College and Research Libraries


4101 College & Research Libraries • September, 1966 

It is apparent to this reviewer that Mr. 
Holman and his talented designer-wife are 
a combination of sophisticated taste and 
high capability that is somewhat less than 
frequent in the profession. What is possible 
for them, having a Colts Armory Press and 
a careful selection of imported type, is 
simply beyond the reach of most librarians, 
nay, even of most academic librarians fa-
vored with a university press. 

One would hope that there are enough 
large libraries and collectors at large to 
exhaust the edition of 350 copies. ( U nfor-
tunately, this probably means that the vol-
ume will be available to those who, in a 
sense, need it least.) Hopefully, too, every 
library school library will procure a copy, 
which might be the best way to maximize 
the book's usefuhiess. If only a small hand-
ful of beginning librarians were fired by 
the passion and good taste exhibited by 
Mr. Holman, printing for libraries might 
one day be revolutionized. 

A more practical and immediate route to 
the upgrading of library publications-so 
fervently desired by Mr. Holman-would 
seem to be this: ( 1) raise the level of taste 
on the part of librarians, and ( 2) encourage 
them to seek out a high-quality printer who 
is, or who has on his staff, a good designer. 
Library Publications is a notable contribu-
tion to the first of these goals.-Wm. R. 
Eshelman, Bucknell University. 

Special Libraries: A Guide for Manage-
ment. Ed. by Edward G. Strahle. New 
York, Special Libraries Association, 1966. 
63p. illus. $4. (66-17107). 

Special Libraries: A Guide for Manage-
ment fills a gap in the literature of special 
librarianship. Rather than being aimed at 
the neophyte special librarian, this slim, 
paperbound book is intended for the use of 
management personnel in deciding the 
when, why, how, and what of a special 
library. Written by six special librarians, 
the information it contains is accurate, cur-
rent, and well-presented. It is not written 
as a quick course in librarianship; it pre-
sents the type of information the manager 
of a research laboratory, for example, re-
quires to determine the need of his or-
ganization for a library, the functions he 
might expect such a library to perform, 

and the probable costs of establishment 
and operation. 

A number of photographs, floor plans, 
and tables augment the text nicely. These-
lection of examples has been chosen 
thoughtfully to include the whole range 
from very small to very large special li-
braries. The data supplied to demonstrate 
the probable costs of establishment and 
operation is as current as possible and 
some suggestions concerning trends are 
made which should keep the book from 
being outdated too quickly. Three ap-
proaches to budget planning are suggested 
and it might be possible to use them as a 
check on each other. The data in this sec-
tion may also have some useful applica-
tions in the estimation of operational costs 
of "special" libraries which are a part of 
university library systems. The increasing 
volume of contract research on university 
campuses has resulted in a significant 
growth of special libraries within the aca-
demic milieu. 

A useful bibliography, again aimed more 
at management than librarians, is appended. 
This supplements the numerous books and 
articles mentioned in the text. 

This book is a powerful tool for the li-
brarian who steps into the normally cha-
otic situation which pertains when an in-
dustrial or business concern suddenly 
senses a need for a library. A few copies 
in the hands of management would lend 
support to the librarian's desire to provide · 
optimum service. Unfortunately, it is not 
likely that too many managers will see a 
copy before their literature problems be-
come overwhelming. The Illinois Chapter 
of Special Libraries Association is to be 
congratulated for sustaining this project 
and producing this useful pamphlet.-Rob-
ert E. Burton, University of Michigan. 

Lyceum to Library: A Chapter in the 
Cultural History of Houston. By Orin 
Walker Hatch. Houston: Texas Gulf 
Coast Historical Association, 1965. [ix1, 
73p. $3. 

Every institution should have its history 
recorded. This maxim is as true for a cul-
tural institution as for a financial, govern-
mental, or academic one. Library histories 
are important if for no other reason than