One GS-11 bibliographer is requested for the Bibliography and Reference Correspondence Section of the General Reference and Bibliography Division. The tremendous collections and facilities of the Library of Congress make it essential for various bibliographies to be compiled here to describe these collections. At the same time, the rapid growth of the Library's already gigantic holdings adds to the complexity of bibliographic work and makes it more time consuming. One outstanding example of a bibliographic compilation of the Division is the "Guide to the Study of the United States," published in 1960 but covering publications only through 1955. This work contains about 6,500 entries in nearly 1,200 pages, and has been accepted as a standard work in its field. Some 25,000 copies have been sold in the 13 years since its publication. A supplement, covering publications of the years 1956-65, is in press. Compilation of a second supplement, 1965-75, is one of the current projects of the section. It also prepares other bibliographies, but the complex nature of this work limits what can be accomplished. The selective "Guide to the Study of the United States," for example, should be complemented by more inclusive bibliographies on specific aspects of American history, like those resulting from the Library's major effort to describe its holdings on the period of the American Revolution. Furthermore, it has been impossible with existing staff to undertake the revision of a number of valuable bibliographies compiled in the past, such as "The White House," "Current National Bibliographies," and "The Presidents of the United States," or the manual on "Bibliographical Procedures and Style," a standard for library bibliographic compilation. Fiscal 1963 was the last year that a new position was added for this work in this unit. One GS-9 reference librarian is requested for the Local History and Genealogy Room, General Reference and Bibliography Division. Because of the Library's great family and local history collections, this is one of the most intensively used reading rooms in the Library. Weekend use has been especially heavy. In addition to helping readers in the room, the Local History and Genealogy staff answers numerous telephone inquiries from Members of Congress, librarians, and the public. Figures for reference assistance record an increase from 15,736 in fiscal 1966 to 17,232 in fiscal 1973. In response to correspondents, hundreds of brief replies and many letters providing substantial information are drafted. These have increased because of the publication in 1972 of Local History and Genealogy's family history card file, a major contribution to genealogical research that is widely used in American libraries. Still more inquiries will doubtless arise when a listing of the Library's holdings in local history is published within the next 2 years. Much work needs to be done to improve the Nation's foremost local history and genealogy collection and facilities for users who come from throughout the United States: Build the book collection, weed the reference collection, prepare an author and subject catalog of the reference collection, make a card index of biographical sketches in county histories, and collect materials containing ship passenger lists. Work on these valuable projects has been prevented by the existing workload and lack of staff. The steadily growing service, which is of great value to the public, places additional and unpredictable demands upon the Local History and Genealogy staff. The last time that a new position was added to this service was fiscal 1966. The present Local History and Genealogy staff of three is not sufficient to keep up with the reference workload, to staff the Local History and Genealogy reading room on weekends, and to develop the collection adequately. One GS-9 reference librarian is requested for the motion picture section of the Prints and Photographs Division. The reference workload in the section continues to increase with the growth in the size of the motion picture collection-now containing over 183,000 reels of film. Motion picture reference work is particularly time-consuming because it involves extensive bibliographic research in varied and poorly organized sources. Reference librarians must help readers with the selection of appropriate materials and with the use of complex viewing machines; and they must provide careful and continuous supervision to make certain that films are not damaged. The additional reference librarian is therefore requested to assist in this work, which at present is maintained only by calling upon other staff members for assistance to the detriment of their work in processing or preserving the collection. The Science and Technology Division has primary responsibility within the Library for reference, referral, and bibliographical services in the fields of science and technology, and has custody of the Library's collections of technical reports. The Division carries out several special bibliographic projects, and operates the National Referral Center for Science and Technology. The following H four positions are essential for maintaining reference work on this fast moving and important field. One GS-13 technical information specialist is requested to coordinate and supervise the automated information activities of the division and to carry out the complicated and necessary liaison with those sections of the Library involved in the total automation effort and with other organizations whose data bases the division can beneficially access. The Division is currently engaged in eight automation projects and one computer terminal has been installed on a trial basis in the division which affords on-line tie-in with the machine-readable bases of the Atomic Energy Commission. Another has been installed that provides on-line tie-in with Library of Congress data bases. One additional GS-7 technical information specialist is needed in the referral services section as a referral specialist to handle the increased number of referral requests now being received. In fiscal 1973, the present three referral specialists had a workload of 4,018 requests, more than double in the number in fiscal 1964, when the National Referral Center for Science and Technology (NRC) began full reference operations. In the past the section has been able to cope with the increased number of requests partially because of the automation of the NRC resource and case history files and partially through the use of precompiled select lists of resources in answering general type requests. The increasing number of referral requests, however, will make it impossible for the section to maintain its primary goal of answering all requests within 5 working days. Timeliness is particularly important to the scientific and technical community served by this section. Two GS-6 editorial assistants are needed in the publications section for the program of continuous revision of the general directories of the NRC. They also are needed to undertake the revision of other publications of the Science and Technology Division and to produce new publications. More specifically, these editorial assistants would work on a number of division publications, using a variety of input devices to prepare manuscripts, assist with the indexes, their main function being to prepare manuscripts and related products for the NRC directories, including converting the data into machine-readable form for photocomposition and using a computer terminal. The directories, appearing about once a year, contain from 2,300 to 3,000 entries. A new automated publication system for producing NRC directories on short notice covering topics of intense current interest is now being implemented and when fully operational, a monthly computer-based inquiry cycle will insure that no organizational description in the file is more than a year old. While this will improve greatly the value of the file and assist in answering inquiries, it will also create new and heavier work-loads for the editorial assistants (some 50 new resources and 100 additional updating actions per week). Support for these positions was for some years provided by the National Science Foundation, but the Library assumed full responsibility for NRC in fiscal 1968. One GS-9 special collection librarian is requested for the Stack and Reader Division to carry out the Library's obligations under the provisions of Public Law 92-463, the Federal Advisory Committee Act. A basic function in this position would involve service of the reports of the Federal Advisory Committee deposited in the Library of Congress. In commenting on this law before enactment, the Library advised the Congress that a GS-9 position would be required to organize and service this material. There are also other special collections to be serviced as time permits. Since the effective date of this law (January 5, 1973) the Library has received over 1,200 charters and 100 reports of advisory committees and commissions. To achieve and maintain currency in the processing of maps, atlases, and newspapers on microfilm Serial Division: GS-7 Newspaper control assistant (1). 9, 969 54, 525 Personnel benefits-- 4. 634 Total (5 positions)_. 59, 159 The cataloging and other processing of certain materials, such as maps, atlases, some motion pictures, and pictorial materials are a responsibility of the reference department. It is as important to maintain currency in this work as in the cataloging of books and serials (a responsibility of the processing department). Three GS-9 catalogers are requested in the Geography and Map Division to improve further the controls over the map and atlas materials in the custody of this Division. These important cartographic collections now contain over 3,500,000 maps and nearly 39,000 atlases and other items, and they continue to grow through annual additions of some 60,000 maps and 1,000 atlases. Positions were first granted in fiscal 1970 for the preparation of machine-readable records for current maps. Under this program the Division is cataloging over 5,000 single-sheet maps annually with a staff of six catalogers and a supervisor. The cataloging record thus prepared is converted into machine-readable form from which catalog cards or book catalogs are produced by computers. Magnetic tapes of these records are also available for distribution to other libraries. Current receipts of single-sheet maps in need of cataloging, however, total nearly 9,000 each year, and there are also multi-sheet maps (set maps) for which machine-produced controls are desirable. Two cataloger positions are requested. The third cataloger position is needed for the cataloging of atlases. Two catalogers are assigned at present to this work. They are able to maintain this work on a nearly current basis, but have not been able to catalog a large backlog of oriental atlases and some 12,000 atlases for which only a brief title card has been created. Many of the atlases in this arrearage are rare and need special handling and records. One GS-5 library technician is requested for the Geography and Map Division to continue to augment the staff of technicians who are assigned to the processing of set (multiple sheet) maps, and who are needed to maintain currency in searching, sorting, arranging, checking, indexing, and filing annual accessions. The present staff of three continues to work on large backlogs of materials which have accumulated over the years, including a partially processed backlog of 250,000 map sheets, involving several thousand Army topographic maps and several thousand noncurrent hydrographic charts. Some 60,000 new maps are also received annually, and these require sorting, marking, filing, and listing in some instances. The present staff is able to maintain this work on a current basis, but cannot make much headway on the backlogs. One GS-7 newspaper collection assistant is requested for the Serial Division. Investigation reveals that little attention has been given by libraries to adequate cataloging for newspapers, yet their value as research resources has long been recognized. The Library of Congress undoubtedly has the largest collection of U.S. domestic and foreign newspapers in the world. More details about the titles held need researching and recording to make the collection more accessible to users. Addition of one position will make possible the accomplishment of this objective. At present, the Division has one technician assigned to the accessioning, controlling, boxing, shelving, and cataloging of the rapidly growing collection of newspapers on microfilm. Coping with the size of the collection (more than 200,000 reels) and the incoming receipts (over 1,000 reels per month) leaves no time available for developing adequate controls and catalogs, although a start has been made. To improve the delivery of materials from the collections to readers in the Library Serial Division: GS-4 deck attendant (1).... Stack and Reader Division: GS-5 area supervisors at $8,055 (2). Total (4 positions). Total (5 positions) – $7, 198 16, 110 14, 396 30, 506 37, 704 3,205 Total (5 positions) -- 40, 909 The normal growth in size and complexity of the Library's collections results in the need to add staff to deliver materials to readers in the reading rooms, to shelve and reshelve such material, and to supervise this work. One GS-4 deck attendant is required in the Serial Division in order to maintain currency in the shelving of incoming periodicals and Government serials, and to retrieve these materials for service to readers in the Newspaper and Current Periodical Room. The unbound serial collection comprises over 5 million pieces representing about 75,000 titles with nearly 500,000 pieces received annually and 100,000 pieces use by readers, all of which must be shelved, kept in order, retrieved for use, and reshelved. The workload is assigned to 12 employees, a staff that is inadequate to cope with the inflow of material and maintain the good order necessary for efficient retrieval, particularly of the most current material which is in greatest demand. Two GS-5 area supervisor positions are needed in the Stack and Reader Division to complete the program initiated in fiscal 1970 to strengthen supervisory capacity. The five working supervisor positions granted in fiscal years 1970 through 1973 have helped to improve the supervisory situation. One of the two additional positions requested now will be used to provide added help in Main Building stacks where the badly crowded conditions demand careful checking of not-on-shelf reports and close coordination of desk attendant efforts in order to maintain service of the collection. The other position is needed to supplement supervision of the staff working evenings and Sundays. On two evenings, only one GS-7 stack supervisor is available for the two buildings. This position would insure supervisors available each evening in each building to move about in the stack areas and to provide direction and assistance to the deck staff where it is most needed. Two GS-4 deck attendant positions are also needed in the Stack and Reader Division because of the growth of the collections of some 280,000–300,000 volumes a year. By the end of fiscal 1974, the shift of the collections in the south and southeast stacks of the Main Building will require a realinement of deck stations, with an additonal position needed there. In the Annex, an additional position will be necessary in the control room, since over 55 percent of the collections are now housed in the Annex and since the new acquisitions and newly bound and labeled volumes are received there. To provide for management of the foreign newspaper microfilming program, for the preservation of motion pictures, and support for a divisional office. Reference Department Office: GS-14 foreign newspaper microfilming coordinator (1). Total (2 positions) - Music Division: GS-7 division secretary (1)---- Prints and Photographs Division GS-7 inspector/printer (1)_ GS-5 motion picture technician (1)– GS-4 clerk-typist (1)- Total (3 positions) –– Total (6 positions). Total $24, 247 8, 977 33, 224 9, 969 9.969 S. 055 7, 198 25, 222 68, 415 5. 815 74, 230 A Department of the size and complexity of the Reference Department requires a number of support positions. In the coming fiscal year, the foreign newspaper microfilming program, the Music Division, and the motion picture program are in the most urgent need of strengthened administrative support through additional positions. FOREIGN NEWSPAPER MICROFILMING The Library of Congress has been engaged for over 20 years in the microfilming of most of its foreign newspapers. These newspapers are vital to the Library's resources, as well as to the research resource of the Nation. Since a number of other libraries have similar filming programs, it is possible through communication and coordination to achieve maximum coverage by cooperative programs. This is true not only for current filming in lieu of preservation in original form, it is even more critical for the creation of film files of older newspapers where the files are scattered among a number of libraries. One GS-14 foreign newspaper microfilming coordinator is requested to manage this cooperative program, working closely with other libraries, library associations, and filming organizations. This requires an experienced reference specialist with a thorough knowledge of scholarly needs, as well as extensive knowledge of the bibliographic and technical work of producing satisfactory microfilm files. He must coordinate the program, obtain the necessary cooperation, and carry out the essential communications through meaningful information about projects and programs. One GS-6 library technician is requested to provide clerical support for this effort. MUSIC DIVISION One GS-7 division secretary is requested for the Music Division. A clerical assistant is needed to type and file administrative correspondence and memorandums; to provide secretarial assistance to the Chief, the Assistant Chief, the Adminitrative Assistant; to provide aid to other sections; to main the Division's voluminous files; to serve as Division receptionist; to fill in as assistant during the long concert season; to maintain and index concert programs and artists; and to maintain clipping files of subject interest. MOTION PICTURE PROGRAMS The Library's important collection of motion pictures still contains over 85 million feet of self-destructing nitrate film that must be converted to safety-base film for archival preservation. A specialized laboratory has been established with a small staff (five technicians) capable of converting nitrate film at the rate of 3 to 4 million feet a year. Additional positions are needed in order to increase this rate of conversion and keep ahead of the deteriorative process. One GS-7 inspector/printer and one GS-5 motion picture technician are requested to prepare the nitrate film and to print the permanent copies, as part of the objective of increasing the output of this laboratory. One GS-4 clerk-typist is also requested in the Motion Picture Section to prepare the records of the motion picture holdings, both as part of the preservation effort and part of the program to create official cataloging records. Mr. CASEY. Give us some detail about this Department as to how many people you now have, the vacancies you have, and why you need these people. AUTHORIZED POSITIONS AND VACANCIES Mr. BERRY. Mr. Chairman, we now have 601 budgeted positions under this appropriation in the Reference Department. Of those 601, we have one vacancy at the present time. We have not had as much turnover perhaps in our positions as some other departments in the Library. We are also asking for these 25 positions under four general categories. Except for one position which might possibly be considered as a new program which has been authorized by the Congress, the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, all of these positions are related to our efforts to improve the quality and character of the reference service that we are performing. In other words, they are being requested to serve readers who come into the Library to use the increasing valuable and complex collections that we have amassed. As Mr. Coughlin has pointed out, these collections have grown. It is true that the number of people coming in or the amount of material used in the Library has not grown at the same rate as the collections. However, Mr. Coughlin, the reference correspondence and the books that are going out from the Library on loan have increased. In other words, I think largely because of the change in the academic library facilities here in the local area, and to some extent the improvement in library facilities across the entire country because of the many millions of Federal dollars that have been put into library |