Proceedings

Cover

Contents

The Field Of Education In The National Parks

The Educational Program And Its Place In National Parks Administration

Museums In The National Parks

Planning A Park Museum

Museum Technique

Administration Of Park Museums

Nature Trails

Exhibits In Place

Guiding In The National Parks

Lectures In National Parks

Scientific Aspects Of The Park Protection Program

The Research Program In The National Parks

Use Of Recorded Scientific Data

Research Reserves

Publications

Libraries In The National Parks

Photography And Visual Education

General Administrative Problems

Proceedings Of The First Park Naturalists' Training Conference Held At Educational Headquarters, Berkeley, California: November 1-30, 1929

USE OF RECORDED SCIENTIFIC DATA

UTILIZATION OF RECORDED SCIENTIFIC DATA IN THE PARK PROGRAM OF CURRENT SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC.

By C. A. Harwell, Frank T. Been, C. Frank Brockman.

There is a mass of scientific data recorded in books, pamphlets, magazines, separates papers, photographs, maps, drawings, charts, tables, manuscripts, etc., pertinent to a particular park or the National Park system, but to be effectively utilized the material containing these data involves:

(1) Availability
(2) Systematic filing
(3) Interpretation

Our parks are situated considerable distances from libraries in which there are great stores of information and it is usually very difficult for us to leave our parks to use this material.

A library budget from which our educational departments can draw when we wish to make purchases of books or other library material is exceedingly important. We should build up a very complete library on our own parks and adjoining regions.

Colleges, scientific organizations, state and federal governments, and publishing companies have lists of their publications, reference to which may inform us of useful available data.

When this material comes into the possession of the park, it must be systemattically filed in order that it can be readily found and used. Good library method needs to be employed. This of course involves the creation of a library in each national park -- a library so divided that there is a well kept department for use of our park visitors and a research collection for the special use of the staff.

When these scientific data are on hand in our parks and filed and indexed systematically, their use depends of course on problems at hand. The following are suggestive:

• Preparation or revision of Ranger-Naturalist Manual.

• Preparation and editing Nature Notes.

• Building up lectures.

• Planning and carrying out scientific surveys within the park.

• Interpreting researches of ethers within the park.

• Self-improvement of self and staff.

• Use by our interested park visitors.

Discussion: In order to record references which might otherwise become lost or buried in the files it was agreed that all important references be listed by the park naturalists in the Park Information Manuals, each reference being placed where it will be of greatest use to support the subject treated.

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