Management and Operation

THIS REPORT is mainly based on a questionnaire which was answered by thirty-one American university libraries. The findings, are primarily applicable to the work of the acquisitions de-partment of large research libraries. In keeping with the thoroughly individualistic nature of these institutions there is a great diversity as to the place of the department in the general library structure; a similar heterogeneity can be found in the definition of its function and duties. In the early thirties a proposition was discussed which would inte-grate acquisitions and cataloging into a technical service division. This movement gained great impetus during the forties, but seemingly has slowed down during the last years. No definite trend can be pre-dicted at the moment. The ratio in the libraries investigated is twelve technical service divisions against nineteen.l, The new organizational pattern also evoked strong objections, for instance, the thoughtful criti-cism of R. C. S ~ a n k. ~One of his points is undoubtedly well-taken: co-operation between acquisitions and cataloging can be achieved with-out organizational change. The answers to the questionnaire do not reveal that the libraries with technical service divisions have achieved better cooperation than their sister institutions. However, the merits of the new plan are not so easily dismissed. The fundamental points, such as decrease in cost, increase in speed of processing, flexibility of personnel, and adaptability to new methods, have not been docu-mented by either party.4 I t is accepted by everybody that cooperation should exist between the two departments. Either a superior administrative officer or meet-ings between the two department heads should establish adequate channels of communication. Generally, parts of the multiple-order form are used to forward bibliographical information. In one library the catalog department is responsible for searching. However, in more than half of the libraries the relations do not seem close enough t