V 3, NO, 6 OF THE U.B.C. LIBRARY STAFF NEWSLETTER MARCH 1967 WHO'S WHO OR WHAT'S WHAT IN LIBRARY AFFILIATIONS For a long time, we have heard murmurs about the wonders of the National Library ( a twinkle in Dr, Lamb's eye for the most part ) and vague mention of such underworld organizations as CLA, BCLA, ABCL, LAA, ALA, and PNLA, With the exception of those in the know, most staff members either ignore that part of the alphabet completely or, after great trial and tribulation, learn a literal translation but still remain in the dark re .: the essential difference of each organization.. This month, we have recruited "volunteers" who ARE in.the know to write on the various fixtures which influence the U„B,C, Library Many thanks to them all, FEATURING THIS MONTH News 'n Notes Automation (t.2) - Circulation National Library Administration Biographies (Part VI) LAA of UBC BCLA ABCL CLA ALA PNLA Page 2 5 10 13 17 19 20 22 24 25 NEWS 'N NOTES SOCIAL WORK LIBRARY CHRISTENED On Friday, March 3rd, 1967, representatives from the B. C. Association of Social Workers and the U.B.C. School of Social Work officiated at the christening of the Marjorie Smith Library, a name formally approved last year by the Board of Governors for "the Social Work Library, wherever it may be". For those not in the "in" group, Marjorie J, Smith was the first director of the Department of Social Work (later School of Social Work) at U.B.C. from 1943-1956. REFERENCE COLLECTIONS FOR RESIDENCES? Dr. Malcolm McGregor as the Director of Residences at U.B.C. would like to place small collections of basic reference tools and general reading material in the four residence centres, At the moment he is,seeking library advice in the selection of reference material to include in such a collection. Miss Dwyer, Mrs, Selby and Mr. Hamilton have volunteered their services in compiling an appropriate list. Any guesses as to what will be included? PERIODICALS IN ASIAN STUDIES IN THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA (Reference Publication No. 22) has officially made its appearance. Noting all serial publications in or on Asia at the U.B.C. Library, this listing gives starting date, place of publication, frequency and all the appropriate cross references to denote variation of title. Although Korean, Chinese and Japanese periodicals take up a total of 75 pages of this bibliography, the western language journals dealing with specific areas in Asia cover some 91 I Sounds like quite the compilation ! M-A-R-C-H-l-N-G TO M-Y-S-T-E-R-l-A... As promised, Mysteria donned its new spring coat (complete with wooden shelving and railroad tracks) in time for the Easter Parade and on DrDay, March 27th, the first shelves of Backlog were carried in. Already this looks like the greatest spring ever for Cat ! BRITISH CATALOGUERS' STATUS "We wereinterested (but not delighted) to learn that cataloguers in Great Britain have been segregated from other librarians and have been designated as a separate and lowlier caste. The 1966 Classification of Occupations which is issued by the General Register Office ... lists librarians under code 204, This group also includes staticians, economists, actuaries, sociologists, 3 psychologists, interpreters, industrial dt :-:jners and bibliographers. Cataloguers are separately code^ 3S 140 which is part of the "Clerical Worker" division. Also coded in 140 are ,,, meter readers, cashiers, proof-readers ..." (From Doorway, January, 1967) . ■/C °>~ ■/* "/C ~,~ STAFF CHANGES WELCOMING: Carol Trueman Clerk I Acquisitions Kathy Kujundzic Library Assis. I Serials Marlene Pereverzeff Library Assis, I Cataloguing Robert Rippon Library Asst. Ill Cataloguing Robert Wallace Library Asst. Ill Cataloguing Allan Ng Library Asst, III Asian Studies Dawn Anderson Library Asst. I Circulation Anne Loh Library Asst, I Acquisitions CONGRATS TO: Gwen Gregor, from Secretary II to Library Asst. Ill, Map Room Judy MecDermott, from Clerk II to Secretary II, Acquisitions Maya Veleglavac, from Library Asst, I to Library Asst. II, Biomedical Branch Margaret Glaspie, from Library Asst. I to Library Asst. II, Acqu i si tions Ruth Prime, from Clerk I to Clerk II, Circulation Marilyn Potts, from Library Asst. I to Library Asst. II, in Ci rculation GOOD-BYE TO: Robbin Cairns, Social Sciences Lynne Fernie, Circulation Heather Thompson, Cataloguing Irmgard Gorus, Circulation Kristin Martin, Biomedical Br. S. Y. Tse, Asian Studies >.C£)OT?ERir FINE ARTS - TRIPPY FASHION SHOW The Fine Arts Gallery was packed to capacity for the Fashion Show by students of Fine Arts 438 and Theco. The highlights of the show were the clothes modelled by Theco and designed by Evelyn Roth (Circ.). It was undoubtedly the far out look, but certainly "in". Swinging to the sound of Psychedelic music, Theco displayed designs by Evelyn. Other members of the Library Staff in the Theco group were Judy Swartz (Circ.) and Barbara Nyberg (Sedge.). The opening number gave us some splendid E.R, designs in Black and White in afternoon, evening and sportswear, very cleverly accompanied by some mod dance routine and a Bach something or other. E.R.'s Bat costumes were really something in Purples and hot Pinks, likewise the rain outfit which she designed and modelled in clear plastic. It was lots of fun watching the designs from the newly opened boutique "Rags and Riches", and it would certainly bring memories to the older set. Jim Blake (one of our Book Move Assistants during Xmas) modelled some Elizabethan Fashions for Men. 5 AUTOMATION : THE CIRCULATION DIVISION The UBC Library's flirtation with the computer dates from late I963, when it was decided to carry out a full investigation into the use of punched cards in the record keeping function of book circulation. By April of the following year, Robert Harris and his associates were convinced that an automated system could be developed to meet the needs of the Library. The factors precipitating this venture were as follows : 1, During the 1963-64 winter session the circulation file had grown to 22 feet in length and occupied 145 square feet of floor space; it was predicted that by 1965-66 it would be 36 feet long and occupy 210 square feet of floor space, 2, In 1963-64 4-g- full time employees were required to maintain the file and for 1965-66 eight would be necessary. Though transactions would increase only some 56 percent, the staff would grow by 64 percent, since growth of the file would mean a drop in the efficiency of the operation. 3, The level of service offered to users in 1963-64 was low. At best only 68 percent of the material requested at the loan desk on any one day could be located. In approaching the design of an automated system to replace the manual procedure functioning at UBC, it was agreed that the new operation should meet certain requirements. It should improve accuracy in reporting on a book's status; eliminate clerical error; reduce transaction time and line-ups; speed the clearing and return of books to the stacks; allow decentralized circulation with capacity for further expansion; provide multiple records for various check-out points; permit almost simultaneous transactions at different stations; collect management data; prepare overdue notices and bills automatically; permit renewals, holds, call-ins, traces, telephone renewals; have an alternative in case of macnine failure; allow for a somewhat gradual conversion; be presented in the most economical configuration. Decisions would have to be made as to just what details were important in the circulation record, and therefore what information and what format would be essential for the borrower's identification and the book card. Questions would have to be answered such as whether an accession number was required, and whether various loan periodicals and user categories could be handled. With these design considerations in mind, several libraries engaged in automated circulation system projects were visited. Equipment was assessed and a workable system was detailed. An agreement was reached with the University Tabulating Centre to process the transactions in daily batches. The IBM 1030 data collection system was selected and ordered. Conversion started on the assumption that there would be high activity in a relatively small area of the File and so preparation of book cards for circulating books would allow the system to operate effectively before the whole collection was converted. On September 27th, 1965 the system was put into operation, Briefly, the system works something like this. There are several input stations (blue boxes) located on campus - in the main library at stack entries, in Sedgewick, in Woodward. These stations accept information from two kinds of punch cards : standard IBM cards containing information about the book to be borrowed, and plastic cards containing information about the borrower. This information is transmitted to a card punch in the circulation office. The automatically produced cards are taken to the Tabulating Centre daily, where their data is fed into the computer and an output printed out. The daily output includes the outstanding loans list, an exceptions list, an error list, a list of notices and a statistical traffic report. A statistical summary is prepared monthly. When a book is returned it is discharged in the same way it was checked out, except that a return badge is substituted for the borrower's card. The principal advantages of the automated system in both the circulation area and other library functions in the experience of U. B. C. are these : 1. There is a time-saving for the user and the library in each transaction, and for the library in almost all daily, monthly and annual operations. Increased circulation has been handled more successfully with the same staff working under less pressure. 2. The experience with this limited application of computer facilities has proved out other areas of the library system which could be similarly improved. 3. There is a new ability to measure real use and demand for materials and to order extra copies accordingly for use during the same session. Many former doubts about the obtaining of extra copies have been eliminated. Priorities have been clearly and automatically established, 4. The system is accurate, orderly, fast, involves no filing and makes possible a considerable space saving. 5. Overdue notices are compiled daily and automatically supplied with users' name and address. 6. Other listings which can be produced are of registration numbers and addresses of faculty, staff and students; loans returned; loans renewed, rejects; inventory; reserves. Some of the disadvantages associated with the particular system now followed are : 1. The once-a-day print-out form of loan record is both quickly out-of-date and quite inadequate for short-term loans, such as reserves. 2, Some services have had to be curtailed. For example, as telephone renewals are not easily accommodated, they have had to be stopped, 3, With a shortage of programming staff and with the processing handled by another department on campus, the flexibility necessary to respond qu ickly and efficiently to problems and to changing situations has been lacking. 4, As the involvement in automation of the library in general continues to grow, the public services divisions' ability to influence the system decreases. 5, Machine failure involves reliance on the manual system, 6, Human errors and unwillingness to rely on the circulation information provided by the system cause some confusion among the staff; trips to the stacks to verify whether or not an item has actually been returned; and some problem in dealing with users who, taking advantage of the uncertainty, claim that books charged out to them have been returned, 7, Lack of timeliness, as when receipt of the daily printout is several hours late, causes difficulty and dis- sati sfactjon. An automated circulation system is now firmly established in the U. B, C, Library, It remains to convert the entire collection to a machine-readable procedure and to utilize some of the capabilities in the area of collection analysis and use measurement. The recent grant from the Donner Foundation has made a start possible, and it is hoped that the system will begin to bear fruit before much time has elapsed. THE PSALMIST LOOKS AT DATA PROCESSING EDP work is my profession I shal1 not starve. It leadeth me into fields of unwritten procedures and beside streams of obsolete forms. It maketh me change the flow of work for efficiency's sake, I restoreth control. Yea, even though others walk in the shadow of the computer I shall fear no unemployment For I am its master. My pencil and template they control it. I prepare a flow chart for presentation to management I fi11 my head with arguments. My mouth runneth over, Surely approval and recognition shal1 follow ne And my name stay on the organization chart until retirement. - Anonymous. 10 SOLVING OUR PROBLEMS : A MODEST PROPOSAL BY YOUR LEADER Really, there's nothing wrong with the U.B.C, Library system, except that there's no place for students or staff to sit down, no room in which to work, not many shelves for books, and, in most places, no air to breathe. All we need is a new building or two. But the University can't afford one for us. We could buy one with money we could raise ourselves by ingenious methods, such as charging $10 for a cup of coffee in the staff room, or making counterfeit money with the Itek machine. Just think what a collector's item a counterfeit centennial dollar would be ! I would like to propose, however, that we take a more direct approach to the space problem : let's steal the new National Library Building. Why the National Library? Well, why would you fellows want to steal Sophia Loren? Because she's big and beautiful, that's why. So is the National Library. Would you believe 15 stories, 13 acres of stack space and 81 miles of shelves? Huge working areas for staff, high ceilings, floor to ceiling windows complete with a view of the countryside, and living, breathing air conditioning? Rich hardwood walls, set off by generous sheets of polished Italian marble? And for the security conscious, 1,400 fire alarms? It even has its own power supply, so all of the equipment basic to the modern library (microfilm readers, card punches, electric typewriters, pasting machines, coffee makers, etc J will continue to operate. If any attempt is made to steal this building, it must be done before June 29th, since it will be formally opened on that day. 11 ,:::;:::::::::-*^r— ■I* llllfl] There's one hitch : we need that building where it is, too. As an organization, the National Library is only fourteen years old; as usual, Canada was a little slow to get started. But under the direction of Dr. Kaye Lamb, U.B.C,'s Librarian from 1940 to 1948, the Library has been making up for lost time, despite shortages of staff and space which make our present situation look ideal by comparison. Here are some of the things that have been done for us : A current national bibliography, Canadiana, has been created. Had it not come into existence, we would be in a fine mess where our own country's publications were concerned. To put it mildly. 12 - A national union catalogue, including the holdings of 242 libraries, has been created. This catalogue enables the National Library to supply more than 40,000 locations per year, to institutions wishing to borrow books from other libraries in Canada, - A bibliography of graduate theses written at Canadian universities is compiled and published annually, and work is under way on a retrospective volume, - Graduate theses are being microfilmed, and the negatives are stored at the National Library, which will sell or lend positive prints to other libraries. - A Union List of Serials in the Humanities and Social Sciences is being compiled, and will probably be published this year. About 10,000 titles are included, - A bibliography of Canadian books published between 1867 and 1900 is also in preparation. This will fill the chasm in Canadian bibliography which exists between Staton £- Tremaine and Tod & Cordingley. Add to all this the accomplishments of the sister organization, the National Archives, and you will see why we probably shouldn't steal this particular building. It isn't in our best interests, I hear they are getting a new library building at the University of Toronto. Let's see how that one turns out. LOST, BORROWED OR STRAYED. Librarian's bound, probably uncatalogued copy of The University Gazette, Navy blue binding, about 8^"x 11"x 1", Delivered to Mrs. Dewar around October 1966, then vanished. Finder please return to Basil, DOUG KAYE Approximately nine years ago tomorrow, a friend, or should I say informer, informed me that the University (only one then) was searching for someone to superv se the collection of recordings then housed in the Extension Dept. Having neither a musical nor a library background, I felt then I was obviously the right person for the job. To this day the Personnel Dept. is keeping the secret that there was but one applicant. I got the job. Vital statistics. I am still on the bright side of forty; between five and six feet tall; hair, b'ownish, greyish, sort of; weight, overweight. For the record, I use neither pot nor acid, however, I am permanently addicted to gin and tonic, Early days. About the only thing of interest in my youth, was a period of five years plying the world's trade-routes on merchant ships, from 1943 to 1947. TOM SHORTHOUSE March 23rd is a memorable date. Among several notable things it marks the first perfor- ance of Handel's "Messiah1,1 Patrick Henry's deathless declaration about Liberty, Adolf Hitler's seizure of dictatorial powers, and Tom Shorthouse's birthday. (His staff considers the fact that the last two events coincide exactly is more ominous than memorable. ) During his early years, our present Law Librarian did the usual things one would expect in a small interior town : sleighriding all winter, swimming all summer, tap- After graduating from Nelson High School in 1950, he enrolled in Arts, acted with the Players' Club (despite which he managed to graduate), and ultimately displayed the depths of his perverse nature by entering Teacher's Training. For nine years he moulded young minds in Surrey and Vancouver schools and kept active by writing satirical songs (his hobby) and marrying a fellow teacher who eventually put him through library school. !,Sam Rothstein maintains it was illegible handwriting rather than a brilliant mind which resulted in his passing the course.) They now have three children, all blissfully unaware that among the law reports in their father's library you will find Playboy, one football, and ten decks of playing cards. On Reserve, dancing the year round, MRS. EMILY ANNE WOODWARD Graduation from the U. of Wisconsin Library School in 1933 concluded an apprenticeship begun at the age of nine, and launched the second generation of librarian- ship in the family. In 1933, a sturdy constitution - high on most lists for library qualifications - tipped the scales favourably for the first post-training job. Although it has been confined to the U. S. and Vancouver, library work has been varied these many years. The first five years in college libraries from Oklahoma to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan were followed by an almost equal number in public library work. There was a year in the home town in Oklahoma, then wider ranging service in the state as a WPA Library Project supervisor (an experience which should have been limited to someone who could do justice to it in story) and several years operating a country bookmobile in Ohio. The urge to "do her bit" for the war effort was soon satisfied, and a decision to return to university libraries, first in Oregon then in Vancouver, has brought the story full circle. There was a ten-year interruption during the last period; it has provided the permanent extra-curricular interest : home and two chi1d ren . MISS SUSAN DEANE KEEVIL —WM HI --. ^^33 Nmb '■ 7i (m* ,4 iu la 'it-' "Ji A Mi IP ^(•""""""^^B^H B^^3^ &k ^^ L J*. "^«* --jL ^^^W| fi height notuddy major in cl assemath ics NAME : Susan Deane Keevil BORN : Yes WEIGHT : 5' 6" HEIGHT : I don't EYES : Two EDUCATION : B.A., B.L.S. EXPERIENCE : Kew Gardens Library (Assistant to Head Daisy) UBC Special Collections (Slave to CCF papers) UBC Mathematics Library (Victim of computer) 17 LIBRARY ASSISTANTS' ASSOCIATION, UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA The Library Assistants' Association is a very young organization in terms of duration but one that is rapidly becoming an accepted and familiar part of the Library scene. It is still an enigma to many members on staff so here is a brief resume of its' history, accomplishments and aims. The beginning. In September 1965, it was felt by certain members of the staff that not too much progress was being made to raise the standards of pay and promotional opportunities for the nonprofessional worker in the Library, They were aware that Mr. Bell and Mr, Stuart-Stubbs had been fighting long and sometimes thankless battles to bring the "powers that be" to an awareness that special training and ability was needed in the Library and that, to hold staff with these special attributes, higher pay grading was imperative. Always the same arguments could be used. There could be no independent pay boost at the clerical level for the library staff as the classification was campus wide. It was evident that there was only one section of the non-professional staff that was peculiar to the Library, only one classification could be bargained for as a separate unit; namely, the Library Assistant, It was at this level that an association was formed, later to be known as the Library Assistants' Association of the University of British Columbia, (L.A.A. of U.B.C.) The first executive, Mrs, Pat Gorgenyi presiding, worked many hours preparing a Constitution which was accepted by the membership February 3rd, 1966. The Library Assistants' Association was a reality, A brief was prepared "in support of the request for salary increases and changes in work classification" and was presented to the Board of Governors. Although the Brief appeared to meet with little favour, it was most possible that its presentation at that particular time finally made the Board and the Personnel Office fully realize that Mr, Stuart-Stubbs and Mr. Bell were absolutely correct in their constant pleas for the up-grading of pay in a specialized field. In July, 1966, the Library Assistants received a considerable increase with a verbal assurance that in 1967 a further attempt would be made to bring their pay more in line with comparative gradings at Simon Fraser University, etc. 13 At the same time an application to the Labour Relations Board for recognition of the L.A.A, as a bargaining unit was turned down. Reason given "that the unit applied for is not appropriate for collective bargaining". An opinion had been expressed that the organization was not representative of the non-professional staff. This unfortunately thougn unavoidable, was quite true and an issue which had caused many Library Assistants particularly those who had been promoted through Clerk I and 2 to have doubts regarding the organization. The problems were still urgent. At the Clerk I and II level, the work was peculiar to the Library, the training was technical and time consuming and wages were not compatible to the skills being used. Turnover remained high and therefore costly. Meanwhile, in the Association, all the parent executive had resigned for varying personal reasons - Library school, travel, etc. A very inexperienced Chaiman and untried executive found themselves faced with the question - what now? They realized that until all non-professional staff in the library was classified under one heading as technicians in the Library field, very little else could be accomplished. (The C.A.C.U.L. report of June 1966 had already made similar re- commendat i'bns.) To this end the Association gave its full support to the Librarians' Office in a successful bid for reclassification. There are now 168 Library Assistants at U.B.C, distributed through the main and branch libraries. A sizeable force for the general good, we hope. As for our aims in the future, these are varying:- There is the ever present question of salary deficiencies. Efforts are being made to remedy the lack of an adequate rest area - a necessity where there are so many women employed. Plans are afoot to organize the LAA at a national level with a possibility of developing an L.A. technical group with n the Canadian Library Assn. Lastly, the Library Assistants' Association would welcome suggestions and enquiries at any time. We too are interested in the Library and, even though t is old fashioned to be dedicated, we are most concerned with its progress and our own futu re. Pat LaVac Chai rman. 19 BRITISH COLUMBIA LIBRARY ASSOCIATION BCLA exists for the improvement of library service and librarians' interests. As with other organizations, members usually join seeking communication, social activity, and either personal or professional advancement. Why they join matters little — such has been the impetus of BCLA that, if a member has expended any measurable interest or energy, his satisfaction has been extensive. In existence since 1911, BCLA has contributed much to the scene in his province : it supported the public library act passed in 1919; it published, with the Public Library Commission, the Programme for Library Development in 1945, and a revision in 1950. It has prepared and argued briefs before royal commissions and the provincial government; it has investigated co-operative technical services for the Lower Mainland; it has prepared a directory of special libraries as groundwork for a serials union catalogue. It publishes the Quarterly with considerable pride; it has worked hard for recruitment, which it has supported with generous bursaries; it recommended a Western Canadian library school for fifty years before the Public Library Commission set the machinery in motion, and then gave gifts which were tangible-- i,e,, money . There have been additional efforts and accomplishments in connection with : standards of salary, staff, and tenure; certification of professional librarians; the support of a training-scheme for library custodians and hospital volunteers; a variety of programs in connection with bibliography and publishing; the present appointment of a "Committee of 13" to assist with implementation of the Vainstein report; and others too numerous to list. Before the current state of affluence and hectic travel, this association maintained communication amongst librarians who were restricted by boundaries, mountains, and available funds. Members who were not librarians lent their support to a librarian's aim of education at all levels of society. Together, when it could not have been done alone, the members managed to 20 find their way through a maze of books, problems, poverty, greed, politics, confusion, despair and students. Notable accomplishments that were never even planned have been brought to fruition; these were accompanied by opportunities to make strong friendships, and to struggle with, or against, remarkable colleagues or knowledgeable library supporters. At the present time, university librarians probably outnumber other members within BCLA. This was not always so, but, nevertheless, U.B.C. still boasts three former presidents: Eleanor Mercer, Dr. Samuel Rothstein and Anne M. Smith. A, Leith ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH COLUMBIA LIBRARIANS History For more than a decade a provincial association of professional librarians had been proposed, discussed and debated. Rather than see the recommendations of the BCLA 1965/66 Committee on a Professional Organization (the latest in a series) pass into obscurity, a volunteer ad hoc committee of seven librarians decided to set about implementing them. Subsequently, this zealous and persevering group prepared a brief, distributed it to librarians throughout B. C., selected a name, organized^ a founding meeting which elected a temporary executive, who in turn appointed a constitution, nominating and elections committee, published a Newsletter, organized a charter membership drive and finalized plans for the inaugural meeting at which the following Executive Board was elected : President: Aileen Tufts; Vice-President : Dr. Ronald Hagler; Secretary: Lawrence Leaf; Treasurer : Rex Des Brisay; Councillors: Helen Rodney, Edgar Albrecht and Peter Lofts. 21 Aims Very briefly, ABCL's objects are (l) to raise the standards of 1ibrary service; (2) to encourage the study and research on the part of professional librarians; (3) to promote and advance the cause of library service and the interests and welfare of librarians; and (4) to cooperate with related organizations. Current Projects ABCL co-sponsored the mid-March Workshop on Public Library Service to Young People and is co-sponsoring two more in April, viz,, Library Automation and the Anglo-American Catalog Code, In addition, ABCL committees are hard at work, Continuing Education has planned a May seminar (others to follow); Membership and Registration have signed up 150 members, prepared a directory, established a central clearing house and offers consulting services; Library Technicians Committee acts as the advisory board to the local pilot project and has completed a job analysis survey; Funds and Grants have compiled a financial resources list for graduate study; Publications produces the Newsletter and the monthly bulletin; and the Constitution Committee is all set to write "ABCL (incorporated 1967)," Future Plans Events scheduled include : (l) "Meet the Graduates Night"(April 7th); (2) Conference Reports dinner meeting (July 21st); (3) Fall seminar; (4) Annual conference and workshop (October); and (5) A Spring Workshop (1968), L, Leaf BOOK OWNERSHIP SLIP An I yt los, and yow yt fynd, I pray yow hartley to be so kynd, That yow wel take a letel payne To se my boke brothe home agayne. (Countess of Worcester, A,D, 1440) 22 CANADIAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION \Jt VI 1 9 »!• 1 1 111 ^ 1 \J 1 \f 11 \ 1 * » V W ^/V 1 f 1 1 1 VI » The Canadian Library Association unofficially began:in a little town in Trinidad called Tunapuna, on February 13th, 1903. Semi officially it came into being in 1944, and then in 1946 took on the full attributes of a national chartered organization. So this year it celebrates its 64th, its 23rd, or its 21st birth day depending on arithmetical preference. This is a Centennial year for the two Canadian nations. It is also the centennial year for CLA's counterpart in the U. S. - that is, the American Library Association, By comparison, the CLA is barely of age. My arithmetical choice for CLA is 21 years; the age of majority at which people receive full civil rights, but which for CLA is confirmation that it has exercised full pro fessional rights and obligations since it was chartered. The CLA was set up "to promote education, science and culture within the nation through library service; to promote high standards of librarianship and the welfare of librarians; to cooperate with library associations both within and outside of Canada and with other organizations interested in the promotion of education, science and culture". That's a pretty large nut shell. But the CLA has been pursuing these objectives manfully (should 1 add womanfully) from the start. It has always laid stress on publication - The Canadian Periodical Index, is the best example of this. It has always been active in areas and types of library service and has promoted section interests varying alphabetically from children's library service to tech nical services. Committefes' run from ALA-CLA Liaison to Union List of Serials (both happening to indicate our close ties with U.S. 1ibrarianship). Lots of people have been involved in C.L.A. Look about you at a C.L.A. conference and see the ex-Presidents littering the lounges of the hotels. Several of them will likely hail from B. C., which once held the record for having the highest number in its confines, and may still do. The total membership of 23 C.L.A. is not too far off 3,000. B, C. representatives on Council include Basil Stuart-Stubbs, and Dean Halliwell of U. Vic. Amy Hutcheson, Librarian at the New Westminster Public, will be installed as president in Ottawa in June when the C.L.A, holds its next conference at action central. Tunapuna, for those readers who may be puzzled, is the birthplace of Elizabeth Homer Morton, who has been Executive Director of CLA since inception, or conception. The high status of CLA is largely due to her tremendous energy, good humour, infinite patience and tolerance, and exceptional ability. She never nods. R. Hamilton, University of British Columbia c/o Main Library Vancouver 8, B. C, Canada March 15th, 1967 Dear Si r: We thank you for your order, No, 66-0000 for one copy of Gusev, Protection Against Radiation. Our overseas publisher reports that this edition is out of print, and that only a paperbag is available. Would you please let us know if you are interested in having us obtain such a copy for you. Sincerely yours XX 24 THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION ALA is the granddaddy-cum-1eviathan of library associations. Founded in I876 by Melvil Dewey and sundry cronies, this fountainhead of American librarianship today has a membership of almost 30,000, all of whom presumably stand foursquare behind the Association's rather vague objective, "To promote library service and librarian- ship." One of ALA's activities is the publication of materials relating to library service, including a monthly bulletin, an annual membership directory, conference proceedings, review periodicals and monographic works on a variety of topics. ALA's other business is planned and conducted by 40 committees, some of which are : documentation, investments, legislation, audiovisual, intellectual freedom and the inevitable "Equal Opportunities for Negro Students in the Library Profession", The Association employs a staff of approximately 100 persons in Chicago to administer its programs. An important aspect of ALA is its subdivision into more specialized groupings which operate separately but are subordinate to the main body. These divisions are based primarily on type of library (e.g. Association of College and Research Libraries, American Association of State Libraries) and type of activity (Reference Services Division, Resources and Technical Services Division), The divisions have their own officers, committees and, in some cases, publications. As the largest and oldest organization of its kind, ALA is the chief spokesman for librarianship in North America. It has concerned itself equally with the welfare of library personnel and the expansion and improvement of library service, most recently manifested in its lobbying activities in Washington to secure legislation for financial support to libraries. The American Library Association, through its role as coordinator, unifier, planner and proselytizer, has helped to elevate the profession to the point where it is becoming a significant factor in academic, cultural and social affairs. Although much mouldiness and inertia remain to be eliminated, the work of ALA represents the kind of effort needed to maintain a favourable rate of progress. N. Omelusik. 25 THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST LI BRARY-.,-ASSOCIATION To many of you, the initials PNLA probably mean very little and their significance is lost in the constant habit of librarians to refer indiscriminately to;CLA; BCLA; ALA; SLA ad infinitum with the assumption that everyone knows exactly to what or to whom one is referring. The Pacific Northwest Library Association should take pride of place in this listing of initials, since it was founded in June 1909, by a group of 85 librarians from Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. This was; the first international regional library association in North America and the regional/international concept has never been allowed to disappear. The original constitution stated the membership was open to any person or organization interested in library work in B.C., Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Utah. Within 10 years, each of these states and the province was represented in the membership, together with an occasional observer from Alberta. In 1929, membership was designated as open to persons or organizations in the "Pad fie Northwest" but Utah felt a closer affinity to the Rocky Mountain area and withdrew in 1941. A small group of Alberta,1ibrarians, who became members in 1955, withdrew again in 1958. As would be expected, British Co 1umbia 1ibrarians have frequently taken an active part in PNLA activities. E, 0, S. Scholefield, provincial librarian, was the fourth president, while John Ridington, U.B.C.'s first librarian, twice served as chief executive officer with Dr. W.iKaye Lamb, our second librarian, taking office in 1945. Dr, SamueT Rothstein served in 1963/64 at a time when the reassessment of PNLA's program and organization was needed. From its inception, the members have been:actively aware of the need for good regional library services and have tried to assist in its establishment. Interest in subscription books led to the formation of a committee on this subject in 1917. 26 ALA took over the work in 1930, since PNLA thought that this had become a national rather than a regional problem. The need for organizing and publicizing Pacific Northwest 1iterature was soon apparent and check-lists with revisions have been issued frequently from the beginning. Perhaps the one project which has proven to be of most value to many libraries has been the establishment, in 19^0, of the Pacific Northwest Bibliographic Centre at the University of Washington. It was the work of the membership of PNLA plus a grant from the Carnegie Corporation that made this possible. Surveys of the resources of the Pacific Northwest libraries and regions together with a library development project for it-he entire area have all been undertaken with PNLA's support and, as a result, the library services of the region rank high in both Canada and the U.S.A. despite constant need for improvement. Annual conferences have been held from the first, with a few years during the wars, and depression omitted. Vancouver has been host city for five of these and will probably have the 1968 conference. Joint conferences have been called with neighbouring organizations whenever possible, the last was with the Mountain Plains Library Association in Denver in 1965. Generally, the meetings are during the first week of September but, on occasion, the latter part of August has been more suitable. What advantages are there in a membership in this organization, you may weT.T. ask. It is, I think, through PNLA that the regional and international aspect of librarianship can best find voice. We cannot, in British Columbia, escape our geographical isolation, but through PNLA we can ignore it by joining with our southern neighbours who have similar problems. We have, in the Pacific Northwest, proven our strength through determined action and foresight. PNLA has frequently furnished 27 this leadership in the library world, M. Dwyer, N.U.C. TO BE PUBLISHED IN G.B, " Mansell Information-Publishing Ltd, of Britain announced it has won a 12 million dollar contract from the American Library Association to orint 'the biggest book to be published since the invention of printing,' The book will contain the national union catalogue of the U. S., now contained on 16 million index cards at the Library of Congress in Washington, The book will run to 610 volumes, each 704 pages, and will weigh 1-g- tons when finished in about ten years, " REQUESTS (in a squeaky little voice:) "Ma'am, would you lend me a 13th Century map of North America, so that I can show it to Teacher? " ..... (in a much more confident tone:) "Oh, well then, how about a 17th Century map of North America done by the Romans? " AYE OR NAY? To a PARTY at Cecil Green Park in May ? Cast your "A.O.K." or "NO GO" in the BIBLOS BOX in the Coffee Room, IN THE SPRiNcr A -YOUNGr L l&EWU A IS'S FA N Ci U Q-HTC/ "l>. CCO'PER-
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Biblos 1967-03
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Title | Biblos |
Alternate Title | UBC Library Staff Newsletter |
Publisher | Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library |
Date Issued | 1967-03 |
Subject |
University of British Columbia. Library |
Geographic Location |
Vancouver (B.C.) |
Genre |
Periodicals |
Type |
Text |
FileFormat | application/pdf |
Language | English |
Identifier | Z671 .B5 Z671_B5_1967_03_06 |
Collection |
University Publications |
Source | Original Format: University of British Columbia. Archives. |
Date Available | 2015-07-13 |
Provider | Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library |
Rights | Images provided for research and reference use only. Permission to publish, copy, or otherwise use these images must be obtained from the Unviersity of British Columbia Library. |
CatalogueRecord | http://resolve.library.ubc.ca/cgi-bin/catsearch?bid=1216361 |
DOI | 10.14288/1.0190790 |
AggregatedSourceRepository | CONTENTdm |
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