Swank Report: Its Implementation in the U.P. Library Administration

Researcher: KYUNGHUI LEE

Course: Master of Library Science

School: University of the Philippines, Quezon City

Subject Area: Library Management

Year of Graduation: 1970

Abstract

This is a follow up of a descriptive survey of the libraries of the University of the Philippines conducted by Dr. Raynard C. Swank in 1954. The purpose of the survey was to assess the prevailing conditions in the libraries, to analyze their major problems and to offer recommendations for improving and strengthening the library program. The areas of investigation covered are: 1) administrative policies; 2) financing policies; 3) organizational set-up; 4) technical services; 5) readers’ services; 6) departmental libraries; 7) audiovisual services; 8) personnel, and 9) physical facilities of the library.

Realizing the recommendations coming from an expert are useful only when implemented, this study was undertaken in order to analyze and evaluate whatever improvements based on Dr. Swank’s recommendations have been made in the U.P. Library system. The author of this study concludes that improvements in the library services from 1960 to the present have been guided by the Swank Report. Many of the recommendations, notably those towards a centralized library administration, have been implemented in full while some were implemented with some modifications in order to suit the more recent and urgent needs of the university community. A few recommendations have been found to be not workable. In general though, the period of fifteen years, from 1954 to a9169, has proven that Dr. Swank’s recommendations have been very helpful in achieving sound library management.

Source: Journal of Philippine Librarianship (3: 180-181) 1970