The Fundamentals

While cleaning out the library office here I came across this little relic. It is the Fundamentals of the Library handbook by William Leahy, copywrite 1964. Besides its aged look and four missing pages, most would recognize that it is outdated by some of its content. In the unit on "Books and Book Indexes," there is a section on the card catalog (pictured). I realize that there are still card catalogs around, but most school libraries have moved on to some sort of electronic cataloging system; mine is the RSA. Another unit in this handbook that isn't found too much in today's libraries is the section on the "Vertical File." In this rapid changing age where technology is changing our world, I wonder what else from this little book and libraries in general is next to go. The reference section? Magazines? Books? The library space is changing and it is very exciting to be a librarian now. While I realize it is all relative, I can't think of a more important time to have strong library programs in schools. Students have more information at their hands now than ever before, and they have to make some pretty serious decision on how to find, choose and use this information.

Sometimes it is nice to look to the past to see where we have been and sometimes it gives us guidance as to what is still important. I'll keep this little book close at hand and use it to reflect on some of the fundamentals.