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During the six years of war the whole of the civilized world followed with the greatest anxiety the news concerning the fate of continental libraries. It has happened twice in the lifetime of our generation that not only human beings were killed, destroyed, and dispersed but also their silent friends—books. We became quite used to the phrase so frequently heard in the news: ‘Owing to shell‐fire or air‐bombardment a hospital, a church, or a library has been destroyed or severely damaged.’ I thought on such occasions: ‘Just like Louvain …’—as I never forgot the deep shock I experienced in my youth on hearing the tragic news of the destruction of this famous Belgian library.

Part of the “JDoc at 60” series, this paper aims to discuss, evaluate and compare writings on the state of libraries in Continental Europe in the 1940s and the 1990s.

Four papers published in Journal of Documentation, three from 1945 and one from 1994, are analysed and compared, and their significance discussed.

Finds that there are similarities and differences between the situation facing European libraries at the end of the 1939‐1945 war, and after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Both historical and current policy perspectives are included.

Aims to look at the post‐war problems of continental libraries.

Presents the author's own experiences and memories of lost literature in the war years.

In many countries the whole network of libraries was built up afresh – almost from nothing – with shortage of paper, of books, of library equipment, of building accommodation and library staff.

The author stresses the importance of the resumption of the activities of international librarian organizations to facilitate the exchange of ideas, the discussion of various questions, and the re‐establishment of pre‐war services such as interlibrary loans, photographic services, exchange of publications, etc.

THE hope we expressed in recent pages, that the Library Association might resume its normal methods of life and government, remains a hope. London, where only we suppose the Council could do its work really well, has been of late no place for the meetings of people; and we dare to say that for the key people of any profession or movement to gather there at present would be unwise, even though imagination may increase the risk beyond the warrant of the facts. Nor do we know yet if the worst has been experienced. Meanwhile it is probable that the affairs of librarianship must be delegated to even fewer workers than now. Only the chronically ungracious part of our fraternity will be without gratitude to those who keep things going for us.

All items listed may be borrowed from the Aslib Library, except those marked, which may be consulted in the Library.

Aarhus Kommunes Biblioteker (Teknisk Bibliotek), Ingerslevs Plads 7, Aarhus, Denmark. Representative: V. NEDERGAARD PEDERSEN (Librarian).

Libraries—international DIK LEHMKUHL, ‘Harvesting books for the world’, Library Journal. 15 May 1946 (vol. 71, no. 10), pp. 728–30. [A report on the work of the Inter‐allied Book Centre, London.]

It will be a momentous year, even if prophecies are not fulfilled in the sense in which they are so recklessly made. Threats of terrors at Christmas, especially for London, did not materialize. There are some readers who whisper that they do not believe in a Second Front at all. And so on: jade Rumour lies as earnestly today as ever in her unwholesome history. But much must happen before we can again utter the wish with which we begin. Our business, in addition to our imperative war duties, is to carry to conclusions of value the post‐war policies we have received from the Library Association. We have more than that to do. Some of our libraries, even those that have not suffered from direct bombing, are in a state which in peace conditions we should say was deplorable.

It has often been said that a great part of the strength of Aslib lies in the fact that it brings together those whose experience has been gained in many widely differing fields but who have a common interest in the means by which information may be collected and disseminated to the greatest advantage. Lists of its members have, therefore, a more than ordinary value since they present, in miniature, a cross‐section of institutions and individuals who share this special interest.