With all this talk about ILL - the works I was quoting the other day may or
may not be available.
I was aware of "Ancient Danish Tiles from Bogs and Burials" by Margarethe
Hald for some time, and a few years back had the privilege of seeing a copy
for the first time - in a NON-CIRCULATING textile library (Ruith Ketter
Harris Library, 5000+ volumes) at the University of Wisconsin, Madison -
open only a few days a week, and asking that interested parties give prior
notice of visit so that a student assistant be present to let them in.
Since that visit, I have been actively collecting definitive works from many
sources, based on impressions of several books found at that initial visit.
I have also spent much time in the main catalog - and gone there (Madison)
in person to read works from before 1850 on microfilm. These are also
NON-CIRCULATING.
Newer books and more commonly found titles can be had over the ILL, but
beware of thinking that all materials can be had that way. Rare books are
not replaceable - I find it already gracious that one can enter major
university libraries using only a drivers license and use their facilities
at no cost. Note that I said "major university library" - satellite campuses
have adequate library facilities to support the majors they offer - the
flagship campus in most states is the one that has the rare and oddball
pblications archived. And YES, I know that travel time can be substantial -
hasn't anyone ever wondered why property in the middle of nowhere costs
less?
The Internet has made access to some forms of information so quick and easy
that I sometimes think that using a card catalog, bibliography and other
library tools has fallen to a new low. As some have already put out on
lists, publishing in book form demands a certain integrity - the publisher
doesn't want to be accused of circulating misinformation - so that reading
printed material is still more accountable than the millions of web pages
out there. But reading takes time, so does a library visit. I have only 2
weeks vacation - and use that Good Friday holiday (husband has to work) as
my yearly library day. Which reminds me to think about picking a topic and
looking through that main catalog to prepare for this year's field trip. By
printing a list of the call numbers of several titles that sound
interesting, I can save my time on visiting day for speed reading those
titles I've selected.

Sara von Tresckow
Fond du Lac, WI
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

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