The Osler Medical Library : a tribute, July 12th, 1919 / by J.Y.W. MacAlister.

  • John MacAlister
Date:
[1919?]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The Osler Medical Library : a tribute, July 12th, 1919 / by J.Y.W. MacAlister. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    eledtric lamp provided with current through a cunning attachment to the pedestal. ‘ How do you classify your books ? ’ I asked. ‘We don’t classify them. You can’t classify a Medical Library without doing more harm than good. If all medical books were monographs it could be done and probably would be useful; but when you remember under how many subjedts medical books might be looked for, you will recog¬ nise that to classify them under one subjedl would be hiding them in all the others. Therefore, we find that for pradlical purposes, both as regards economy of space and quickness of service, it is better to shelve the ‘books chronologically and according to size. This means that our Library begins with the earliest books, which are in the remoter parts of the Library, and so we march down through the ages, and the books published during the last ten years are the most accessible, and the book last received is the last one on the shelves. We depend for our classification on the catalogue in which a reference should be found to any par¬ ticular book, under every subjedl with which it deals.’ I noticed on the larger tables bulky volumes that looked like atlases, and on turning them over found they were filled with original drawings of all kinds—pathological, anatomical, surgical and bac¬ teriological. ‘Ah,’ said my guide, ‘ that is a feature of which we are rather proud. Beautiful and valuable drawings are constantly being made for authors, to illustrate their books and papers published in Tran- sadtions, etc., and for the most part, these were destroyed, or at least wasted. Some authors might
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