Formerly, in many small community hospitals, the library might consist principally of old medical books donated by doctors' widows who did not know how otherwise to dispose of them. A few unbound journals, of miscellaneous provenance, would complement the books. The usefulness of such a library was negligible, the physical setting was generally appropriate to the usefulness. But in recent years, even in relatively small hospitals, the library has assumed greater importance and has received greater recognition from staff members and trustees alike. In this issue we present a discussion of the community hospital library (p 1097), and also an analysis of proposed legislation (p 1100) which will place libraries in suitable relationship to the overall medical needs of the community.
Pending legislation, if enacted, will certainly go far to realize a bright new world wherein medical knowledge can be disseminated rapidly and efficiently. While there is something quite exhilarating