Bibliographical implications in the Baltic studies area and Baltic material in the University of Toronto Library

Abstract

Why is it so difficult to collect Baltica? In trying to answer this question, one is finally forced to conclude that the major factor is an age-old economic one: the law of supply and demand. Demand for Baltica is indeed low; our countries do not have the focus of world attention and we ourselves do not seem to have created much interest in our field of endeavor. There are but few organized programs of Baltic Studies in the major universities of North America. These few would not warrant the expenditure involved in the systematic acquisition of Baltic material and the salaries of staff specialists in the area. Thus we cannot hope, for the present at least, to operate on grand scale. There are, however, individual scholars who are struggling to unfold the riches of our literature and to interpret the intricate pattern of our history. We should be resolved, therefore, not to fold our hands in resignation but to work conscientiously and perseveringly to build the mosaic of Baltic knowledge, piece by piece. In doing this, we would create more interest among ourselves, attract more scholars of every nationality, and increase our material resources. At present, however, we cannot pretend that those who choose the road to Baltic Studies will tread an easy path. The most serious problems confronting the scholar in the Baltic field are the lack of access or restricted access to the core material in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania and the wide dispersion of the accessible material in the free world. While it is not within our power to make the core material available, we should be able to direct the researcher to the appropriate bibliographies to increase his awareness of what has been and is being published in the Baltic States in his particular field of interest. (For a list of general U.S.S.R. state bibliographies, which include Baltic publications, see Appendix A. This material is available at the University of Toronto). Our efforts, however, should be concentrated on the second problem: how to collect and record the material available in the