Got a 1962 library science textbook for $2, and wow, some things really haven't changed

I was digging through a sale bin at the county library's annual fundraiser last Saturday and grabbed a copy of "Public Library Administration" from 1962. I mostly bought it for the vintage cover, but I started flipping through it that night. The section on dealing with problem patrons reads almost exactly like the training we get today, just with less mention of cell phones and more about teenagers smoking in the parking lot. Has anyone else found old professional guides that feel weirdly current? I'm curious if cataloging advice from back then holds up at all.

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luna_sanchez26d ago

Laughing at myself because I still pull out my old cataloging manual from the 80s whenever I'm stuck on a tricky subject heading, so I'm clearly not one to judge old advice. That section on problem patrons sounds like a goldmine though, I bet it's got some gems about dealing with people who think the library is their personal living room. Cataloging rules have changed a ton with digital stuff, but the core idea of putting things where people can find them is pretty timeless. Honestly, if the 1962 book says anything about keeping the reference desk calm during a rush, I'd probably frame it.