s u r a t e w i t h its size a n d m a t e r i a l s . I n t h e o r y , the A r m y M e d i c a l L i b r a r y s h o u l d a c c o m p l i s h r e f - erence w o r k at a d e g r e e of d i f f i c u l t y h i g h e r t h a n t h a t of the l i b r a r y it services. I t s h o u l d d r a w u p o n a n d i n t e r p r e t the u n u s u a l m a t e r i a l s w h i c h it has, and w h i c h are n o t g e n e r a l l y a v a i l a b l e . I n t h e o r y , the l i b r a r y should prepare f o r p u b l i c a t i o n a series of special s u b j e c t b i b l i o g r a p h i e s of i m m e d i a t e interest to m e d i c i n e . I n p r a c t i c e , h o w e v e r , t h r e e t h i n g s h a v e m i l i t a t e d a g a i n s t this ac- c o m p l i s h m e n t . F i r s t , is t h e l i b r a r y ' s c h r o n i c s h o r t a g e of p e r s o n n e l . I t has a c t u - a l l y b u t o n e p a r t - t i m e b i b l i o g r a p h e r w h o c a n be assigned t o the p r e p a r a t i o n of special lists. S e c o n d , is t h e still d i s o r g a n i z e d s t a t u s of the l i b r a r y ' s c o l l e c t i o n s , w h i c h m a k e s it e x t r e m e l y d i f f i c u l t t o l o c a t e m a t e r i a l needed f o r search of the l i t e r a t u r e . T h i r d , is the t r a d i t i o n a l i n f l u e n c e of the Index-Catalogue w h i c h in itself p r o v i d e s s p e c i a l i z e d s u b j e c t b i b l i o g r a p h i e s . T h e R e f e r e n c e D i v i s i o n w a s n e w l y f o r m e d f o l l o w i n g the s u r v e y and has y e t to d e v e l o p a b i b l i o g r a p h i c serv- ice in its o w n r i g h t . C e r t a i n l y the A r m y M e d i c a l L i b r a r y s h o u l d p r o v i d e t o p i c a l b i b l i o g r a p h i e s , as does the L i b r a r y of C o n - gress and the l i b r a r y of the D e p a r t m e n t of A g r i c u l t u r e . M e d i c a l research c a n n o t w a i t f o r the d e f e r r e d p u b l i c a t i o n of the Index- Catalogue. I n each of these f i e l d s — r e s o u r c e s , bibli- o g r a p h i c c o n t r o l s , a n d p u b l i c s e r v i c e s — t h e A r m y M e d i c a l L i b r a r y serves the c o u n t r y ' s research libraries. T h i s s e r v i c e is sup- p l e m e n t a r y , n o t c o m p e t i t i v e . T h e l i b r a r y ' s c o l l e c t i o n s a u g m e n t the resources of p r i v a t e l i b r a r i e s ; t h e b i b l i o g r a p h i c a l a c t i v i t i e s of the Index-Catalogue, the Current List of Med- ical Literature, and the C a t a l o g Division i n t e r p r e t these c o l l e c t i o n s , p r o v i d i n g s e r v - ices w h i c h c o u l d n o t be p e r f o r m e d b y li- braries w i t h s m a l l e r resources. S e r v i c e of the c o l l e c t i o n s t h r o u g h i n t e r l i b r a r y l o a n , p h o t o d u p l i c a t i o n , and r e f e r e n c e b y p o l i c y and by o p e r a t i o n , are e x t e n s i o n s of the ser- vices o f f e r e d b y the o t h e r m e d i c a l libraries. T h e C o n g r e s s , in p r o v i d i n g a n n u a l l y ap- p r o p r i a t e d f u n d s f o r the p u r c h a s e of m a - terials, f o r the p r i n t i n g of the Index-Cata- logue, in its h e a r i n g s a n d reports on a n e w b u i l d i n g f o r the l i b r a r y , has c o n s i s t e n t l y r e c o g n i z e d the n a t i o n a l o b l i g a t i o n s of the i n s t i t u t i o n . 132 COLLEGE AND RESEARCH LIBRARIES