College and Research Libraries 182 I College & Research Libraries • March 1976 model for future experiments resulting in interesting journal articles.-Michael ]. Mc- Gill, School of Information Studies, Syra- cuse University, Syracuse, New York. McGarry, K. J. Communication, Knowledge and the Librarian. Hamden, Conn.: Lin- net Books, 1975. 207p. $10.50. (LC 75- 4864) (ISBN 0-208-01369-3) K. J. McGarry has produced a primer for librarians in an area in which librarians urgently need a primer. He covers an enor- mous span of knowledge concisely and well. He structures a viable approach to a field of intellectual endeavor which, in common with several newly emerging fields of study, represents a confluence of several older dis- ciplines and new concepts. Most remark- able of all, he recognizes and points out clearly that this new approach, while po- tentially extremely fruitful, provides only a partial view and leaves out of the discus- sion some very important aspects of librari- anship and human knowledge. McGarry's object is to discuss the library in terms of its place in the communication system of society. To do this he first treats the current state of knowledge of commu- nication from the cybernetics, linguistics, sociological, psychological, and anthropo- logical viewpoints. He surveys literature and concepts, discussing the use of models, information theory, entropy and redundan- cy, symbols, culture and the concept of self, social role theory, and other pertinent mat- ters. He then examines the process of inter- personal communication and the necessities of that process. Perhaps McGarry's gloomiest conclusion in relation to the human condition is that hierarchy is an omnipresent necessity of all life and interaction, including communica- tions. One hopes that Warren Bennis and others of his school of thought have what will prove to be a more correct viewpoint in this regard. It would be very disturbing to many people and institutions if we were · to discover that democratic processes of hu- man interaction are inherently impossible. McGarry proceeds, through a brief dis- cussion of nonverbal communication, to an excellent analysis of the impact of the de- velopment of communications on society. In this context he discusses McLuhan' s ideas, set forth in English and treated in a sane and productive manner. He rightly points out the fallacy of subscribing to yet another form of simplistic determinism while recognizing the seminal nature of the concepts McLuhan presents. This discus- sion is long and very valuable as a con- ceptual framework for the study of the his- tory of books, media of other sorts, and libraries. The attempt to make direct application of the theories so well discussed in this vol- ume to the library scene is not entirely suc- ·Cessful. This is usually the case when at- tempts at practical application are made early in the development of a new body of knowledge. · The attempts must, of course, be made because it is from them that a significant force and direction are given to further theoretical development. The importance of the process of theory building and practical application is underscored by a quotation from Eric de Grolier (p.l23), "Now the death of a civilization can be interpreted as the death of its information mecha- nisms." We, whose civilization has devel- oped and become dependent upon an in- formation mechanism of unprecedented magnitude, complexity, and fragility must struggle successfully to preserve and im- prove that mechanism. The consequences of failure could be as cataclysmic as the consequences of failure to keep the peace. This terse and literate book provides a carefully selected and structured guide to the study necessary to achieve understand- ing of the subject. Hopefully, the book will serve as a starting place for course work in many library schools.-Ernest W. Toy, ]r., California State University, Fullerton. tJberregionale Literaturversorgung von Wissenschaft und F orschung in der Bun- desrepublik Deutschland: Denkschrift. (Supra-Regional Provision of Literature in the Federal Republic of Germany: Memorandum.) Bibliotheksausschuss der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft. Bop- pard: Harald Boldt Verlag KG, 1975. 116p. (ISBN 3-7646-1621-0) One of the major goals of the Library Committee of the German Research Society (GRS) has been the development of an ef- .• Recent Publications I 183 fective cooperative acquisitions program subjects and the libraries responsible for which would insure that one copy of every them, conclude the volume. A brief Eng- publication of current or potential scholarly !ish-language summary of main points ac- importance would find its way into some companies the volume, but, for thorough German research library and would become understanding of the system and its work- available to all users in the Federal Repub- ing, one must have access to the German lie through efficient information and inter- text. library loan services. A classified subject This description of a fascinating plan to scheme was devised, and certain libraries develop a national research collection is of with staffs capable of selecting and acquir- intrinsic interest but also implicitly raises ing the materials and administrative officers questions related to the general merit of a willing to assume what became national re- decentralized versus a centralized approach sponsibilities were assigned one or more to national resource development. Contrast subject categories. They were urged to col- German federal spending, for example, with lect creatively and comprel:ieiisTvely~ In ie~ ---the -aborted Farmingfon--P1an,- the approxi- turn, the GRS provided funds for acquisi- mate American equivalent of the GRS tions, salaries, and equipment in the par- scheme, which relied solely on local means ticipating libraries and served as the central to satisfy what were defined as national coordinating organization. needs. Although even generous support has This important "Memorandum" analyzes not solved all problems, one does wonder, the program's strengths and weaknesses, de- amid the general discussion of a national scribes the organizational changes and up- information system for the United States dating needed to make it more effective, and the financial potential of revenue shar- and considers such issues as whether a na- ing, whether the GRS plan is not suggestive tional lending library on the British model of a means to help maintain the unique should replace the decentralized system and collections in some research libraries faun- whether additional central subject libraries dering amid rising costs and diminished should be created. Among the weaknesses local financing.-Erwin K. Welsch, Me- are the problems of adequately defining re- morial Library, University of Wisconsin- sponsibilities when traditional subject clivi- Madison. sions are being eroded by new fields, such as environmental studies; the varying in- Veit, Fritz. The Community College Li- tensities of collection development among brary. Contributions in Librarianship and the participating libraries (evidently some Information Science, Number 14. West- were not being sufficiently comprehensive port, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 1975. in their collecting); and a cumbersome in- 221p. $13.95. (LC 72-843) (ISBN 0- terlibrary loan system. Judged against these 8371-6412-5) deficiencies were the development and ac- The literature of the community college cess for scholars of subject specialist li- library has been enriched by Dr. Veit's mas- brarians, the future of collections which terful presentation in this state-of-the-art have been developed through this program, volume. It is comprehensive, well docu- and the inability to show that within the mented, and readable. As the author indi- German context centralization would be cates, it is intended not only for students more effective. On balance the GRS opted in the field, but also for community college to continue the present program but recom- library staffs and the general reader. An in- mended many changes to make it more re- dex facilitates the location of references to sponsive to current needs, among them pro- specific aspects of library operation. vision of additional funds for certain tech- Dr. Veit defines his terms explaining that nical services, for travel for specialist li- "community college" refers to all public brarians, and for other costs unique to the postsecondary two-year institutions and that subjects being covered. Discussions of the "library" includes both the traditional li- need for a central lending library are also brary and the learning resource center. The to continue. author points out that the community col- Several appendixes, including the list of lege library is similar in many respects to