Cathedral College of the Immaculate Conception - Annual Yearbook (Brooklyn, NY)

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CI YD YH 'I OO HTI EIS 'IV Y VZ. 'i ', :u1'?1:A-'-2':-1: 530:-J af'f?'7357t VFM' ' A 1 ,,.,,..gv4-.-rp,.'. ,Q -, ' -Y Y N THE LIBRARY STAFF

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THE LITERATURE COMMITTEE Director .,... .. .......,.,.,, Rev. IOHN I. FEE, M.A. Chairman.. ..,,....,..,..,... WILLIAM F. HUGHES Ass't Chairman.. ,,., . ..,.,. . ,.., .. .,,.,,.......... ,,,.. . ,... . .EDWARD C. GARVEY HE Literature Committee of Cathedral College was organized six ll' years ago. At that time it was known as the Library Committee and was organized in order to supply Public Libraries with much Wm - needed Catholic periodicals and magazines. Since that time it has changed and expanded a great deal. During the past year the Committee met with some difficulties in supplying the Libraries with certain magazines. This was due to the fact that the paper shortage interfered with the Committee's supply of periodicals. However, Light, Truth and The Field Atar are still being supplied to eighty-tive libraries throughout the diocese. The periodic check up on whether or not Catholic magazines were on dis- play in Public Libraries was continued this year. This work was done by various students of the High School department who reported regularly to the Committee. These men do a necessary and important work. Their reports enable us to advise other students where to create a demand for Catholic magazines. lf constant requests are made by students ot Cathedral tor our magazines, they Will be promptly displayed on the public racks where they will do a great deal more good than if stored away in some desk or closet. The Committee again took charge ot selling the Catholic Digest, at a reduced rate to the students. This work was conducted by Frank De Masi, '42, aided by his individual class representatives. We are happy to say that the number of Digests sold this year has increased. We hope that the students will show even greater cooperation in the future, so that we may raise our list of subscribers considerably. We feel sure that the Catholic Digest can be a source ot enjoyment, education and editication to every student. The Pamphlet Rack has now become an integral part of the Literature Committee. lt is a source of easy yet beneficial, quick yet lingering reading. The pamphlets are carefully selected in order to serve the interests of each and every student, freshman as well as senior. lt is hoped that next year will see even greater interest in, and usetullness of the pamphlet rack. The work of the Literature Committee does not stop at pamphlets and magazines. ln accordance with its title of Literature, it is concerned also with Catholic books. Consequently, each month a list is made from the Public Library Bulletins, of new books in the Library, of interest to Catholics. This list is then supplemented by satisfactory book reviews, and sent to the Tablet for publication. Thus, Catholics can know just what Catholic works the Libraries contain among their new books. Finally we wish to thank Father Fee, our faculty adviser, for his generous aid and helpful advice. He is ever ready to lend a helping hand in order that our work may be easier and our results more efficient. WILLIAM F. HUGHES, '42 CATHEDRAL COLLEGE ANNUAL

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LIBRARY STAFF OW that you have finished envying the handsome, learned faces of the devoted librarians, you may read here to see why the staff lx is proud of its work in the library. Yes, we are proud. Proud in the Q ' same sense as an amateur carpenter admires a cabinet or book- shelf he has built. The librarians have performed praiseworthy services to the library and no one can deny them that praise. Iust as a man feels a little prouder when he drives a more than ordinary car, so the librarians are able to boast of excellence in their library. Most notable is the ever increasing reputation of the reference department. Perhaps, only one high school in fifty years in this city can claim equality with our reference sections. Before the present year, this statement may have been but a theory, but under the zealous leadership of Mr. McDermott, the chief libra- rian, it has become a fact. Few libraries, besides that of Cathedral, have in their possession the Cambridge History of English Literature with its off- spring, the Cambridge Bibliography of English Literature. Add to these, two new bibliographical dictionaries, American Authors C1600-l9UUD and British Authors of the Nineteenth Century , and you have an indication of the worth of our collection. If you still are not convinced, may we say that only recently we have acquired the Essay and General Literature Index, 1900 to date , and in addition, the Current Biography , a monthly biographical dictionary of prominent personalities in the current articles. Development, however, was not limited solely to the reference department. During the year two gifts swelled the number of non-reference books. F or these gifts we are grateful to the late Monsignor Frederick I. I-lentz and to Reverend loseph Tennant, D.D., '26, To prove the impartiality of the library, we mention here, that besides the Annual , the library uses the Gargoyle for its work. In fact, the library sponsors two features in the school magazine. In addition to the Library Notes, it suggests and has in stock the books reviewed in the Book Review Section of the Gargoyle. l think it appropriate to say here that in return for the Commendation of the student body for the work of the librarians, we librarians extend our praise for the cooperation and appreciation of the students. They have used the library extensively with its true purpose in mind, for the library is the final, the reliable source of knowledge to which all teachers and students must come. lf l say the library has advanced tremendously, it only indicates that it is keeping in stride with necessity which student use creates. In fact, as an indication of this four sets of the Catholic Encyclopedia at times are not suffi- cient to meet the demands of the students. With a prayer of thanksgiving, then, and one of request, we librarians bid you farewell. ANTHCNY I. BEVILACQUA, '43 CATHEDRAL COLLEGE ANNUAL