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3 Law Libr. J. 1 (1910-1911)
Management of a Small Law Library

handle is hein.journals/llj3 and id is 7 raw text is: LAW LIBRARY JOURNAL- VOL. IH APRIL, 191o Nor. I MANAGEMENT OF A SMALL LAW LIBRARY. BY OLARIBETL H. SmITK, Librarian, 11ampden Co. Law Library, Springfield, Mass. HETTIE GRAY BAKrn, Librariah, Hartford Bar Library, Hartford, Conn. Originally the subject given was What can the larger law libraries ,do to help the smaller? This proved a-subject difficult.to handle at length, for in a few words the answer is kind and intelligent advice. The subject was changed to the one now under consideration because the librarian of the small library is often inex- perienced and puzzled by the many problems of daily occurrence and the most needed advice is as to the management of a small library. I As many of you know, eight questions in regard to this matter were sent to librarians of both small and large law libraries in all parts of the country, These questions concerned size of library, duplication of material, 'classification, cata- loguing, selection of books, indexing, and circulating. It seemed best to tale these questions one by one and answer each bv a compilation of the answers received, thus making a composite answer which would represent the concensus of opinion of many experienced librarians. First let us consider, however, -if there are not other ways, beside intelligent al- vice, in which the larger libraries can help the smaller. A few of the suggestions received are as follows: Could there not be close co-operation between the state library 'and the county libraries? They both serve the same purpose, namely: to furnish the law to the legislature, the bench, the bar, and to the different state and municipal departments. The state library might help the small law libraries by lending them books upon re- quest. There should be uniformity of classification and cataloguing, so that it would be possible for the state library to issue duplicate ca talogie cards for the county libraries, as the Library of Congress does. By combining, it might be poz- sible to buy books at a lower rate. If is easier for law libraries to co-operate more effectively than others, because, though localities differ, their work is similar in character. Large libraries should take the lead and give the smaller ones the benefit of the expert work done by their trained 'corps of workers; for instance, the digesting of the advanced opinions of the court -of last resort, indexing of magazine articles (unless continued by the Amcrian As- sociation of Law Libraries), attorneys-general opinions, etc. These are mere sug- gestions for your consideration. Now let us take up the direct questions in regard to The Management of a Small Law Library. One of your number has said: It is impossible to lay down any hard and fast rules to serve as a guide for the management of a small law library. The individual library must be governed by its peculiar wants. * NOTE: This is the same article which appeared in Vol. 1, Law Library Journal, p. 56, with some additions and revisions.

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