College and Research Libraries


most helpful method of learning about an 

i n d u s t r y : ten minutes spent in looking up 

the thirty-odd titles listed under " a i r c r a f t 

m a n u f a c t u r i n g , " for instance, w i l l leave 

one w i t h a better knowledge of the prac-

tical processes involved than many a text-

book. 

It is, perhaps, to be expected from the 

nature and initial purpose of the Dic-

tionary that the professions should be less 

c a r e f u l l y treated. T h e definition of "li-

brarian," and the list of occupations under 

" l i b r a r y " are disappointing, and the same 

is true to some extent of " t e a c h e r , " " l a w -

y e r , " etc. H o w e v e r , it is in the very fields 

that have hitherto been most neglected, 

and where the need of exact knowledge is 

coming to be most urgent, that the Dic-

tionary is strongest. It should be of in-

terest to reference librarians, readers' 

advisers, and all librarians w h o wish to 

k n o w more about the trades represented 

by a large number of their borrowers and 

an increasing proportion of their b o o k s . — 

Ethel Blumann, Public Library, Oakland. 

Organization and Personnel Procedure. 

. . . A Suggested Plan. Subcommittee 

on Schemes of Service of the A . L . A . 

Board on Salaries, Staff, and T e n u r e . 

A m e r i c a n L i b r a r y Association, 1940. 

3 6 p . 

T H E M A N U A L  o n Organization and 

Personnel Procedure, w r i t t e n by the 

A . L . A . Board on Salaries, Staff, and 

T e n u r e , Subcommittee on Schemes of 

Service, summarizes the best current prac-

tices in these fields and proposes some fine 

new concepts. It should be especially help-

f u l to librarians w h o are trying to con-

vince their governing boards of the 

necessity of bettering the internal admin-

istration of their libraries. If its recom-

mendations are followed, libraries w i l l be 

run more democratically than most of 

them have been in the past. 

Especially commendable is the section 

on promotions. Such a statement as, 

"length of -service, unaccompanied by in-

creased efficiency and interest in the pro-

fession is a reason against rather than in 

favor of promotion. Seniority is a de-

termining factor only w h e n t w o or more 

candidates have equal qualifications," indi-

cates a point of v i e w that w i l l help pre-

vent libraries from becoming bureaucratic. 

T h e sections on tenure, separation from 

service, and opportunities for self-develop-

ment are all liberal in tone. 

T h e chapter on w o r k i n g conditions 

makes the mistake of going into too much 

detail in several places. For instance, 

" W h e n the schedule permits, the super-

visor w i l l allow the staff a f e w moments 

for smoking or rest in the middle of the 

morning and again in the middle of the 

a f t e r n o o n . " If librarianship is a profes-

sion, such minor regulations as this are 

u n n e c e s s a r y . — R . E. Ellsworth, Univer-

sity of Colorado Libraries, Boulder, Colo. 

162 ' COLLEGE AND RESEARCH LIBRARIES