THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA NINETEENTH REPORT of the LIBRARY COMMITTEE to THE SENATE Covering the Period September 1947 - August 194$ November, 194$ The University of British Columbia Vancouver. Canada President N. A. M. MacKenzie, C.M.G., M.M., LL.M., LL.D., K.C., Chairman of the Senate, The University of British Columbia. Dear Sir: As Chairman of the Library Committee I have the honour to submit, for the consideration of Senate, the Nineteenth Report of the Librarian of the University, covering the period from September 1, 1947, to August 31, 194$. All of which is respectfully submitted. Ian McTaggart Cowan Chairman. November 30, 194$. REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN Dr. Ian McT. Cowan Chairman, Library Committee, The University of British Columbia. Dear Sir: I have the honour to submit, for the information of the Library Committee, the Nineteenth Report of the Librarian of the University, covering the period September 1, 1947, to August 31, 194$. During the twelve months under review the difficulties and discomforts under which the staff have been working for several years reached a climax. In November, building operations on the new north wing reached the point at which it was necessary to remove the entire back wall of the original structure, and for most of the winter only a temporary plywood partition stood between the library and the outside, world. This was quite insufficient to keep out dirt, cold, or drafts, and working conditions in certain parts of the building—notably at both the Circulation Desk and the Reference Desk—became extremely trying. Most of the stackroom carrels were without heat all through the winter months, and both staff and students frequently had to carry on while pipe-fitters, pneumatic drill operators, and steel workers plied their trades within a few feet of them. All this happened at a time when the library was endeavouring to serve 9300 students, the largest enrolment in the University's history. The difficulties involved were immense, for although the library's own staff and book stock had grown substantially in recent years, the actual space and service facilities available were not much greater than they had been in 1925, when student enrolment was only 1463. If relief in the form of additional accommodation had not been visibly coming nearer day by day, it is certain that many of the staff would have sought jobs elsewhere; nor could they have been blamed for doing so. Completion of the North Wing The new wing dominated the library's thinking and working during the year to so great a degree that it may be well at this point to anticipate events and bring the narrative down to date. In spite of many delays and complications the new addition was virtually completed by the end of September, 194$. It was most unfortunate that the original schedule, which called for completion in July and August, could not be adhered to, for, with the opening of the fall term, the library was compelled to take possession of areas in which the contractor or his subcontractors had not entirely completed their work. This applied even to the old main reading room, where a number of alterations were made, and the main circulation desk rebuilt. Owing to a long delay in the delivery of the new mill-work required for the desk the staff had to carry on in make-shift quarters until late in October; and their experience was typical. The Reference Department transferred its operations to the new Ridington Reference Room (6000 square feet) on Monday, September 20. At that time a good deal of finishing work remained to be done, and only a few chairs and tables were available for readers. The new Reserve Reading Room (4500 square feet) was brought into use on October 4, and the new Periodical Reading Room (2500 square feet) followed after a further interval. Meanwhile the Catalogue and Acquisitions Departments had moved into their new quarters. The last important area to be occupied will be the Music and Art Room, which has been formed by throwing together the old Periodical Room, the original Seminar Room, and the room occupied for many years by the Burnett ethnological collection. The whole space measures approximately $0 feet by 32 feet, and will provide a reading room, work room, and stack room for books in the fields of art, architecture, and music, as well as for the library's collection of gramophone records. All being well this new accommodation should be ready for use by January 1st, 1949. Finishing work on various levels in the main stack room continued throughout the autumn. Erection of the new steel shelving was completed in September, but this, too, had fallen badly behind schedule. The first of the new steel shelves were not installed until late in July but, thanks to the energy and complete disregard for personal comfort and convenience with which the staff tackled the immense job of moving the entire book stock, the task was nearing completion by the time the session commenced. A great deal of shifting and rearranging remains to be done within specific areas, but much of this can be postponed until next summer. Meanwhile the entire stack room—old and new--will receive a thorough cleaning, for the filth that was deposited on books and shelving while building operations were under way has to be seen to be believed. \ 5 On the whole the new wing has already proven itself to be the convenient and comfortable building we hoped it would be. Some minor additions and alterations are now seen to be desirable (for example, some of the smaller work rooms are noisy, and acoustic tile should be added here and there to counteract this), but these are no more numerous nor serious than was to be expected. The delivery of certain important equipment—notably the steel files for the new reference desk—has been much delayed, and it will probably be another six months before the number of tables and chairs in the reading rooms is adequate. At the moment about 300 more seats than we had last year are available for readers; this may be increased to 600 without any undue crowding as soon as the necessary furnishings can be obtained. The special facilities provided in the new building are proving popular with both the students and the teaching staff. The Howay-Reid Collection of Canadiana is now 'properly shelved and housed in the area formerly occupied by the Catalogue Department. Four seminar rooms have been in use this autumn, and two more can be made available as soon as we have tables and chairs to furnish them. The large lecture room, seating over 100, is in use, and we hope that before long the projection room will be ready as well. A sectional chesterfield and comfortable study tables await Faculty members in the special Faculty Reading Room, and a range of stack-room carrels reserved exclusively for Faculty use is close at hand. The attached plans o'f the main entrance floor and the concourse floor of the Library show clearly the general arrangement of the reading rooms, offices, etc., now available. They do not show either the top floor of the new wing, which is devoted in great part to seminar rooms and a lecture room, or the lower levels of the stack room. A substantial portion of the new stack space which is not being equipped with shelving immediately has been turned over temporarily to the University Museum and the University Art Centre. The former occupies an area two decks in height under the new Reserve Reading Room. The Art Centre has converted a large section of stack level #1 into an exhibition gallery, and is using the large shaft at the south-east corner of the building (marked "future stacks" on the floor plans) for a workshop. It is a pleasure to acknowledge the help and cooperation that the Library has received from Mr. C. J. Thompson, the University's architect, throughout the years the north-wing was under construction. He has done his utmost to give us the largest and best building that could be secured for the money available, and visitors well qualified to judge have expressed unstinted admiration for his achievement. It is a pleasure, too, to express the Library's appreciation of the help and advice received from Mr. Eric Melanson, Superintendent of Construction for the Architect. While scrupulously fair to the contractors, Mr. Melanson took the trouble to learn something of the Library's special needs and problems, and these he kept in mind as the work progressed. As a result he was able to advise on innumerable matters affecting the comfort and convenience of the building, and to arrange for many small improvements that could be secured without additional expense, providing the contractors knew about them at an early enough stage of construction. HtStltVC BOOK. •0 0 > *> „ 0 u 0 •t. -STACK- R.OO : 'I if OT LD CLtV STACH fe<=>0»^» i- CATOtO«UISlG DtP'T. i! t rifce. tx«T MAIN ENTRANCE FLOOR («««. t.«.V»«. *») U.fc.C LIBRARY HOWAY - IZ.CIO COULECTION «»r CANAOIANA SKCTRY TO LIMCAK.IAKI J 3 li HgTBAVice* l_ofe»Y MUCIC. 4 ART ROON J *J it kit; Si l/SIN KNTRANCE 7 The Book Collection During the year 962$ volumes were accessioned, catalogued, and added to the main book collection, while approximately 1400 volumes were classified and catalogued for the Howay-Reid Collection of Canadiana. In addition the Library acquired from the University of Toronto a very large collection of periodicals which came originally from the Library of the Royal Canadian Institute, but none of this material arrived in time to be accessioned or catalogued before the end of the year under review. In the ordinary course of events this report would doubtless have stated that the total number of volumes in the Library on September 1, 194$, was about 190,000. This figure would have been arrived at by adding the year's accessions to the total given in 1947, and making any necessary allowances for discards, duplicates, and so on. Last April, however, the entire book collection was measured with a foot rule, in order that we might know accurately what shelving had to be set aside for the various subject fields in the enlarged stack room. When the figures were totalled it became evident at once that the Library was very much larger than had been thought. Indeed, leaving only very scanty room for immediate expansion (except in the shelving devoted to government documents and unbound periodicals), we found that the Library would fill shelving that, according to the manufacturer's tables, should have a capacity of well over 300,000 volumes. Next spring, when the session ends, it should be possible to make an actual count of the books in the building, and they will probably be found to total about 260,000 volumes. $ Several factors prevented us from being aware of the actual size of the Library until moving day approached. For one thing,' a great deal of material was stored in the boiler room, various basements, and other odd corners, where its bulk could not be estimated accurately. For another, the Catalogue Department many years ago decided not to accession (and, as a consequence, not to include in the official count of the number of books added to the Library) any books of less than 100 pages unless they were valuable or rare. The 190,000 volumes included in the numbered series were therefore larger, on the average, than we expected, and this total included only a few of the many thousands of smaller volumes and pamphlets that filled shelf after shelf in the stack room. The H. R. MacMillan Collection in Forestry Difficult working conditions brought the buying programme for this collection almost to a standstill for a time, but It is now once again proceeding satisfactorily. Consultations have been held both with the new Head and other members of the staff of the Department of Forestry, and with the Director and staff of the Dominion Forest Products Laboratory. We are greatly indebted to Mr. MacMillan for his continued support of the project, and the fine collection of material that is being brought together should ultimately be of great service to the lumber industry generally as well as to students on the campus. 9 Gifts It is a pleasure to report that many useful and interesting gifts were received in the course of the year. Mr. H. R. MacMillan, continuing his generous interest in the Library,"^presented several important early accounts of voyages relating to this region, including Portlock's Voyage Round the World 17$5-17$$, Dixon's A Voyage Round the World 17$$, and Cox's Adventures on the Columbia River, as well as a number of National Forest Park Guides and the interesting publications of the Newcomen Society. The Library also received, through Mr. MacMillan's kindness, many valuable maps, including Arrowsmith's Chart of the World on Mercator's Projection (1790), two old maps of Upper Canada, and a number of maps of great historical interest, among them a set of charts by Buache. The Library owes a special debt to Mr. William Dorbils for the gift of a large number of books which included several important works in the field of bibliography and a most useful working collection of Canadiana consisting of more than 250 volumes. Mr. Dorbils has always taken a keen and practical interest in the growth of the Howay-Reid Collection and in accordance with his intention, all titles or editions that were included in his gift and not already represented in this special Collection were placed there. From Mrs. C. 0. Scott the Library received a very welcome gift of about 350 volumes. The books, which consist chiefly of Canadiana and publications in the field of international affairs, form a most useful and valuable addition to our collection. From Mr. D. A. MacGregor the Library received the final 10 instalment of a large number of newspaper cartoons covering the war • years. Dr. Harry V. Warren presented his annual gift of the London Times, weekly edition, and the London Observer. Mr. David Paul sent to the Library the London Times., September 1946-June 194$, continuing a previous gift of the Times for the war years. . The Vancouver Daily Province gave the Library a long run of the Vancouver Sun, the Magazine Sections of the Province itself for the years 1924-44, and the Financial Page for 1945. The Vancouver Sun presented a subscription to its microfilm edition which is now being received from the photographer month by month, commencing with the issue of October 1, 1947. Sun Directories Limited very kindly sent to the Library the volumes of the B. C. Directory that had been missing from our file. From the Vancouver City Hall came a long run of the B. C. Gazette. A number of books in the field of Law were received from Lieut-Corn. J. Ronald Doull through his mother, and a miscellaneous collection of standard works and the first ten volumes of the Canadian Bar Review from Mr. Arthur Cobourn. Mr. W, W. Lefeaux gave to the Library a set of the Report of the Sirois Commission with the 19 volumes of appendixes and supplements. Mrs. Jessie Tulk presented several sets of standard works including The Drama and The Makers of Canada, and Mr. Dennis M. Churchill added to our collection half a dozen useful items in several subjects. Gifts from Mr. Lester McLennan of Richmond, California, included a copy of the 2nd edition of The Emigrant by Head,. Arfwedson's The United States and Canada, and Casgrain's Histoire de l'Hotel-Dieu de Quebec. A most interesting volume, 11 The History of the Revolutions in England Under the Family of the Stuarts from the Year 1603 to I69O (London 1711), was received from Mrs. T. R. Pearson of South Westminster, and. a copy of the Works of Horace. the first edition printed in what is now the Dominion of Canada (l$45), was given to the Library by Mrs. S. J. Willis of Victoria. The Library of the University of Western Ontario presented two bound volumes of Grip, eight numbers of the Bulletin of the Museum of Modern Art, and other useful items. An almost complete file of Buschings Wflchentliche nachrichten von neuen landcharten geographischen, statistischen und historischen buchern und sachen. was received from the Vancouver Public Library, and a very useful run of the Journal of Heredity from Mr. G. S. Ketcheson. A large and useful collection of books and booklets on art, periodicals, librettos and scores came to the Library from Dr. J. C. Berry. Dr. Dorothy Blakey Smith presented a file of the Ubyssey for 1917-1$ and 191$-22, and Professor L. A. MacKay contributed an interesting collection of contemporary poetry. Mr. Sydney Scott gave to the Library several cartons of miscellaneous books, pamphlets and papers, many of which fill gaps in our own files. Other gifts of use and value to the Library were received from the following: Mrs. W. E. Adams, Mr. G. A. Cran, Mr. H. L. Draper of Haney, B. C., Mr. Rodolphe Paradis, Mrs. W, Garland Foster of White Rock, B. C, Mr. Jack Priest, Mr. Clifford Carl of Victoria, Mr. Peter G. Castran, Rev. J. Elmer Whelpley, Mrs. A. Marton, Mr. W. P. de Vries, Mr. Roy Stevens and Miss Stevens, Mrs. H. Clayton, Mr. John A. Bunn, Lulu Island, B. C, Mr. James Manson, Mrs. H, V. Hummell, 12 Mrs. Newton W. Rowell of Ottavra, Mr. C. H. Bastin, Mrs. J. H. Watson, Mr. Fisher Davidson of Toronto, Miss C. J. de Van Steenwyk, Mr. Frank H. Brown, Mr. G. H. Shepherd, Mr. J. B. G. Cooper, Estate of the late George McCrossan, Estate of the late Dr. R. H. McCutcheon, The Toronto Public Libraries, New Westminster Public Library, the Library of the Royal Bank of Canada in Montreal, the Allan Hancock Foundation Library of the University of Southern California, Northwestern University, the Henry E, Huntington Library of San Marino, Cal., the Canadian Library Association, Mount Allison University Library, the Library of the University of Western Ontario, the College of Forestry Library of the University of Washington in Seattle, Notre Dame University, the Canadian Medical Association in Montreal, Library of the Royal Veterinary and Agricultural College of Copenhagen, The Empire Club of Canada, Canada Press Club of Winnipeg, B. C, Research Council, and the Canadian Federation of Labour. Members of the University staff continue to show their interest in the Library. Among those who have presented useful gifts during the year are Dr. Klinck, President MacKenzie, Dean Gage, Dr. Cowan, Professor Soward, Dr. Murdoch, Mr. Petersen, Dr. Stanley, Professor Cooke, Mr. T. R. McCloy, Dr. Brooke, Dr. Isabel Maclnnes, Dr. Ranta, Professor Read, Professor Larsen, and the Class of Sociology 400. 13 The Library Staff On September 1, 1947, the staff consisted of 42 persons. By the autumn of 194$ the total had increased to 50, of which 20 were occupying professional positions. Another $ staff members were university graduates and ranked as Library Assistants (i.e., sub- professionals) . The most important developments were the organization of a full-fledged Acquisitions Department, and the opening of a bindery. The new department will handle all accessions, regardless of source (purchase, gift, exchange, etc.), and will also look after the disposal of duplicate material, of which a considerable amount has now accumulated. Mr. Samuel Rothstein, who joined the Reference Department in 1947, was appointed Head of Acquisitions as from July 1, 194$. Our well-equipped bindery, which is situated at the north end of stack level #2, was ready for work by the middle of October, 194$. The staff consists of Mr. H. W. Brooks, an expert bookbinder of long experience, and a sewing girl. An apprentice will probably be added to the staff at a later date. The bindery operates under the direction of Mr. R. J. Lanning, Head of the Periodicals and Binding Department. The staff of the Catalogue Department remains at 10, and this will probably be quite sufficient until the addition of a Medical School, or some other major expansion on the campus. The Reference Department's staff increased to 12, of whom 7 are trained librarians, and when the Fine Arts Room opens In January the total will rise to 13. The Circulation Department has a full-time staff of 11, and in addition employs a corps of part-time student assistants. In all probability the staff of the service departments will have to be 14 increased further another year, as the rush of students besieging the reference and circulation desks in the enlarged building is even greater than we anticipated. Staff changes during the year were relatively few. Miss Nora Gibson resigned in the spring to accept a position with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, and on July 1 her place as Extension Librarian was taken by Miss Edith Stewart, who served in this position for a time some years ago. Miss-Margaret Mackenzie, formerly on the staff of the University of Manitoba, joined the Reference Department, as did Miss Joan O'Rourke, who graduated in June from the University of Toronto Library School. Of the eight Library Assistants (i.e., sub-professionals) on the staff in 1947-4$, one is now teaching, while another, Miss Lois Crook, was awarded a bursary by the Staff Association of the Vancouver Public Library, and is now attending Library School in Toronto. The other six are valued members of our staff this year. Circulation The number of books circulated from the main Loan Desk was 121,69$ in 1947-4$, as compared with 100,281 in 1946-47, an increase of about 21$. In view of the extremely cramped quarters in which the staff worked, the mere handling of so many books was no mean achievement. The circulation of "reserve" books rose from 7$,7$7 in 1946-47 to 97,$37 in 1947-4$. The only space available for the "reserve" section of the Circulation Department was part of the main hallway, but, as the increased use made of the books shows, the students much preferred to have them there, rather than in the Armouries as in 1945-46. 15 Circulation through the Extension Department and in the Nursing Reading Room showed little change, and the total for all departments was 232,456 in 1947-4$, as compared with 191,736 in the previous year. The increase was approximately 21$. This was much the busiest year the Library has ever had, and it is interesting to note that circulation in the three months January-March, 194$, exceeded that for the entire academic year 1943-44. It is already evident that circulation figures will show another and still greater increase in 194$-49. This will probably be most marked in the case of periodicals and "reserve" books, both of which are now for the first time housed in adequate quarters. The increase in "reserve" circulation is specially notable- because the Library has returned to the popular "open shelf" plan in the new Reserve Book Reading Room. This means that students now actually borrow only the books they wish to study for a considerable time, whereas formerly, when the "closed shelf" system was in use, they had to charge books out, even though they wished only to examine them briefly or browse through them. In other words, even if "reserve" circulation figures for 194$-49 (with open shelves) were no higher than those for 1947-4$ (with closed shelves), these would indicate a substantial increase in the actual use of "reserve" books. The point is worth noting, for it.illustrates the important truth that statistics can only indicate in a very rough and ready way the use that is being made of the Library. At best they show only a part of the picture, and even that part may not be in perfect focus. 16 Circulation Statistics Total Circulation in 1943- -44 $9,749 1944- -45 92, ,470 1945- -46 166; ,515 1946-47 191,736 1947- -48 232. ,456 1946-47 1947-4$ General Reserve Total General Reserve Total September 3707 2334 6041 4303 2062 6365 October 13145 11492 24637 1$204 13184 313$$ November 14381 12046 26427 176$5 13$33 3151$ December 5350 6885 12235 9263 7449 16712 January 13717 7269 209$6 177$$ 13711 31499 February 15630 $363 23993 16430 13145 29575 March 14$07 10857 25664 17794 147$4 3257$ April 7337 9688 17025 $277 127$5 21062 May 15$6 $2 166$ 1946 63 2009 June 1594 21 1615 1700 57 1757 July 565$ 6497 12155 4669 4191 $$60 August 3369 3253 6622 3639 2573 6212 100281 787$7 179068 12169$ 97$37 219535 Extension 1039$ 10621 Nursing 2270 2300 191736 232456 17 Missing Books It was not possible to take an inventory in 194$, but a complete check of the book stock is planned for May, 1949. The "closed" stack used for "reserve" books in 1947-4$ reduced losses from this collection very materially, but the service given to the students was, of course, less satisfactory from their point of view. It is hoped that the much better physical accommodation provided in the new building will enable us to revert to the popular "open shelf" system without any great increase in book loss. Reference Department The Reference Department and the Circulation Department suffered most from the dirt, cold, noise, and general inconvenience arising from building operations that had to be endured throughout the academic year 1947-4$, These conditions, plus the immense volume of routine work that had to be handled at the desk, forced the Reference staff to curtail certain services and postpone the inauguration of others. Miss Smith was again unable to give any special bibliographical lectures. (This important service, it may be added parenthetically, was resumed on a small scale in the autumn of 194$.) Work on the map collection remained at a standstill, and little could be done beyond lending classroom maps to professors. In spite of this the collection continued to grow, thanks in great part to Dr. Lewis Robinson, who secured for us an important collection of Canadian and foreign maps. The collection of government documents continues to expand in size and usefulness. The work of checking and filing accessions 1$ has become so complex that, in order to minimize the inconvenience that must arise when a staff change occurs, care of the collection has been portioned out to a large group of the staff. Individual assignments are reshuffled from time to time so as to give each member as broad an acquaintance as possible with the collection as a whole. This was only one of a number of problems in the field of procedures that had to be dealt with in 1947-4$, The sudden growth in the size of the Reference Department, coupled with the fact that many of the ten persons who composed it in the fall of 1947 were inexperienced, made it essential to organize the work more strictly, and establish routines which would be standard for the department and therefore quickly understood by all members of it. The necessary procedures were worked out by Miss Mary Rendell, First Assistant, to whom our thanks and much credit are due. Miss Rendell also undertook to supervise the work of each new staff member for an orientation and training period of two weeks. The plan worked well, and had the dual effect of making newcomers feel more at home, and of enabling them to be of real help to the department with a minimum of delay. Personnel problems in general received a great deal of attention during the year. A Personnel Institute conducted in Vancouver by Mr. Louis Kroeger, of San Francisco, under the auspices of the British Columbia Library Association, was attended by some twenty members of the staff, including eight from the Reference Department. All of us found the sessions most valuable, and various suggestions and recommendations made by Mr. Kroeger have been carried into effect. The Reference Department instituted weekly staff meetings, at which various aspects of the department's work were discussed, and 19 experiments were also made with a staff evaluation scheme. The California Library rating was used, and the results were, in Miss Smith's opinion, of definite value. It was felt, however, that a rating scale of our own, adapted to our special needs, would be preferable to the California scale, and it is hoped that this may be developed in due course. Little need be said about the work of the department generally except to repeat the plea made in last year's report that professors making essay and study assignments should work in closer cooperation with the Library. In particular, advance notice of assignments would be greatly appreciated. Only in this way can the Library make its limited resources of maximum use to the students—and with enrolment at its present peak every book must be used in the-most effective way if standards are not to fall seriously. Interlibrary Loans During the academic year 1947-4$ the Library borrowed 253 volumes on interlibrary loan, and lent 21$ to other institutions. Nineteen films and photostats were also secured in lieu of interlibrary loans, and these brought the total number of transactions to 490, an increase of 20$ over the previous year. Statistics for the years 1943-4$ follow:- 1943-44 (April-March) 1944-45 (April-March) 1945 (April-August) 1945-46(September-August) 194-6-47 (September-August) 1947-4$(September-August): Books Photostats and microfilm Borrowed Loaned 100 130 65 172 199 Total 122 137 4$ 13$ 205 222 267 113 310 404 253 21$ 471 19 19 490 20 Now that courses leading to the Ph.D. degree have been added to the curriculum the number of loans will doubtless increase still further. The service is one that the Reference Department is happy to make available to the campus, although the great pressure of routine work makes it necessary at the moment to limit it to the most pressing needs of the staff and research students. Displays Miss Doreen Fraser was in charge of this work throughout the year, and in addition to the usual book displays she was able to arrange special showings of various sorts. One popular series consisted of displays illustrating the activities of various student clubs, including the Players' Club, the Physics Club, the Soaring Club, the University Radio Society, and other organizations. Current-affairs maps were shown through the year on two portable notice boards in the main hallway, and in addition a number of art displays were arranged there. These included collections of photographs and several one-man shows by local artists, notably Mr. Jack Shadbolt, Mr. George Doubt, Mr. Bruce Boyd, Mr. John Wright, and Mr. Fred Amess. Art Loan Collection Lack of space and pressure of routine work made the management of this collection a difficult problem, but the service was maintained in spite of these obstacles. A "loan day" was arranged once a month, and the opportunity to borrow original paintings and good prints was much appreciated by the students. Mrs, Fred Amess and Mrs. Pat McPherson were of great assistance, for they acted as intermediaries between the Library and the B. C. Branch of the 21 Federation of Canadian Artists, secured new pictures for us, and arranged for the return of others to their owners. Some new equipment was secured during the year, including 25 standard-sized picture frames, measuring 22 by 28 inches. These have been finished in various attractive shades, and have been specially designed to accommodate unframed pictures lent to the collection. The Library Catalogues The work of the Catalogue Department has gone on so steadily that there is little to report about its activities. As noted above, a total of 9268 volumes were accessioned and catalogued for the main collection and another 1400 volumes were classified and catalogued for the Howay-Reid Collection. New entries reported to the Pacific Northwest Bibliographic Center, in Seattle, totalled 6934, and discards reported numbered 661. Packing and moving operations took a great deal of time and energy. Virtually every catalogue, shelf list, etc., in the department's keeping was moved and completely rearranged, and the department itself was the first to move into the addition to the library building. The new quarters there have been found to be most comfortable, and the general lay-out is proving as convenient in practice as it looked on paper. Periodicals As the University's curriculum continues to expand both in area and depth, the pressure upon the Library to add new periodicals to its holdings continues to be very great indeed. The decision to embark upon Ph.D. courses will inevitably increase this pressure still further, as work of a proper standard cannot be carried on unless the 22 key files required are made available. In last year's report the fact was noted that 90 new titles had been added to the Library's holdings in 1945-46, and that no less than 187 additional periodicals had been added to the list in 1946-47, Another 135 titles have been added in 1947-4$, which means that additions over the three-year period 1945-4$ reached the astonishing total of 412. What this means in additional subscription and binding costs will be readily appreciated. It illustrates, too, the fact that the Library is a service institution which must expand (and inevitably become more costly) as campus needs expand. Like the power house, the demands made upon it are in great part beyond its own control, and provision of the funds necessary to buy essential books and magazines should be given a priority at least on a par with the University's expenditures for coal and electricity. It should be noted that additions are made to the periodical list only after most careful consideration, and care is taken to secure the best available title in any given field. If the publication selected is only a few years old, an effort is made to secure all back numbers to date. If the back file is extensive, the Library consults the departments interested concerning its value, and may acquire the numbers issued over a period of five, ten, or even twenty years, as seems advisable or necessary. Relatively few people on the campus probably are aware of the tireless search for volumes and individual issues missing from our files that is conducted year in and year out by Mr. R. J. Lanning, Head of the Periodicals Department. It is certainly not appreciated by the students who handle periodicals carelessly, nor by professors who risk their loss by abusing privileges and removing them from the 23 library building for reasons that are actually quite inadequate. The time and money that must be devoted to making good the losses that result are by no means negligible, to say nothing of the inconvenience suffered by others. When facilities within the Library for the use of periodicals were both limited and inconvenient a case could be made for taking them elsewhere, but a general tightening-up of regulations is now clearly in order. A list of new periodicals and important back files acquired during 1947-4$ is given below. For convenience they have been divided into a number of categories, as in previous reports. (1) Important New Sets Acquired or Long Files added: General Collection (# indicates that current subscription to the title was first placed in 1947-4$) ACTION CANADIENNE-FRANCAISE, v. 1-20, 1917-192$ (all published) ALPINE GARDEN SOCIETY JOURNAL, v. 1, 1930 to date # BRITTONIA, v. 1, 1931 to date # BRYOLOGIST, v. 1, 1$9$ to date (Library already had a few volumes) (not quite complete) CHINESE SOCIAL AND POLITICAL SCIENCE REVIEW, v. 1-24, 1916-1940 (not quite complete) CIBA REVIEW, v. 1-5 and CIBA ZEITSCHRIFT, v. 4-9, 1937 to date EDUCATION ADMINISTRATION AND SUPERVISION, v. 1-10, 1915-1924 FIELD MUSEUM. Publications. Anthropology, v. 16, 1923 to date FUNDAMENTA MATHEMATICAL long file to complete Library set, 1920-1939 HARVARD UNIVERSITY. PEABODY MUSEUM. Selected volumes of Memoirs, Papers, and Reports # HELVETICA PHYSICA ACTA, v. 1, 192$ to date # IBIS, ser. 5, v. 1, 1883 to date INSTITUTE OF PETROLEUM JOURNAL, v.l, 1914 to date (not quite complete) # JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE LEGISLATION, n.s.v. 7, 1906 to date (second set for Law)(not quite complete) # JOURNAL OF CONSULTING PSYCHOLOGY, v. 1, 1937 to date (not quite complete) JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY, v. 59, 1924 to date # LONDON AND CAMBRIDGE ECONOMIC SERVICE. Memoranda, No. 2, 1924 to date (not quite complete) # MEMORIAL DES SCIENCES MATHEMATIQUES, no. 1, 192 5 to date (not quite complete) 24 ft MUSICAL ASSOCIATION, Proceedings, v. 9, 1$$2 to date (not quite complete) NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE .PROMOTION OF SOCIAL SCIENCE, 1857, 1862, 1864, 1$66 to end of set (1886) NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE, v. 1-17, 1891-1916 (first three volumes incomplete) OTTAWA. UNIVERSITY. REVUE DE L'UNIVERSITE D'OTTAWA, v. 4, 1934 to date # PARASITOLOGY, v. 17, 1925 to date # POLAR RECORD, No. 5, 1933 to date REVUE FRANCO-AMERICAINE, v. 1-10, 1908-1913 (all published) # ROYAL STATISTICAL SOCIETY, v. 7$, 1914 to date # SOCIETE DE BIOLOGIE, COMPTES RENEWS, v. 87, 1922 to date (not quite complete) SOUTHERN REVIEW, v. 1-7, 1935-1942 (all published)(not quite complete) ZEITSCHRIFT FUR HYGIENE UND INFEKTIONSKRANKHEITEN, v. 1-21, 23, 27 1886-1896. (2) Shorter Runs of the Following Titles have been Acquired (# indicates that current subscription to the title was first placed in 1947-4$) AGRONOMIA LUSITANA AMERICAN FOUNDRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION, Transactions # AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF PLANNERS, Journal AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACY # AMERICAN MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY, Transactions # L'ARCHE # AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY AND MEDICAL SCIENCE AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF SCIENCE # BIOMETRICS # CANADIAN FISHERMAN # COMPOSITIO MaTHLMaTICA EDUCATIONAL ABSTRACTS # EDUCATIONAL aND PSYCHOLOGICAL MEASUREMENT # FARLOWIA GENTES HERBARUM INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INDIVIDUAL PSYCHOLOGY # JOURNaL OF CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY JOURNAL OF LABORATORY aND CLINICaL MEDICINE, 1931-1946 (not quite complete) MATERIALS FOR THE STUDY OF OLD ENGLISH DRaMa # MENNINGER CLINIC, Bulletin MENNONITE quarterly # LA NEF POETRY REVIEW, 1912-1923 (incomplete) # POLAR TIMES REVUE NaTIONALE (Montreal) ROYAL INSTITUTE OF BRITISH ARCHITECTS, Journal # SOUTHWESTERN JOURNaL OF ANTHROPOLOGY # SPANISH REVIEW (all numbers published) # TRIVIUM 25 (3) Other New Subscriptions: General Collection (# indicates either a new publication or a title of which the Library has or expects to have a complete file in. the near future) ACCENT # ACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA ADVERTISING AND SELLING AKADEMIIA NAUK S.S.S.R. Izvestia. Otdelenie Literatury I Iazyka AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION, Journal AMERICAN DRUGGIST AMERICAN EGG AND POULTRY MAGAZINE AMERICAN FOUNDRYMAN # AMERICAN STATISTICIAN # APPLIED MECHANICS REVIEW # APPLIED SCIENCE RESEARCH, Sections A and B # ARBITRATION JOURNAL # ARCHAEOLOGY (plus Annual Bulletin of the Association) # ARCTIC # ARTS ET LETTRES # ASIAN HORIZON ATHLETICS # BEHAVIOUR BEHIND THE HEADLINES # BRITISH JOURNAL OF NUTRITION ft BRITISH JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGY, Statistical Section # BULLETIN OF THE ATOMIC SCIENTISTS CAHIERS D'ART % CHEMICAL ENGINEERING PROGRESS # CHEMICAL SOCIETY, Quarterly review CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR COMMONWEALTH LAW REPORTS CORNELL VETERINARIAN CRAFT HORIZONS DIGEST OF TREATMENT # DOCUMENTS OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION DOMINION SECURITIES CORPORATION, Quarterly Canadian Review DOMUS (Milan) DYESTUFFS # EXCERPTA MEDICA (Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, $) # EXPERIENTIA FAR EASTERN SURVEY # GUIDANCE MONOGRAPHS HEALTH EDUCATION JOURNAL # HERE AND NOW # INDUSTRIAL AND LABOR RELATIONS REVIEW INDUSTRIAL NURSING INSURANCE LAW REPORTER # INTERIM INTERIORS # INTERNATIONAL CHILD WELFARE REVIEW # INTERNATIONAL LAW QUARTERLY IOWA LAW REVIEW IRISH LAW REPORTS 26 # JOURNAL OF SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION JURIDICAL REVIEW KENYON REVIEW LONDON AND CAMBRIDGE ECONOMIC SOCIETY, Bulletin MARITIME LAW REPORTS MINING JOURNAL MODERN HOSPITAL # NETHERLANDS MILK JOURNAL # NEW COLOPHON NORTHERN IRELAND REPORTS NURSING MIRROR NURSING TIMES ORION # PACIFIC DISCOVERY PACIFIC FISHERMAN PERSONNEL PETROLEUM REFINER PHILOSOPHISCHES JAHRBUCH # PHOENIX # PHYSICS TODAY £ PHYSIOLOGIA COMPARATA ET OECOLOGIA if PHYSIOLOGIA PLANTARUM # PLANT AND SOIL # POETRY COMMONWEALTH # POETRY LONDON POETRY QUARTERLY PRAVDA # QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF MECHANICS AND APPLIED MATHEMATICS QUARTERLY JOURNaL OF STUDIES OF ALCOHOL RECREATION REVIEW RES JUDICATAE # RESEARCH ff REVIEW OF METAPHYSICS # REVUE CANADIENNE DE GEOGRaPHIE # REVUE DE PSYCHOLOGIE # REVUE D'HISTOIRE DE L'AMERIQUE FRANCAISE ROYAL METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY, Quarterly Journal ST. JOHN'S LaW REVIEW # SASKATCHEWAN HISTORY SEWANEE REVIEW SOCIETY OF PUBLIC TEaCHERS OF LAW, Journal SOLICITOR SOUTH ATLANTIC QUARTERLY # TAX LAW REVIEW TIDE # TORONTO. UNIVERSITY, DUNLAP OBSERVATORY. Contributions VIRGINIA QUARTERLY REVIEW # WEATHER WESTERN ADVERTISING WESTERN REVIEW # YALE FRENCH STUDIES # ZEITSCHRIFT FUR aNGEWaNDTE PHYSIK ZEITSCHRIFT FUR SLaVISCHE PHILOLOGIE 27 (4) The H. R. MacMillan Collection in Forestry During the year memberships were taken out in the INSTITUTE OF PAPER CHEMISTRY and in the TECHNICAL ASSOCIATION OF PULP AND PAPER INDUSTRIES (TAPPI). As a result the Library is now receiving the INSTITUTE'S JOURNAL and the various publications issued by TAPPI. Other new subscriptions placed included the REVUE INTERNATIONALE DU BOIS and LESNAYA PROMYSHLENNOST. The Library's file of the publications of the SOUTH AFRICAN FORESTRY SOCIETY was completed during the year. The Department of Forestry turned over to the Library its files of S A F AFFAIRS published by the Society of American Foresters, and the NEWS BULLETIN published by the CANADIAN SOCIETY OF FOREST ENGINEERS. (5) Foreign Periodicals Through the courtesy of the French Consul the Library is receiving one-year complimentary subscriptions to the following journals: L'ACADEMIE DES SCIENCES - Comptes Rendus ANNALES DE MEDICINE L'ANTHROPOLOGIE BULLETIN CRITIQUE DU LIVRE FRANCAIS FONTAINE JOURNAL DE PHYSIQUE ET LE RADIUM PARIS L'UNIVERSITE. REVUE DE L'UNIVERSITE REVUE METAPHYSIQUE ET DE MORALE REVUE POLITIQUE ET PARLEMENTAIRE SOCIETE DE CHIMIE BIOLOGIQUE - Bulletin The Library is still struggling with the problem of filling in the gaps in its files of important German periodicals, subscriptions to which could not be maintained during the war. Certain files, or parts of files, have been reprinted in facsimile editions, but some time ago this programme was in great part discontinued, presumably because communication with Germany had been reestablished, and it was felt that files might be available there. Recently, however, it has become clear that most libraries on this continent can expect to secure little material directly from Germany, and a new reprinting programme is now gaining momentum. Thanks to this it seems probable that we shall be able to fill in many of the important gaps that remain during the next year or two. 28 (6) Periodicals Discontinued Twelve periodicals received by the Library ceased publication during the year. Several of them were most useful titles which will be missed greatly. The list follows. AGRICULTURAL AND INDUSTRIAL PROGRESS IN CANADA ARTS FORTNIGHTLY LAW REVIEW JOURNAL OF LEGAL AND POLITICAL SOCIOLOGY JOURNAL OF PHYSICS (U.S.3.R.) MOTION PICTURE CRITICS' REVIEWS RENAISSANCE RESEARCH TODAY S.P.E. (Society for Pure English) TRACTS SCHOOL WORLD BIOGRAPHY WORLD ECONOMICS In addition, two subscriptions were dropped, on the advice of the departments chiefly concerned. Binding In the course of the year nearly 400 volumes were shipped to the Canadian Binding Company in Hamilton, but in spite of this arrears continued to pile up. Binding costs are rising, but under present conditions this is only to be expected. The Art Bookbinder, who did the bulk of our work in 1947-4$, was granted a 10$ increase over his previous rates, and in the fall of 194$ a further bonus of 10$ had to be added. In spite of this, our binding costs are still considerably lower than those of most libraries that have not binderies of their own. Comparative figures for the last four years are as follows:- Average cost per volume:- 1944-45 1945-46 1946-47 1947-4$ Periodicals "TTTs~5 ~$2.09 $2.13 $2.3$ Paper-bound books 1.22 1.60 1.66 1.77 Rebinds and repairs 1.29 1.46 1.23 1.69 29 As noted in last year's report, negotiations were in progress a year ago with Mr. M. I. Sochasky, of the Art Bookbinder, the object being an agreement whereby he might transfer his operations to the new wing of the Library, and devote his full time (or a total of 40 hours per week) to the binding requirements of the Library. An agreement was eventually arrived at, but some months later Mr. Sochasky asked to be released from it, for personal reasons. Negotiations began soon after with Mr. H. W. Brooks, whose business Mr. Sochasky had purchased in 1945, and who had done most of the Library's work for many years previous to that date. The proposal made to Mr. Brooks was that he should supervise the building and equipping of a complete bindery in the new north wing, and, when it was ready for operation, join the staff as binder. This Mr. Brooks agreed to do, and provision for the purchase of the necessary equipment was included in the Library's budget for 1947-4$, The new bindery turned out its first book in October, 194$, and has been operating full-time ever since. The staff consists of Mr. Brooks, who at present is working 25 hours weekly, and a sewing girl employed full time. Later on it will probably be found advantageous to all concerned if an apprentice is added to the staff. It is too early to estimate the output of the new bindery with much accuracy, but it is clear that the whole binding situation will be far more satisfactory than formerly. As arrears on hand are causing great inconvenience, shipments will continue to be sent to the Art Bookbinder as usual for some time to come. Binding statistics for the financial year 1947-4$ follow. 30 Volumes of periodicals bound Paper-bound books bound Rebinds and repairs Theses Canadian Library Binding Co., Hamilton: Periodicals and paper-bound books 264 Rebinds and repairs Miscellaneous binding costs Less credits for materials supplied Bound for Faculty of Law TOTAL »a««»«ae 1024 299 50 151 $2412.$0 510,56 $4.40 415.25 264) 123) 712.06 25 41.40 1936 $4176.47 175.00 4001.47 297 2233 In addition,the Faculty of Law had 94 volumes bound or repaired in Eastern Canada at a cost of $260.$0. Gramophone Records As predicted last year, the number of gramophone records circulated in 1947-4$ was not materially higher than in 1946-47, The total reported last year was 22,617; this year the corresponding figure rose slightly to 23,455. Of these, 20,631 were borrowed through the Main Library. The collection now requires the services of a full-time staff member, and a good deal of extra help is given at busy hours by other staff members or student assistants. The Extension Department lent 2824 records, or somewhat less than in 1946-47. As in previous years, these records were for the most part borrowed by mail, and were sent in response to requests 31 from schools, camps, church organizations, Parent-Teacher organizations, and private listening groups scattered all over British Columbia. A total of 464 new records were acquired during the year. Approximately 100 discs were discarded, which means that the collection now consists of 2500 records. During the summer an attempt was made to test play most of the older records in order to ascertain their condition. Those in extremely bad condition were withdrawn and discarded. Many more which should have been withdrawn, but which it is impossible to replace at the moment (either because funds are lacking or, as is the case in many instances, because no other recording is available), were marked "worn" and retained for the time being. It is a moot question whether or not this was a wise compromise; to withdraw them from the catalogue but retain them in a special reserve collection might have been the better course. Gramophone Record Loans ndividual students tudent groups niversity staff tation CBR pedal loans iain Library total xtension Department TOTAL 1941/2 1942/3 Academic lea 1943/4 1944/5 1945/6 1946/7 1947/$ 1605 472 456 330 27 2932 3$ 1671 37$ 2 3367 396 14$9 3$3 31 3075 205 $46 359 11 7740 474 1124 399 15636 1216 2194 464 16322 666 3271 372 2 $90 5021 5666 4532 9437 19510 20631 650 1120 3960 4947 3$77 3107 2$24 3540 6141 9626 9479 13314 22617 23455 32 Finances Expenditure on books and magazines in the financial year 1947-4$ (i.e., from April 1, 1947, to March 31, 194$) may be summarized as follows:- Carried forward from 1946-47 to meet outstanding orders $1,686.34 Books and Magazines: regular appropriations for 1947-4$ .21,250.00 Special departmental grants and appropriations:- Architecture ................$500.00 International Studies Law ................ Mathematics ........ ,Pharmacy Slavonic Studies .,. Social Work . 500.00 10,000.00 .... 220.00 .... 2,000.00 .... 500.00 .... 200.00 Miscellaneous credits, fines, etc. Special book appropriation, March 194$ 13,920.00 2,979.89 2,000.00 lotal 6,169.70 The total sum available for the purchase of books and magazines in 1947-4$ was $41,636.23, as compared with $41,227.03 in 1946-47, but transactions actually completed within the year totalled only $35,466.53, whereas the previous year they had totalled $39,530.69. 33 Staff On October 1, 194$, the staff of the Library was composed as follows: Administration W. Kaye Lamb, Ph.D. Ethel Fugler, B.A. Ruth Asson Reference Department Anne M. Smith, M.A., B.L.S. Mary Rendell, B.A., B.L.S. Doreen Fraser, B.A., B.L.S. Margaret Mackenzie, B.A., B.L.S. Isabel Abernethy, B.A., B.L.S. Isabel McDonald, B.A., B.L.S. Joan O'Rourke, B.A., B.L.S. Lily Kristjanson, B.A. ■ Muriel Martinson, B.A. Naomi Grigg, B.A. Mrs. Patricia Coates, B.A. Mrs. Mary Wilson Catalogue Department Dorothy M. Jefferd Mrs. Doreen McCloy, B.A., B.L.S. T. R. McCloy, B.A., B.L.S. Betty Henderson, M.A. B.L.S. Mrs. Betty Higman, B.A. Mrs. Lillian Gumming Mrs. F. Zacharias Mrs. M. Price Denise Boving * e • • Acquisitions Department Samuel Rothstein, M.A., B.L.S. Dorothea Aylen, -B.A., B.L.S. Mrs. Shirley Rowley, B.A. Evelyn Hearsey Mrs. Frances Bryce Mrs. Y. Forsythe Librarian Secretary to the Librarian Clerical Head First Assi Senior Lib Senior Lib Junior Lib Junior Lib Junior Lib Library As Library As Library As Library As Senior Cle stant rarian rarian rarian rarian rarian sistant sistant sistant sistant rical Head First Assistant Senior Librarian Junior Librarian Library Assistant Clerical Clerical Clerical Clerical Clerical Head Junior Librarian Library Assistant Senior Clerical Clerical Clerical 34 Periodicals and Binding Department Roland J. Lanning, 3.A., B.L.S. Mrs. Helen Fraser, B.A., B.L.S. Mrs. Pauline Cundill Sheila Donald Robert Neale H. W. Brooks Mrs. H. Pulfer Circulation Department Mabel M. Lanning, B.A., B.L.S. Eleanor B. Mercer, M.A., B.L.S. Margaret Howieson, B.A., B.L.S. Mrs. Harold Hunter, B.A. Dorothy Rolfe Mrs. V. B. Arnott Mrs. Patricia Chapman Mrs. Kathleen North Mrs. Joyce Olson Miss Mary Campbell Mrs. Elizabeth Thomson Extension Library Edith Stewart, B.A., 3.L.S. Mrs. Pearl Cameron Head Junior Librarian Clerical Clerical Stackroom attendant Binder Sewing Girl Head First Assistant Junior Librarian Library Assistant Clerical Clerical Clerical Clerical Clerical Clerical Clerical Senior Librarian Clerical Library Committee The Committee appointed by Senate in October, 1947", consisted of the following members: Dr. J. C. Berry Dr. D. C. Murdoch Dr. I. M. Cowan ) Prof. A. C. Cooke) Dr. Blakey Smith ) Prof. Gilbert Kennedy Representing the Faculty of Agriculture Representing the Faculty of Applied Science Representing the Faculty of Arts Representing the Faculty of Law Dr. Cowan was unanimously re-elected Chairman at the first meeting of the Committee held after Senate had made these appointments It is a pleasure to acknowledge my indebtedness to the Library Committee both for the active interest it took in Library 35 problems, and for the freedom of action it accorded the Librarian. The Chairman in particular has devoted much time and careful consideration to various questions of policy, and his willingness to do this at a time when he himself was specially busy has been deeply appreciated. As events have turned out, this report must serve as my valedictory as Librarian of the University. On September 10, 194$, I accepted the appointment of Dominion Archivist, and I shall be leaving the Library at the end of the calendar year. My eight and a half years at the University have been stimulating and most rewarding. Five of them were wartime years, during which the Library progressed steadily but relatively slowly. Those years were, nevertheless, a period of preparation and planning for the future. By 1944 I felt sure that a building programme was in the offing, and the first sketch plans of the new north wing were drawn in the spring of that year. They were redrawn many times, and considered by various members of the staff, in the two years that followed. As a result, we were able to give the University's architect a very precise- idea of the accommodation we required as soon as he was authorized to design an addition to the building. By 1944 I had also become convinced that the Library of the University of British Columbia was destined to become the most important research collection in the Canadian West--a view that recent events have amply justified. The unprecedented expansion that has taken place during the last three years has been guided with this destiny in mind, and 36 it can already be said that only three or four other libraries in Canada now possess book collections comparable to or superior to ours. I wish specially to mention my appreciation of the honour the University conferred upon me and upon the Library when I was named a delegate to the Conference of the Universities of the Commonwealth, which met in Oxford in July, 194$. The conference itself gave me an opportunity to meet people from other universities scattered all over the globe, while the weeks I spent in Great Britain enabled me to search book stores in London, Cambridge, Oxford, and Edinburgh for many items that had long been on the Library's "want" lists. I leave the University unexpectedly and. with much regret, but the attractions offered by an invitation both to direct the work of the Public Archives and to plan a National Library for Canada will be readily understood. All of which is respectfully submitted. W. KAYE LAMB November, 194$ Librarian