College and Research Libraries


Gregmy, Ruth W. and Stoffel, Lester L. 
Public Libraries in Cooperative Sys-
tems: Administrative Patterns for Ser-
vice. Chicago: American Library Associ-
ation, 1971. 315p. $9.95. 
This mistitled volume, widely anticipated 

in the public library world, is a distinct dis-
appointment-mainly because it says very 
little about systems, and what it does say 
consists of reassuring generalizations and 
platitudes designed to prove to local li-
braries that they need have no fear of co-
operative systems and that there are naught 
but benefits to be derived from member-
ship. 

Whole chapters belong in a basic book 
of public library administration. And often 
where the role of the system could be use-
ful, it is overlooked or minimized. For ex-
ample, in the chapter on capital improve-
ments the system consulting staff and sys-
tem knowledge are entirely overlooked. Sys-
tem staff can assist in selecting the right ar-
chitect, help to select the best site, and so 
on. Nothing of the sort is mentioned. The 
authors and ALA are capitalizing on inter-
est in a popular subject without really writ-
ing about it. The section on supportive sys-
tem services should have occupied half the 
book instead of the mere nineteen pages de-
voted to it. 

Comments like "It [the cooperative li-
brary system] presents absolutely no threat 
to the library's local prestige ... " represent 
ideas not shared by a large number of 
member libraries throughout the nation. In 
light of New York State's massive direct-
access problems, such as those which 
prompted the recent pullout of the Finkel-
stein Memorial Library (Spring Valley, 
New York) from the Ramapo-Catskill Li-
brary System, it is idiotic to use a 1963 
comment by Jean L. Connor to prove that 
"an anticipation of serious drains on any 
member library ... is not justified by ex-
perience records." That's just not true. And 
many libraries would disagree with the view 
that "the system is the voice of the member 
units in library and related planning and 
research councils." 

Essential cooperation with nearby large 
municipal libraries (Chicago, New York, 
etc.) is overlooked. While the importance 
of communication is stressed, no mention 

Recent Publications I 417 

is made of the enormous problem of inform-
ing member library staffs, and not just the 
directors. 

In the appendixes, the authors rely heavi-
ly on materials of the Suburban Library 
System. While this surely was quick and 
easy and may be fine for Stoffel's ego, since 
he is director of that system, it unfairly 
overlooks the many superior documents de-
veloped by other systems. The model by-
laws, for example, do not even suggest that 
the director should serve as secretary to the 
board, a common and desirable practice. 

The authors are working on a new manu-
script which will consider the problems of 
cooperative library systems. Maybe that 
will result in the book we've all been wait-
ing for.-Guenter A. Jansen, Director, Suf-
folk Cooperative Library System. 

Michael H. Harris. Reader in American 
Library History. Washington, D.C.: 
NCR Microcard Editions, 1971. 242p. 
This volume is a compilation of previous-

ly-published materials concentrating upon 
selected aspects of American library history. 
The fifth volume in a growing series, it in-
cludes writings by such authors as David 
Mearns, Kenneth Brough, and Howard 
Clayton on the historic development of 
American libraries and librarianship. Three 
of the selections are admirably suited as 
study-pieces in American intellectual his-
tory courses: "Democratic Strivings" by 
Sidney Ditzion; "Causal Factors . . ." by 
Jesse H. Shera; and " ... Rise of Research 
and Research Libraries, 185G-1900" by 
Samuel Rothstein. Ranis's credentials for 
this undertaking include his Guide to Re-
search in American Library History (Scare-
crow, 1968) and numerous bibliographic 
contributions to The Journal of Library His-
tory. 

The book excerpts and journal articles 
number twenty-four, and each selection is 
prefaced with a brief explanatory state-
ment. The text is printed on "raggy" paper 
(National Cash Register Company main-
tains its own paper mill) with double-col-
umn paging for the body of each selection. 
The selections are arranged into six topic 
headings ranging from colonial library his-
tory through Melvil Dewey and ALA to 
twentieth century specialization (library