Learned Libraries in West Germany

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
This report, based upon a study tour made in 1967, attempts to give an overall picture of German librarianship today. The emphasis is upon libraries in universities, although notice is taken of those in other learned and research institutions. After general remarks on the three-tier staff structure and its implications, some account is given of education for librarianship and the part played by library schools. An outline follows of the "routine" side of library work, including such topics as accessions and exchanges, access to stock, cataloguing and classification, and service to readers. Under the section on book-stock the relative prosperity of German libraries is underlined, and the problem of multiple copies of texts is briefly discussed. Some attempt is then made to assess the merits of the German system of book-selection. After a note on the State Libraries the role of the union catalogues is investigated. The next section deals with the debated problem of the relationship between the main university library and institute libraries. The article closes with some information about the role of computers in German librarianship. Supporting bibliographical references are provided throughout, and three appendices are added.