College and Research Libraries


ARCHIE McNEAL 

THERE ARE TOO MANY weeks for the 
calendar. Many of us have shared this 
feeling, I'm sure, and have been quietly 
derisive, if not derogatory of the cum-
bersome machinery necessary to get N a-
tiona! Library Week in orbit. The or-
ganizational structure is hardly appreci-
ated or understood by many who think 
of this as another ALA activity. Even 
those intimately involved in this pro-
gram sometimes fail to realize the pur-
pose and dedication of those outside the 
library profession who give it so much 
time and effort. 

The significance of a week devoted to 
the stimulation of interest in libraries 
and to the development and improve-
ment of library service need not be in 
terms of what it means to the librarian. 
Rather, it may afford an opportunity for 
the librarian to inform his public of the 
significance and purpose of his business. 
It is true that we spend the entire year 
doing just this, and that many and divers 
means are used. 

The public librarian often has a pub-
lic relations expert trying to garner 
newspaper space. The school librarian 
tries to convince the teachers, principal, 
and students of the importance of the 
library and the need for time to use it. 
The academic librarian may appear iso-
lated from pressure and politicism but 

Dr. McNeal is President of ACRI> and 
Director of Libraries in the University of 
Miami. 

114/ 

That Was the Week 

is nonetheless engaged in presenting his 
needs to the administration and must 
seek all the help possible from faculty, 
students, and alumni to bring about new 
buildings, more book money, more finan-
cial support. 

Why should we decry, and often ig-
nore, an opportunity to further our ends 
through a device sponsored by an "out-
side" agency? This is in reality another 
opportunity to focus attention on the 
specific needs of our own situation at a 
time when national attention is being 
drawn to all libraries. · 

The National Book Committee initi-
ated the program, with the endorsement 
of ALA. Much of the history appears in 
an editorial by Samray Smith in the 
ALA Bulletin of October 1957 at the in-
ception of National Library Week. As 
members of the library profession, we 
all have a responsibility to participate 
in making effective the program spon-
sored on our behalf by many who are 
not librarians. 

The needs of any library are continu-
ing and not likely to be served by any 
one-week effort, no matter how concen-
trated it may be. We can, however, use 
the publicity accorded libraries in this 
particular week as a starting point for 
some new program, or as a basis for 
renewed emphasis on certain aspects of 
a continuing program. It is only prac-
tical to take advantage of" the cumulative 
efforts at the national level by making 
every possible local application. • •