College and Research Libraries College and University Libraries and National Defense THE Committee on National Defense Services of the A . C . R . L . has been conducting a survey of college and university libraries in the national defense program. T h e following three studies report the results of that survey and are based largely upon the returns from a questionnaire. In a future issue it is hoped that some further analysis and comment can be made upon the factual material here presented. T H E E D I T O R S By E U G E N E H . W I L S O N Survey of Libraries in Colleges and Universities Which Are Giving Engineering Defense Training Courses Dr. Wilson is assistant librarian of Iowa State College, Ames. A s this report was being prepared a press release dated A u g . 5, 1941, from the U.S. Office of Education announced the widening of the sphere of the engineering defense training program and a change of title to Engineering, Science, and M a n - agement Defense Training. Under the new program institutions granting degrees for study in chemistry, physics, and busi- ness administration became eligible to give short, intensive training courses of college grade to present and prospective workers in industries and government agencies concerned with national defense. Since practically all of the colleges included in this survey can qualify for participation in the newly-authorized fields, the de- mands upon the library are likely to be more intensive than the present survey indicates they have been under the en- gineering defense training courses. Under the provisions of the first en- gineering defense training program ap- proximately 2300 courses were set up for over 130,000 trainees by 144 engineering colleges in 47 states, the District of Co- lumbia, and Puerto Rico. Eighty-three of these institutions are represented in this survey. T h e librarians of ten of these eighty-three institutions explained in more or less detail why they did not an- swer the questionnaire and in some in- stances their letters gave more information than was contained in several of the seventy-three questionnaires which were returned. Five of these ten stated that they had noticed some increases while the remaining five stated they had not noticed any increased demands, usually giving as an explanation the fact that they were located far from industrial centers or that the persons taking the engineering defense training courses confined their studying to textbooks. Several wrote that they had noticed no increase or only slight increases because their ordinary work was along these very lines. T h e librarian of T e x a s A . and M . expressed his staff's reaction to the ques- tionnaire as follows: " T h e truth is that 18 COLLEGE AND RESEARCH LIBRARIES the questionnaire hardly fits this library. W e are a highly technical college offer- ing majors in engineering, agriculture, veterinary medicine, and some social sciences. A s far as the library staff can see, the national emergency has made no change in the character of the technical courses taught here, perhaps because they are, already normally, in the fields vital to defense. Consequently the defense emer- gency has not changed the quantity or kind of calls made on the library." T w o indicated that lack of statistics and their particular setup would result in an entirely wrong picture of their activity if they tried to fill out the question- naire. T h e most interesting comment came from the librarian of one of the larger universities who explained that because of limited staff he could not answer the questionnaire, and then added: " I be- lieve a good deal of the information you need may be found in the Report of the Resources of University Libraries printed by the A . L . A . about 1921." Part I. T h e Library's Service to Industrial Mobilisation Increased Demands T o the question " D o you perceive in- creased demands resulting from present industrial training courses?" Fifty-nine or 81 per cent of the seventy-three librarians answering the questionnaire re- plied "yes" and fourteen or 19 per cent replied "no." Practically all of those replying in the affirmative added comments as to the extent of the increase, and study of these comments reveals that in general there has been no marked increased de- mand for service from these college and university libraries. T h e comments appearing most fre- quently to express the extent of increased demands are "slight," "limited," "not very marked," "noticeable," "limited to en- gineering collection," and "only in engi- neering library." One point frequently mentioned is that the engineering defense training students have their time so fully occupied day and night that their text- books are about all the reading for which they have time. Typical of such comments are the fol- lowing: Only slight increase in demands upon this library is in evidence in spite of the fact that this college has approximately five hundred men enrolled in Engineering Defense Train- ing courses. These classes are attended by men who are employed during the regulai working day; hence the courses are presented in such a way as to require a minimum amount of outside search and reading. (Newark College of Engineering) W e have about five hundred men taking Engineering Defense Training courses, some being day courses, some evening courses. We are in close touch with the faculty com- mittee handling this program. W e were asked to provide a few extra volumes in ordnance and ballistics, and one or two in- structors bought small collections for their offices. But a canvass of all instructors giv- ing these courses has brought unanimous response that no more library books, and no more copies, are needed. The fact seems to be that the students have their time so fully occupied day and night that their textbooks are about all the reading they have time for. Nevertheless there is some slight demand from these men. ( M . I . T . ) The enrollees for these courses come from a surrounding territory as far as sixty miles away. Hence, there is little opportunity for them to use the university library services, considering that the courses run for three hours in the evening, and they have to travel back and forth. (Norwich University) The courses given in our defense pro- DECEMBER., 1941 19 gram are all laboratory, or textbook courses and since the students are employed during the day, and the classes are two and three hour sessions, there is little time for outside reading. (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute) Despite the preponderance of librarians reporting only slight increases in demands, a few reported very definite and sizable increases, usually limited to engineering subjects. Since the first of the year the Lewis and Armour divisions of the Illinois Institute of Technology have pressed into their already crowded evening schedules 1400 students in E . D . T . courses. As a result of this sudden increase in the number of courses being of- fered and the influx of new students, the evening use of library materials at the Lewis Institute of Arts and Sciences has increased by 25 to 30 per cent. (Illinois Institute of Technology) W e have some national defense courses here on the campus, and we notice a great increase in the use of our technical books, especially in tool making, welding and avia- tion mechanics. (South Dakota State Col- lege) The Engineering Library attributed a 10 per cent increase in circulation to the use of the library by students enrolled in the Engineering Defense Training Courses. An even larger increase has been observable in the reference service. Increased reference service has been given to instructors who are teaching the courses offered under the E . D . T . program. (University of Texas) The E.D.T. courses . . . have brought a large increase in demand for material on many technical subjects, in particular indus- trial management and related subjects, navi- gation, shipbuilding and naval architecture, and welding. All material connected with aeronautics has become increasingly popular. The use of our material on other technical and scientific subjects has also shown in- crease. (California Institute of Technol- ogy) In the field of engineering the student registration has increased 56 per cent in three years, with a corresponding increase in the demands made on the library facilities. (College of the City of New York) Typical comments of librarians report- ing no increased demands are the follow- ing: These twelve sections are all taught by regular university engineering faculty mem- bers. . . . The library has not noticed any increased demands upon it because of these courses. (University of Cincinnati) So slight that for all practical purposes can be considered as non-existent. (Uni- versity of Maryland) There has been no attempt to stimulate use of special books on the part of the men in the classes. (Case School of Applied Science) Several librarians report that the de- T A B L E 1 Number of Libraries Reporting Increased Demands in Various Subjects Subject Number of Libraries Reporting Subject Aeronautical design Chemical engineering Communications engineering, including radio Electricity Engineering drawing Foundry practice Industrial management Internal combustion engines Machine design Machine shop practice M a p making Materials inspection and testing Mathematics Metallurgy and metallography Navigation (surface and aerial) 46 33 35 21 38 26 31 28 38 42 12 35 19 29 30 Optics Ordnance Production engineering and supervision Shipbuilding and naval architecture Structural design Tool engineering Welding (design and supervision) Airplane piloting and servicing Ballistics Civil engineering Explosives Mechanical trades Sanitation Specifications & reports Training methods 20 COLLEGE AND RESEARCH LIBRARIES T A B L E I I 1 Estimated. Number and Cost of Additional Volumes Needed to Meet Increased Demand Subject Vols. T o t a l Cost T o t a l A e r o n a u t i c a l design 3-500(27) 1378 $12-2000(26) $4607 C h e m i c a l engineering 10-1000(16) 1720 36-4100(15) 6621 Communications engineering, including radio 1 - 1 5 0 ( 1 8 ) 528 3-400(16) 1429 Electricity 5 - 1 5 0 ( 1 2 ) 55o 20-400(12) 1925 Engineering drawing 3-1600(19) 2075 10-2500(18) 4640 F o u n d r y practice 3-200(13) 447 15-80(11) 469 Industrial management 1-600(16) 866 3-2000(16) 6193 Internal combustion engines 4-500(13) 843 15-800(12) 1746 M a c h i n e design 3-200(17) 693 15-400(16) 1560 M a c h i n e shop practice 5-100(23) 677 15-400(21) 1732 M a p making 3-So(7) 129 6-400(8) 7 3 i M a t e r i a l s inspection and testing 2-100(20) 659 3-350(17) 1524 M a t h e m a t i c s 4 - 1 0 0 ( 1 1 ) 287 20-200(10) 605 M e t a l l u r g y & metallography 1-500(15) 919 6-2000(14) 3200 N a v i g a t i o n 4-200(14) 454 10-800(12) 1454 Optics 5-50(4) 75 20-75(3) 120 Ordnance 3-50(8) 137 1 1 - 1 5 0 ( 7 ) 483 P r o d u c t i o n engineering and supervision 1 - 1 4 0 0 ( 1 2 ) 1631 5-3200(11) 3868 Shipbuilding and naval architecture 4-30(7) IOI 25-275(7) 586 Structural design 6 - 1 5 0 ( 1 1 ) 298 5-800(14) 1289 T o o l engineering 5-347(18) 857 20-800(18) 2311 W e l d i n g (design and supervision) 2-200(15) 457 5-800(14) 1289 A i r p l a n e piloting and servicing 12-25(3) 62 50-100(4) 285 A u t o m o b i l e and truck servicing 10-24(2) 34 40-100(2) I40 C i v i l engineering 5-150(5) 190 20-40(3) IOO Explosives 5 ( i ) 5 65(1) 65 Mechanical trades 12-200(4) 236 50-400(4) 550 Sanitation 10-10(2) 20 30-40(2) 70 Specifications and reports 2-5(2) 7 6-15(2) 21 T o t a l s 16,335 $49,613 1 T h e table is to be read as follows: For Aeronautical design, 27 libraries reported needs ranging from 3 to 500 addi- tional volumes, a total of 1378; 26 librarians estimated the cost of additional volumes needed at sums ranging from $12 to $2000, a total of $4607. N o comment appears necessary on T a b l e I. T h e last eight subjects listed were added by librarians in checking the list and as they did not seem to combine as specifically with the original subjects as did some others which were added they were tabulated as reported. Because of the extreme ranges2 and abnormal distributions found in the vari- ous items of T a b l e II, no attempt is made to determine statistically a central tend- ency of volumes needed or of probable cost. A s an example of the manner in which each subject in T a b l e I I might be considered, in engineering drawing the mean is 109, median 15, and mode 5. T h e fact that sixteen of the nineteen 2 T h e m a x i m u m figure f o r most s u b j e c t s w a s re- ported by P e n n s y l v a n i a S t a t e C o l l e g e w h e r e the E x t e n s i o n L i b r a r y has been set up to handle the books for " a n immense g o v e r n m e n t a l project u n d e r w a y in d e f e n s e training. T h e present p r o g r a m has some 12,150 s t u d e n t s enrolled in d e f e n s e c o u r s e s in about fifty cities within the s t a t e . " mands for increased services come chiefly from the faculty members who are giving the defense training courses. Cornell University reports increased demands "to a limited but quite definite extent by the faculty members giving courses in na- tional defense . . . a few students have used the library but as a rule it is the instructor preparing his lectures." Material Needed in Defense Training Courses A total of sixty-six librarians indicated the subjects for which there had been increased demands in their libraries, thirty-eight estimated the number of ad- ditional volumes needed to meet increased demands, and forty-one estimated the cost of additional volumes needed to meet in- creased demands. T h e i r replies are indi- cated in the preceding tables, followed by comments upon the data presented. DECEMBER., 1941 21 librarians estimated their needs at thirty- five volumes or less indicates the distor- tion of the actual situation which would exist if the mean of 109 were accepted for engineering drawing. Thirty-eight li- brarians indicated increased demands for material in engineering drawing, but only nineteen indicated that additional volumes were needed. Eleven of these nineteen librarians estimated that fifteen volumes or less would meet their increased demand. Since only eight of the eighty-three li- braries indicated a need for more than fifteen additional volumes, it would seem safe to conclude that the libraries could meet the increased demands for material in engineering drawing without any un- due strain on their finances. T h e point which stands out promi- nently is that most of the libraries report that their collections are adequate in the majority of the subject fields, but where additional volumes are necessary, gener- ally from ten to twenty-five are regarded as sufficient. If any additional money were available, twenty-four librarians indicated they would spend it for more titles, six would spend it for more copies of titles now held, and twenty-six would spend it for more copies and more titles. T h e per- centages suggested to be spent for more titles ranged from 5 per cent to 95 per cent, the central tendency being about 75 per cent. Forty librarians offered esti- mates of the percentage of their entire collections of value in meeting demands for material on national defense subjects. These estimates ranged from 1 per cent to 100 per cent with a median of ap- proximately 25 per cent. Most of the estimates of 50 per cent and higher were stipulated as applying only to the engi- neering libraries of the schools concerned. Expenditures for Defense Materials Twenty-two librarians reported no in- creased buying of books in vocational and technical subjects, and of forty-four which reported increased buying, twenty-eight gave the following figures of increase: $9, $22, $31, $60, $91, (3) $100, $125, (2) $150, $180, (2) $200, $265, $270, $286, $300, $429, (2) $500, $670, $700, $1000, $1250, $1400, $4500. T h e percent of in- crease was given as follows: (3) 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 20, 22, ( 3 ) 23, 24, (3) 25, 30, (3) 35, (2) 36, (2) 43, 50, 64, 71, 79, (2) 100, 193. Amounts spent last year were given as follows: $24, $80, (2) $100, $155, $161, $170, $296, $300, $335, $500, $575, (2) $600, $645, (2) $700, $750, $780, $902, $980, ( 3 ) $1000, (4) $1100, $1176, $1250, $1864, (2) $2000, $2284, $2400, $2460, $2770, $2920, $5000, $6000, $13,075, $14,700. Amounts being spent currently were given as follows: $25, $30, $42, $120, $170, $356, $450, $455, $470, $500, ( 3 ) $600, $645, $675, $700, (2) $750, $960, (3) $1000, $1032, $1075, $1100, $1180, $1200, $1300, $1650, $1800, ( 3 ) $2000, $2500, $2534, $2600, $2700, $4000, $4550, $5000, $7400, $14,700, $17,575. General book funds were the source for expenditures in forty-six libraries, specific book funds in twelve, and unallocated funds (i.e., reserve, contingent, etc.) in six libraries. Forty-six libraries reported no additional funds for the specific pur- pose of increasing holdings in vocational and technical materials and twenty-two reported having received such funds. Grants from the Federal engineering de- fense training fund were reported in the following amounts: $15, $22, $45, $50, $70, $100, $162, $200, $250, $300, $659, $700, and six colleges reported receipt of 22 COLLEGE AND RESEARCH LIBRARIES Federal funds without listing amounts. Other sources of funds w e r e : Carnegie grant $110, C . A . A . $100, university grad- uate school $100, engineering equipment found $100, and general college funds $300. T h i r t y librarians reported no at- tempt to secure additional funds and thirty-seven reported such an attempt. Personnel O f twenty-six librarians who reported they were limited in meeting known or possible needs by lack of enough trained personnel only eight specified the lack was due to defense courses, and seven stated specifically it was an old problem. Thirty-nine indicated no such lack. In regard to specialized personnel, twenty indicated a need for technical specialists, but only three specified this need was due to defense courses. Cooperative Measures, Special Services O n l y twenty-nine librarians mentioned any cooperative measures undertaken with other libraries; almost as many, twenty- seven, stated no such measures had been undertaken; and the remaining librarians did not answer the question. A n increase in the number of interlibrary loans was mentioned by eighteen librarians. Cali- fornia Institute of Technology reported an increase of over 100 per cent in the number of interlibrary loans made from its library, most of the material being loaned to the various aircraft companies of that region. Other cooperative meas- ures and the number of libraries reporting them are: microfilms, 8 ; assistance to professional people outside the university, 4 ; lending large collections, 3 ; cooperat- ing with local public libraries, 3 ; checking holdings with the A . C . R . L . defense list, 3 ; photostats, 2 ; compiling union catalog for area, 1 ; and notifying local libraries of books reserved or recommended for de- fense courses, I. Installation of special services to meet industrial and industrial training needs was reported by 22 libraries; 48 reported no such installation, and the remainder did not answer. Special services most fre- quently mentioned were: providing special sections for engineering defense training books, 9 ; sending books to university ex- tension classes for use of nonuniversity students, 5 ; sending books to workers in defense industries, 3 ; preparing defense bibliographies, 3 ; and keeping the library open longer hours for defense students, 2. Services mentioned only once were preparation of book lists, lecturing on library facilities to engineering defense training students, providing technical magazine delivery service to engineering defense training instructors, opening a new technical department, sending books to engineering defense training instructors, and sending books to state departments. Part II. Reference Service Needs in Industrial Mobilisation Courses T h i s section of the questionnaire sought to discover ways in which college and university libraries might assist in pro- viding information needed by the faculty, students, firms, and organizations in con- nection with the present emergency. T h e first question w a s : " W h a t changes have taken place in the curriculum and how have they affected the library? (Shifts in subjects, shifts in method)" DECEMBER., 1941 23 Practically all of the sixty librarians who answered this question reported no changes in the curriculum, interpreting the defense courses as being outside the cur- riculum. One university librarian stated: " 'Defense courses' now being given are purely of an adult 'in-service' nature and cannot be considered as part of the regular curriculum. Book needs are slight and are satisfied by means of one or two man- uals which are not supplied by the li- brary." A college librarian w r o t e : " H a v e instituted sixteen 'defense' courses at night, but these courses are not a part of the college curriculum." Another librarian wrote: " T h e r e has been no change in the college curriculum. T h e r e have been thirteen training courses in national de- fense work approved and in operation, and one course proposed on which approval is awaited. Five of these courses are given on the university campus, and eight are given at various centers throughout the state. T h i s work is carried on outside of and without interference to the regular college curriculum." Another university librarian w r o t e : " A s far as the normal engineering curriculum is concerned, it has not been materially changed since the country became interested in defense ac- tivities. A s you know, colleges and uni- versities alter their curricula slowly, and it is always a drag between what should be taught and what is taught." Several librarians mention new courses added to the curriculum, but most of these courses represent a shift in the topic em- phasized rather than a change in the cur- riculum. Examples are a new course on defense legislation given by the govern- ment department at T e x a s University, a course in the economics of war at the University of Akron and at Norwich University, and a course in South Amer- ican civilization given by the Spanish de- partment at Iowa University. Greater emphasis on the use of current publica- tions in teaching courses in history and economics is reported by several librarians. A number of shifts in student regis- tration, usually resulting in increased en- rolment in the engineering departments, are reported. T h e College of the City of N e w Y o r k reports: " N o important shifts in curriculum have affected the li- brary but a shift in student registration has made itself felt. Previous to 1938 the mechanical engineering department was almost the smallest in the school. W h i l e registration in other departments has remained the same or has risen only slightly, the number of students taking the mechanical engineering course has more than doubled. Since the collection in mechanical engineering subjects was correspondingly small three years ago a particularly heavy demand has been no- ticed in this field." Very few librarians reported any co- operative measures undertaken with gov- ernmental defense agencies and with defense industries other than making inter- library loans, preparing bibliographies, and giving assistance to faculty members em- ployed in research for government agen- cies and defense industries. It should be realized that many of these colleges and universities are not located in industrial centers. It appears that defense indus- tries are relying more upon their own special libraries or upon the technology de- partments of the public libraries. T h e librarian of the University of Washington Library w r o t e : "Please bear in mind that our institution is located in a city which contains an unusually progressive and ac- tive public library. I believe most of the industrial mobilization demands are being 24 COLLEGE AND RESEARCH LIBRARIES received by the Seattle Public Library. T h e Boeing Aircraft Company has sup- plied the public library with funds for the purchase of books within the field of aeronautics." Examples of Services Examples of services rendered by li- braries located near governmental defense agencies and defense industries are the following: The library numbers among its borrow- ers some eighty industrial and manufacturing plants, many of them working on defense contracts. T w o nearby government agen- cies, Raritan Arsenal and the Signal Corps Part III. Understanding the Meaning of Events T h e supply of books in this field was reported adequate by twenty-six librarians and inadequate by fifteen. T h r e e speci- fied a need for material on South America and two a need for military science mate- rial. Several stated that they had been purchasing an increased proportion of books on these subjects for the past several years. A t T e x a s University "the rate of acquisition has been increased in these fields recently because more material has been available. T h e library has attempted to acquire all government documents re- lating to these fields in an attempt to anticipate a future need." A number of librarians reported they were collecting material on the present war and several are building up a collection of material on Latin America. Librarians reporting that their collections were inadequate generally stressed their need for duplicate copies of material already on hand. Several librar- ians reported they believed their collection was adequate, but they felt the material was not being used as much as it should be. at Fort Monmouth, are constant users of the library's resources. (Rutgers Univer- sity) No exceptional measures; merely an in- tensification of service always rendered to such agencies as Watertown Arsenal, New- port Torpedo Station, and various navy yards—often by mail. Defense industries have free use of the library as needed. ( M . I . T . ) W e have always cooperated with our local industries by doing reference work for them and by lending them material. (Lehigh University) Besides serving the members of the Rice Institute, the library meets many calls from research workers in neighboring industrial concerns. (Rice Institute) T h i s part of the questionnaire sought to discover how libraries may help in pro- moting a clearer understanding by indi- viduals, groups, and agencies, of the social and civic problems facing America. T A B L E I I I Demands for Material on Current Problems N u m b e r N u m b e r N u m b e r of of of S u b j e c t s Libraries Libraries Libraries S u b j e c t s Report- Report- Report- ing N o ing Some ing Great Increase Increase Increase A i m s and character of the totalitarian powers 6 38 13 International cooperation IO 36 7 M i l i t a r y and economic 36 problems 4 36 IS P r o p a g a n d a methods S 37 14 8 T r a d e relations 13 26 14 8 U n e m p l o y m e n t 22 17 s Y o u t h problems 21 23 7 A n a l y s i s of failures of 23 democratic powers 1 1 C a m o u f l a g e and bomb shelters 1 Censorship 1 1 D e m o c r a c y 1 D i e t e t i c s 1 G e o g r a p h y and maps 2 L a b o r and labor relations 3 1 N e g r o in national defense 1 T h e librarians' estimates of the demands from individuals and groups are shown in T a b l e I I I . DECEMBER., 1941 25 Pamphlet Materials T h e r e was practically unanimous agree- ment that pamphlet materials help to meet the demand in these fields. Opinion was equally divided to the question of whether pamphlets are satisfactory substitutes for books. A majority felt that pamphlets should supplement but not replace books, and the comment was frequently made that pamphlets were most valuable for current material not yet available in book form. Sixteen librarians reported they dupli- cated pamphlets freely and forty-nine said they did not. Special efforts to circulate pamphlets were reported by only twenty- six librarians while thirty-five reported no such efforts. Since there was general agreement that pamphlet materials help to meet the demand, and since they are relatively inexpensive, it is surprising that so many librarians report no special ef- forts to circulate them. O f the special display methods which had been found effective, display cases were reported by forty-one librarians, lists of new pamphlets on bulletin boards by fifteen, preparing lists by six, lists in the college paper by four, and giving talks on pamphlets by one. Responsibility of Library Varied and definite comments were re- ceived from most librarians to the ques- tions : 1. W h a t do you think about the re- sponsibility of the library for promoting study and understanding of the present crisis ? 2. Could the library make a significant contribution on its own? 3. Should librarians adopt a positive and vigorous attitude in trying to interest people concerning the problems around them? Practically all agreed that the college or university library has some responsi- bility for promoting study and under- standing of the present crisis, but a number expressed the opinion that the responsibility belonged more properly to the public library. A majority believed that the college library could not make a significant contribution on its own. A conservative tendency was predominant in the comments regarding the adoption of a positive and vigorous attitude in trying to interest people concerning the problems around them. T h e prevailing opinion was that the library's main responsibility and contribution lay in making available ma- terials on all aspects of these controversial questions. Comments T h e following comments indicate the type of opinions expressed: The college and university library serves a restricted personnel. It is a service branch. It attempts to maintain a long range policy compatible with the policies and objectives of the institution it serves. College librar- ians are far less qualified to promote, etc., than many of their colleagues on the faculty. They may attempt to make known the re- sources of their own and neighboring librar- ies, utilizing the expert knowledge that is at hand in their institutions. Subject lists similar to those currently issued by the A.L.A. are most useful. Frank comparison of similar titles, evaluation of new editions with reference to earlier ones; this is what is needed. I sincerely hope that the A.L.A. does not attempt to obtain funds from the national defense appropriations, for books or services. (University of Maine) Undoubtedly libraries have a responsibility for promoting study and understanding of any crisis or problem whether it be economic, 26 COLLEGE AND RESEARCH LIBRARIES social, moral, racial, religious or political. It seems to me, however, that public libraries have a greater opportunity and consequently a greater responsibility in this respect. The patrons of a college library are principally concerned with acquiring an education and to this end devote the major share of their time to formal course work. The major function of a college library is to provide materials needed for such work. I believe, of course, that some stimulation can, should and has been given in the past to the study of non-curricular problems. The particular problem has changed at the moment. Judg- ing from the amount of interest which dis- plays have aroused here it would seem that the library is capable of making a contri- bution of some significance. (University of Maryland) If the library fails to be an active social agency and defense agency it may cease be- ing anything. (Utah State Agricultural College) Libraries with limited staffs will be hard pressed to keep up with the regular teach- ing demands without embarking on side shows. (University of Kansas) There is some danger that the library may become a weather vane, changing its direc- tion with every ephemeral breeze and achiev- ing nothing in a permanent sense. I believe that it should undertake to supply the ma- terials required to satisfy any serious and important demand—indeed it may legiti- mately stimulate such demands—but I be- lieve that the national defense emergency constitutes only one (and a temporary one) legitimate and important interest. (Wayne University) Since this is addressed to university and college libraries, an answer should be made on the basis of their work and the present world condition. As an institution I do not feel that the library is in a posi- tion to make an important contribution towards promoting any "study and under- standing of the present crisis." I feel that we delude ourselves when we think of the library being more than a contributing serv- ice to the general result of a college educa- tion. W e are not in a position to exercise a great deal of influence—certainly nothing that can be compared to the position and opportunity of the teacher. I do not feel that librarians need to be nonentities—they should have positive convictions and an in- terest in the students and acquaintance with them which will make it possible to express these convictions. (University of Connecti- cut) Where time and the material are avail- able, I believe an effort should be made to display and otherwise make available ma- terial pertinent to present-day questions, but I do not believe that librarians should be social reformers, just because they are li- brarians. There is a place for social re- formers, and individual librarians could be very effective, if they were so inclined, but librarians as a class, or as a total unit, should not endeavor to act as social reform- ers. (Norwich University) As I see it from the work here, the li- brarian cannot assume any responsibility, the demand must come from those teaching the courses and the library must be willing to meet any demand but I do not see how I can prepare for any such demand at the present time. Nor do I see how the library can adopt a more vigorous plan than is already followed. I am sure we are awake to the possibilities and will meet any need that comes but I do not think we can go after increase in service beyond that which we are now rendering. (Rensselaer Polytechnic In- stitute) Considering the intense interest of every- one in the present crisis, the library's job may well be limited to securing and making available good material appropriate to this interest. The present crisis hardly needs to be advertised. (Union College) The entire university, administrative of- ficers, faculty and student body are gravely concerned in a study of the present crisis. The library contribution to this study is the service it renders to these groups in making available the resources of the collection. (Rutgers University) DECEMBER., 1941 27 Responsibility and Opportunity Of course there is a responsibility for pro- moting understanding of the present crisis, opportunity for the library to make a con- tribution on its own, and need for a positive and vigorous attitude, but at a Land Grant College such as M.S.C. the library has many other responsibilities, and should take its cue in its attitude regarding the present crisis from the president of the institution who, after all, is the chief policy-maker of the institution. Librarians should adopt a posi- tive and vigorous attitude in trying to in- terest people concerning the problems around them but they must also be careful not to appear belligerently partisan. (Mich- igan State College) It is difficult to see how the library as an educational institution can evade responsi- bility for promoting study and understanding of the present crisis. I believe a library's most significant contributions at this time should be in the fields of adult education, Americanization work among the foreign- born and industrial mobilization. Special emphasis should be placed on extending li- brary facilities to labor, a phase of library work which has been for the most part neglected. Libraries located in industrial cities and towns should make greater efforts to bring their services to the laboring groups. (Louisiana Polytechnic Institute) The library, like all other institutions, is confronted with the tasks which should have been done during the years. The emergency should be met by speeding up and intensify- ing the program which has always been the library's aim. (Oregon State College) The university, through other agencies, student discussion groups, special lectures, etc., is active along these lines. The Library does not take an active part in these pro- grams but aims to provide material in the subjects discussed. It is difficult to get the time and attention of busy students but we could do more in display of material. The making of lists and bibliographies we have found a waste of time. I believe the uni- versity library makes its best contribution by cooperating with other campus agencies rather than by having a program of its own. (Purdue University) I firmly believe in giving students the facts on all sides and letting them form their own conclusions. I do not favor trying to boost even our own side. That is not democracy. It is propaganda. That faith in democracy which is worth while and which will endure must be based on a firm belief that the thinker knows the best that naziism, etc., can offer and still believes that democracy is better. (University of Cincinnati) It is the duty of the library to furnish as much material as possible and to make known the fact that such material is on hand. Communities vary to such an extent that no one ruling fits all cases. In a thoroughly awakened community [the library] should stand in the front line with other progressive utilities and elements of community. In rather backward communities it seems to me the librarian must be ahead of the com- munity and try to awaken vital interests. (University of Vermont) A t present people seem interested in two kinds of general information: what this democracy we are concerned about is; and, background material on the countries in- volved in war, and the interpretation of daily events abroad, particularly their effect on the United States. It is the business of all libraries to pro- vide material pertinent to these interests to whatever degree is required to satisfy their clients' needs, either obvious or potential. Furthermore, libraries should accept this obligation positively rather than negatively— in other words, they should discover latent interests, anticipate interests, and engender interests. A t the same time they should go about this business in as level-headed a way as is possible under the emotionally-charged conditions they are or will be working under. Librarians will have to remember that most of them are agents of the government and must work within conditions established by the government. (University of Texas) Since the main way a university library can make a contribution on its own is by 28 COLLEGE AND RESEARCH LIBRARIES pertinent displays and exhibits it would seem that its responsibility is to make available background material in order that the stu- dents may comprehend more easily their lectures and courses given in this field. (University of North Carolina) As a university library we feel our re- sponsibility is fashioned by the administra- tive program. As individuals we may seek to define this program by various means, but we do not have the privilege of leading. (University of Nebraska) Summary Increased demands for library services have in general been slight in colleges and universities where engineering defense training courses have been given. Stu- dents enrolled in these courses appear to have little time for any reading in addi- tion to assignments in textbooks. T h e demands for library services by the in- structors of these courses have to a con- siderable extent been responsible for the increases reported. T h e few marked in- creases occurred where the colleges or universities reporting were located in large industrial or defense centers. In most cases the libraries which re- ported a need for additional material indi- cated that this was not a new need but rather an old need accentuated by the new demands. T e n to twenty-five additional volumes appeared sufficient to meet the needs in most of the subject fields. M o s t librarians felt that 75 per cent of any additional funds should be spent for new titles, and estimates of the per- centage of the library's collection which would be of value in meeting demands for material on national defense subjects ranged from 1 per cent to 100 per cent. T w i c e as many librarians had increased their buying of books in vocational and technical subjects as had not, the funds usually coming from general book funds. Forty-six librarians reported they had not been able to obtain additional funds for the specific purpose of increasing holdings in vocational and technical materials while twenty-two had done so. T h i r t y reported no attempt to obtain such funds, and thirty-seven reported making such an at- tempt. Only eight librarians reported that a limitation in meeting known or possible needs by lack of enough trained personnel was due to defense courses, and of twenty who reported a need for specialized per- sonnel only three declared this need was due to defense courses. Cooperative Measures Only a small proportion of librarians described cooperative measures undertaken with other libraries or the installation of special services to meet industrial and in- dustrial training needs. T h e most com- monly mentioned cooperative measure was the interlibrary loan, and the most com- mon special service was providing a special section for engineering defense training books. Practically no changes have taken place in the curricula of the various schools re- porting. T h e r e have been a few shifts in emphasis and some increases in enrol- ment in engineering. N o special coopera- tive measures have been undertaken with governmental defense agencies and with defense industries. T h e r e has been a general increase in demand for material dealing with the so- cial and civic problems facing America, but most librarians report their supply of such material is adequate. Pamphlet ma- terials are regarded as being helpful in meeting the demand in these fields, but only a small proportion of the librarians DECEMBER., 1941 29 reported any special efforts to circulate them, seemingly being content to place them in display cases. A number of librarians expressed the opinion that the responsibility of the li- brary for promoting study and under- standing of the present crisis belonged more properly to the public library, al- though college and university libraries should assume some of the responsibility. A majority believed that the college li- brary could not make a significant contri- bution on its own, and a conservative tendency dominated the comments regard- ing the adoption of a positive and vigorous attitude in trying to interest people con- cerning the problems around them. T h e library was generally regarded as having met its responsibility if it made available materials on all aspects of these problems. 30 COLLEGE AND RESEARCH LIBRARIES