Some problems in the administration of a medical library / by James F. Ballard.

  • Ballard, James F. (James Francis), 1878-
Date:
1914
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Some problems in the administration of a medical library / by James F. Ballard. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

    14/18 page 12
    letters and manuscripts, book plates, etc., should be formed and maintained. The Boston Library is fortunate in having a remarkable collection of medical medals now numbering some 3,700 specimens. Provision has been made for its permanent maintainence. There is a great mass of material relating to medicine which never comes into the market and which could fill a very important place. Every physician has in his possession fugitive material such as pamphlets, clippings, photographs, autographs, etc., which are either soon thrown away or become destroyed through improper care. Special effort should be made toward the acquisition of this material. The newer publications dealing with the history of medicine should be acquired as i.ssued and the older material as funds allow. A certain sum each year should be expended for this purpose. In the selection of the old literature we make use of the following named aids: Pauly, A. Bibliographie des sciences medicales. Paris, 1874. Pagel, J. E. Historische medicinische Bibliographie fiir die Jahre, 1875-1896. Berk 1898. John Crerar Library. List of books on the history of science. Chicago, 1911. Garrison, F. H. An introduction to the history of medicine. Phila. 1913. Garrison, P'. H. Texts illustrating the history of medicine in the Library of the Surgeon-General’s Office, U. S. A. Wash. 1912. Dr. Garrison has recently called my attention to; Withington, PL T. Medical history from the earliest times. Loud. 1894, which is a source book of the highest value and should be added to the above list. 6. Hoiv far shall the medical library go into the collateral sciences? The border line between the biological sciences and medicine is changing \?ery rapidly and it is an important question of deciding how far the medical library shall go into these subjects. In a large library it is desirable to have at hand any material the demand for which is fairly constant. Each library will have to work out this problem to its own satisfaction according to the library facilities existing in its particular field. In Boston where we have fine libraries on chemistry, psychology and science, the problem is somewhat simplified. The following few examples will give some idea as to our policy in this matter. We purchase material on physiological but not on pure or industrial chemistry; on psychology but not on pure philosophy; on eugenics
    digitised image 1
    digitised image 2
    digitised image 3