The following paper is based on personal visits made to the learned libraries of the Land Nordrhein‐Westfalen in November and December 1960. My thanks are due to the…
Abstract
The following paper is based on personal visits made to the learned libraries of the Land Nordrhein‐Westfalen in November and December 1960. My thanks are due to the Kultusminister whose invitation made possible these visits, to Professor K. H. Rengstorf of the University of Münster who suggested the invitation and gave me the utmost assistance, and to the University of Leeds for granting me leave of absence. I would also like to thank the heads of the Universities of Münster, Cologne, Bonn, and Aachen for their generous hospitality and help, and in particular the librarians and staff of the libraries for their friendly reception and for time so willingly given to answering my questions.
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My colleagues have dealt most admirably with two detailed aspects of starting a new library from scratch; with a certain amount of low cunning, I have reserved for myself the task…
Abstract
My colleagues have dealt most admirably with two detailed aspects of starting a new library from scratch; with a certain amount of low cunning, I have reserved for myself the task of speaking more generally about the end product of their efforts—for books, no matter how lavishly they are provided, and buildings, no matter how well planned and executed, are only the essential preparation or raw material for the librarian's proper task of getting information (whether in books or serials or pamphlets or videotape) to the people who need it.