Buck Declares Library Lacks Sufficient Funds

An acquisition of $180,000 instead of an expected $3,000,000 from the Program for Harvard College has caused "grave disappointment" to University Library officials, Paul H. Buck, Director of the Library, has asserted in the Annual Report for 1959-60.

Increased use of the facilities has resulted in a demand for a "spiraling income" to support the Library, "upon which the quality of teaching and research at Harvard is clearly dependent," Buck wrote. He pointed out that a $226,000 increase in this years budget was only half the increase required to cover all the specific needs outlined in the preliminary budget estimate.

Buck explained that the lack of sufficient funds has resulted in a constant reappraisal of the Library's activities and policies. As an example, he cited the decision to suspend publication of the Harvard Library Bulletin with the last issue for 1960.

While more people are using the Library than ever before, its rising costs are "causing serious misgivings," Buck stated. He cited the eight per cent increase over last year in circulation of books from Widener and added that other branches showed even greater increases.

The Library's Importance

Emphasizing the Library's importance, Buck indicated that the University cannot afford to neglect it. "The Library, it has been said, must not be allowed to bankrupt the University," he said in his report. "But," he continued, "the University must not bankrupt the Library."

Buck pointed out that the University needs the best facilities to attract the best students and professors, and it has a responsibility to provide a "library worthy of them."

Economics aside, the increased use of the Library has had another effect. Pressure resulting from greater circulation of books has become so great that the College has cut off borrowing services normally granted to graduate students of neighboring institutions.

Major Acquisitions

Despite disappointments arising from increased economic and servicing pressures, the University did acquire several major additions. Included in the acquisitions was Bernard Berenson's bequest of I Tatti, his villa near Florence. With his gift came a collection of more than 50,000 books and perhaps 300,000 photographs which he had assembled there.

Berenson's library adds to the two foreign units that the Library owns in South Africa and in Cubs. According to Buck, I Tatti will be "indispensible" to the institute for Italian art and culture to be established there.