IN ESTIMATING THE BASIC ESSENTIALS necessary for adequate service in the nursing school library, the total picture is automatically colored by the size, type, and curriculum of the school itself. A large manor house requires a domestic staff, furnishings, and budget appropriate to its size and style, while the needs of the bungalow are on a smaller scale, but none the less important. In applying this simple example to the measurement of adequacy in the nursing school library, it is easily seen that no arbitrary rules may be outlined which will be acceptable to all schools. Rather, elastic standards must be set up which can be adjusted easily to the individual situation. Physical plant.-The first need of any library, perhaps, is housing and physical equipment, since these are essential to its existence. The space assigned to the library should be large enough to contain the present collection of books, pamphlets, periodicals, and other materials; allow readers to be seated comfortably; and permit the library staff to carry on routine work. Equally important however, as accommodation for present needs, is allowance for possible future expansion of both book collection and student enrolment. While authorities vary as to adequate seating facilities for readers, it is desirable that seats be available for from Io per cent to 20 per cent of all who use the library-students and graduates. The number of hours per day during which students may use the library influences the number of seats provided, since the number of readers at any given hour bears a direct relationship to the number of hours that the library is open. The degree to which the teaching staff assigns library reading is another determinant of seating facilities. Reading-room space is usually figured as twenty-five square feet per person for the total number of people who will be seated at any one time. Thus, in a school of 250 students, there should be seating capacity for 38 students (using the average of 15 per cent of the student body) and the floor area of the library should be approximately 950 square feet-that is, 38 seats multiplied by 25 square feet per seat. Library furniture, shelving, color scheme, and decoration should be selected on the basis of durability, practicability, and attractiveness. For average needs, wooden shelving is suitable. Reading t bles, either round or oblong, comfortable straight cha rs, nd an adequate supply of natural and artificial light are necessities. Bulletin boards for clippings, notices, and displays are valuable, placed either in or near the library. Special shelves or racks for p riodicals will display them to the best advantage. In addition to these, any further expenditure po sible in curtains, tasteful pictures or colorful growing plants will almost certainly pay dividends in making the library a comfortable, cheerful spot. As well as the library proper, there should be a workroom-office for the staff which will provide both quiet quarters for interviews, work with records, and other behind-the-scenes routines, and space fo working with files, typewriter, library refe ence materials, book processing, and mending. The location of the library is ideally near classrooms, laboratories, and faculty offices to facilitate its use by students and teaching staff. Availability to graduate nurses and administrative personnel should be considered as well. Basically, the location should be chosen on grounds of convenience to users, eliminating the possibility that a trip to the library might be time consuming. Finances.--Another important consideration in a discussion of library needs is the source of financial upport. In developing a successful library in the nursing school it is fundamental that there be provided: (I) sufficient capital for initial expenses, and (2) a steady source of income for running costs. Establishment of a new library calls for purchase of necessary books, pamphlets, and periodical subscriptions, furniture, card catalog, files, typewriter, and additional necessities. These will be purchased at one time and may be considered a basic exp nse. Costs for maintaining the library include salaries of staff, current purchase of books and other materials to be added to the collection, periodical purchase of supplies and mending materials, binding of volumes of periodicals, rebinding of worn books, and repairs to furniture and other equipment. Like the size of the library, its financial status will depend upon the size and nature of the nursing Mas. RUDOLPH (Skidmore College and Columbia University School of Library Science) is librarian of the Carrie J. Brink Memorial Library at the Bellevue School of Nursing and one of the American Library Association's representatives on the NLNE Committee on the Nursing School Library.
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Mar 1, 1948
Charlotte Studer 
Open Access