Part 1 — COURSE 7: LIBRARY ADMINISTRATION.

Text Books Required.

American Library Association—Manual of library economy. Preprints Nos. 1-32. A.L.A. Also Grafton. 1s. 6d. each.

Baker (E. A.)—The public library. O’Connor, 1922. 12s. 6d.

Bostwick (A. E.)—The American public library. 3rd edition. Appleton, 1923. 12s. 6d.

Brown (J. D.)—Manual of library economy. 3rd edition, revised by W. C. B. Sayers. Grafton, 1919, 30s.

Brown (J. D.) and others—Open access libraries. Grafton 1915. 10s. 6d.

Dana (J. C.)—Library primer. 1910. Library Bureau. 6s.

Library Economics. Grafton, 1909. 2s. 6d.

Rae (W. S. C.)—Public library administration. Routledge, 1913. Also Grafton. 3s. 6d.

Roebuck (G. E.) and Thorne (W. B.)—A primer of library practice. Grafton, 1914. 5s.

Lesson 1.

General Policy, Administration and Arrangement of Chief Departments.

In conjunction with the study of matters appertaining to the administration of libraries, the student will find that a policy of visiting as many libraries as possible will prove to be of material assistance in demonstrating the comparative value of the various details of arrangement, equipment, service, etc.

Note carefully the points taken into consideration in planning the interior arrangement of the various departments, paying special attention to the essential requirements with regard to accommodation. (Read carefully the factors on pages 165-168).

Several matters are to be taken into consideration in deciding the best means of providing library facilities, and the functions and methods of administering branch libraries, delivery stations, and travelling libraries require studious attention.

The provision of newsrooms is sometimes criticised as unnecessary. Go fully into the question, considering their purpose, cost, value, etc. Their planning and arrangement, as also of magazine rooms, govern in a large measure their success, and should be studied.

The passing of the “1919 Act” has resulted in the rapid establishment of County Libraries, and introduced new problems in library policy. These will become more acute and consequently require increasing attention during coming years as the County Library systems develop. The loss of efficiency due to lack of co-operation will become more accentuated until means for the latter are provided. Various suggestions have already been made and these should receive careful consideration when making the necessary survey of the whole question.

Many libraries have adopted a policy of centralising certain branches of administrative work, such as cataloguing, classification, etc. Give full attention to this and consider in what circumstances and to what extent this practice can be advantageously adopted.

Reading List.

General.

Aldred—Matters connected with the organisation of libraries. L.A.R. Vol. 18, 1916, pp. 1-20.

Bond—Some features of recent library practice in Great Britain. L.A.R. Vol. 17, 1915, pp. 227-243.

Bostwick—Administration. Chap. 12. A.L.A. Manual of library economy.

Bostwick—The American Public Library. Chap. 21, pp. 282-311.

Brown—Manual of library economy. 1919 edition. Chaps. 8-12, pp. 106-166.

Brown and others—Open access libraries. Chaps. 2-4, pp. 16-104.

Rae—Public library administration. pp. 3-40.

Roebuck and Thorne—Primer of library practice. pp. 29-66.

Sandbach—Inter-library lending. L.A.R. New Series. Vol. 3, 1925, pp. 230-241.

Sharp—Adult education and the public library. L.A. Vol. 18, 1925, pp. 124-127; 159-164.

Branch Libraries, Delivery Stations, Travelling Libraries.

Barrett—Branch libraries ... relations with central library. L.A.R. Vol. 6, 1904, pp. 78-84.

Bostwick—The American Public Library. Chaps. 8 and 18, pp. 114-121; 243-260.

Brown—Manual of library economy. 1919 edition. Chap, 26, pp. 366-374.

Eastman—Branch libraries. Chap. 15. A.L.A. Manual of library economy.

Library economics, pp. 89-91.

Rae—Public library administration, pp. 41-48.

Roebuck and Thorne—Primer of library practice, pp. 83-85.

Savage—Delivery stations and town travelling libraries. L.A.R. Vol. 6, 1904, pp. 119-127.

Rural Libraries.

Baker—The Public Library, pp. 134-168.

Brown—Manual of library economy. 1919 edition. Chap. 35, pp. 477-485.

Gray—County library systems. Grafton, 1922. 7s. 6d.

Hetherington—Rural libraries. L.A.R. Vol 18, 1916, pp. 195-211.

Macleod—County rural libraries. Grafton, 1923. 10s. 6d.

Savage—Possible means of co-operation between burgh and rural libraries. L.A. Vol 16, 1923, pp. 375-385.

Wright—Some principles of rural library economy. L.W. Vol. 23, 1920-21, pp. 537-540.

Newsrooms. Magazine Rooms.

Baker—The Public Library. pp. 55-63.

Bolton—The newsroom as a department of the public library. L.A.R. Vol. 12, 1910, pp. 335-343.

Brown—Manual of library economy. 1919 edition. Chap. 31, pp. 424-438.

Ellison—Newspapers and periodicals: methods of display, etc. L.W. Vol. 17, 1914-15, pp. 129-137.

Evans—Reading room methods. L.W. Vol. 12, 1909-10. pp. 373-378.

Jones—The newsroom. L.A.R. Vol. 14, 1912, pp. 182-190.

Library economics. pp. 7, 38, 97-101, 103.

Rae—Public library administration. pp. 19-33.

Roebuck and Thorne—Primer of library practice. pp. 73-82.

Questions.

1. State what you know of the rural library movement in England. Can you give the administrative arrangements of any particular system?

2. What consideration would govern your choice between delivery stations and branch libraries?

3. Describe the principal methods of arranging newspapers and periodicals in a reading room. Give titles of 10 daily, 10 weekly, and 10 monthly newspapers and periodicals which would be your first choice.

4. In a library system with a central department and four branches would you place any administrative work under central control? Give full reasons for your decision.

5. What do you consider to be the chief services a newsroom renders to the public? State what you consider to be the main objections to the establishment of newsrooms.

Lesson 2.

Special Departments.

The several departments of which an up-to-date library is composed each have their own peculiar problems, all of which are incapable of satisfactory solution without special consideration.

Library work with children is growing in extent and importance, and librarians of the immediate future may find this branch of their many-sided activities requiring their first attention. Note the special provision of lectures, story-hours, exhibitions, etc., and the special points to be borne in mind during the planning, equipment and arrangement of children’s rooms.

The section dealing with children’s libraries in the appended reading list will require more time than many students are able to spare. In such cases Sayers’s “Children’s Library” should be read first, supplemented by the shorter articles.

Consider also the best methods of co-operation between libraries and schools.

The adolescent question is one of the constantly recurring problems which have exercised the minds of librarians for a number of years. With regard to the fact that the adolescent reader requires special attention, opinions may be said to be just as unanimous as they are divided in deciding the form in which that special attention is to be given, hence the necessity for fully considering the suggestions which have been made towards a solution.

A special effort should be made to make the local collection as complete as possible. Ascertain the best methods of storing and making its contents available, and note what should be included in it.

Increased activity is being shown in meeting business and commercial requirements. These vary according to locality, but every effort should be made to ascertain what has been accomplished in the large centres—Bolton, Bristol, Glasgow, Liverpool, Manchester, etc., where a special feature has been made of this work. Obtain if possible, the handbooks issued by these towns describing their commercial libraries.

In connection with the provision of music in libraries some rather novel suggestions have been put forward, e.g., the use of gramophones, wireless, etc. These proposals should receive consideration, and the replies and views expressed while they have been under discussion should be noted.

Study the pros and cons of the policy of providing separate Ladies’ Room and Students’ Rooms, and their respective requirements in equipment, arrangement, supervision, etc.

Attention must be given to the necessary procedure in obtaining literature for blind readers, noting specially the sources of supply.

Reading List.

Lending Departments (General).

Baker—The Public Library. pp. 33-43.

Parker—Procedure in changing from a closed to an open-access library. L.A. Vol. 9, 1912, pp. 63-70.

Rae—Public library administration. pp 13-18.

Thorne—Problem of the adolescent. L.A. Vol. 16, 1923, pp. 206-210.

Children’s Libraries (see also pp. 41-44.)

Baker—The Public Library. pp. 63-74.

Brown—Manual of library economy. 1919 edition, Chap. 32, pp. 439-456.

Brown and others—Open-access libraries. Chap. 9, pp. 199-208.

Dallimore—Object lessons to school children in the use of libraries. L.A.R. Vol. 11, 1909, pp. 49-68.

Downey—Teaching the use of the library. L.J. Vol. 40, 1915, pp. 637-641.

Ellison—Library work with children. L. & B. W. Vol. 6, 1915, pp. 91-95; 114-117.

Gilbert—Talks and readings to children. L.W. Vol. 21, 1918-19, pp. 120-124.

Hazeltine—Library work with children. Wilson, New York, 1917. Also Grafton. 7s. 6d.

Jast—Library work with children. L.A.R. Vol. 21, 1919, pp. 90-102.

Olcott—Library work with children. A.L.A. Manual. Chap. 29.

Powell—The children’s library. Wilson, New York, 1917. Also Grafton. 10s. 6d.

Price—The story-hour in libraries. P.L. Vol. 12, 1907. pp. 347-9.

Rees—-Libraries for children. Grafton, 1924. 12s. 6d.

Sayers—The children’s library. English Library. Routledge, 1911. Also Grafton. 3s. 0d. O.P.

Sayers—Some notes on story-telling in libraries. L.W. Vol. 20, 1917-18, pp. 288-90; 314-316.

School Libraries.

Alexander—School libraries. L.A.R. Vol. 24, 1922, pp. 12-19.

Baker—The Public Library. pp. 122-134.

Brown—Manual of library economy. 1919 edition. Chap. 33, pp. 457-466.

Frayer—Co-operation between public libraries and elementary schools. L.A.R. Vol. 22, 1920, pp. 61-70.

Green—School libraries. L.A.R. Vol. 12, 1910, pp. 227-241.

McColvin—The relation between the library and the school. L.W. Vol. 22, 1919-20, pp. 360-362.

Rae—Public library administration. pp. 49-53.

Ward—The high-school library. A.L.A. Manual. Chap. 7.

Wood—Administration of high-school libraries as branches of public libraries. L.J. Vol. 39, 1914, pp. 659-662.

Local Collections. Special Collections. (See also pp. 47-50).

Brown—Manual of library economy. 1919 edition. Chaps. 28-9, pp. 399-417.

Collier—Local records in public libraries. L.A.R. Vol 13, 1911, pp. 268-275.

Johnston—Special libraries. Chap. 8. A.L.A. Manual of library economy.

Library Economics. pp. 19-24.

Pollitt—The duty of the public librarian in relation to local literature and bibliography. L.A.R. Vol. 16, 1914, pp. 119-126.

Rae—Public library administration. pp. 54-56.

Ridley—Special libraries and information bureaux. L.A.R. (New Series). Vol. 3, 1925, pp. 242-255.

Sayers—Local collection problems. L.W. Vols. 18-19, 1915-17.

Commercial and Technical Libraries (see also pp. 46-47.)

Baker—The Public Library. pp. 74-91.

Brown—Manual of library economy. 1919 edition. Chap. 30, pp. 418-423.

Jast—The commercial library. L.A.R. Vol. 19, 1917, pp. 118-124.

Jast—Organisation of British trade: the commercial library. Manchester: Sherratt & Hughes. 2d.

Pitt—Memoranda on commercial libraries. L.A.R. Vol. 19, 1917, pp. 175-178.

Reynolds—The technical library in its relation to the educational and industrial development. L.A.R. Vol. 19, 1917, pp. 250-261.

Savage—Technical libraries. L.A.R. Vol. 21, 1919, pp. 264-270.

The technical library. L.A.R. Vol. 22, 1920, pp. 121-157.

Music Department.

Bostwick—-The American Public Library. Chap. 24, pp. 336-338.

Bostwick—Popularising music through the library. In his Library Essays. Wilson: New York, 1920, pp. 325-340.

McColvin—Music in public libraries. Grafton, 1924. 7s. 6d.

Riddle—Music in public libraries. L.A.R. Vol. 16, 1914, pp. 1-10.

Smith—Music and gramophones in public libraries. L.A. Vol. 18, 1925, pp. 60-65.

Ladies’ Rooms. Students’ Rooms.

Brown—Manual of library economy. 1919 edition. Section 479, pp. 437-438.

Library Economics. pp. 27-28.

Rae—Public library administration. pp. 34-40.

Roebuck and Thorne—Primer of library practice. pp. 82-83.

Willcock—Ladies’ reading rooms. L.A.R. Vol. 15, 1913, pp. 80-84.

Books for the Blind.

Austin—National Library for the Blind. L.A.R. Vol. 12, 1910, pp. 304-312.

Austin—Present ... possibilities of the public library service to the blind. L.A.R. Vol. 13, 1911, pp. 450-460.

Baker—The Public Library. pp. 91-95.

Bostwick—The American Public Library. Chap. 33, pp. 324-335.

Brown—Manual of library economy. 1919 edition. Section 197, pp. 181.

Chamberlain—Library work with the blind. Chap. 30, A.L.A. Manual of Library Economy.

Neisser—Report of the A.L.A. Committee on library work with the blind. A.L.A. Bulletin. Vol. 2, 1908, pp. 216-221.

Smith—Books for the blind. L.A.R. Vol. 22, 1920, pp. 257-259.

Questions.

1. Draw a rough plan of a children’s lending library and reading room, 30 feet by 25 feet, showing arrangement of bookcases, tables, and other necessary furniture.

2. Outline what you consider to be the ideal arrangement for dealing with adolescent readers.

3. What are the respective purposes of a commercial and a technical library? Indicate briefly the nature of the essential stock.

4. What subjects would you choose in giving eight short talks to children? Give the main points you would include in a talk on “How to use the library.”

5. What do you consider to be the best method of working school libraries? Give the main points you would include in instructions to school librarians.

6. State exactly what you would include in a local collection, and your procedure in the formation of one.

Lesson 3.

Aids To Readers.

If there is any dividing line in the duties of a librarian, it surely falls just when a suitable building has been erected and an adequate stock, carefully classified and catalogued, has been provided. From this point there is a good deal of what, perhaps, may be termed propaganda work to be undertaken. The ideal library should be the centre of all literary activity within the locality, but before this stage is reached advantage must be taken of every possible opportunity to reach and enrol those lukewarm citizens who are to be found in every locality.

After the necessary attention has been paid to the ground covered in this lesson, the student will find enjoyable, and certainly beneficial, the task of compiling a list of all methods of popularising and increasing the use of a library. If succeeding in contributing some new and practicable suggestion, something solid will have been contributed to library science.

A thoroughly efficient Reference Department cannot fail to render first-class service to any community, but it must be remembered that the very nature of reference work renders compulsory a high state of efficiency. A comparison of the duties of reference and lending staffs will assist one to visualise the special requirements of the department more clearly. In surveying the various reference duties, consider the advisability of allowing certain books to be taken out on loan, the extent to which you would allow access to the stock, the disposition of the various classes, and make a special note of the books which are essential for the quick-reference section (see page 72). Note also the means (indexing, etc.) necessary to render all information immediately accessible.

Useful work is done in many places by Information Bureaux. Note the information these are expected to supply, the preparation necessary to equip them for the purpose they serve, and their possible development.

The success of a series of lectures depends chiefly on their proper organization. See what arrangements are essential to their success, and the best methods of ensuring that the interest created results in increased use being made of the library. University Extension and other movements, by wise co-operation, can serve the library in this respect.

Study the various points in connection with the formation of Reading Circles, and the efforts required in order to guarantee their retention as a live factor contributing to the success of the library.

The Central Library for Students renders assistance to libraries. Study the nature of this, the conditions and the potentiality of the Library as the centre of a more ambitious scheme of a national reservoir library for the distribution of certain classes of books.

Consider the utility of the Bulletin, the information it should contain, the policy of including advertisements to defray cost, and the various points in connection with its production. Several libraries issue bulletins (see page 111). If possible, obtain copies of these.

Up to the present the usual publicity methods have not been called to the service of the library to the same extent in England as in America. View the question from all aspects, note what is at present being done by various libraries, and consider the numerous suggestions which have been made for the expansion of this form of activity.

Note the importance of good shelf and stack guiding as aids to readers. (See pages 84-5 and read the articles given under the names of Coutts, Savage and Stewart.)

Reading List.

General.

Fay and Eaton—Instruction in the use of books and libraries. 2nd edition, revised. Faxon & Co.: Boston, 1919. Also Grafton. 22s. 6d.

Fearnside—Co-operation between a town library and local societies and bodies. L.A.R. Vol. 20, 1918, pp. 140-149.

Jones—Some aids to readers. L.W. Vol. 13, 1910-11, pp. 225-233.

Roebuck and Thorne—Primer of library practice. pp. 87-90.

Spofford—Book for all readers. 3rd edition. Putnam, 1905. O.P. Chap. 10, pp. 190-214.

Stewart—How to use a library. Elliot Stock, 1910.

Reference Work.

A.L.A.—Manual of library economy. Chap. 22.

Baker—The Public Library. pp. 44-55.

Ballinger—The reference library. L. Vol. 9, 1908, pp. 353-369.

Bostwick—The American Public Library. Chap. 5, pp. 63-80.

Brown—Manual of library economy. 1919 edition. Chap. 27, pp. 375-398.

Library Economics. pp. 12-15; 52-55.

Pitt—Possible co-operation in reference library work. L.A.R. Vol. 15, 1913, pp. 408-412.

Powell—The reference library. L.A.R. (N.S.). Vol. 2, 1924, pp. 77-86.

Rae—Public library administration. pp. 4-12.

Roebuck and Thorne—Primer of library practice, pp. 64-66.

Information Bureaux.

Brown—Manual of library economy. 1919 edition. Section 421, pp. 396-7.

Information Bureaux and special libraries. Report of Proceedings of the First Conference, 1924. Library Association, 1925. 3s. 6d.

Krauss—Information bureaux in public libraries. L.A.R. Vol. 12, 1910, pp. 14-22.

Rae—Public library administration. pp. 57-62.

Ridley—Special libraries and information bureaux. L.A.R. (N.S.) Vol. 3, 1925, pp. 242-255.

Smither—Information bureaux in public libraries. L.W. Vol. 13, 1910-1911, pp. 99-106.

Lectures.

Baker—The Public Library. pp. 100-114.

Ballinger—Lectures and extensions. L. Vol. 10, 1909, pp. 188-200.

Brown—Manual of library economy. 1919 edition. Sections 526-536, pp. 467-475.

Curran—The public lecture in relation to public library work. L.A.R. Vol. 13, 1911, pp. 313-321.

Gordon—Library lectures. L.A.R. Vol. 16, 1914, pp. 316-323.

Haxby—History, organisation, and educational value of municipal library lectures. L.A.R. Vol. 13, 1911, pp. 123-132.

Jast—A note on library readings. L.A.R. Vol. 18, 1916, pp. 53-62.

Newcombe—Raison d’etre of library lectures. L.A.R. Vol. 9, 1907, pp. 231-243; 261-266.

Rae—Public library administration. pp. 89-95.

Reading Circles.

Harris—Organization and conduct of reading circles. L.W. Vol. 17, 1914-15, pp. 69-72.

Pomfret—Reading circles. L.W. Vol. 13, 1910-11, pp. 289-294.

Rae—Public library administration. pp. 96-102.

Exhibitions.

Brown—Manual of library economy. 1919 edition. Sections 537-8, pp. 475-6.

Library Economics. pp. 32-33.

Piper—Library exhibitions. L.W. Vol. 12, 1909-10, pp. 275-280.

Rae—Public library administration. pp. 128-130.

Ward—Publicity for public libraries. Wilson, New York: 1924. Also Grafton. (Chap. 12, pp. 155-202, Displays and exhibits).

Warner—Holiday literature and picture exhibitions. L.W. Vol. 12, 1909-10, pp. 49-54.

Wheeler—The library and the community. A.L.A., 1924. Also Grafton. (Chap. 26, pp. 291-307, Exhibits and displays).

Central Library for Students.

Central Library for Students, by A. W. Pollard. L.A.R. Vol. 19, 1917, pp. 372-378.