A Comparison of the Functions of Libraries

And Information Centers

J O H N W. M U R D O C K
AND
C H A R L E S A. BROPHY, JR.

AT BATTELLEMEMORIALINSTITUTE one of the

largest scientific and technical libraries in the country is operated as
well as thirteen information analysis centers, The performance of dif-
ferent functions distinguish them from each other.
A basic difference is the scope of responsibilities. A scientific and
technical library must provide material in many subjects which may
range from chemistry, physics, and engineering to food technology,
biology, and psychology, as is the case at Battelle. An information
analysis center usually specializes in one field or in related fields. For
example, at Battelle, there are centers which specialize in such fields
as defense metals, copper, cobalt, remote area confict, fuel cells, pack-
aging, and radiation effects.
Another significant difference between libraries and centers is that
libraries provide their users with material in its original format. The
original format in this sense would include complete books, journals,
and other items which may be on film. The end product of an in-
formation analysis center is an analysis or an evaluation or a state-of-
the-art report produced by the center from a variety of sources in-
cluding books, journals, patents, and other sources.
The stored information in an information center is usually in a con-
densed form. It may be in card files, on film, on punched cards, or on
tape. The center is less concerned with retaining a large collection of
books, journals, and other publications, since these materials are
presumably available in the library.
John W. Murdock is Associate Department Manager, Department of Economics
and Information Research, Battelle Memorial Institute, and Charles A. Brophy,
Jr. is Head Librarian, Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, Ohio.

[ 347 1
 JOHK W . M U R D O C K A K D C H A R L E S -4.B R O P I I Y , J R .

A graphic illustration of the difference between centers and li-

braries may be observed in Figures 1 and 2. The primary functions
of the centers are shown in Fig. 1,while the primary functions of the

Figure 1. The Piimary Functions of Scientific Information Centers

[ 348 1
 Comparison of Functions of Libraries and Information Centers
libraries axe shown in Fig. 2. Acquisition, storage, retrieval, and serv-
ice to customers are common to both. In Fig. 1, the block indicating
“Production” shows an important function peculiar to information

Figure 2. The Primary Functions of Libraries

[ 349 1
 J O H S W . hlURDOCK A S D CHARLES A . BROPHY, J R .

centers. It is in this area where specialists evaluate and analyze in-

formation and produce interpretive reports. In fact, it is in this area
where new information is generated.

Figure 3. The Primary Support of Libraries to Scientific Information Centers

[ 350 1
 Comparison of Functions of Libraries and Information Centers
Both libraries and information centers are involved in the acquisi-
tion of materials. Librarians familiar with the bibliographical tools
of the world, identify, locate, and acquire foreign and domestic pub-
lications for the library. In this sphere of activity, the libraries support
the centers, as illustrated in Fig. 3. The amount of support will vary,
depending upon the needs of the centers. At Battelle, where there are
several centers, large and small, the acquisition support is substantial.
It is safe to say that the presence of the information centers at Battelle
has increased library acquisition activity by several hundred items per
month.
There is another phase of acquisition that is unique to the infor-
mation centers. For example, they may send the specialists on exten-
sive tours to acquire information, some of which may never be pub-
lished. Interviews with authors, visits to universities, conferences, con-
ventions, test fields, laboratories, test facilities, design laboratories,
and production plants, and exchanges of foreign communications are
ways in which materials are acquired for information centers. This
activity may be justified in terms of dollars when a center is involved
in a highly competitive field or if the technical problem is sufficiently
critical to warrant such intensive effort.
Libraries and centers are involved in the indexing of information,
but here again their procedures differ. Libraries usually index books
by author, title, and subject. With some rare exceptions, they do not
attempt to index or abstract journal articles to any great extent. In a
large scientific and technical library, it would take millions of dollars
to index and abstract all the journal articles pertinent to the multiple
interests of its users. The obvious solution is to buy all the necessary
indexing and abstracting services. On the other hand, it is logical
for a center, working in a highly specialized field, to abstract journal
articles of interest immediately upon receipt. The center must also
index them in depth and from its own viewpoint for effective and
timely retrieval.
The number of information centers will increase if the present trend
continues, but any radical changes in the relationship between li-
braries and information centers in the near future is not anticipated.
The information centers at Battelle have not changed the library op-
erations to any extent, but they have increased library activity in
practically every department, including interlibrary loan work,
Both centers and libraries are experimenting with machines and
automation. When the cost is justifiable and when the machines are

[ 351 1
 J O H N W . MURDOCK AND C H A R L E S A . BROPHY, J R .

able to increase the efficiency of a particular operation, they will be

used by the libraries and the centers.

Bib liographica 1 Notes

1. Bloomfield, Masse. “Role of the Technical Library in Support of an Informa-
tion Center,” Special Libraries, 57 :39-44, Jan. 1966.
2. Dickison, R. R. “The Relationship between the Library and the Information
Physics Centers.” A.E.C. Technical Information Bulletin, No. 10:14-15, Feb. 1964.
3. Kent, Allen. Specialized lnformation Centers. Washington, D.C., Spartan
Books, 1965.
4. Rees, A. M. “Librarians and Information Centers,” College and Research
Libraries, 25:200-204, May 1964.
5. U.S. President’s Science Advisory Committee. Science, Gouernment, and
Information: the Responsibilities of the Technical Community and the Government
in the Transfer of Information; A Report. Washington, D.C., U.S.Government
Printing Office, 1963.
6. Weinberg, A. M. “Second Thoughts on Scientific Information,” College and
Research Libraries, 25:463-471, Nov. 1964.