The Library World Volume 55 Issue 2

Abstract

NO doubt the Tighe Report, which is condensed in The L.A. Record for July, will have the scrutiny of all librarians. It is concerned with working conditions as they affect working hours, welfare and training and reads as if it were a series of excerpts from Brown's Manual. The “Scheme of Conditions of Service” under which public librarians work—the Report is confined to these; a further report on non‐public libraries is contemplated—makes no allowance for the late hours in comparison with those worked by other Council employees. “Some other” would be a more appropriate phrase as in many towns committee clerks, solicitors and accountancy officers have regular evening duties which are far later than 8 p.m. The report asks the framers of the “Scheme” to provide special pay for hours beyond normal office hours. Hours worked should, as far as possible, be continuous, and not “split,” and if they must by split have, between the shifts, a five‐hour interval. It is not explained how this excellent suggestion can be implemented on a day extending from, say, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Is 9–12, 5–8 contemplated? In any case the problem is to get two meals digestibly into the interval. Welfare provisions should include a staff room, where meals can be prepared and eaten, with the proper equipment, furniture and a clock; separate lavatory accommodation for each sex and again the necessary equipment of towels, etc.; first aid supplies; and protective overalls or dust jackets. “The wearing of uniform overalls on public duty”—where we suggest they would be most indicative and useful—“should not be compulsory.” We are not sure if this means that overalls need not be worn or that they need not be uniform in materials and pattern. Educational suggestions include the recognition of hours spent in attending professional meetings and week‐end and summer schools, an adequate staff library of books and periodicals; and every basic text‐book in a “sufficient number of copies to meet the full demands of the staff.” The Report does not indicate if this also means the class text‐book which the assistant uses throughout his course. Staff guilds or committees, on the familiar plan which has been usual in some libraries for forty years, should be encouraged. There is nothing in these recommendations which is new, but they are worth while, as their author implies, as a check which may be used to suggest minimum improvements.

Citation

(1953), "The Library World Volume 55 Issue 2", New Library World, Vol. 55 No. 2, pp. 17-40. https://doi.org/10.1108/eb009371