Obsolete Technology: Library edition

This is Richard O’Keefe, Rice Librarian from 1968 until 1979, showing off what is apparently some cool technology:

I especially like this one–he looks like the cat that ate the canary:

Unfortunately, I have no real idea what the machine is or what it was used for. All I have to go on is what’s on the back of the second image, which doesn’t do much to clear things up:

Any thoughts?