Historical Source Material of All Classes in All Types of Medical Libraries

摘要

However, that eminent medievalist Monseigneur Jalard Balmes,' of 8, The Fenway, advised us that we were not expected to take seriously the all-embracing title of the symposium but to follow custom, at these meetings, and talk about what we do in our library. He suggested, for instance, that I give a little advertising to the PPC practice (not now an active one) of photostating our incunabula, which enables us to supply positive copies to other libraries at minimum photostating expense. We are always happy to do this for you, of course. But why should you want them? Photostating is an expensive method of duplication. Few of the texts of genuine historical importance can be reproduced except at a cost out of proportion with any imaginable use. A photostatic copy has none of the feel or the look of a book. In an expensive binding, it is an incongruous thing; in a cheap binding, it is useful for textual study but that is all. The scholar seldom needs to peruse the entire text; a microcopy, much cheaper, serves adequately for all but extended, intensive study.