Evening star., 1941-03-09
MacLeish Outlines
First Explicit Aims Of
Library Of Congress
Rules Formulated to Guide
lis Work; Reorganization
Needed, He Says in Report

The first explicit outline of OBJ
tectlves for the Library of Congress
ever published was announced last
night by Archibald MacLeish in his
first annual report as librarian of
Congress.
Rules to guide the Library'S efforts
to meet in order the needs of men,
bers of Congress, executive and
judicial officials of the Federal Gov
eminent and the general public are
set out in the statement of OBJ
jectives.
Since 1t is impossible to collect
everything selection of books must
be made upon the basis of the
anticipated needs of these three
classes of users in the order given
Mr. MacLeish explained. Similar
considerations govern the Library S
policy as IAN agency of research and
reference work" he added.
The report, covering the fiscal
year ended last June 80, noted a
record number of acquisitions to the
Librarys collectiOns-a net acceS-
sion of 274,133 volumes and
pamphlets. The reading rooms also
issued 101, 1872 more volumes during
the year than in any previous year.
Reorganization Held Needed.
In an analysis of the condition
of the Library when he took office
on october l, 1889, and its needs,
Mr.. MaCLeish concluded that the
Library needs Increased appropria-
tionS" in specific areas, admin
istrative reorganization" and sta
tlstical and international controls
which do not now exist"
Congress has altered the original
nature of the Library by extending
its collections and services SO that
1t has become "a peoples library
OF reference" while retaining its
primary responsibility as the
library Of the elected representa-
tives of the people" Mr.. MacLeish
said in a discussion of policies.
He outlined two sets of objectives
for the Library, one concerning
maintenance of the collections
through purchase of materials, and
the other governing reference and
research activities.
Canons of Selection.
The "Canons of Selection" pro-
vide that the Library should:
l. Possess in some useful form
all bibliothecal materials necessary
to the Congress and to the officers
of Government of the United States
in the performance of their duties.
2. Possess all materials whether
in original or copy which express
and record the life and achieve
ments Of the people of the United
States.
3. Accumulate, in some useful
form, the material parts of the
record of other societies, past and
present - ="
The second set of objectiyes de-
clares that the Library:
l. Undertakes for members of
Congress any and all research and
reference projects bearing upon the
Library's collections and required by
members in connection with the
performance of their legislative
duties.
2. Undertakes for officers and
departments of Government re-
search projects, appropriate to the
library, which can be executed by
reference to its collections, and
which the stats of such Offices and
departments are unable to execute"
3. Reference staff and facilities
"are available to members of the
public, universities, learned societies
and other libraries requiring serv-
ices which the Library staff Is
equipped to give and which can be
given without interference with
services to the Congress and other
agencies of the Federal Govern
ment.
Long Familiar Objectives.
at should be noted" Mr.. Mac
Leish said, that although explicit
statements of library objectives have
not been published by previous Ii
brarians of Congress *"* the pres
ent statements is for the most
part statement, in words, of objec-
tiVes long familiar in action"
The statement was adopted after
a series of conferences by a special
committee which submitted a draft
for criticism by officers and division
chiefs of the Library.
In discussing the "CanonS of Sc
lection" Mr.. MacLeish emphasized
that subject to congressional and
Government needs, the Library's COL
lections ARE for the use of the peo-
pie of the United States and should
contain the materials of principal
Importance" to them in their study
OF themselves and their past"
The Research Staff.
He also noted that the third
"Canon of Selection" is Limited in
scope" explaining that the Library
would attempt to acquire only such
non-American materials "as are
clearly important to general un-
derstanding." The basis of Selec-
ton here, he pointed out, will re-
quire "a more discriminating exer-
else Of judgment"
Referring to the Library's research
staff as pool of scholarship" the
librarian said it Is "aS much the
property of the people as its collec-
ton of books" This means, he add
ed, that the Library 'holds itself
charged with duty to provide in
formation to the people with regard
to the materials they possess in its
collections. and with an obligation
to make its technical and scholarly
services as broadly useful to the
people as it can"
30,797 Volumes Given.
Mr.. MacLeish reported that a to-
tai Of 30.797 volumes and pamphlets
were given to the Library during
the year. Donation by Mrs. Wood
row Wilson of the major portion
OF the papers of the former Presi-
dent was one of the most outstand-
ing manuscript additions.
Three major monetary grants
were reported, including $4,000
from the Rockefeller Foundation
for the use of the Library's Hispanic
Foundation, and two gifts amount