Page 111 - Training for Librarianship Library Work As a Career

TRAINING FOR LIBRARIANSHIP

" The public libraries in general have not
yet undertaken to give the public special ser-
vice of this character. This is doubtless in
part because the demand has not seemed to
warrant it, but perhaps the principal reason
is that the expense would be heavy. In order
to have an efficient special library you must
put a specialist in charge of it. Now, how-
ever well informed and efficient the general
reference librarian may be, he cannot be a
speciahst on any considerable number of sub-
jects. Consequently for the general or pub-
lic library to follow the lead of the special
libraries, would require a far larger reference
staff and increased expenditure for adminis-
tration, purchase of books, etc."
W. W. Bishop, librarian of the University
of Michigan, and a former president of the
American Library Association, touches on
another difference:
" Consider for a moment the attitude of the
so-called * special library toward its cHents.
'
Because of their high intelligence in some
special field, of their keen interest in the
hterature of their calling, the clients of such a
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