The Library World Volume 59 Issue 6

CIRCUMSTANCES have delayed us this month long enough for us to have read the page on the new President of the Library Association Professor Raymond Irwin. It is a tribute that all will endorse cordially. Since he went to University College he has identified himself even more intensely than he was able to do with every movement that concerns the betterment of libraries as well as his main occupation which was to maintain and extend the work of library training. He has done so, insomuch that students even from America, where good schools abound, have come to take the session at University College. We, as speaking for Grafton and Co., have been privileged to publish the three works by which he is best known, and we hope that they may still be available to readers, especially his Librarianship which is concise, profound and unpedantic a study of library “what's what” or “what should be” as any we know. Those who have not read it would advantage themselves by repairing the omission. His Bird Index, a reflection of the labours of his scanty and strenuous leisure of many years, is we suppose in the library of every reader of this journal. That he will do honour to the Presidency there is no possible doubt. His election was as wise as any that we have had; and the Brighton Conference in 1958 should be amongst our brightest and best.