Die Sachkatalogisierung in den wissenschaftlichen Allgemeinbibliotheken Deutschlands byJoris VorstiusReview by: Lawrence S. ThompsonThe Library Quarterly, Vol. 20, No. 1 (Jan., 1950), p. 68Published by: The University of Chicago PressStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/4303857 .

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68 THE LIBRARY QUARTERLY

Deutscher Gesamikaklog, the Internationale Bi- bliographie des Buch- und Bibliothekswesens, and the Internationaler Jahresbericht der Biblio- graphie.

With the coming of the National Socialist era in 1933, German bibliography experienced an initial stimulus, owing to the high degree of cen- tralization in all phases of national life, but suf- fered in the long run from the ever increasing isolation of National Socialist Germany from the rest of the world. No longer permitted par- ticipation in the work of international organiza- tions, and denied free intercourse with foreign scholarship, German bibliography had already begun to lose ground, especially in nonscientific fields, before its disruption once again in the holocaust of war.

Although the history of German bibliograph- ical achievement during the last three decades has been one of unequal advances in various fields rather than a record of planned progress on all fronts, Dr. Vorstius, in reviewing the bib- liographical field as a whole, finds a considerable gain in prestige and performance. The most pro- foundly significant development in German bib- liography during this century of faction and strife has been the steadily increasing accept- ance of the conviction that bibliography, an ac- tivity vital to intellectual life, cannot thrive without conference and co-operation among men and nations.

LAWRENCE S. THOMPSON

University of Kentucky Library

Die Sachkata2ogisierung in den wissenschaft- lichen Allgemeinbibliotheken Deutschlands. By JoRIs VORSTIUS. Leipzig: Otto Harras- sowitz, 1948. Pp. Viii+58.

The tedhniques of the subject approach to the holdings of German research libraries differ considerably from Anglo-American practice. For example, the only library in Germany which has a dictionary catalog is the Augsburg Stadt- bibliothek, and the alphabetical subject catalog (Schlagwortkatalog) is really an innovation which began to catch on only after World War I. The classed catalog (Realkatalog or systemati- scher Katalogr), often serving simultaneously as

a shelf list, has been the main channel of ap- proach to the subject matter of German re- search libraries for the last two centuries.

In the twentieth century the classed catalog has been subjected to a rather careful re-exami- nation with respect to both practice and theory. Most striking from our standpoint has been the criticism of its dual role as a shelf list and a key to the subject matter of the collections ("sys- tematischer Katalog mit Standortbindung"). As a result, relatively few German research li- braries are still bound to the "Dogma der sys- tematischen Aufstellung" (phrase coined by Georg Leyh in the Zentralblatt filr Bibliotheks- wesen, XXIX [191 2], 24I-59, and XXX II9131, 97-136); the majority have gone over to some more or less arbitrary system of shelving ("me- chanische Aufstellung"). But theoretical review of the structure of the classed catalog itself has also been fruitful, and qualitative improvements have been effected in many libraries.

Vorstius lists the libraries which have each type of catalog and gives pertinent historical notes. Purposes, theories, and rules are dis- cussed in considerable detail with references to the extensive German literature in this field. Comparing the two types of subject catalogs, he rejects the notion that a library should select one or the other, pointing out that each catalog performs a different function. However, the al- phabetical subject catalog has suffered when- ever a choice has been made. In view of its greater elasticity and handiness, the alphabeti- cal subject catalog receives the indorsement of the author, who argues that every research li- brary should have one, even though reorganiza- tion of cataloging functions is necessary in order to construct and maintain it.

Vorstius' study, although brief, is well organ- ized and makes a rational presentation of the situation in the German research libraries. It throws subject cataloging into a historical per- spective that we in America are only now begin- ning to acquire. At the same time, Vorstius points the way for future planning, an essential to proper reconstruction of the German research library system.

LAWRENCE S. THOMPSON

University of Kentucky Library

X The terminology is confusing. The Realkatalog is also known as Fachkatalog, Sacskatalog, and wis- senschaftlicher Katalog. However, in the early part of

the nineteenth century the alphabetical subject catalog was called the Realkatalog.

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