671,727 Books

According to the annual report of the Faculty Committee on the Library, Dartmouth at .the end of the academic year 1948-49 had a total of 671,727 books, bound periodicals and pamphlets. This figure embraces the holdings of the main library (Baker and Carpenter) and of the libraries in Sanborn English House, Thayer School and Tuck School. Exclusive of class duplicates, volumes in the main library totaled 606,883.

The effects of inflation are shown in the relatively small increase of 11,032 volumes for the year. This is a drop from the 14,984 added the year before and is the smallest annual accession since 1928. With the purchasing power of its funds diminished, the library had to make cuts both in the departmental allotments and in the general fund. As it was, one-third of the books added were gifts from alumni and friends. No immediate relief from this financial pinch is held likely by the Committee on the Library, which referred rather wistfully to the brighter, and cheaper, days of the 1930's.

Although circulation of 279,242 for 1948-49 was an advance over the year before, the volume of circulation did not keep pace with the growth of the College and is well below the average for the prewar period of 1930-1939. A possible explanation for the drop at the Reserve Desk, where class texts are handled, is the continuation of the wartime practice of relying on a single textbook, the committee pointed out.

Pertaining not strictly to books, but to the illumination necessary to read them, the committee reported the installation of AC current in the library as the first step toward remedying the unsatisfactory lighting arrangements there. Some new fluorescent lighting has already been installed and it is hoped that the Periodical Room will get modern fixtures this year. The entire conversion job will be expensive and will have to be done gradually.