IN ITS 1948 report the Committee on Research Activities (Albert H. Marckwardt, Chairman) observed that, “without question, the present bibliographical aids to scholarship in our field are in need of improvement and coordination. It would be equally advantageous to have more systematically presented data on those facilities for research in various fields and topics, particularly with respect to primary materials, which are now available in different sections of the country.” The present study is offered as a preliminary step toward meeting the need for coordination of bibliographies, and the Secretary of the Association has been authorized by the Executive Council to look into the feasibility of a survey of the facilities for research in American libraries.

THIS edition of Research in Progress is still another supplement to the 1949 edition and, as such, would scarcely need any prefatory remarks that had not already appeared with the 1950 supplement were it not for the fact that a new editor has put his hand to the task and craves the indulgence of those readers and researchers who may find that his ineptness has occasionally got in the way of the desired result.