Open Collections

Array 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
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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
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height notuddy
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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-