THE UNIVERSE OF INFORMATION.pdf - ideals

Director-General of the Ministry of Sciences and Arts, the
organisation had, in fact, continued its work during «all that
troubled period». «The service of bibliographic information had
continued as in the past», and the OIB had concentrated as far
as its collections was concerned on the «documentation of the
war» and on obtaining journals. 31 When necessary, though
not always successfully, Masure had called on the occupation
government to protect the fabric of the installations under his
care — drains, lights, leaks, descents of soot. 32 During the War,
he had continued to co-operate with the Bibliotheque Royale in
the publication of the Bibliographie de Belgique, several issues
of which, much reduced in size, had appeared. He wasted no
time in re-establishing contact with the government upon itsreturn
from exile. On November 22nd, 1918, King Albert and
Queen Elizabeth rode triumphantly into Brussels. In January
1919, Masure wrote to the Ministry of Sciences and Arts
requesting the resumption of the OIB's subsidy. There was no
indication in his letter of doubt that the OIB should continue to
receive it. He pointed out, indeed, that the OIB was the only
Belgian institution «whose budget has not increased since
1901 despite the development of its collections*. The OIB was
granted 30,000 francs for 1919 and a supplement of the same
amount in the next year. At this time Masure signalled his
intention to ask for an increased subsidy of 50,000 francs.
This was granted and paid half-yearly in 1920, and then raised
again and paid in quarterly instalments of 25,000 francs
in subsequent years. 33 Masure also proposed to continue his
work with the Bibliographie de Belgique. Issues listing books
only and published by the Bibliotheque Royale as before the
War appeared for 1919 and 1920. In 1921 a new series was begun,
issued now by a Service de Bibliographie and des Echanges
Internationaux. Masure was given responsibility for continuing
the index to Belgian periodical literature that had
appeared as Part II, «Bulletin des sommaires», of the bibliography.
It was retitled and both parts of the bibliography
were classified by the Universal Decimal Classification. The association
between Masure and the bibliography continued until
1926, the year before Masure's death. From that date all
connection with the OIB ceased; the index to periodicals was
discontinued and the arrangement of entries entirely changed.
The Peace Conference meeting in plenary session on
April 28, 1919 adopted the Covenant of the League of Nations.
A week later Sir Eric Drummond, 34 appointed as the League's
first Secretary-General, set up a provisional secretariat in
London and, with his colleagues, began to plan the organisation.
Article 7 of the Covenant provided for Geneva to be
the seat of the League, and article 24 permitted the League
to bring under its aegis international governmental organi-'
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