Austere librarians--volte-face.

Medical Libraries are too concerned with their customers and not interested enough in their wares. The number, nature, behavior, and satisfaction of readers and the book use by readers are extensively analyzed. Though important for library operation, such studies tend to make library staff regard and treat readers as impersonal members of a study population. As opposed to critical analysis of readers, little effort is made in this direction with respect to journals. It is, therefore, proposed that medical libraries take a hard look at the journals they offer and classify and display them in A, B, C, and D categories. The following benefits might be envisioned: the reader would be helped in looking up a subject that is not in his immediate field of specialization, the occupancy of valuable space by poor journals would be prevented, medium quality journals would strive to improve themselves, and it is even possible that poor and superfluous journals would be put out of business.