Open Collections

Array V, 3, NO. 5 OF THE U.B.C. LIBRARY STAFF NEWSLETTER . FEBRUARY 1967
FEATURING THIS MONTH:
Lots!  It's another month for firsts:- our first Miss U, B, C.
Library: our first trip to M*Y*S*T"E«'R*'I*A*; our first clue re
those historical maps in Special Collections; our first crack at
the Anglo-American Cataloguing Code; our first report on all the
work that is going on in a certain corner of Acquisitions for
Canadian Books in Print; and from another corner of Acquisitions
comes tome 1 of Automation in the U.B.C. Library.  An extra big
thanks to those who have put so much work into the issue.
News   'n Notes
Let's  Learn  From  Others
Can.   B.I.P.
Maps and Special Collections
Administration Biographies (Part V)
A.U.T.O.M.A.T.I.O.N. (t.l)
Let My Students Speak For Me
Miss U. B. C. Library
Page
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6
8
9
11
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24 NEWS 'N NOTES
RECOVERED FROM THE DOWNS COMMITTEE?  For two days at the end of
January, a group toured the library (ies), met the President,
the Senate Library Committee, and all the Department Heads in
an attempt to evaluate the facilities and services of the U.B.C.
Library,  As a little prize for good behaviour, we were handed
two more questionnaires - one of which we could abandon as the
information was supplied in our student library survey, the
ether we have since completed and returned.  Anything more,,,,
...........'....?
INFILTRATION OF L.S, FORCES INTO U.B.C. LIBRARY SYSTEM.  Eleven
library school students are spending the next few weeks doing
their field work at the U.B.C, Library,  They are mainly attacking the processing divisions, but never fear, the reference
civisions and special subject libraries are not exempt !
OPEN HOUSE AT U.B.C.  March 3rd and 4th will be P.R.O.V.E,
Y.O.U.R.  W.O.R.T.H. days at U.B.C.  The faculties will
illustrate some aspects of their subject fields to the passers-
by and associated libraries will struggle forth bearing displays.,  The Main Library, though, plans to do little more than
straighten its tie, tuck in its shirt-tails and SMILE at those
rest ing.
ORIENTATION... The Working Group on Orientation submitted a
report on future demands of orientation, reference, information desk and advisory reading services.  A second committee
has been appointed to review the report with an eye of implementing as much as possible in the light of our present resources.  At the moment, they are defining their terms of
reference from there, who knows?
LIBRARY FOR THE BLIND ON CAMPUS ?  The Dean of Arts and Baz are
trying to establish a study centre and library facilities for
sixteen blind students presently on campus.  The major obstructions (S £■ M*) are being worked out.  The library is anticipated to house books in braille, recordings of otherwise printed
material, and recording and listening equipment.
Space and Money WHAT HAPPENS TO A LIBRARY WHEN IT GETS THREE MILLION DOLLARS?
Richard Landon, formerly of our Serials Division and presently a
U.B.C, Library School type, is making a study of the U,B,C, Library's
experience primarily from the administration's point of view.
Working closely with BSS, Richard is sending the end results to
Dr, Lowell of the University of Indiana for inclusion in her pending compilation, Case Studies in Library Management,,  How about
some copies, Acq.?
NEW HOME FOR THE BACKLOG:  M*Y*S*T*E*R* IftA*  Beneath Circulation,
lies a large dark hole called the Mysteria,, wherein have accumulated
government publication duplicates, triplicates, etc.  After some
negotiation, several institutions were found to be interested in
acquiring various sets from the treasures: some were even willing
to pay for them,  Many will be going to an up-state New York University; others to the National Library and to other institutions,,
Simon Fraser University and the University of Victoria have already
been through the collection from time to time.  Packing started last
Tuesday, February 21st; and compact shelving is on order,  Estimates
indicate that some 50-75,000 volumes may be stored there so, by
Easter, our mere 30,000 volumes will be tucked neatly into a corner,
And then we are ready for the next million!
BLUE IS FOR THE ANGLO-AMERICAN CATALOGING CODE,  The long awaited
Anglo-American Cataloging Code has officially made its appearance
at the U.B,C, Library but most people are still wading through the
slim volume.  Then what? As the Library of Congress has adopted
the "Superimposition" policy*, suspect we shall be doing the same,
However, details re : U.B.C,'s policy will be worked out before the
Seminar in mid-April ,,... ?
ON TO MISS LIBRARY WORLD -"NOT ON THE SHELF,  Miss Library World 1967
won't be a paperback doll, more an elegant little duodecimo [i.e. LC]
full calf, handsewn,  James Davey, who's running the competition ,,,
says the idea is .,,.,:     :. (': uhhhh.. . )   :.'"' to demonstrate.
by which the rules for choice of entry will be applied only to
works that are new in the Library and the rules for headings will
be applied only to persons and corporate bodies that are being
established for the first time. What splendid talent lurks among the shelves. On television ...
they only show some old type in tweeds. For the finals, in London
next month, the girls will parade in cocktail dresses and then,
only if they agree, in swim-suits.  No, not in book-ends. No,
not with tomes on their heads.  No, Davey won't be borrowing the
winner for fourteen days." Well, Miss U.B.C. Library?
HELLO TO:
Muneshwar Prasad
James Lyons
Constance Rennison
Michael Sanderson
STAFF CHANGES
Library Assistant
Clerk I
Library Assistant
Programmer
Serial s
Acqu i sitions
Ci rculation
Systems Development
CONGRATS TO:
Bill Johnson from Clerk I to Clerk II
Pat Vacheresse from Clerk I to -Library
Assi stant I I
Acqu i si tions
Acqu i sitions
RESIGNATIONS:
Linda Crocker
Ursula Compes
Jean Poy
Kitty Beynon
Science Division
Cataloguing
Map Division
Acquisit ions
YOU REFERENCE TYPES ..
FROM MOTHERS' OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS:
"Do you have any photographs of the Lower Fraser Valley during
the Ice Age?"
"May I see a detailed diagram of a platypus - front and back?' MEETING OF WESTERN CANADIAN UNIVERSITY LIBRARIANS
University of British Columbia
February 13-14, 1967
At a time when western libraries are trying to develop their collections to their maximum with the monies they have available, the
question of cooperating with other libraries to avoid needless
duplication of research material is crucial.  Thus, the librarians
of nine university libraries met last Monday and Tuesday to "explore the ways and means of cooperating in the development of
collections and in sharing collections through the rapid transfer
of library materials and information",
Systems for electronic transmission of printed material presently
being examined - in particular, the LDX (Long Distance Xerox) and
Telecopier - were found to be too inefficient and expensive at this
stage of their development.  Until alternative methods for efficient
sharing of materials have developed, libraries must streamline their
present inter-library loan procedures to guarantee maximum service.
An inter-library loan system on a uniform national (as opposed to
regional) scale operating through the National Library would require
1. that all academic libraries keep the union catalogue at
the National Library, Ottawa, up to date re current
accessions.
2. that all Canadian university libraries have Telex.
3. that sufficient staff be available both at the National
Library to maintain the union catalogue and to reply
rapidly to Telex inquiries, and at the individual library inter-library loan departments to handle daily
incoming and outgoing requests.
SPEED is the main concern - from determining the location of the
material, to communicating with the relevent institutions, to handling the actual inquiries, requests and items.  Fly Inter-library
Loan I 6
LET'S LEARN FROM OTHERS
or
What Other (Famous) Librarians Think
Interviewed in his Ivory Tower Library at Little Wanting - at the hour
of none - Lord Tussle had this to say, when asked if he enjoyed his
life in the atmosphere of books.
"Yes, but I do not think that this is a sufficiently solid premise
upon which to base a theory,"
We asked If his collection of books could be called a special one.
"The question", he trebled, "is an intellectual one i   indeed its
solution, if there is one, is to be sought in logic".
"Thank you, Lord Tussle.  In a few words will you give us your idea
of the role of the Library in the Universe?"
"The Library in its..„er purest form is ... pursuit of truth ...
means to other ends .., mysterious universe ... tragedy of our race .
.. er, let us think of a large bubble blown by a Librarian Deity.
The Library is not the interior of the soap bubble, but is its surface.  Oh yes, very definitely, my Ivory Tower Library is expanding".
Making our exit down the spiral staircase, in a counter-clockwise
manner, we eventually reached the harsher shores of Urbania, there
to speak with realism, in the form of:-
Art Frost of Realigawn, Manhattan.  He granted us an interview from
his Unmetropolitan Bookery,
"Yea man", he said, (and being a woman I resented this) "we're really
making the literary scene.  Last week we took over Joe's Do-nuts
next door, its gonna be our Browsing Grove,  Even other publishers
will come to browse there,  I mean, I believe in art, ya know?"
"Yes, Art ... I mean, Mr. Frost. Art is obviously the keystone of
the Bookery's foundation," 1 said, falling over a pile of last
month's Body of The Week, but deftly avoiding a stockpile of She
Gave Too Much (you should read this biography of Florence Nlghting-
gale) Staff problems?
"No man! This used to be a car-wash spot so we had a ready-made
staff when I bought it".
Feeling guilty at having encroached on Mr. Frost's erudition, we
tiptoed on to the Western leg of our journey.  Here we met:- Drew Deffner,   Head  Librarian  at  the  Lower Crust  and  Upper Case Library   in  Chicago»
Asked how he had coped with  staff shortage problems,   he   replied; -
"I   have encountered no problems with  acquiring  bunn...   I   mean   library  staff  since   I   overhauled the working conditions.       As you
know my   library   is open only between the hours of   11   p.m.   and 5  a.m.
.Library uniform   is  free and new zippers are supplied on   request.
Since chief duties  consist of   reading classical  journals  to older,
wealthier,   dimmer-eyed   library-card carrying members,   by candlelight,   I   insist on perfect  sight as  the prime   requisite when hiring
staff".
An all-too-brief tour of the main  study  halls   revealed  that Mr.
Deffner1s  planning had paid off  in terms of oppulent,   academic con*
tentment.
P.S.     Further   interviews may  be  undertaken   if a cultural   travel
bursary   is made  available.
B.  McA.
NOTES ON NEW ORLEANS, MIDWINTER, l.$$7
by Biblos' SPECIAL correspondent
The Midwinter Meeting of the American Library Association, traditionally held in sub-zero gale-ravaged Chicago, had a change of venue this
January and met in New Orleams where Vancouver weather, New York prices,
and Old Southern Charm prevailed.
The Midwinter gathering is where the planning and business of A.L.A,
is formalized.  It is not intended to be informative or educational,
but rather to bring together members, most of them in administrative
work, in small closed meetings to hammer out association policy and
procedure.  If a little socializing occasionally takes place when the
long day's work is finished, who could object to that?
Though there was little time after „the meetings to take advantage of
what New Orleans had to offer, your correspondent noted that the
French Quarter maintains its reputation for Dixieland jazz, Oysters
Rockefeller, pralines and over-wrought Iron. CAN, B.I,P.
For almost half a year, Rita Butterfield, Head of Acquisitions,
and BSS have been struggling to turn that dream of a Canadian
3ooks in Print into reality.  Sponsored by the Canadian Booksellers
Association and encouraged by the Canadian Library Association
(and the Canadian Book Publishers Council); Rita as Editor of
Canadian Books in Print/Catalogue des livres canadiens en librarie
has solicited lists of Canadian, books from some 140 English language publishers.  Information for the French Canadian titles is
being obtained from the files of Conseil superieur du livre which
issues Catalogue de 1'edition au Canada:francais, a subject approach
to French-Canadian publications.  Mme. Julie Richer of Consil
superieur du livre has been appointed editor of this section.
Defining a Canadian book as one "written by a Canadian citizen,
resident or expatriate in any language and published in Canada
or written by a Canadian and published abroad but distributed in
Canada by a Canadian agent or any book bearing the imprint of a
Canadian publisher", this listing will include school textbooks,
teachers' guides, handbooks, and other supplementary material as
well as a selection of important government publication of
general interest issued by federal and provincial Queen's Printers.
The line, though, is drawn at pamphlets of an ephemeral nature,
mass market paperbacks of non-Canadian origin regardless of a
Canadian imprint, periodicals and newspapers.  Although the publishers originally estimated that they could- provi de information
for some 10,000 titles; at present count, there appears to be
closer to 8,000,
In format, the Canadian B.I.P. will be arranged in two alphabetical sections : one by author, the other by title - each noting
author, title, publisher, date and price. Appropriate cross
references will be made as will additional entries for noteworthy
series. Also to be included Is a directory of Canadian publishers,
both major and minor.
By January 31st, worksheets were returned as requested by some
110 English language publishers (five major ones are  still to
come). The quality of the information varies greatly with the
individual publisher - partially as a result of their interpretation of "Canadian book" and partially as a result of the ability of their typists.  Some tried to stress the Canadian tie -
no matter how far fetched it appeared to be.  For example, one school
text was cited under the Canadian editor rather than the author (who
happened to be an American).  As a little short-cut, another publisher
listed a series but forgot to note the individual titles involved,
Sound familiar? Needless to say, the lists are being carefully
screened and edited.  Preparation for the final manuscript will soon
begin, and once checked, the compilation should be ready for the press
by late spring or early summer.  So with a bit 'o luck, Canadian Books
in Print/Catalogue des 1ivres canadiens en librarie will make its
debut at Expo and at the International Book Fair in Frankfurt,
MAPS AND SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
In the U„ B„. C„ Library there are two map collections and three map
card catalogues.  The largest of both belongs to the Map Division and
is,of current maps.  The smallest map collection and catalogue is that
of the Special Collections Division,  The purpose of this collection
is to gather together material for the study of the historical cartography of North America, primarily of Canada.  This includes geographical knowledge prior to Columbus' discovery and continuing up to the
completion of the map of North America as we know it in fairly recent
times.  Being a relatively new collection, it is not as large as that
in the Provincial Archives and does not have as many original maps
but the area covered is broader.
In dealing with early maps, information about the cartographer and the
place and date of publication can be just as important as the geographical area and subject, so they are catalogued and classified in
much the same way as books.  Our maps are now "in Process".
The Special Collections division also has an "author" catalogue to the
maps In the Provincial Archives In Victoria,  The Archives collection
concentrates on British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest, from the
earliest times to the present and is probably the largest and most
comprehensive collection of maps and charts of the area. 10
Some of our earliest maps are facsimiles of the maps of Great
Britain by Richard Hal d Ingham in Hereford' Cathedral dated about
1289 and the Gough Maps in the Bodleian Library Oxford circa
1360, We also have a facsimile of the much publicized Vinland
maps, circa 1440. The oldest separate original map in the
collection would appear to be Ortellus1' map of Tartary from the
1588 Spanish edition of his Theatrum Orbis Terrarum.  For our
own area, we have the atlases to Cook's and Vancouver's voyages.
Father De Smet's manuscript map of Oregon territory 1846, a copy
of A. C. Anderson's manuscript map of British Columbia compiled
in I867 from his personal surveys (original in the Provincial
Archives) a map of British Columbia compiled by the Lands and
Works Office, Victoria, in 1871 and facsimiles of some of the
Spanish maps of the 1790's.
In recent years people have come to realize what attractive
works of art the early maps are and are buying them to frame
and use as decorations in their homes and offices.  Publishers
are now reproducing the rarer and better known maps to meet the
growing market.  So why not buy yourself a facsimile and present
the original to the Library?
Frances Woodward
Special Collections Division
N.B,
If anyone should doubt that maps could make a most attractive
decoration then take a trip up to Floor 8 and see the colourful display "Cities of Yesterday".
This is Maureen Wilson's pet project and I have It on her
best authority that excellent reproductions can be obtained
from "The Family Circle".  Yes really, the Library already
have some of these facsimiles. The price, most reasonable -
4 for $3.00. TURE ERICKSON
Born the second son of
Marjorie (who had just
eaten her sixth pheasant
dinner in as many days)
and Edwin (A "rough" carpenter, the birth certificate read - which is to
say that is what he did
on those few days when the
Relief Board found work
and when he was not hunting or trapping or salting the local gravel pit
with brass filings which
caused a three-day gold
rush and almost resulted
in a fellow worker's being lynched for claim
jumping) on October 26,
1936, Ture spent the next
few years mostly growing,
but oftenfalling off benches, chairs and finally a second storey balcony onto his head.
At age 13, when he had decided not to become a carpenter because his
father made remarks - "Boy, if there;'s an awkward way of doing something, you'11 find it!" (And you think He had trouble moving lumber
down the road) - and because he loved animals and had nothing else to
do that day, Ture said, "I'm going to be a veterinarian!" And at age
15 he got a job as a veterinarian's assistant.
Three years, one dead cat (a $500 male seal-tip Siamese: "My God, the
only seal-tip Tom this side of Saskatchewan and I have to let you give
the ether," said the surgeon, cuttingly) two dead dogs and a first term
in Agriculture later, our hero decided that English was the only honorable course left.  Ten years of English, Philosophy, History, Asian
Studies, German 110, Library School, blacksmithing, carpentering, dishwashing, road surveying, liquor vending, book shelving and marriage
spawned the obvious - a reference librarian in the Woodward Bio-Medical
Library,  One year later, because of his qualifications being apparent,
but mainly because Doug Mclnnes wanted him out of what little hair is
given medical librarians, Ture was promoted to Head, Sedgewick Library,
There he spends his declining years contemplating undergraduate
development, his misspent youth and navels for a fee* ROBERT HARRIS
Despite a shattering introduction in I960 to
librarianship, as a call
slip filer, Bob Harri s
became a Library Assistant [I I I] and in 1961
joined the first class
of U.B.C.'s School of
Librarianship, putting
hours in Circulation as
a student assistant, as
well.  [You've got to
eat].  He survived the
year and the library
school parties, and became Assistant Circulation Librarian under the
then head, Bill Bel 1,
Bob's first library pay
cheque went partly to a
good bed — after student
days of lumpy beds in basement suites.  The next step •— how to get
rid of those fiendish CALL CARDS and that al1-enveloping circulation
file.
Two years of research, plotting - sorry, planning - and sympathetic,
then willing, library administrative ears and an automated circulation system was within his grasp ... and now he's the Head of Circulation, administrating a harem of 20 women -- for local colour,
and several men -- for sanity.  The circulation file continues to
wither and the printed list to GROW,  U,B.C. Library has now leapt
to the front ranks in automating library procedures in Canada —
circulation being only one aspect.  Cheers, BobJ  Lucky you.  No
more Call Cards -- just sit back and relax.  You've even stopped
smoking -- almost.  Come on now — relax — just for 5 minutes --
please! MISS ELEANOR MERCER
Born (1914) and raised on a dairy farm
she the first to admit her age?
in the Chilliwack valley : is
BA (U.B.C.) 1933, MA (U.B.C.) 1937; BA in Librarianship (Wash,) 1938,
In October of the latter year returned to U,B,C, to work under Miss
Lanning as Assistant Circulation CLERK, After 13 years of climbing
stack stairs (and becoming grossly overweight), she became head of
Acquisitions,  Staff was small, work hectic; soshe holidayed for
three years in the Extension Library, casting occasional side glances
at Gifts and Exchange,  Then went Berserk again, became English
language bibliographer in July 1966,  Still 12 long years until retirement; who knows where she might land next?
In her younger years was an eager joiner, holding numerous offices
and committee appointments in professional organizations; but has
eased out of such energy-wasting activities. ROLAND J, LANNING
Born in the Fraser Delta,
a "simple country boy"
(Dr, Ranz' phrase of himself), he had an abnormally long period of service, reaching retirement
age in 1965.  Before that
had worn his first long
pants, milked his first
cow, fired his first shotgun, graduated from U.B.C.
and University of Washington Library School,  His
service was noteworthy for
stinginess with funds, a
personal tightfistedness
having been accentuated
by the Depression years,
when the Library had very
little money.  Early experience, when a small
staff interchanged and
helped out, gave him understanding of other members' difficulties.
Reassigned - and falling heir to an immaculate office which he has
somehow (for no one seems able to find him there) worked into a
pigsty - he may be seen hurrying through the stacks or up the stairs
(wanting the patience to wait for elevators he is fortunate not to
lack energy) or hastening along the Boulevards like a derelict Tom
Longboat on his twentieth mile,  Was always given to the conceit of
the bibliographer, that he should put into volumes his "Notes"; now,
as a Bibliographer, is certain the practice is important.  Fate
seems unjust in thnus making him a little part of the Library for
all time when the work of others, more able and conscientious, has
left nothing tangible behind.
His portrait was recently painted in oils, assuring him an earthly
immortality (Mr, Ridington's phrase). 15
Thi s Thing Called
A.U.T.P.M.A.T.I.O.N,
Academic library personnel who have thus far managed to remain un-:
scathed by the advent of automated procedures can consider this to be
a temporary state of affairs. There are few areas which have attracted as much interest among administrators in recent years as the
application of computers and other mechanical devices to library
operations.  The U.B.C. Library is no exception, and steps have already been taken in some departments to apply these techniques -
circulation, cataloguing, and serials have not been idle, and a
computerized ordering and accounting system for acquisitions is in
the planning stage.
Anyone interested in learning about library automation is likely to
be discouraged by the fact that most of the literature on the subject falls into at least one of three categories : the unreadable,
the irrelevant and the uninspiring.  In view of the nature of our
material, avoidance of these obstacles will not be easy; however,
possunt quia posse videntur.  Future issues will feature reports on
activity in various divisions of the library, and we shall take our
chances and ignore Marshall McLuhan's suggestion that clear prose in
an exposition is indicative of a lack of thought,  Before describing
specific applications, however, a brief general discussion of computers and libraries might provide a useful backbround.
The chief advantages of the computer are the speed, flexibility, and
consistency which it can introduce into existing library functions.
The machine consists of a store of high-speed memory, a set of command|
instructions to manipulate records in the memory and a means for storing the program. There are five basic methods of entering data into
the system : punched cards, punched paper tape, magnetic tape, optical
scanners and direct keyboard input devices.  Punched cards are still
the most widely used medium; though they have changed little over the
years, methods of keypunching are constantly being improved for
greater speed and accuracy. Punched paper tape achieves computer
input at a faster rate than punched cards and has the added advan*
tage of being able to direct operation of certain kinds of equipment
such as the flexowriter.  Its chief disadvantage fs higher initial 16
equipment cost.  Magnetic tape can store great amounts of data in
a relatively compact amount of space, and transmit it at a very
high rate of speed.  The tape is reusable, but has two major disadvantages : care must be used in handling and storing, and fairly
sophisticated equipment must be used to produce readable copy of
the data it contains,  Optical scanners have only recently graduated from the experimental stage, and direct keyboard input
techniques are presently'"too costly for library operations,
At this point, a distinction must be made between, two quite different concepts of computer use in libraries.  The first application is concerned with processing and the optimization of the
library's clerical requirements, including the collection of data
which are presently unobtainable through manual systems,  Bob
MacDonald has explained the potential benefits as follows ; Computer time represents the overhead of the system, which is expected to be repaid through savings in staff for clerical functions
(including inflation of costs for salaries and benefits),, savings
in space for people and records, extra capacity of the equipment,
and management information.  Possibly the most important of these
is the management information; that is, data and controls for the
most effective managing of resources not usually economically
possible with manual systems.  As libraries continue to grow,
decentralizing services, and as inflation of buildings costs
forces the use of depository warehouses, the management information collected by an automated system becomes more and more
essential.  New tools offer new objectives : the circulation
record and its related records will be used not only to keep
track of outstanding loans but also provide a vehicle for inventory evaluation, assessment of library use and other regular
and periodic reports that will influence both buying and building programs.
The second application is concerned with what has come to be called
information retrieval and is still very much undeveloped in
Canadian libraries.  Its main objective is to provide easier and
faster access to the subject matter to be found in library collections and is thus related to the reference and bibliographic 17
functions of librarianship.  Such retrieval systems are presently in
operation in many variations; it is unlikely that many libraries
will have identical requirements. A hypothetical system is described
below :
The printed item enters the system.  Actually, it arrives in two
different formats, the traditional printed version and a reel of
magnetic tape, since, in all probability, the document will be type
set automatically by computer. The printed copy is examined for
acceptance, microfilmed, and placed, by accession number, in storage.
The magnetic tape version is run through a computer program where it
is indexed In depth, abstracted automatically unless an author-
prepared abstract exists, and assigned to one or more subject classification categories,  While these analyses can be done automatically,
the information specialist will be able to review the results, add or
delete terms, and make whatever other decisions are deemed desirable.
The microfilm copy of the document, complete with its index terms
and abstract is placed at the head of the other documents in the
appropriate subject file on the assumption that new material will have
a higher activity rate than older material.  Each week, or at some
other regular period, the index terms for the new acquisitions are
matched against a user profile. Where matches occur, notices of the
new acquisitions are prepared automatically and selectively distributed to interested individuals.  These users may then order microfilm or photocopies of the document as they wish.
An even more Utopian situation is envisaged by the planners of Project
INTREX, which is an experimental program to "provide a design for
evolution of a large university library into a new information transfer system that could become operational in the decade beginning 1970";
Students and scholars will use this system not only to locate books
and documents in the library, but also to gain access to the university's total information resources, through 'touch-tone' telephones,
tele-typewriter keyboards, television-like displays and quickly made
copies ... The users of the network will communicate with each other
as well as with the library.  Data just obtained in the laboratory
and comments made by observers will be as easily available as the texts
of books in the library, or documents in departmental files ... The 18
information  traffic will   be controlled by means of a  time-shared
computer utility on  the  campus,   in much  the  same way  that  today's
verbal   communications are handled by  the campus  telephone exchange.
Long distance  service will   connect  the university's   information
transfer network with sources and users  elsewhere.
Farfetched?     Perhaps,   but   let's wait and  see.     In the meantime,
next month's  BIBLOS will   report on  circulation at  U.B.C.
In  the   last  two years   since wealth  has  struck
And Automation came
We've got  a  brand new  language
So  to clarify  the  same.
Here's  a   rhyme   I   hope will   help
Though   it  took a bit of doing
And   if   I've got  the names  turned   rounc
Please  eliminate  the  suing.
There's Telex,   teletype  by wire,
It's quite an operation
Run,   don't walk to  floor five
And  see a demonstration.
There's  Burroughs,   Dennison,   Gestat
And Xerox,   also Bruning.
They add,   they dupe,   or multiply
Depending on  the tuning.
Pneumatic  tubes or transitubes,
One's  the  same as  t'other,
Or how about  a  PBX
To get  in  touch with Mother. 19
The  Collator - down   in  Circ.
That  pride of automation
It mixes,   shuffles,   sorts  and  deals,
With  awesome  perfectation.
A Laminator Master Roll
With  plastic yet  - oh my!
To plate a card produced and  tabbed
By  a Master Cutter Die.*
Mark 2   Itek Platemaster,
I   wonder   in what  way
It  differs  from  the other one
The one  called  Project A,
A  Se-lin,   there's  a  fancy  gadget.
Typing   labels   large and clear,
Or a 3  M  Reader Printer
For a Micro  scrutineer.
There's   IBM and  Kardex too
And Input stations - four,
With badge punch, keypunch, Holleriths,
and   Print-outs  by  the  score.
And now the latest new machine
With very fetching lines
My God, it's one I understand
A MACHINE FOR MAKING SIGNS,
Pat LaVac.
Yes Virginia, I know it's a Master Die Cutter
but that didn't rhyme (Poetic License) 20
WOULD YOU BELIEVE
The book world is confronted with an increasingly alarming problem :
that of weeding out plagiarisms from-the.multitude of literary
manuscripts streaming into the publishers' offices. The resurrected
work often comes to the publisher under a totally new author as well
as a new title, although the contents, and often the names of the
characters, remain unchanged.
The Di rector of Mills and Boon Ltd., A,lan Boon illustrates this
problem in the December 17th issue of The Bookseller.  Recently
his company was offered a novel written by a woman doctor living
in Massachusetts,  Upon examination, "they discovered that the work
was in fact a successful novel published by them ten years before.
The "author" actually purchased the typescript from a literary tipster living in Dublin who merely condensed existing works and sold
them as "Plots and Unpublished Stories".  In the meantime, the
Cal ifomian Writer hailed the woman doctor as the "literary find
of the month" and announced the title of a follow-up which turned
out to be another work published by them twenty years before I
"Keeping Track of Books" Division
Main Library
U. B. C. Campus 21
LET MY STUDENTS SPEAK FOR ME
Founded in 1961 by Dr. Samuel Rothstein, the U. B. C, School of
Librarianship set a pace from the start in fulfilling the criteria
established by the American Library Association (A.L.A.) Accreditation Committee within the first year of its existence.  Its
secret lay in the simple formula : good staff... good students.
In following the belief that the quality of the students determines
the quality of the school, the intensive screening process in the
selection of possible students is quite understandable.  Only one
out of every three qualified applicants is accepted in the average
year.  Each applicant is personally Interviewed by a member of the
Faculty, or by one of their representatives; each application is
reviewed by every member of the Faculty. The prime consideration
is reflected in these questions : Does X have above-average intellectual ability?  Is he suited to librarianship? As a prospective
employer, would I hire him to work for me?  If the responses to
these are favourable, then the candidate is considered seriously -
in the light of academic standing, experience - particularly in the
library, and personal qualifications.
Since the School accepts only those whom it considers potentially
superior librarians, understandably the failure rate is low.  Nine-
tenths of the students graduate - and with good standing. A few
fail to live up to their potential; a few drop out for personal
reasons or because they simply decide that library work is not for
them after all.
Let's take a peek at the student records for the past two years and
see how the School is reflected therein.,.1
Do they prefer applicants from the West? Of the three A.L.A, accredited* 1ibrary schools - McGill University, University of Toronto,
and U.B.C., one would expect that U.B.C. would cater solely to the
* The Good Housekeeping Stamp of Approval. 22
needs of western Canada,  However, in the I965-66 class, out of
the 66 granted degrees, 17 came from the Prairies, 11 from Quebec
and Ontario, 1 from the United States and 1 from Singapore,  Almost one third left the West (i.e. B.C. and the Prairies) - 15
went to Ontario, 2 to the United States, and 4 elsewhere in the
world.  Of this year's class, 22 are from the Prairies, 12 are
from Ontario and Quebec, 2 are from the United States, and 1
from Hong-Kong';  Hardly local!
Is library experience a must?  In the 1966-67 class, of the 25
men (12 eligible bachelors!) and 56 women (only 12 married), 56
had some library experience - primarily as student assistants,
Approximately 20-25 had worked in the library for a year, but
25 of the class had no library experience at all.  From this we
can see that library experience is recommended but not a compulsory pre-requisite.
What IS the Average Library School Student? - a woman about 24
years of age, graduated two years ago with a degree in the
humanities and worked in the library for one year,  (This average age is considerably younger than most other library schools).
Most of the students this year have degrees in the humanities
and social sciences but some 38 major subject degrees are represented.  Although the largest number of degrees are in
English, there are some in Engineering, Architecture and Law -
and one PhD;  Twenty have a science major - primarily in the
biological sciences, mathematics and geography,  Eleven languages are represented.  The basic foreign language requirement
for entrance is two years above high school level of any language other than English,  However, most students have a reading knowledge of at least one and often two foreign languages.
This fairly extensive variety of background reflects the underlying policy of the School's curriculum. Having chosen what it
considers to be a good student, the School tries to give them a
good solid background, a basic understanding and a sense of
as determined by their place of residence at the time of
applicat ion. 23
committment. Convinced that the students can learn operational
details readily enough on the job, the School prefers to stress
broader fundamental concepts.
As a test of the judgment of the Faculty, how many of the students
who they felt would make good librarians have since left the library field.  Out of the 225 graduates from U, B, C„, only about
3 have left the library profession for other work. That sense of
committment appears to have been instilled and that basic selection policy justified.
Where do graduates from U. B, C, tend to go to work - at public,
university, school or special libraries?  From the 1965-66 records,
we find that the majority (33) went to the university libraries,
25 to public, 5 to school and 2 to special libraries.
The real way to test the worth of the U, B. C, School of Librarian-
ship is to find out how satisfied these libraries have been with
U. B, C, graduates. As the majority of the graduating classes
have gone to university libraries, let's ask a university library -
like the U. B, C, library,  Their records tell the tale.  Out of
the 89 librarians at the U. B, C, Library now, over  30 are  graduates from the U. B, C, School of Librarianship,  In the five years
of the School, between 40-50 graduates have worked at some time
at the U. B, C, Library,  Need we say more ,,,
LI b ra ry
Research Office
CAMPUS MAIL MISS U.B.C LIBRARY
All hail to Kathy, the fairest of fair
Miss U.B.C. Library - Who else can compare?
And applause to those luverlies, Linda and Di
Whose natural pulchritude none can deny;
And a word to the losers : those fine also ran
Who included such beauties as Les, Basil and Hans.
Exercise daily, keep your thoughts pure and.clean.
And who knows?  By next year, you, too, may be
Queen !
P.L.