COLLEGE & RESEARCH Recent Publications

Dictionary of American Biography, reviewed by Kenneth G. Peterson 403 Johnston, Donald F. Copyright Handbook, reviewed by Meredith A. Butler ...... 405 Use of Social Sciences Literature, reviewed by Thelma Freides ...... 406 Sharma, Hari Krishnan. Organisation and Administration of College Libraries, re- viewed by Morris A. Gelfand ...... 407 Dibdin, Thomas Frognall. Thomas Frognall Dibdin: Selections, reviewed by John F. Guido ...... 408 Bahr, Alice Harrison. Book Theft and Library Security Systems, 1978-79, reviewed by James Michalko ...... 409 Lecht, Charles P. The Waves of Change: A Techno-Economic Analysis of the Data Pro­ cessing Industry, reviewed by Audrey N. Grosch ...... 410 Current Research on Scientific and Technical Information Transfer, reviewed by Irma Y. Johnson ...... 411 Houghton, Bernard, and Convey, John. On-Line Information Retrieval Systems: An In­ troductory Manual to Principles and Practice, reviewed by Peter G. Watson ...... 411 Running Out of Space-What Are the Alternatives? Reviewed by Selby U. Gration . . . 412 Woodward, A. M. Factors Affecting the Renewal of Periodical Subscriptions, reviewed by Sister Alma Marie Walls ...... 413 Nicholas, David, and Ritchie, Maureen. Literature and Bibliometrics, reviewed by Perry D . Morrison ...... 414 Arnold, Denis V. The Management of the Information Department, reviewed by Jata S. Ghosh ...... 415 Houser, Lloyd J. , and Schrader, Alvin M. The Search for a Scientific Profession: Li- brary Science Education in the U.S. and Canada , reviewed by W. L. Williamson . . 416 Grieder, Ted. Acquisitions: Where, What, and Hou; , reviewed by James E. Weaver . . 418 Information Work with Unpublished Reports, reviewed by Sarojini Balachandran . . . . . 419 Baker, Robert K. Introduction to Library Research in French Literature, reviewed by Paul J. Kann ...... 420 Rice, Stanley. Book Design: Systematic Aspects, reviewed by Budd L. Gambee ...... 421 Rice , Stanley. Book Design: Text Format Models , reviewed by Budd L. Gambee .. ... 421 Bakewell, K. G. B. Classification and Indexing Practice , reviewed by Elizabeth Snapp 422 Jones, Lois Swan. Art Research Methods and Resources: A Guide to Finding Art In- formation , reviewed by Lamia Doum:;.to ...... 423 Morris, Jacquelyn M., and Elkins, Elizabeth A. Library Searching: Resources and Strategies, with Examples from the Environmental Sciences, reviewed by Deanne Holzberlein ...... 424 Abstracts ...... 424 Other Publications of Interest to Academic ...... 427

BOOK REVIEWS elsewhere. LC 77-28791. ISBN 0-87287- 180-0. The Dictionary of American Library Dictionary of American Library Biography. Biography is a major one-volume work de­ Editorial Board: George S. Bobinski, scribed by its publishers as "the first Jesse Hauk Shera, and Bohdan S. Wynar. scholarly dictionary of past American library Edited by Bohdan S. Wynar. Littleton, leaders . . . . [and] probably the first bio­ Colorado: Libraries Unlimited, Inc., graphical dictionary of its kind for any pro­ 1978. 596p. $65 U.S. and Canada; $78 fession in the United States. " It was con-

I 403 404 I College & Research Libraries • September 1978 ceived, planned, and brought to completion Although authors were advised about the by George S. Bobinski, Jesse Hauk Shera, length of each sketch (ranging between and Bohdan S. Wynar, who comprised the 1,000 and 6,000 words), coverage varies editorial board. from several hundred words in some cases In addition, a group of fourteen people to as much as nine and one-half double­ prominent in librarianship, including four column pages for Melvil Dewey. Sketches library school deans and two emeritus are arranged alphabetically, and a very deans, six library school faculty members, complete index provides names not only of and two administrators, served on the advi­ biographees but also of family members and sory board. Finally, 217 people, represent­ other people with whom the subject had ing. a wide range of library interests and professional relationships who are cited areas of senice, knowledgeable about pro­ throughout the Dictionary. fessional leaders at state, regional, and na­ The main value of this work will be for tional levels, and interested in library his­ reference and research use. It is also a tory, contributed the 302 biographical book, however, that offers a rich source of sketches that comprise this publication. information for the curious reader. Through In the preface, the editors describe their the lives and careers of notable librarians, underlying philosophy as based upon the one is led to an understanding and appreci­ premise that "library history is necessary to ation of libraries and library activities as our professional self-knowledge, and it is they developed in the life of the nation. written in the lives of those men and It is interesting to learn, for instance, that women who have practiced it, have thought James Bertram was the "real power". behind and written about it, and have given it the Carnegie benefactions between 1897 vitality and life" (p.xxix). The criteria used and 1934; that it was ' in selecting figures for inclusion were sig­ suggestion that led Herman Hollerith to nificant national contributions; influential develop a machine to tabulate data from professional writings; national positions and punched cards; that Walter Stanley Biscoe major achievements in librarianship; and assumed responsibility for developing and scholarly, philanthropic, legislative, or gov­ refining the Dewey Decimal Classification ernmental support activities having consid­ schedules after Dewey moved into other erable effect upon . Al­ fields of interest; that Sadie Peterson De­ though only people deceased as of June 30, laney's activities and use of library materials 1976, were included, additional sketches with patients in rehabilitation and mental will be published in the journal of Library hospitals opened up the field of bib­ History in order to keep the DALB record liotherapy; and that Samuel W. Starks was continuous and timely. the first black person to hold the position of Shera' s sketch of Ralph A. Beals serves as state (West Virginia) in the United the model that was followed by other con­ State~. tributors. In addition to the biographee's The development of outstanding collec­ name, dates, place of birth, and parents, tions and libraries is related in the careers the format in general includes a record of of Arthur Alfonso Schomburg, a leading bib­ education, marriage, and family; influences liophile whose collection on _Negro history that led to a career related to librarianship; was purchased by the Public Li­ positions occupied and notable accom­ brary in 1926; Carl B. Roden, whose associ­ plishments; professional offices held and ation with the. Public Library major contributions; honors received; bib­ spanned sixty-four years; Belle de Costa liographical description of writings; assess­ Green, who served as director of New ment of professional philosophy, contribu­ York's Pierpont Morgan Library for twenty­ tions, and activities; quotations when ap­ four years; and Charles Ripley Gillett, who propriate; biographical listings, obituaries, laid the foundations at Union Theological and books and articles about the person; Seminary in New York for one of the great bibliographical listings of primary sources theological collections of the nation. and archival materials; and the name of the Accomplishments in fields closely related contributor. to librarianship are recorded in sketches of Recent Publications I 405

Angus Snead Macdonald, who advanced the group they have evidenced a strong sense of development of library stacks and was an dedication, service orientation, and scholas­ early proponent of the modular plan of li­ tic integrity. Librarians have represented a brary construction; , breadth of subject interests that would un­ who was a major figure in library publishing doubtedly equal those of any other profes­ for some sixty years; Frederick Winthrop sional group. They have been committed to Faxon, who promoted subscription and re­ professional organizations and cooperative lated library services; Halsey William Wil­ efforts and have had strong associations with son, who devoted more than half a century civic movements and public causes. A sig­ to compiling and issuing library indexes and nificant number of prominent figures in li­ abstract journals; and Hans Peter Luhn, brarianship have also had theological train­ whose work at IBM led to information re­ ing and experience. trieval programs, the early concept of the The Dictionary of American Library key-word-in-context (KWIC) index, and Biography is an impressive publication with programs for the selective dissemination of which few will find fault. It is a large vol­ information (SDI). ume with double-column pages measuring For most readers the coverage provided eight and one-half by eleven inches. The by this volume will appear remarkably physical design is attractive and the ar­ complete and, perhaps, may even raise rangement uncomplicated. The type is clear questions about why some individuals and readable; the weight and quality of whose contributions could be considered paper appear to be very good; the binding modest were included. For others, how­ should be adequate for average use but may ever, names may come to mind of worthy not be sufficiently strong for library refer­ people for whom sketches do not appear. ence collections. The price is high, probably Notable in the latter category is Joseph of necessity, since the DALB's primary sales Cummings Rowell, who headed the Univer­ Will be to a limited number of institutions sity of California library at Berkeley for rather than a large group of individuals. The forty-four years (1875-1919); was a founder editors, advisory board members, con­ and first president of the Library Associa­ tributors, and publisher are all to be com­ tion of Central California (later to become mended for their successful efforts in pro­ the California Library Association); served ducing . this important and valuable as vice-president of the American Library work.-Kenneth G. Peterson, Southern Illi­ Association; initiated interlibrary loan ser­ nois University at Carbondale. vices on the west coast; compiled the first union list of periodical holdings in the San Johnston, Donald F. Copyright Handbook. Francisco Bay area and made other con­ New York: Bowker, 1978. 309p. $14.95. tributions in the areas of classification, peri­ LC 77-27449. ISBN 0-8352-0951-2. odical indexing, and library building plan­ Librarians and others inundated with in- ning; and was successful in acquiring for the formation about the new copyright law will university the Hubert Howe Bancroft li­ welcome the appearance of this handbook, brary of Californiana and western American which contains a vast amount of information history. Also absent from the DALB are in its 309 pages. The author, who serves as sketches for James T. Babb, Emily Miller legal counsel to R. R. Bowker Co. , declares Danton, Frank A. Lundy, John Crerar, his purpose is to "explain the new copyright Walter L. Newberry, John Henry Ottemil­ law and its complexities, . . . to offer a gen­ ler, and A. S. W. Rosenbach. eral understanding of the law ... [in] an A number of impressions may be formed accessible format in which specific informa­ as one reads about the prominent library tion can be expeditiously located." The book figures in the United States. They have rep­ is to be used by librarians, publishers, resented a great variety of backgrounds, educators, authors, and others who "have a interests, and activities and have shown need for direct access to information about considerable diversity in their approaches to the law." Not only does this handbook ad­ professional issues in librarianship. In short, mirably achieve the author's purpose and librarians have not fit a stereotype. As a well serves its intended audience, but it