# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1944_S537
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

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536 Report of Board for Higher Education

VII. LIBRARIES

In most of our preparatory schools the housing of the library
inadequate. Under the present limitation of floor space at the majox
ity of our schools, the management is compelled to resort to’ suc
expediencies as installing the library on an upper floor, combinini
chapel and library, or utilizing several small unconnected rooms.
separate building for the library, like the excellent structure receni
erected: at our Milwaukee Concordia, is an ideal yet to be realiz
at our other institutions, :

Most of the school libraries lack some of the facilities that mak
for comfort, Smooth-running management, and Satisfactory coverage
of the students’ needs, such as good furniture, magazine tacks, displa
cases, and accurate cataloguing.

Book collections in our libraries are generally not up to the
quirements of the accrediting agency. Toa large extent they consi
of gratuitous accretions of standard classics and other books wholl
unrelated to the purposes of the schools. « Outdated reference mate

. Fial needs replacement. Periodicals, while sufficiently supplied ing
number, are not always advantageously chosen. ’ s

the college’ library has the additional Tesponsibility of promotiri
proper reading habits, imparting methods of research technique, anc
. creating a general desire on the Part of the’ students to make ful
use of the library’s cultural and recreational resources, The achieves:
ment of these ends requires a Program of continuous publicity: an
Promotional effort on the part of the library staff and faculty, °

In most instances the college librarian is also a member of -the’s
faculty and as such has responsible instructional duties and - mani
domestic and social obligations besides that prevent him from bein;
on hand at all times when the library is open. Where this situatio
obtains, his student substitutes should be carefully trained in stan
ard library technique. A few of our preparatory schools are fortuna!
in having a full-time professionally trained. librarian, ,

Certain improvements in library service, affecting especially ‘t
small schools, will require expenditures in.excess of the annual allow.
ance granted by Synod. In such cases effort should be made by:t
administration of the school to obtain appropriations for the libr
“from local ‘incomes under control of local Boards of Trustees’
(synodical resolution, 1941) and from the prescribed collection. of:
student library fees, before petitioning Synod for further aid.

Recommendations
It is recommended:

1, That, as soon as feasible, a full-time librarian, trained a
cording to the standards of the regional accreditation ass
ciation, be appointed in our large preparatory schools.