164 I College & Research • March 1977 of and , State also represent important contributions to University of New York at Albany. · the field. Donald Davinson has done for li­ brary education in Europe what Lester Advances in Librarianship. Volume 6. Edit- Asheim did for library education in North ed by Melvin J. Voigt and Michael H. America in volume 5 of this series. In paint­ Harris. New York: Academic Press, 1976. ing a broad picture of library education on 291p. $16.00. LC 79-88675. ISBN 0-12- the European continent, Davinson exhibits 785006-6. an encyclop~dic familiarity with the litera­ Advances· in Librarianship is a major hire of several disciplines and the trends in work in the field of librarianship, for col­ European library education. American li­ lected in one volume is a presentation of brary and information science educators as current trends, issues, and problems on well as others will find this essay an im­ topics that are not only timely, but of in­ mensely -stimulating study that may very valuable interest and concern to practition­ well serve as a good background paper for ers and scholars. The first five volumes of a seminar on comparative librarianship. Advances were edited by that meticulous Beverly Lynch, former Executive Secre­ scholar, Melvin J. Voigt. In assembling the tary of the Association of College and Re­ sixth volume, he has been joined by an search Libraries, focuses on. a topic of con­ erudite library educator, Michael H. Harris. siderable interest · to the profession, "The This welcome new volume to the review Role of Middle Managers in Libraries." Her literature is significant, for the major thrust essay is a hard-headed, fruitful examination of the work speaks to the vexing questions of the current role of that hybrid, "the of accountability, productivity, and per­ middle manager," including elements in the formance. It is the goal of the editors that library environment that make for coopera­ this emphasis ~'will prove of use to librari­ tive or competitive relationships. This com­ ans struggling with the problem of mean­ prehensive analysis of such a timely topic ingfully assessing the value of the library's not only sheds much needed light on the services to the community." In this period subject, but the sources of material for the of mandated budgetary cuts and fiscal essay also · constitute one of its major crisis, which have made for financially strengths. strapped libraries, who must fight Turning to the organization of the vol­ for and justify every morsel of funding will ume; the editors have followed the ap­ find these observations and conclusions very proach of previous volumes. Each essay is beneficial, so structured that the reader is fortunate The four papers that illuminate the prob­ in that there is an outline of the major sub­ lems are ~'Performance Measures for School jects under consideration. In addition there Librarians·; Complexities and Potential," by are copious references, and each essay is Evelyn H. Daniel, "Productivity Measure­ well written and documented. The inclusion ment in Academic Libraries," by Thomas of the table of contents of previous volumes J. Waldhart and Thomas P. Marcum, "Rele­ and the excellent author and subject vance: A Review of the Literature and a indexes enhance the reference value of the Framework for Thinking on the Notion in volume. · Information Science," by Tefko Saracevic, Each succeeding year this tome clearly and "The Impact of Reading on Human demonstrates its uniqueness as an indis­ Behavior: The Implications of Communica­ pensable research tool.-E. ]. Josey, Chief, tions Research," by Roger Haney, Michael Bureau of Specialist Library Services, New H. Harris, and Leonard Tipton. York State Education Department. Apart from their intrinsic merit, if these four essays indicate anything, it is the im­ Shera, Jesse H. Introduction to Library Sci­ perative need for librarians to have the ence: Basic Elements of . skills to make an interdisciplinary analysis Library Science Text Series. Littleton, of the performance of their libraries in Colo.: Libraries Unlimited, Inc., 1976. meeting the needs of their user communi­ 208p. $10.00. LC 76-21332. ISBN ties. 0-87287-173-8. The remaining two papers in this volume Designed as a textbook for an introduc- Recent Publications I 165 tory course in library science, this book well be a valuable introduction and guide to the fulfills its purpose. The various chapters basic elements of librarianship. The second cover: library history through the centuries; edition continues the good work and is wel­ the place of the libr~ as a social and cul­ comed as an important title in the McGraw­ tural force and as a responsible communica­ Hill Series in Library Education. The book tion network in society; the importance of has three major divisions: Part One, The reading and of "knowing men and books"; Story of Libraries; Part Two, Librarianship librarianship in a new role in the field of in­ as a Profession; and Part Three, Kinds of formation science and the study of informa­ Libraries and Library Service. The two ap­ tion processing devices and techniques such pendixes include Guides for Professional as computers and network systems; the Performance and a Bibliography. "structure, organization and record," of the Jean Gates, in the prologue, states that library and information science profession; the book is about 'libraries, librarians, and the educational and research requirements. librarianship. It offers indications and sug­ Two chapters in the book were written gestions about what they have been, what by other people: chapter 4, ccDeus ex they are now, what they should be, and machina,, by La Vahn Overmyer, a faculty what they may become." The author says member of the Case ·Western Reserve Li­ that the book is "introductory" in nature brary School, and chapter 8., "Library and and proposes to introduce the student to Information Services," by Margaret Ander­ the history of libraries and librarianship, to _son of the University of Toronto Library provide a basis for the understanding of li­ School faculty. brary objectives and services, and to instill This book provides an interesting and an appreciation of librarianship . as a pro­ readable introduction to the field of librari­ fession. Included also is information about anship and information science. Jesse Shera the various kinds of libraries, the types of is a literary man, .a scholar, and a human­ library services, information about impor­ ist. He writes well, with sophistication, and tant library leaders, about professional or­ with a sense of humor. He cites authorities, ganizations, about library education, and and he expresses his own personal opinion about current problems, issues, and trends. and personal philosophy about the field of For those persons who wish to pursue librarianship. He speaks for a balance be­ given topics to greater lengths there are ex­ tween technology and scholarship and testi­ cellent footnotes and bibliographical cita­ fies to the breadth and depth and richness tions. The material is presented directly and of the library profession. In the prologue clearly, and the book is an excellent text for of his book, Shera says, c'The aim of this an introductory foundation course in library book, then, is not to introduce, much less science. It can also serve as a supplement to formulate, a philosophy of librarianship, to many other courses in the curriculum or even to present a 'state of the art' sum­ and should be required reading of every li­ mary, but rather to provide some insight brary school student.-Martha Boaz, Dean, into what librarianship is and the opportu­ School of Library Science, University of nities it offers, to one who might choose it Southern .California, Los Angeles. as a career. ·. In the opinion of this reviewer, Dr. Shera Rayward, W. Boyd. The Universe of Infor­ achieves his goal and much more. His book mation: The Work of Paul Otlet for Doc­ is interesting, readable, entertaining, and umentation and International Organisa­ a contribution to librarianship.-Martha tion. (FID 520) Moscow: Published for Boaz, Dean, School of Library Science, International Federation for Documenta­ University of Southern California, Los ·An­ tion (FID) by All-Union Institute for geles. Scientific and Technical Information (VINITI), 1975. 389p. 40 Dutch guil­ Gates, Jean Key. Introduction to ­ ders. (Available from International Fed­ ship. 2d ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, eration for Documentation, 7 Hofweg, 1976. 288p. $9.95. LC 75-42316. ISBN The Hague, Netherlands.) ·' 0-07-022977-5. This is perhaps· the most depressing book The first edition of this book proved to that I have ever read-or at least in a class