Librarian James Dickson of the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore, Maryland, displays library resources that supplement the books: magazines, documents, maps, 16mm films, phonograph records, sheet music, pamphlets, microfilm, and pictures. Director Amy Winslow heads a staff of 472 working in Pratt's main library, 27 branches, and 2 mobile units. A film shows and describes professional librarians performing various duties, a page boy's activities, the circulation desk with photographic charger, the ready reference desk, catalogers, acquisitions, preparations department, print shop, children's department, art studio, and branch library functions. Mr. Dickson tells Lynn Poole that he's a librarian because he likes to help people, to exercise his resourcefulness, and to perform worthwhile social work. He says the qualifications of a good librarian should include curiosity, orderliness, enjoyment and understanding of books, good eyesight, and "well-sprung arches." The Johns Hopkins University librarian, John Berthel, broadly explains his duties and the appeal of working in a large research library. He says that many of the job qualifications are the same as those for a public librarian but also adds interest in one or more subject fields, knowledge of foreign languages, business management skills, good judgment, and a sense of humor. Mr. Dickson notes that the education requirements to become a librarian include a college degree in liberal arts and a year of graduate library training. Mr. Berthel points out that there are four groups of libraries: public, college and research, elementary and secondary, and industrial or business. Prospects for jobs in librarianship, including part-time work for high school or college students, are good as educational institutions increase.

Lynn Poole describes what archaeologists do and why. Dr. William F. Albright explains how to determine the age of an object by datable style and carbon-14 testing. He then shows slides and diagrams of the Hajar bin Humeid mounds in south Arabia. As authenticator of the Dead Sea Scrolls, Dr. Albright discusses authentication methods for writings and scripts, such as comparing changes in the Hebrew alphabet and dated documents of the same period. Lastly, he describes qualities required for becoming an archaeologist.

The topic of this program is the use of forensic medicine in scientific crime detection. A film shows Dr. Russell S. Fisher, lecturer in forensic medicine at Johns Hopkins University and chief medical examiner for the state of Maryland, at work in his lab. He is assisted by a team consisting of a secretary, chemists, a photographic specialist, doctors, police, and specialists in the physical sciences. In dealing with crimes of violence or mysterious death, Dr. Fisher asks: Who is the victim? Is it murder or suicide? When did it happen? How did it happen? Who did it? He shows a photo of a charred body and explains when and how the death occurred and the importance of an autopsy and a post-mortem examination. Dr. Fisher compares blood samples and explains how they are used by a courtroom doctor to exonerate or convict the accused. Using sketches from Lynn Poole's book "Science, the Super Sleuth," Dr. Fisher describes what he looks for in knifing murders. He also tells the case of the arsenic in the pancake flour and demonstrates how the presence of arsenic was confirmed. Lynn Poole shows snapshots of Dr. Fisher as a student in the toxicology lab at Georgia Tech as well as photos from throughout his career in forensic medicine. Dr. Fisher says that this career is different and challenging every day and that there are many opportunities for medical examiners and other trained specialists, with salaries from $17,000-20,000.

Lynn Poole discusses the trends in demand for college graduates and the current increased need for graduates in engineering, chemistry, and physics. J. Lyon Rogers, Jr., of the Johns Hopkins University Placement Bureau, lists employment statistics and describes how campus recruitment brings together employers and prospective employees. Clayton Hill, with the Employee Relations Department of DuPont Co., gives a typical employment interview to Hopkins senior John D. Sutherland. Lynn Poole talks with 1956 graduating seniors C. Robert Nicoll, Edward K. Hahn, and Richard C. McShane about their job searches, number of interviews, and professional and military futures. Chemical engineering graduates James L. Hockenberry, Jr. and James A. Halloran talk to Poole about their chances for success and how they are more interested in a satisfying job than its salary. Student Robert B. Burgess, Jr. points out that by signing with a firm before going into the military, his seniority in the company accrues while he's in the service. Senior John W. Leonard, Jr. notes that the average salary for engineers like him is $400-425 per month. Poole asks William H. Schwarz and Harry N. Keller, two students receiving doctoral degrees in chemical engineering, about the time required to get their degrees and the fields and opportunities now available to them. Finally, Poole interviews Ali Arman, a graduating aeronautics student from Istanbul, Turkey, who must become a U.S. citizen before he can be hired by a U.S. business.

Chester Henry, assistant chief engineer in charge of construction for the Pennsylvania Railroad, discusses railroad facelifting for both trains and tracks. He comments that a railroad is never complete because of its responsibility to change in industry. Mr. Henry explains the car classification operation at Conway Yard near Pittsburgh, and a film further elaborates on the process, including the role of the hump conductor. Railroad engineers must see the overall picture to construct a line with minimum cost and maximum efficiency. For example, they must find the best route by using aerial photography. Film clips show techniques developed by engineers to unload shipments of foreign ore onto railroad cars. Electronic and mechanical engineers also develop new railway technology, such as track safety features; maintain rolling stock, as at the Hollidaysburg, PA freight car repair shop; and design experimental passenger cars, such as the stainless steel Budd cars and the GM Aerotrain. Carl Bergman notes that inspecting and maintaining track and allied structures acquaints railroad engineers in training with all aspects of the job, even though most maintenance jobs are now mechanized. He explains the composition and construction of a track and narrates a film showing a machine that detects defects in the rail and other maintenance equipment. Both men recommend that interested high school students take math and general science courses followed by a college degree in engineering. There are about 172 different railroad job classifications, including positions in the clerical and accounting departments for women.

The Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore, Maryland is shown as a good example of a large urban public library system. Acquisitions, cataloging, circulation, and reference functions are discussed as librarians and other library staff help patrons. James Dickson, a librarian at the Pratt Library, says that libraries contain much more than books as he shows maps, films, records and other materials. He talks about his educational background and what led him into librarianship. A good general college education followed by a masters degree in library science is needed to beome a librarian.

The early Egyptians devised medications that are similar to drugs that are used today. In Arabia medical science began to shed the superstitions that had crept into medical ideas in the medieval period. Dr. Purdum, director of pharmacy at Johns Hopkins University Hospital, is responsible for administration, research, and acquiring drugs for the hospital, and seeing that they are prepared and distributed properly to the patients. Good pharmacists must be dedicated to accuracy and keep up with the latest developments in medical science. Pharmacy requires a 4-year college program that will become a 5-year program by 1960.

Dr. Vail, Director of the New York Historical Society, looking at common items of daily use, weaves a historical story as he reconstructs life of the past. He describes the economic history by comparing a sign from the Niantic toll bridge that had been used twice over a period of time. He also shows old stagecoach posters, New York and Erie Railroad and the Victor dog advertisements, and Yellow Kid comics. Dr. Vail recounts two stories of how historical materials from libraries were used to solve law cases. He also discusses how he assisted author Kenneth Roberts acquire authentic details in his research for the historical fiction novel "Rabble in Arms." He notes that Chancellor Robert R. Livingston's papers were recently discovered, including Napoleon's authorization for the Louisiana Purchase. Showing examples, Dr. Vail illustrates how historical pictures, portraits, and magazines are also useful to researchers. Of note is the album of August Edouard silhouettes recently acquired by a Baltimore collector. Mr. Poole presents Dr. Vail with children's items from his youth and a three-part mold Pennsylvania Dutch pitcher from his wife's family to add to the collection. This is the last program in the career series.

Dermatology deals with the diagnosis and treatment of skin diseases. Diagnosis sometimes depends of laboratory aids to confirm clinical impressions. Microscopic changes can be recognized to help determine the management and treatment of dermatoses. The understanding of the physiology of the skin and the diagnosis of skin conditions and diseases are necessary for the dermatologist. Treatment methods are more diversified than in any other medical specialty. There are internal medications such as anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-histamines, hormones, sedatives and injectable medications. Topical therapy uses lotions, ointments, soaps, and compresses. Other treatments include physical therapy, ultraviolet light, x-ray and radium therapy, cryotherapy, and surgery. The influence of professors and teachers is very important in guiding students into the various aspects of medicine. In fact the teachers must be constantly learning as post-graduates to keep up with the latest developments to stay in touch with their students. Entering the field of dermatology requires the completion of a pre-med program, then medical school and then an internship in dermatology, and an additional 3-year program in the specialized career.

Lynn Poole states that writing is a craft, a business, and a difficult profession, as he has discovered from writing five books himself. Colonel Mason, a graduate of Harvard and student of John Gallishaw, is the author of numerous historical novels and juvenile books, some translated into 18 languages. He maintains that waiting for inspiration is nonsense and that the writer should keep regular hours. His method of composition is to dictate his stories to a secretary who transcribes the drafts on yellow, then blue, then white paper. Colonel Mason explains that the two types of novels are stories of accomplishment and stories of decision. The elements of any story should include who, when, where, and how and should create urgencies or crises, as his impromptu story exemplifies. He describes his travels and research for his most recently published book, Silver Leopard, about the First Crusade, and displays his research notebook for his current work, Our Valiant Few, about the Civil War. His advice to young writers is to study with a competent teacher, write daily, don't quit your job after selling your first story, and remember that writing is more perspiration than inspiration. The second guest, Holmes Alexander, studied and wrote at Princeton and Cambridge. He then taught writing at the McDonough School, a private Baltimore school, and wrote book reviews and other pieces. When he was elected to the Maryland legislature, he wrote about his campaign and sold the story to Harpers. After that he became a reporter with The Baltimore Sun, covering county politics and Johns Hopkins University. He wrote biographies of Martin Van Buren and Aaron Burr as well as other books, nonfiction articles on horses, and fictional baseball stories, which he sold to such magazines as Saturday Evening Post, Colliers, and Esquire. He became Kiplinger's senior editor and ultimately a syndicated columnist. His advice to aspiring writers is to go where the trouble is to get the news, be able to write anywhere, and ignore obstacles to writing. A party at the end of this program celebrates the eighth year of Johns Hopkins programs with WAAM and the first anniversary of "Tomorrow's Careers." Herbert Cahan hosts the party, Mrs. Kennard Calfee presents the cake, and Lynn Poole introduces the staff. In addition to those normally appearing in the credits, he includes Dick Zibner (new assistant producer), Andy Bevins (floor manager), John Stokes and Allen Holmes (cameramen), and mentions Herman and Ben Cohen (of WAAM Network) and John Charles Daly (of ABC).