The Library World Volume 60 Issue 4 Available to Purchase

THERE is no argument more futile in the field of librarianship than that of whether it is preferable that librarians should be bookmen or administrators. Nonetheless, the President thought fit to make it one of the main points of his address to the Conference, painting in words two pictures—one of the “business executive” type librarian with his clear desk, telephone and secretary, and the other of a “scholar” type surrounded by books and dust, oblivious to the outside world. If it were possible to define the terms “bookman” and “administrator” in relation to library work there might be some point in a discussion on the subject. What is meant when a librarian is called a bookman? Is a bookman someone who comes to work like everyone else, but once arrived sits in an office and spends the rest of the day reading? If this is what a bookman does, does he read old books or new books? If old books, does he read them literally or bibliographically? Does he read purposefully in order to create some new work of his own, or without purpose? The question is an endless one, but then no librarian could possibly spend the whole of his working life so engaged.