Search results

The meeting was opened by the Chairman, Miss E. M. R. Ditmas, who reminded those present that the Unesco/Library of Congress Bibliographical Survey had been in progress for some considerable time. It had been hoped that the survey would have been discussed at an international conference which the International Federation of Library Associations had planned to organize in the U.S.A. during the autumn of 1950. In preparation for this conference various documents had been prepared, notably the First and Second Interim Reports, compiled by Mrs. Kathrine O. Murra, which had been discussed by an Aslib meeting on 2nd December, 1949,1 and subsequently by various other British organizations. At the same time similar discussions were being held in other countries and, as a result, a modified survey, compiled by Mr. Verner Clapp, was prepared and circulated to the national bodies co‐operating with Unesco in the spring of 1950. When it became apparent that, for economic reasons, it would not be possible to hold this conference, Unesco organized a smaller meeting, which was held in Paris during November, 1950.

ASLIB – the Association of Special Libraries and Information Bureaux – was founded in 1924 with the aim of co‐ordinating the activities of specialist information services in the UK. This article seeks to present a new history of the first quarter‐century of the Association.

This is a historical study based substantially on two collections of primary documents: ASLIB's own records, held at Aslib Headquarters, London; and the papers of Edith Ditmas, held at the National Library of Wales.

The paper explores the origins of ASLIB, and its roots in the “science lobby” of the time; it then traces the development of ASLIB as both a “national intelligence service” for science, commerce and industry, and as a quasi‐professional association with international significance. It concludes that the first of these two functions was the Association's fundamental raison d'être.

The research is limited to study of ASLIB in the period 1924‐1950 and an obvious continuation would be a history of “corporate” ASLIB (1950‐1997). More generally, the paper reveals that the history of UK documentation and information science in the twentieth century is underexplored: there is scope for future research focused on key pioneers and ideas, as well as institutions such as ASLIB.

As far as is known, this is the first historical study of ASLIB to be based on contemporary records: it should therefore be of value to both historians of information and library science and practitioners interested in their professional heritage.

Not many weeks back, according to newspaper reports, three members of the library staff of the School of Slavonic and East European Studies in London were dismissed. All had refused to carry out issue desk duty. All, according to the newspaper account, were members of ASTMS. None, according to the Library Association yearbook, was a member of the appropriate professional organisation for librarians in Great Britain.

This issue of Aslib Proceedings is mainly devoted to papers presented at the 24th Annual Conference, held at Ashorne Hill, near Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, from 9 to 11 September, 1949. In addition, we have pleasure in printing the annual report and accounts of the British Union Catalogue of Periodicals.

The 28th annual conference of Aslib, held at Nottingham University from 11th to 14th September, 1953, proved to be the largest that Aslib has so far organized. A list of those present is printed on pp. 254–260. Yet again Aslib was glad to be able to welcome a number of overseas guests and members, including Dr. and Mrs. Lancour and their small daughter from the U.S.A., Drs. and Mrs. van Dijk and Miss Rom from the Netherlands, Mr. M. S. Dandekar and Mr. J. V. Karandikar from India, Miss D. M. Leach from Canada, and Mrs. T. Collin from Norway. Mr. Walter A. Southern, a Fulbright scholar from the U.S.A. affiliated to Aslib during his year's study in the United Kingdom, represented the Special Libraries Association, and Mr. J. E. Holmstrom attended as an observer on behalf of Unesco.

This paper is the first of what is intended to be an annual survey of the literature of documentation, covering both special librarianship and information work. Its aim is to select from the year's publications, whether books, pamphlets, periodical articles or any of the other miscellaneous items which form an important part of the stock of special libraries, those which are most likely to be of practical value in day‐to‐day work. It is designed specifically to help personnel in small libraries, and is directed particularly towards those who have not yet completed their library training or, in the case of information officers, those who have not yet had much experience.

Miss Barbara R. F. Kyle has been appointed Research Librarian of Aslib and, in succession to Miss E. M. R. Ditmas, Managing Editor of the Journal of Documentation. She will join the Aslib staff on 24th June. Barbara Kyle is at present Assistant Director of the National Book League, which appointment she has held since 1958. After wide experience in public libraries she was, for ten years, Librarian of the Royal Institute of International Affairs. Since 1955, thanks to grants from both the Nuffield Foundation and the United States National Science Foundation, she has drafted and is testing a classification for social sciences. She is a member of the Unesco International Advisory Committee for Bibliography, Documentation, and Terminology, and a Vice‐President of the International Federation for Documentation. For many years she has taken an active interest in Aslib affairs. She was elected to the Council in 1949 and has since given her services as Chairman of the Conference and Meetings Committee (1950–51), Honorary Secretary (1951–55), Chairman of Council (1955–57), Chairman of the International Relations Committee (1957–61), Chairman of the Research Committee (1961–62), and has served also on the Education and the Executive and Finance Committees.

In the absence of Miss Ditmas the chair was taken by Mr. J. E. Wright. Formal papers were not read/but three speakers contributed their observations on microfilm apparatus now available to the librarian. A specimen of the German Mikrophot reader was on view and there was a display of photographs of the Kodak Library Reader, Model A.H., the Ediswan Microfilm Reader, and the B.K. Microfilm Reader, Model II. (Names and addresses of the manufacturers and some other notes will be found on p. 37.)

The problem of translations is one that, sooner or later, besets most special librarians. For a small library, in particular, where no member of the staff can be spared to undertake the work even if qualified to do so, translations are expensive though often necessary. It is all the more frustrating, therefore, when it is later discovered that the article in question has already been translated elsewhere and would have been accessible. Hence the repeated demand, ‘Cannot something be done to avoid this duplication of effort?’ The problem of translations is, however, deceptive. It looks simple. Let there be a central index and ask anyone who makes a translation to register it; then everyone else will know that a translation of that particular article has already been made. So runs the argument. But there are hidden difficulties. It was to describe some of these difficulties and to consider possible remedies that the London Winter Meeting of Aslib held on 17th January, 1955, was devoted to a discussion of the translation of scientific material, under the Chairmanship of Mr. E. B. Uvarov.

The last of the London meetings for the winter session 1955–6 was held on 13th April, 1956, when Mr. C. N. Kington, Group Manager, British Iron and Steel Research Association, and Director of Research, Cutlery Research Council, spoke on the problem of helping small firms to make use of scientific research. Many of the steel‐using firms are too small to have information departments of their own and, moreover, have a strong tradition of craftsmanship which is often slow to appreciate the value of new techniques. Mr. Kington has had first‐hand experience of the special approach that is necessary if these firms are to be kept in touch with scientific progress. His paper is printed in full in this issue, together with an account of questions and answers in the discussion which followed. The Chair was taken by Dr. M. A. Vernon, of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, a branch of the Government that is particularly interested in this problem.