University of Virginia Library

To The Editor

Librarian Urges Improvement

Please accept my
congratulations on your timely
editorial on the Alderman Library
(October 20). In certain respects it
seems to me that your picture is
too dark. As one who uses the
library every day I want to testify
that I have found it a good place in
which to work, and, considering the
difficulties under which the
members of the staff have labored
in recent years, it seems to me that
they have been surprisingly
effective. Unquestionably they have
become increasingly so of late.

As I'm sure you know, the
collections are unusually rich in
Virginia, Jeffersoniana, and Americana.
For my particular purposes
they are unexcelled, and the Barrett
collection draws scholars from
everywhere. That the library is
inadequate in many other fields,
however, is undeniable.

It is weak in bread and butter
items, and the purchasing funds are
grossly inadequate. In comparison
with other institutions it has
received niggardly support, and you
have performed a genuine service in
calling attention to that sad fact. I
hope you won't drop the subject.

As President Alderman said, the
library is the heart of the University;
and, is clearly shown by the
piece from Arnold Whitridge which
you printed in this same issue, Mr.
Jefferson, while advocating equality
of opportunity, was also an apostle
of academic excellence. That great
bookman would certainly never be
content with a minor league library.

Dumas Malone
Alderman Library

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