The answers to the questionnaire sent out by the Agricultural libraries section disclosed the fact that a large number of the agricultural colleges, but none of the experiment stations, have library committees, and that the college library committee's activities do not, except in a few instances, extend to the stations. It is not the purpose of this paper to discuss general library problems except so far as they touch upon the problems of the agricultural library. No arguments pro or con will therefore be brought to bear upon the desirability of library committees. If, however, it is thought best by an institution to have a library committee, it should by all means be a committee for the whole institution. As already emphasized, the station is a department of the college and there would seem to be no reason for excluding it in the consideration of the library problems of the college, for there is no department of the college whose interest in the library is more vital. It was interesting to note that in one of the state agricultural college libraries, whose growth in the last few years has been remarkable, there is no library committee. In another college with a growing and progressive library, the library committee was referred to as not much help and no hindrance. In some colleges the powers of the library committee are described as merely advisory as to library policies; in others, it evidently has considerable power, the decision in regard to the purchase of books being left largely to the library committee. It is a question whether this latter arrangement is altogether wise. There are certain dangers connected with it. If the librarian cannot be trusted to make a wise selection of books for the college, with the help of recommendations of the members of the faculty and station staff, then the disadvantages connected with a library committee empowered to decide on the purchase of books should be minimized as far as possible by having the library committee rotate in office, in order to insure a fair representation of the needs of all departments of the institution.
In the case of the experiment stations, the decision in regard to the purchase of books in most instances rests entirely with the director or the heads of the departments. This plan, too, has its disadvantages. The ambitious specialist allowed to have his own way without regard to the needs of his fellow workers is apt to purchase books of service only to himself. If there is a library committee for the institution, it would be far better to have the book purchases for the station considered by the committee on the basis of a general policy taking into account the special requirements of the station's work and funds. If there is no library committee, then the librarian of the college should by all means be consulted in regard to the purchase of all books for the station as well as the college. It should, of course, be understood by the librarian, as well as by other officers of the institution, that purchases of books and periodicals for the experiment station under the Hatch Act should be strictly confined to those required in connection with the work of the station and under the Adams act to those directly relating to the approved project of research. It will, therefore, be necessary for the station director to pass on the extent of the library purchases from station funds and the character of the books and periodicals to be thus purchased.
Among the functions, problems and opportunities of the librarians of our agricultural colleges, extension work remains to be considered. The extension work of the agricultural college is now one of its vital activities and is every year enlarging its scope. Leaders are needed for every phase of this work,—for correspondence schools, for farmers' institutes, for movable schools of agriculture, for work on practice farms, and in many other of the activities which are being used in carrying the improved methods of modern agriculture to the farmer himself. The experiment station is an organized effort of science to improve agriculture, and the extension work of the agricultural college is the practical means of reaching the farmer with useful information. The rural problem is one of the burning public questions of the day and upon its proper solution depends much of the progress which we confidently expect. The farmer must himself co-operate in the solution of this problem and the leadership is of a very high order that recognizes as an absolute essential to success, and succeeds in enlisting, an active participation on the part of the farmer in the work of bringing about an improved practice of agriculture. If then the library is as important in all the phases of the work of the agricultural college as we deem it to be, the work of the library should by all means be represented in all the extension work activities.
In conclusion, the above suggestions regarding the administration of the agricultural college and experiment station libraries and their opportunities for service to the investigator, the student and the farmer, may be briefly summarized as follows:
First: The libraries of the agricultural colleges and experiment stations should always be in charge of well-trained and efficient librarians.
Second: The books and periodicals should be selected with reference to the well-considered needs of the various branches of the institution, having regard for the vast amount of literature which may be secured by gift and exchange.
Third: The experiment station collection, even when separately housed, should be considered and administered as an integral part of the college or university library, under the direction of the college or university librarian.
Fourth: The needs of the experiment station staff should be met by the employment of a librarian, bibliographer or reference assistant especially qualified to serve the station in all its interests.
Fifth: In the extension work activities of the college for the more direct benefit of the farmer, the library should have its share.
It is realized that there may be a wide difference of opinion as to the methods to be employed, but the object of this paper will be in part accomplished if it directs attention to the principles upon which a policy of administration should be built. The problems of the library need the combined thought and efforts of librarians, faculties and experiment station staffs in order that it may by its efficiency promote to the fullest extent the work of the agricultural colleges and experiment stations.