Vertical file. Elm tree press, Woodstock, Vt. (Modern American library economy).
Ovitz, D. G.
The "Readers' Guide" and the vertical file. H. W. Wilson Company, New York City.
CHAPTER VII
MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT FOR THE
BUSINESS LIBRARY
It is the purpose of this chapter to give an outline of the equipment required by the business library to do its work adequately. Some business men make the mistake of thinking that the mechanical equipment which they purchase will make a satisfactory library, while others put their faith in employing a librarian who they expect will create library service with the expenditure of very little money for facilities and tools for carrying on the work.
Both opinions are wrong, for the business library needs adequate equipment with which to perform acceptable service quite as much as it does a skillful librarian.
Floor Space and Shelving
No business firm should consider establishing library service unless it is willing to provide suitable space for it, for the best librarian in the country cannot give satisfactory service with books and material scattered in various places, wedged in tightly and stored on top shelves or in storerooms where there is not quick access to them.
The writer knows of several business firms, who from lack of sufficient library space store their periodicals, and as far as any real use is concerned they might as well not have them. Often the plea of lack of floor space is a superficial reason and only indicative of the fact that the firm is following a short sighted policy and has not really waked up to the tremendous value of having such material in order and readily accessible.