IIOW EVERY TOWN MAY SECURE A MEDICAL LIBRARY. BY C. D. SPIVAK, M.D., OF DENVER, COL. FROM THE MEDICAL NEWS, October 2, 1897. [Reprinted from The Medical News, Oct. 2, 1897.| HOW EVERY TOWN MAY SECURE A MEDICAL LIBRARY. To the Editor of The Medical News. Dear Sir: That a large, well-selected public medical library is an absolute necessity for any one who wishes to write upon or thoroughly study any subject connected with the art and science of medicine, no one will dispute. The experiences of ages and the results of innumerable investigations are crystallized in books. Every book is a great institution by itself. On this shelf is my physiolo- gical laboratory, on the other my biological institute; here my anatomical theater, there my lying-in-hospital. When- ever I wish, I can converse with Virchow, Da Costa, and Keen. I can at will make all the dead, from Galen to Charcot, arise and give me in turn some of their wisdom. I do not presume I have said anything new, for every one of us is somewhat of a book-worm, yet the number of cities that possess a public medical library may be counted upon the fingers. True, some of our fortunate brethern-in- Esculapius can buy all the books they wish to read, but no individual can afford to get together all the books that he might at some time wish to consult. It is obvious, that the most practical and most economic way for each community is to own a public medical library, where the best works may be gathered together, and where one book supplies the wants of many, at a small cost to all concerned. When I came to Denver, after having fattened upon the luxuries of the library of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia, I though that in the wild and woolly West I should miss entirely this pleasure. I was, however, pleasantly disappointed in finding a wisely selected, thor- oughly indexed and well-kept medial library. 2 Having had an occasion to make some extensive re- search, I found, to my regret, that the library was not sufficient for my purpose. It was natural that I should turn to my friends and acquaintances for assistance. I went from one physician to the other and inquired for the volumes I wished to consult. And, lo and behold, to my great joy I had to cry eureka a good many times a day; in fact, I found upon the shelves of the private libraries of my friends here and there a book which would make the mouth of the Surgeon-General water. Further- more, I have convinced myself that the physicians them- selves on account of lack of proper arrangement and the absence of an index or catalogue did not know what valu- able books they owned. The larger the collection of books, the more difficult it was to ascertain what it con- tained, and the less available it was for reference. I then conceived the idea of a Union Catalogue of Medical Books and Journals and on December 9, 1896, I read a paper before the Denver and Arapahoe Medical Society, entitled: "How the Library of the Colorado Medical Association Can Double the Number of its Vol- umes without Making Any New Purchase-A Sugges- tion." The title of the paper, which seemed to many to be of the "catchy" sort, brought to the meetingall the officers of the library, and also the accomplished librarian Mr. J. C. Dana, all of whom were eager to find out how to make something out of nothing. My suggestion was a very simple one. A catalogue of the public medical library should be sent out to every physician residing in Denver with a circular letter re- questing that he should at his leisure prepare a list of such of his books and journals as are not found in the public library; such list to be returned to the librarian. The librarian should prepare a card catalogue of such books and periodicals as the lists should furnish; such catalogue to be kept for reference. Each card should indicate in 3 whose office each book may be found, and at what hours it would be accessible to readers. By adopting this plan I was sure that a thousand volumes of medical works which are not to be found in the public library could at once become available for use, and this, without expense or inconvenience to any one. The writer of these lines had the satisfaction of hearing the consensus of opinion that the plan was both useful and feasible. The work has been accomplished. The librarian has prepared a carefully indexed card catalogue by author, title, and subject of all the books and journals from the lists which I have furnished. The result has exceeded the most sanguine expectations. We have added to our library about two thousand titles, and more than six thousand volumes. The physicians without exception have heartily co-operated in the work, and cheerfully offered their books upon the altar of mutual helpfulness. Of course, this plan may be carried out more efficiently in any city where there is a medical library. But in cities where there is no library by adopting this plan the foundation of such can be laid, provided the physicians will show a spirit of fraternity and co-operation. Even in small cities there are enough books scattered among the practitioners to constitute a good reference library, if they were only supplemented with a good index. Expe- rience has taught us that we cannot leave the work of making out the lists to the physicians themselves. The work must be accomplished by one or two individuals. He who has just graduated, or who has a superabundance of time on his hands should undertake this work of love. He will soon find that the work besides being profitable to the whole profession, which will be gratefully acknowl- edged, will at the same time be of great help to him in the future. He will acquire an acquaintance with the medical literature which he could not otherwise obtain. 4 He will see all the prominent physicians at their best, for no matter how uncommunicable a man may be by nature you will find him talkative and genial when the subject concerns his favorite books. I hope that this plan will be adopted wherever the pro- fession is fairly organized and living together amicably. This practical and inexpensive plan will not only foster learning and facilitate research, but it will strengthen the moral ties which bind the members of the profession one to the other, and, eventually will serve as a nucleus of a future library. C. D. Spivak, M.D., No. 608 California Building, Denver Col. HOW EVERY TOWN MAY POSSESS A GENERAL MEDICAL LIBRARY. A suggestion under this title is made by one of our correspondents which is worthy the careful consideration of every member of the profession re- siding in a town not yet possessing a public med- ical library. There are certain standard works which every practising physician must feel are indispensable to his daily work, and which he must have at hand for constant consultation. At the same time the fact must be recognized that few physicians are able to own all the books which at times they feel the necessity of consulting. To provide for such contingencies, the suggestion of our correspondent seems practicable and worthy of prompt and general adoption. In connection with the subject of books, we are 5 apt to recall the familiar statement of Emerson : "I visit occasionally the Cambridge library, and I can seldom go there without renewing the conviction that the best of it all is already within the four walls of my study at home. The crowds and centuries of books are only commentary and elucidation, echoes and weakeners of these few great voices of Time." This is true in the realm of letters, but does not suf- fice in the department of medicine. Medical science is advancing so rapidly at the present time that the latest and best book of the highest authority becomes antiquated in many of its details and demands a re- vised edition almost before the first has been ex- hausted. Moreover, no single authority is able to present all of the facts and experiences of the different observers from which his conclusions are drawn. Every practitioner who is at the same time a student in his special work desires very often to go behind the conclusions even of the best authority and inves- tigate the facts upon which his deductions are based. The doctor, therefore, is called upon to buy many books, and his desires in this direction frequently outrun his ability to satisfy them. By adopting the suggestion of our correspondent, especially when consultation is held as to how the investment in books from year to year shall be made, all of the latest and best authorities may be brought within the reach of the humblest practitioner. DR. C. D. SPIVAK, 608 California Building, stMetoiLibr»riW. Denver, Colorado. THE DENVER ApD ARAPAHOE JVIEDICAU SOCIETY. Dr. W. A. Jayne, President. 216 MCPHEE BUILDING. Dr. E. P. Hershey, Vice-President. Dr. J. M. Blaine, Financial Sec*y. Dr. E. J. Rothwell, Treasurer. Dr. C. D. Spivak, Secretary. SECRETARY'S OFFICE: 608 CALIFORNIA BUILDING, 1 ft C. c /Cyrr ! yf. # ( Ao 4 Ao C ' : frvi"' f 1 >■ TfiH DENVER AJ4D ARAPAHOE JVIEDICAU SOCIETY. DR. W. H. President. DR. C. D. SPIVHK, Secretary, 608 California Building. DENVER, COLO., Dec. 24, 1897. DEAR SIR:--The Denver and Arapahoe Medical Society sends a pleas- ant New Year's greeting to your Society. We enclose a reprint entitled ''How Every City May Secure a Medi- cal Library.'' This Society has given sanction to the plan proposed, and it was adopted and successfully carried out in connection with the Colorado Medical Library Asssociation and the Denver Public Li- brary. We are desirous that the plan as outlined shall be presented to your Society at its next regular meeting. Our Secretary, Dr. G. D. Spivak, is anxious to prepare and submit at the next Convention of The American Medical Association, in behalf of this Society, a report and statistical data concerning the ques- tion of medical libraries in the United States, for which purpose we solicit your co-operation. If there is in your county a medical library or a general library containing a medical department, please hand the blank to the li- brarian of same, requesting him to fill it out and to return to the address given below. Will you kindly let us know what action your Society takes in regard to this matter. Very respectfully, E. R. AXTELL, Chairman, C. E. EDSON, S. D. HOPKINS, Committee. Data for a statistical report of medical libraries and medical departments of general libraries in the United States to be pre- sented at the next convention of The American Medical Association, to be held in Denver, Colo., June 8, 1898. LocationName Date of foundingMedical library or medical department of general library. Supported by Society, Hospital, College, taxation. Income $ Endowment $ Expenditure during 1897 $Free or for members or subscribers only. Number of booksof periodicals of pamphletsof atlasses Total number of volumes Number of current medical periodicals during 1897 Volumes added during 1897Books issued during 1897 Name of Librarian Please fill out the above and erase where necessary, and return to DR. C. D. SPIVAK, 608 California Building, Denver, Colo. Send also constitution and by-laws, catalogues, reports, rules and regulations, querry blanks and other blanks used in your li- brary, all of which will be exhibited at the Convention. Due credit will be given to all exhibitors. THE DENVER AflD ARAPAHOE MEDICALi SOCIETY. DR. w. A. JflYfiE, President. DR. C. D. SPIVAK, Seeretary, 608 California Building. / DENVER, COLO., Dec. 24, 1897. DEAR SIR:--The Denver and Arapahoe Medical Society sends a pleas- ant New Year's greeting to your Society. We enclose a reprint entitled ''How Every City May Secure a Medi- cal Library.'' This Society has given sanction to the plan proposed, and it was adopted and successfully carried out in connection with the Colorado Medical Library Asssociation and the Denver Public Li- brary. We are desirous thit the plan as outlined shall be presented to your Society at its next regular meeting. Our Secretary, Dr. G. D. Spivak, is anxious to prepare and submit at the next Convention of The American Medical Association, in behalf of this Society, a report and statistical data concerning the ques- tion of medical libraries in the United States, for which purpose we solicit your co-operation. If there is in your county a medical library or a general library containing a medical department, please hand the blank to the li- brarian of same, requesting him to fill it out and to return to the address given below. Will you kindly let us know what action your Society takes in regard to this matter. Very respectfully, E. R. AXTELL, Chairman, C. E. EDSON, S. D. HOPKINS, Committee. Data for a statistical report of medical libraries and medical departments of general libraries in the United States to be pre- sented at the next convention of The American Medical Association, to be held in Denver, Colo,, June 8, 1898. LocationName Date of foundingMedical library or medical department of general library. Supported by Society, Hospital, College, taxation. Income? Endowment? Expenditure during 1897 $Free or for members or subscribers only. Number of booksof periodicals of pamphletsof atlasses Total number of volumes Number of current medical periodicals during 1897 Volumes added during 1897Books issued during 1897 Name of Librarian Please fill out the above and erase where necessary, and return to DR. C. D. SPIVAK, 608 California Building, Denver, Colo. Send also constitution and by-laws, catalogues, reports, lules and regulations, querry blanks and other blanks used in your li- brary, all of which will be exhibited at the Convention. Due credit will be given to all exhibitors. Public Library, Denver-1000-Jan. '97 A LIST OF BOOKS AND JOURNALS in the private library of Dr. Address which may be consulted by patrons of the PUBLIC LIBRARY, DENVER, during the following office hours: TITLE AUTHOR DATE VOL. Place and Pub MONTHLY BULLETIN OF THE COLORADO MEDICAL LIBRARY ASSOCIATION. T. H. Hawkins, M. D., President. Henry Sewall, M. D., Secretary. Laura Liebhardt, M. D., Treasurer. J. C. Dana, Librarian. NO. 4. DECEMBER, 1897. The Library has accumulated a great many duplicates of med- ical periodicals-Medical Record, New York Medical Journal, Medical News, Boston Medical and Surgical Journal, Journal American Medical Association, Gynecological and Obstetrical Journal, Journal of American Medical Sciences, etc., etc. Those who wish to complete their files should make up a list of their "wants" and send it to Dr. Henry Sewall, No. 25, 18th Avenue, Denver, Colo., who will cheerfully supply the wanted numbers or volumes. Any physician in Denver, or outside of Denver, may apply. The accumulation of duplicates was so great, and space is so valuable, that six boxes of duplicates were sent by the Associa- tion to the Army Medical Museum, at Washington. A box of books and duplicates were received from Dr. Jesse Hawes, of Greeley, Colo. Dr. C. K. Fleming has sent in his usual quota of exchanges. New Books:-Die Krankheiten des Magens, Prof. F. Riegel, 2 vols. Nothnagel's Specielie Pathologic und Therapie. 1897. Tuberculosis of the Genito-Urinary Organs, by Nicholas Senn. 1897. Index Catalogue, 2d vol. of Supplementary series. Miss Zoe Guernsey has filled most efficiently the offce of med- ical librarian for some time. She has introduced order into a good many chaotic nooks and corners. The annual meeting of the C. M. L. A. will be held Monday evening, January 3, 1898. All interested in the work of building up the only medical library in the West, are invited to attend the meeting. In the January Bulletin will be published a list of periodicals subscribed by the Library and those donated by members. This is the only Bulletin published in the United States in the interest of a medical library, as far as known. In the succeeding issues the editor intends to devote considerable space to the gen- eral question of medical libraries in the United States, a subject which as yet has never been discussed properly. Dr. Geo. M. Gould, of Philadelphia, informs the writer that a meeting of medical librarians will be held sometime in January, 1898, and a permanent organization will be effected. We wish Dr. Gould, the instigator, God-speed. C. D. Spivak. Public Library-5Oo-Jan.'97 Denver, Colo., January 25, 1897. ■yff 1 the Fourth Annual Meeting of the Colorado Medical Library Association, held in the Public Library, January 11th, 1897, - it was voted to accept Dr. Spivak's proposition to make, with V the assistance of the Public Library, a list of the bound med- ical journals and books in the possession of physicians who approve of this plan. This list is intended to include only those works not to be found in the Medical Library. Dr. Spivak will call upon you in regard to this matter within a short time, and, if you look upon the project favorably, will ask you to make, or make himself if you prefer, on forms which he will present, a list of the bound medical journals and books contained in your library. The list thus secured from the leading physicians of the city will be compiled into one list, easy of reference and kept always on file in the Public Library. This union list will, in regard to any given volume, tell in whose office it may be found, and at what hour any reader who wishes may visit that office and refer to it. This plan will, as you see, make available to the medical men of Denver a very large and valuable collection of the best medical literature of recent years; a much larger collection than any public institution can offer for many years to come. .. f Colorado Medical Library Association and ,sne (The Public Library, Denver. COLORADO MEDICAL LIBRARY ASSOCIATION The Medical News. Established in 1843. A WEEKLY MEDICAL NEWSPAPER. Subscription, $4.00 per Annum. The American Journal OF THE Medical Sciences. Established in 1820. A MONTHLY MEDICAL MAGAZINE. Subscription, $4.00 per Annum. COMMUTA TION RA PE, £7.50 PER ANNUM. LEA BROS CO., . , , NEUt AND PHILADELPHIA.