The Library Moves (Vol. 2, Issue 9)

The moving of the college library to larger quarters last week should, according to all indications, mark the start of a long period of continued expansion and growth.

By emerging from the confines of the cramped and inadequate rooms that the administration had until then assigned to it, the Library has removed a major obstacle in the way of its progress. It has lowered the barrier to the provision of proper facilities for reference and circulation departments of which a fast growing student body has such dire need.

Of particular note is the smoothness and rapidity with which the transfer was effected. Not only was there the whole of the college library to be shifted—and that with a minimum of interference with the library’s regular schedule, but there was the task of preparing the new place and removing Yeshiva library collections formerly kept there. Yet this phenomenal achievement was accomplished in two days.

Credit for the attainment must go primarily to Prof. Solomon Liptzin, chairman of the  Faculty committee on the Library, and to student volunteers. All gave unstintingly of their time and all labored unceasingly in a fine spirit of willingness to work.

The part played by student volunteers is of especial importance in view of the fact that the library management had been placed into administration hands this year.

While this could have been regarded by students as a complete acceptance by the authorities of the duties involved, and as relieving students of any obligations to the library, they preferred to take a broader view, and to continue to expend time and labor regardless of such considerations.

This is completely as it should be, and it speaks well for students, in the light of past library history. It will be remembered that the college library was founded by students five years ago, when the gross inefficiency and general inactivity of the official institutional library became so acute that the need for action arose.

Since that time, the library was not only managed by students, but financed solely from student sources, and it grew to be a well-integrated, properly organized function in the college with no help, and little cooperation, on the part of the administration.

In all the five years, the administration had been content to let students assume the burden and pay out the money. The only time the authorities evinced any activity on behalf of the library was when certain periodic contingencies made it imperative that the library be put into shape. After these brief flurries however, the old apathy regained full force, and students again were those who did all the work.

We are glad that this seems to be gradually changing. The provision of new quarters for the library and their complete furnishing is a good way of starting a new administration attitude towards the library. We hope that this attitude will soon begin to show concrete expression in various ways.

But meanwhile, we are truly thankful for the work of Professor: Liptzin and those altruistic students, for without them, it is safe to say, the library would be today where it was two weeks ago.