The Library World Volume 72 Issue 12

Abstract

Not only is it our primary duty as librarians to direct our clients to the information they require, it is also our greatest source of satisfaction. By comparison, the chores of book selection, of cataloguing, classifying and the rest are dull and tedious. Without performing them efficiently, of course, we stand little chance of succeeding in our essential purpose; so we are right to consider them important and to seek constantly to improve our competence and develop new techniques to assist us in carrying them out. It is inconceivable that we could operate without adequate, appropriate and well ordered collections, no matter what form their contents may take. At the same time, there is a very real risk that the demanding technical operations of running libraries may absorb too much of our energy and prevent us from developing a wider expertise in the practise of our profession. Do we, for example, spend enough time finding out what exists elsewhere so as to equip ourselves to exploit more fully the resources of other libraries on behalf of our clientele?

Citation

(1971), "The Library World Volume 72 Issue 12", New Library World, Vol. 72 No. 12, pp. 325-345. https://doi.org/10.1108/eb009565