Interlibrary Organization of Reference Service

Abstract

The greatest development in American public library service has been realized in the large cities. These large city "systems" as they are frequently called, provide equality of service to everyone within the area served. The patron of the independent small library, inadequately financed, and therefore poorly staffed and poorly supplied with books and periodicals has the same need as the city dweller for services of skilled librarians using the wealth of materials available in such a library system. As is pointed out in the new Public Library Standards "even though local resources are limited, public officials and librarians have a responsibility to provide full library services to the community through a structure of cooperation and government. " In other words, to combine two of the standards: "Every individual should not only have free library service available in his local community but he should also have access through his local outlet to the full range of modern library facilities provided by regional, state, and federal library agencies."