Page 109 - Training for Librarianship Library Work As a Career

TRAINING FOR LIBRARIANSHIP

plement the information that it has. Not
numbers of books, magazines, pamphlets and
chppings are its criterion. The information
within these is its concern. But not that
alone. Its aim is always to see that the infor-
mation has the possibility of use and then to
put it to use. The special library is then an
information center with the information at
work on the job. It is an information clear-
ing house and research bureau in one.
Business men particularly have been keen
enough to see the value of the special library
and the special library has been widely
adopted in business. The special library does
not necessarily, however, have to be a busi-
ness library. It may be a law, medical, agri-
cultural, financial or theological library. The
way it is used and the service which it gives
determine whether any library is special or
not. On the other hand, a business library
is not of necessity a special library. A busi-
ness library that merely circulates books as
part of the welfare work of the company is
not a special library. Only when it reaches
out, serving as other executive departments
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