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.

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.

Rising sophomore Larry C. Marxer details his first year experience at The Johns Hopkins University, from the September 10 arrival of new students to the June 12 commencement on the quad. Key people introduced include Dr. Wendell R. Garner, head of the Psychology Dept.; Dr. G. Wilson Shaffer, dean of the Homewood schools; Dr. Robert H. Roy, dean of the engineering school; Irene M. Davis, registrar; William F. Logan, director of administration; P. Stewart Macaulay, provost; Dr. Carl B. Swisher, international law and political science scholar; and three religious advisors. Mergenthaler, Remsen, Gilman, and Shriver Halls and Homewood House are pictured on the 120-acre campus. The freshman orientation week includes an "eye to toe" physical exam and a weekend of recreation at the Baltimore YMCA Camp where alumni relations director Osmar P. Steinwald leads the students in a songfest. Of the 400+ Hopkins professors, the following are identified by name: Thomas F. Hubbard, Alsoph H. Corwin, Walter S. Koski, Kemp Malone, Abel Wolman, Alphonse Chapanis, James C. McLaren, and William L. Straus, Jr.

A silent film showing various events during homecoming weekend at Johns Hopkins University in 1954, features the graduating class of 1929. The festivities begin with the registration of the graduates and their spouses, followed by a banquet highlighted by a speech by Theodore R. McKeldin, Governor of Maryland. The next day the former classmates and their guests attend the JHU lacrosse game against the University of Maryland. That evening there is a formal dinner and dance. The weekend wraps up the next day with an outdoor luncheon. Title from cassette label.

"A.D." is a member of the Johns Hopkins University graduating class of 2020. In this interview, A.D. describes growing up in a big family in South Central Los Angeles. He shares his experience attending the public school system in the area, his interest in public speaking and cross country running, and his decision to attend Johns Hopkins. He discusses his academic experience as a pure math major with an applied math minor. A.D. also shares his experience living far from family and experiencing loss while at school.