During the sixties colleges of education increased their student numbers at an unprecedented rate. As a consequence college libraries grew in size and improved their standards of provision. The evidence indicates, however, that this development of college libraries in no way matched the overall expansion of the colleges. This point is established by an examination of bookgrants, bookstocks, book prices, use, accommodation and staffing. The extent of this failure, compounded by present inflationary tendencies, is a cause for professional concern.
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References
1.
Layard, R., and others. The impact of Robbins. Penguin, 1969. 65.
2.
Association of Teachers in Colleges and Departments of Education and Library Association.College of education libraries: recommended standards for their development. Library Association , 1967.
3.
Department of Education and Science.Statistics of education: awards and finance. HMSO, 1965.
4.
Library Association.Annual survey of college of education libraries. Limited circulation by the Library Association, 1965-69.
5.
For example, it is not possible to determine the relationship between library spending and total college spending; the total amount spent on books, etc.
6.
The Annual surveys for I966 and I967 give a detailed breakdown for expenditure on books and periodicals. This detail is not given for other years. Nothing has happened since to suggest that the relative magnitudes have altered in any significant fashion.
7.
Average book prices. Libr. Ass. Rec., 71 (8) August 1969. 246.
8.
(a) Department of Education and Science.Statistics of education, 1967: awards and finance, v.5. Table 9. HMSO, 1968.
9.
(b) Times Educational Supplement. Friday, 28 November 1969. 10.
10.
The lower standards thought appropriate for colleges of education are revealed in a comparison with university libraries where the ratios would appear to be within the range I: I40 to I: 200.
11.
Atcde/La.College of education libraries: rerommended standards, for their development. Library Association,1967. I0.
12.
Committee on Non-Teaching Staff in Maintained Colleges of Education. Second report, March I968. (Circulated to local government authorities 27 March I969).
13.
Department of Education and Science.College letter. June 1969.
14.
Library Association.National, University, College and Medical Libraries SubCommittee on College of Education. Staffing in college of education libraries. Libr. Ass. Rec. , 72 (2) February 1970, 58-60.
