College and Research Libraries SELBY U. GRATION AND ARTHUR P. YOUNG Reference-Bibliographers in the College Library One approach to making a college library more relevant~ dynamic, and intelligible is to employ specialists with broad subject compe- tence, thoroughly familiar with the terminology, bibliographic tools, and major writings of several related disciplines. These subject spe- cialists or reference-bibliographers provide reference and instruction- al services, and serve as coordinators between academic departments and the library. A significant increase in the quality of library service is attained with reference-bibliographers both building and interpret- ing the collection. The reference-bibliographer concept is examined from several perspectives: historical antecedents; relationship to the academic setting; and the authors' experience with a staff of subject specialists at a predominantly undergraduate college library during 1969-1972. wHAT WILL BRING THE COLLEGE LI- BRARY COLLECTION TO LIFE? One ap- proach within our grasp is a commit- ment to educate and to employ subject specialists, preferably called reference- bibliographers. Such a librarian would function in the capacities of reference librarian, bibliographic instructor, and selection specialist in a relatively broad area such as the social sciences, humani- ties, or sciences. He would not special- ize in' one narrow field, but rather pos- sess competence in several related disci- plines with knowledge of terminology, bibliographic tools, and major writing. The bibliographer as book/ journal selector has. been a staple in many large public and, university libraries for sev- eral decades. Herman Fussier, formerly Selby U. Gration is director of libraries, SUNY Cortland, and Arthur P. Young is research associate, Library Research Cen- ter, University of Illinois (formerly head of reader services, SUNY Cortland). 28/ of the University of Chicago library, and Cecil K. Byrd, Indiana University library, have described the responsibili- ties and value of subject specialists in a university setting. 1 From the available literature, however, it appears that the major tasks of university bibliographers are related to selection, with only occa- sional attention to reference work or formal instruction. In contrast, the col- lege reference bibliographer devotes ap- proximately equal commitment to refer- ence and selection duties, and increases accessibility by placement in the refer- ence or public services department. The reference-bibliographer possesses more specialized subject competencies than the generalist college reference librarian and a broader subject area mandate than some university bibliographers. Participation in bibliographic instruc- tion is a required activity for the ref- erence-bibliographer. Service and substantive knowledge of a cognate discipline are compatible, in- terrelated requirements for the next generation of college reference librari- ans. Robert Haro has written about a Renaissance bibliographer who per- forms as selector, reference librarian, and teacher. It is toward his idealized mo_del that we have journeyed.2 PHANTASMIC SPECIES In a perceptive speech at the Louisi- ana State University library, Richard H. Dillon asked where the cadre of library subject specialists could be found. With regret, he concluded that subject spe- cialists were almost a phantasmic spe- cies, and that for many years in librari- anship there has been . . . a subliminal understanding that we are servants of scholarly men, hand-maidens of culture, not co-equals with those who research and create. This self-limitation has acted as a gov- ernor on the speed of our progress, as blinders on our vision. We can be the peers of our patrons, however serious and studious they maY be, if we set out to create a partnership. But we must bring plenty of collateral in the form of education, training, knowl- edge.3 Dillon was deploring the myth of the generalist librarian who cannot relate to faculty and students beyond the ve- neer of bibliographic sources, and who does not possess the advanced study re- quired for quality acquisition decisions and specialized reference work. In a recent report commissioned by the National Academy of Sciences and the Social Science Research Council, the call for library subject specialists is con- . sidered a priority: Most major libraries have made major advances in automated services and have hired personnel competent in this area. Similar progress has not been made, however, in training curatorial librarians who combine knowledge of subject and area with skill in library techniques and can thus work with scholars in planning and executing Reference-Bibliographers I 29 programs responsive to new intellec- tual interests. Specialized acquisitions personnel remain one of the weakest links in the library system. Especially needed are persons who are them- selves scholars and thus aware of in- novations in scholarship, so that they can compensate by their knowledge and interests for the inevitable gaps in faculty initiative. All the great li- braries have had people of this kind, but they are becoming scarcer-partly because the best of them are diverted into administrative or teaching jobs, partly because the salaries for this kind of work are not commensurate with the talent and contributions of these specialists. There is clearly a need here to define and institutionalize a new ca- reer with sufficient rewards in money and prestige to attract the talent re- quired.4 Although the report tends to focus on larger institutions, it also applies to the middle-sized academic institution. Ser- vice quality should not be primarily dif- ferentiated by institutional size. In fact, a small- or medium-size college may be more in need of three or four refer- ence-bibliographers than a major uni- versity in order to make discriminating selection and to provide the biblio- graphic instruction possible in a closely knit community of scholars. Cuo's SHADOw A brief foray into library history re- veals antecedent ideas and movements that have influenced the reference-bibli- ographer concept. In some respects it draws from the scholar-librarian tradi- tion of a former age. The early history of American librarianship demonstrates that many individuals, attracted to li- brary work from established scholarly disciplines, profoundly contributed to the substance and stature of the profes- sio~. The rea