OF THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS A COOPERATIVE CLEARING HOUSE FIFTH ANNUAL CUMULATION EDITED BY LILLIAN HENLEY ASSISTED BY KATHARINE J. MIDDLETON NEW YORK THE H. W. WILSON COMPANY 1919 PREFACE Public Affairs Information Service issues at this time its fifth annual volume. Experimentation in different lines has been tried in the last few years as is always necessary in a new publication. The most obviously successful one during the past year has been the elimination of order work for cooperators. It formerly clogged the machinery of the publication to such an extent that the prompt listing of useful material was impossible. The keen user of the Bulletins has noticed, no doubt, that the material selected has been more varied and has appeared with greater promptness since the order service ceased. The Advisory Committee and editor are convinced of greater possibilities for the Service and the Committee has approved a plan for the removal of the editorial staff to the Economics Division of the Public Library of New York City, where a greater field for research can be placed at the disposal of cooperators. This good fortune has come to the Service thru the untiring interest of Dr. C. C. Williamson, Chief of the Division and Chairman of the Advisory Committee. The details of the plan need not be outlined here, for, at the time of writing, cooperators are casting their votes on the proposed Articles of Agreement. As soon as they are duly approved, the Publication Committee will be in a position to put into effect the new editorial plans. A period for readjustment will be required before the desired improvement in the publication will manifest itself, but suffice it to say, that the field of the publication and the Economics Division are sufficiently similar to make such cooperation well worth while from an editorial point of vantage. From a publication point of view, the Service has been ideally cared for during the past five years by the H. W. Wilson Company, and it will be the privilege of the Service to continue these relations. Many advantages have accrued to the Service from contact with the editorial experience of the various Wilson publications and Mr. Wilson has kindly consented to serve as a member of the Executive Committee, which is provided for in the Articles of Agreement. His interest in launching the publication in its present form and a constant willingness to confer with the Committee and the staff has been thoroughly appreciated. During the absence of the editor from the City Miss Middleton has cared for the editorial revision of the Annual and with the conscientious assistance of other members of the staff has seen the publication thru the press. September 25, 1919. L. H. ADVISORY COMMITTEE C. C. WILLIAMSON, Chief, GEORGE S. GODARD, State Librarian, JOHN A. LAPP, Editor, Modern Medicine, 58 E. Washington St, Chicago, Ill. FREDERICK C. HICKS, Law Librarian, Columbia, University, New York City JOSEPH L. WHEELER, Librarian, Youngstown Public Library, |