Articles of value on the subject of business libraries which have been published since the first edition was written have been added to "References for Additional Reading"; minor additions have been made to the text, and the prices and editions of all reference books mentioned have been brought up to date, and some additional titles have been added.
Three drawings of floor plans which have been used for business libraries have been added to Chapter Seven as of possible value to business firms making small library layouts.
L. B. K.
Chicago, Illinois.
November 1, 1920.
PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION
This handbook has been written with the purpose of giving brief comprehensive information to the business man on the subject of the business library as an indispensable earning factor in the conduct of business enterprises. It aims to tell how to organize and maintain a business library, what to do in order to get the best results from it, and to show by concrete illustrations, gathered from the experience of firms maintaining library service, what the business library is worth as a financial asset.
The subject matter is not designed to set forth the work of any one class of business libraries, but is a composite study of many. It records business library facts as observed by the author during ten years of service as a business librarian, and as such, may be also of value to librarians contemplating the undertaking of business library work.
The references given at the conclusion of each chapter have been selected from a large mass of printed material on the subject, on the basis of practical supplemental reading only and are not designed to be exhaustive reference lists.
The author makes grateful acknowledgment to her Library School class-mate, Renee B. Stern, now Editor of "The Woman's Weekly," for most helpful advice, and to her friend, Virginia Fairfax, Librarian, Carnation Milk Products Company, Chicago, for generous criticism and correction of the manuscript.