Activities of The Friends
 

RECENTLY the Vice President and Provost and the
Trustees of the University have asked the Organizing
Committee of the Friends to establish a more permanent
organization. There are reproduced below Dr. Kirk's letter to the
Chairman of the Organizing Committee and Dr. Pratt's response.
 

Februaryi, 1952
Dear Dr. Pratt:

Recent activities of the Friends seem to indicate that this new or¬
ganization is now mature enough to assume permanent form and I
understand that the Committee itself would welcome some initiative
on the University's part in helping you to take the next step beyond
an organizing committee.

I congratulate you and your committee on the rapid progress you
have made. With a view to furthering the work you have begun, I
should like to ask you and the members of your committee, personally
and on behalf of the Trustees of the University, to accept appointment
as of this date as members of a Council of the Friends of the Columbia
Libraries. The Council will serve as a governing board for the Friends
and will guide them in their stated purpose of service in furthering the
interest of collectors and donors in the libraries of Columbia Univer¬
sity. This Council will, if you agree, be a self-perpetuating body of no
less than nine and no more than fifteen members and would direct the
activity of the Friends in editing their publication, determining the
type of events which the Friends will sponsor, determining the quali¬
fications for membership and the obUgations and privileges in accord¬
ance with University regulations governing the use of the Libraries.

While the Friends is thus envisaged as a self-governing body, we
should, of course, agree that any matters which might affect Univer¬
sity policy or which might be affected by University poHcy would be
cleared with University officials through the Director of Libraries.

The contribution which you and your committee have made to the
University is already evident in the increased activity, enthusiasm and
flow of gifts to Columbia's libraries. However, the University must

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