CO-OPERATION AND CO-ORDINATION IN SPECIAL LIBRARY WORK

摘要

The fundamental objective of all library associations is coopration: the welding together of scattered units into a homogeneous whole, for the promotion of better libraries and librarians, and for the co-ordination of library service. The A.L.A. is a great organization, much like the large trade-unions, but without the advantages enjoyed by such unions in their ability to maintain close contacts and interest through the medium of the locals scattered in every city throughout the country. It has become an unwieldy, topheavy association because of its purely national character and lack of local or sectional contacts. One belongs to the A.L.A. because of the great good it has done and is doing for American libraries and the library profession and for the prestige of being a member and not for anything tangible conferred on its in ividual members. Because of the very large membership, only a few can take part in the work of conducting the Association.