College and Research Libraries By EUGENE P. W A T S O N Let's All Recruit! IN HIS RECENT ARTICLE, "College Li-brarians and Recruiting,"1 John F. Harvey, chairman of the Joint Commit- tee on Library W o r k as a Career, says that "everyone talks about the personnel shortage, but few librarians do anything about it." Let me go one step farther and draw attention to the fact that we college and university library staff members, as a whole, are doing far less than any other group although, in general, we occupy positions which offer the greatest poten- tialities for recruiting. Surely all college and university librar- ians are only too well aware of the seri- ousness of the personnel shortage. It be- hooves us to stop merely talking and be- gin doing. As chairman of your Commit- tee on Recruiting, I urge and exhort every one of you A C R L members to carry on an active, continuing campaign to bring desirable recruits into the pro- fession. T h e following checklist of suggestions for recruiting has been compiled as a guide for you. However, it is well for you to bear in mind that associations and committees can help only by providing stimulation and information and by fur- nishing recruiting materials. In the last analysis, all recruiting is on an individu- al, personal basis. So, let's all recruit! C H E C K L I S T O F S U G G E S T I O N S F O R R E C R U I T I N G On the National Level Stimulating state library associations and other groups to inaugurate recruiting pro- grams or to intensify those already in op- eration Providing a clearing house for the exchange of information regarding current recruit- ing activities Preparing posters, booklets, leaflets, exhibits, etc. for national distribution Encouraging the preparation of articles on recruiting in national professional jour- nals and in popular nonprofessional maga- zines Keeping librarians informed with regard to opportunities in the field, and keeping in close contact with the library schools Publicizing information about scholarships, graduate and undergraduate Seeking scholarship grants from industries, professions, and others for training librar- ians in their fields 1CRL, X V I (1955), 368-69. Dr. Watson is librarian, Northwestern State College of Louisiana, Natchitoches. Establishing loan funds Giving prizes for the best biographies and fiction about librarians Publishing a practical manual on recruiting techniques On the State Level Originating programs of recruiting activities Stimulating individuals and local groups to conduct active recruiting campaigns Coordinating, as far as possible, all recruit- ing activities in the state Preparing recruiting leaflets for state-wide distribution Promoting recruiting activities in college, high school, and public libraries Developing a broad program of publicity on librarianship as a career, directed toward: (1) elementary school pupils, (2) high school pupils, (3) college students, (4) vo- cational counselors, (5) parents, (6) teach- ers, (7) school administrators, (8) employ- ment agencies Conducting recruiting sessions at conven- tions of state library associations Entertaining prospective librarians at con- ventions of state library associations NOV EMBER, 1956 491 _ Sending newsletters to college students who are interested in librarianship as a career Establishing loan funds and encouraging the giving of scholarships Sponsoring a "library week" during which boys and girls are invited to visit college and public libraries and learn about the types of work that are done in them Establishing speakers' bureaus Maintaining booths with recruiting materials at various group meetings and conventions O n the Local and Individual Level Displaying enthusiasm for and satisfaction and belief in librarianship Taking part in community interests and ac- tivities; being alert and dynamic; and ren- dering community service Giving courteous, friendly, intelligent service in every library; giving the type of service people want Keeping libraries attractive and inviting Presenting librarianship—the philosophy of library service—to prospects in a worth- while and attractive light Showing prospects the abundant personal and social rewards of librarianship Convincing parents and children that librar- ians make a good social contribution Having dinners or teas for librarians, teach- ers, high school students, and other young people who are interested in librarianship (have fun, but give them information about the profession) Participating in high school "career days" and "vocation days" Setting a good example to library clerks and pages, and following up the interest re- vealed by likely prospects or stirring up that interest where it may already be latent I n the Library Schools Putting 18 semester hours of library science on the undergraduate level, and including subject-field electives in graduate work Adding vitality and attractiveness to educa- tional programs Making the instruction more realistic; using practicing librarians in the training pro- grams Recognizing and training for special needs of libraries; e.g., public relations, person- nel administration, subject specialists, etc. Assisting library training agencies not yet accredited Organizing library clubs and fraternities Issuing alumni newsletters Impressing students with the necessity for recruiting O n Library Staffs Raising salaries!!! Improving working conditions in libraries Maintaining human relationships within li- brary staffs (recognize merit; beware of seniority; relieve trained librarians of mo- notonous and clerical duties; give young- sters something besides routine jobs) Providing in-service training for professional and subprofessional levels Arranging summer training courses Granting leaves of absence to subprofessional and clerical staff members so that they may attend library school Providing graduate scholarships for promis- ing students Providing working-scholarships for under- graduates, and giving them the advantage of participating in various types of work Media of Publicity Bulletin boards, posters, billboards, ex- hibits, pamphlets, leaflets, newspaper col- umns dealing with books, magazine articles in professional and nonprofessional maga- zines, magazine article reprints, newspaper articles, articles in school papers, letters, speeches and informal talks, oral book re- views, radio programs and skits, radio spot announcements, films, film trailers, film strips, slides, charts, photographs, models, and cartoons. 492 COLLEGE AND RESEARCH LIBRARIES