The President's Comments

During the past year I have visited several research institutions and schools in Central and South America. One thing that has impressed me, and I am sure many o£ you have had the same experience in your travels, is that we take our libraries for granted. Whenever we need some information to assist us in our teaching or research activities, we stop in the library and review the literature. For most of us the information is a t our fingertips. All we have to do is to look it up. In many of our schools and laboratories, we have information retrieval services that will search the literature for us. Do you have any idea what it is like to attempt to carry on a good research or instructional program without the aid of good library facilities This is the situation in many of these countries. Often the teachers or research workers have been trained in the United States and have used our excellent library facilities. Yet, when they return home and attempt to put this training to work, they are handicapped by the lack of books, journals, and other sources of printed information. This shortage may be due to lack of funds, lack of communications and to other causes. I have been impressed by the lack of the accessibility to the Journal of Dairy Science and other dairy publications that we take for granted. Many of us have back issues of journals or text books that we would be glad to donate to these schools and libraries if we just had some idea where to send them. Let me caution you that this can be expensive. Even if you are willing to donate publications, the cost of mailing can be quite high. In many instances, the recipients do not have the money to pay the postage. To help alleviate this situation, I would like to make the following suggestion. This has been discussed with Claude Cruse, our executive secretary, and he has agreed to cooperate. I f any of you have back copies of the Journal of Dairy Science or other publications relating to the dairy industry that you would be willing to donate for this worthy cause, please drop a note to Claude and tell him what you have available. Likewise, any foreign students in this country who will be returning soon to your home country and who would be willing to take some publications back wibh them for their school or laboratory, should send their name, United States address, and the time they expect to return to their country to Mr. Claude Cruse. Indicate in your letter the type of publications that your library needs. Mr. Cruse will then put the potential donor in touch with you and the arrangements for the transfer of the publications can be made between you and the donor. There are several intersoeiety committees that are working on projects and problems that not only concern the members of the ADSA but other scientifio groups with interests similar to ours. One of these committees is the Intersociety Committee on Drugs and Chemicals. Former ADSA director, C. A. Lassiter of Michigan State University, is our representative on this committee. Charlie Lassiter has just brought to my attention some action that should be of interest to many members of our Association. In April, 1970 the Comnfissioner of Food and Drugs established a task force of scientists to undertake a comprehensive review of the use of antibiotic drugs in animal feeds. The reportl and recommendations of this task force, along with the actions that FDA proposes to take as a result of these recommendations, were published in the February 1, 1972 issue of the Federal Register. I f you have concerns in this area, I urge that you read this material. I f you feel that you wish to respond to these proposed actions, please do so immediately. I f these actions are implemented, they will