College and Research Libraries


42 I College & Research Libraries • January, 1966 

study or social case work. As long ago as 
1963, Galvin explained and defended the 
method in the ] ournal of Education for Li-
brarians hip. He has used it himself at Sim-
mons College as a means of combating the 
detachment from a real situation of the cut-
and-dried problems traditionally employed 
in reference teaching. If the problem meth-
od is necessary to emphasize the necessity 
for a thorough knowledge of the books 
themselves, the case study method is equally 
necessary to prepare the student for actual 
work in a library. What a fine thing it 
would be for the profession if mature librar-
ians took the time to write up their expe-
riences for the use of others! The cases 
would make good reading, and the writing 
would be a lot of fun.-Isabel Howell, Ten-
nessee State Library and Archives. 

Rare Book Collections. Ed. by H. Richard 
Archer. (ACRL Monograph No. 27.) 
Chicago: ALA, 1965. viii, 128p·. $3. (65-
19754). 

Over six years ago the Rare Bpoks Sec-
tion of ACRL decided to sponsor a hand-
book that would serve as an introduction to 
the field of rare books. This was a large 
order since any knowledge in this exacting 
field is acquired only through long years of 
working with rare books and with those 
who know rare books. Articles which ap-
peared while this project was still in the 
planning stage changed the scope of the 
book somewhat since certain subjects al-
ready had been covered. The editor states 
that the purpose of this volume is "to stimu-
late intelligent thinking about many prob-
lems which curators and administrators are 
facing . . . wh~n collections are expanding 
. . . and the demand for trained personnel 
has not been satisfied; to present information 
which will help correct certain unfortunate 
situations [the situations are not specified]; 
to establish some means for the prevention 
of careless practices, and to dispel the mis-
conception that all rare books 'deserve the 
same kind of treatment.' " The scope of the 
book thus would seem to be the manage-
ment of rare book collections and the pres-
ervation of their contents. 

Ten distinguished contributors have dis-
cussed the topics assigned to them as in-
formatively and helpfully ?S possible. The 

articles have been logically arranged, and 
they present a straightforward account of 
administration and activities or rare book 
institutions. The authors have tried to an-
ticipate problems and give of their knowl-
edge and skills; the book contains a wealth 
of sound advice. 

It also contains a few pitfalls. Through 
"editing" (not the work of Mr. Archer) the 
American Library Association's Cataloging 
Rules for Author and Title Entries was 
changed from the 1941 edition, cited by the 
author of the article on cataloging, to an 
edition of later date and .less pertinence-
an error so serious that an erratum slip 
should be included in every copy. To list 
the well-known firm of Hodgson as "Hodg-
kin" is apparently a result of hasty proof-
reading. 

More disturbing is the statement that in 
the repair of books "either the paper or the 
binding" lies within the competence of 
some cUrators. The specialist knows what 
the writer of this article meant, but the be-
ginner, seldom one to doubt his own abil-
ities, may commence repairs without bother-
ing to read the ensuing paragraphs which 
might have set him right. The best advice 
to an inexperienced curator is to let things 
alone and consult an expert. 

The most serious pitfall, perhaps, is the 
implication-and it comes from none of the 
authors-that we at last have a textbook on 
the administration of rare books. This hap-
pens to be a field that cannot be learned 
through a textbook. Most rare book spe-
cialists are self-taught. In their long ap-
prenticeship they have been forced to read 
widely and with discrimination. They have 
acquired a considerable range of knowledge 
from general reading, from each other, and 
from the books themselves. There is no sub-
stitute for this apprenticeship. Rare Book 
Collections has much that is valuable, but 
it does not encompass all knowledge of rare 
books in a single volume-and single vol-
umes are what today's student is eager to 
seize upon. Of more value to the novice 
would be a visit to any of the notable col-
lections maintained by the authors, or an 
hour's chat with one of the curators. The 
book does not emphasize this strongly 
enough.-Ellen Shaffer, Free Library of 
Philadelphia.