Comments on Ian R. Willison's 'The National Library in Historical Perspective'

Abstract

Considers the influence of North American libraries on Sir Frank Francis, Director and Principal Librarian of the British Museum between 1959 and 1968, who visited the United States in 1946–1947, and rebuts Ian Willison's assertion, made in an article in 'Libraries and Culture' in 1989, that the Library of Congress was the dominant influence on Francis' thinking. Emphasizes that Francis was influenced by everything he saw on his visit, not just the operations of the Library of Congress. Argues that the changes be brought about when Director arose from a long-standing experience and understanding of the issues facing the British Museum Library; as well as from a keen awareness of wider developments, not least in the 'information field' in relation to the availability of scientific and technical documents.