Complaints Bring Return Of Hilles Science Books

Librarians and students reached a compromise last night that calls for a large part of the Hilles science collection to be returned to the Radcliffe library.

Reserve books for all but two general education natural science courses had already been returned to Hilles' shelves by yesterday morning.

Louis E. Martin, librarian of Harvard College, agreed last night to return or replace most of the science volumes transferred to the Undergraduate Science Center during the summer.

Two Days Since Protest

The compromise was made last night at a meeting of librarians and student representatives of the three Radcliffe Houses in North House, just 48 hours after the librarians had fielded complaints from 100 Quadrangle residents about the absence of science volumes on Hilles' shelves.

At the beginning of the meeting Martin recommended a five-stage plan for the return of science books. That proposal called for the following:

(1)That gen ed nat sci books not yet moved to the science center but in storage in Hilles be returned to the reserve shelves;

(2)That an inventory of the books remaining in storage be made, and those required for science courses be placed on reserve;

(3)That the remaining science books now stored in the basement of Hilles which are not ordinarily on reserve be placed on reserve;

(4)That any of the 600 to 800 volumes moved to the science center but not yet catalogued be returned under the recommendation of the Radcliffe librarian with consultation by students; and,

(5)That an examination of all books in the science center be made, and any duplicates deemed useful (not outdated or rare) by the Radcliffe librarian be moved to Hilles.

Students also got Martin to accept a sixth phase requiring the purchase of titles not in duplicate in the science center under the recommendation of the Radcliffe librarian.

This sixth point also stipulates that the money used for these acquisitions not come out of the normal Hilles fund for purchases, with the exception of grants reserved for buying science books for Hilles.

Barry A. Weprin '74, president of the North House Committee and a representative to the meeting, said last night that all the students present agreed that the compromise settlement was a good one.

The librarians present at last night's meeting were Martin; Alan E. Erickson, science specialist for the University Library; and Ruth K. Porritt, librarian of Hilles Library.

Alberta B. Arthurs, dean of Admissions, Financial Aids and Women's Education attended the meeting in President Horner's place. Edward L. Keenan Jr., Co-Master of North House, was also present.

The only two gen ed nat sci courses for which books had not yet been placed on reserve yesterday are Nat Sci 110. "Automatic Computing," and Nat Sci 115. "Models for Control of Man's Physical Environment."

Martin assured students that reserve materials for these courses would be on Hilles' shelves shortly.

Martin also announced that he had established the Committee to Study Hilles Library to look at the long-term questions regarding the status of the library including book ownership.

Martin will chair the committee which includes one student