College and Research Libraries Recent Publications COLLEGE & RESEARCH LIBRARIES Dictionary of American Library 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 . Lite rature 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. Th e Search for a Scientific Profession: Li- brary Science Education in the U.S. and Canada , reviewed by W. L. Williamson . . 416 Grieder, Ted . Acquisitions: Wh ere, 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: Reso urces and Strategies , with Examples from the Environmental Sciences , reviewed by Deanne Holzberlein . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 424 Abstracts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 424 Other Publications of Interest to Academic Librarians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 427 BOOK REVIEWS Dictionary of American Library Biography. Editorial Board: George S . Bobinski, Jesse Hauk Shera, and Bohdan S. Wynar. Edited by Bohdan S. Wynar. Littleton, Colorado: Libraries Unlimited, Inc., 1978 . 596p . $65 U.S. and Canada; $78 elsewhere. LC 77-28791. ISBN 0-87287- 180-0. The Dictionary of American Library Biography is a major one-volume work de- scribed by its publishers as "the first scholarly dictionary of past American library leaders . . . . [and] probably the first bio- graphical dictionary of its kind for any pro- fession in the United States. " It was con- I 403 404 I College & Research Libraries • September 1978 ceived, planned, and brought to completion by George S. Bobinski, Jesse Hauk Shera, and Bohdan S. Wynar, who comprised the editorial board. In addition, a group of fourteen people prominent in librarianship, including four library school deans and two emeritus deans, six library school faculty members, and two administrators, served on the advi- sory board. Finally, 217 people, represent- ing. a wide range of library interests and areas of senice, knowledgeable about pro- fessional leaders at state, regional, and na- tional levels, and interested in library his- tory, contributed the 302 biographical sketches that comprise this publication. In the preface, the editors describe their underlying philosophy as based upon the premise that "library history is necessary to our professional self-knowledge, and it is written in the lives of those men and women who have practiced it, have thought and written about it, and have given it vitality and life" (p.xxix). The criteria used in selecting figures for inclusion were sig- nificant national contributions; influential professional writings; national positions and major achievements in librarianship; and scholarly, philanthropic, legislative, or gov- ernmental support activities having consid- erable effect upon American libraries. Al- though only people deceased as of June 30, 1976, were included, additional sketches will be published in the journal of Library History in order to keep the DALB record continuous and timely. Shera' s sketch of Ralph A. Beals serves as the model that was followed by other con- tributors. In addition to the biographee's name, dates, place of birth, and parents, the format in general includes a record of education, marriage, and family; influences that led to a career related to librarianship; positions occupied and notable accom- plishments; professional offices held and major contributions; honors received; bib- liographical description of writings; assess- ment of professional philosophy, contribu- tions, and activities; quotations when ap- propriate; biographical listings, obituaries, and books and articles about the person; bibliographical listings of primary sources and archival materials; and the name of the contributor. Although authors were advised about the length of each sketch (ranging between 1,000 and 6,000 words), coverage varies from several hundred words in some cases to as much as nine and one-half double- column pages for Melvil Dewey. Sketches are arranged alphabetically, and a very complete index provides names not only of biographees but also of family members and other people with whom the subject had professional relationships who are cited throughout the Dictionary. The main value of this work will be for reference and research use. It is also a book, however, that offers a rich source of information for the curious reader. Through the lives and careers of notable librarians, one is led to an understanding and appreci- ation of libraries and library activities as they developed in the life of the nation. It is interesting to learn, for instance, that James Bertram was the "real power" . behind the Carnegie benefactions between 1897 and 1934; that it was John Shaw Billings' suggestion that led Herman Hollerith to develop a machine to tabulate data from punched cards; that Walter Stanley Biscoe assumed responsibility for developing and refining the Dewey Decimal Classification schedules after Dewey moved into other fields of interest; that Sadie Peterson De- laney's activities and use of library materials with patients in rehabilitation and mental hospitals opened up the field of bib- liotherapy; and that Samuel W. Starks was the first black person to hold the position of state librarian (West Virginia) in the United State~. The development of outstanding collec- tions and libraries is related in the careers of Arthur Alfonso Schomburg, a leading bib- liophile whose collection on _ Negro history was purchased by the New York Public Li- brary in 1926; Carl B. Roden, whose associ- ation with the. Chicago Public Library spanned sixty-four years; Belle de Costa Green, who served as director of New York's Pierpont Morgan Library for twenty- four years; and Charles Ripley Gillett, who laid the foundations at Union Theological Seminary in New York for one of the great theological collections of the nation. Accomplishments in fields closely related to librarianship are recorded in sketches of Angus Snead Macdonald, who advanced the development of library stacks and was an early proponent of the modular plan of li- brary construction; Richard Rogers Bowker, who was a major figure in library publishing for some sixty years; Frederick Winthrop Faxon, who promoted subscription and re- lated library services; Halsey William Wil- son, who devoted more than half a century to compiling and issuing library indexes and abstract journals; and Hans Peter Luhn, whose work at IBM led to information re- trieval programs, the early concept of the key-word-in-context (KWIC) index, and programs for the selective dissemination of information (SDI). For most readers the coverage provided by this volume will appear remarkably complete and, perhaps, may even raise questions about why some individuals whose contributions could be considered modest were included. For others, how- ever, names may come to mind of worthy people for whom sketches do not appear. Notable in the latter category is Joseph Cummings Rowell, who headed the Univer- sity of California library at Berkeley for forty-four years (1875-1919); was a founder and first president of the Library Associa- tion of Central California (later to become the California Library Association); served as vice-president of the American Library Association; initiated interlibrary loan ser- vices on the west coast; compiled the first union list of periodical holdings in the San Francisco Bay area and made other con- tributions in the areas of classification, peri- odical indexing, and library building plan- ning; and was successful in acquiring for the university the Hubert Howe Bancroft li- brary of Californiana and western American history. Also absent from the DALB are sketches for James T. Babb, Emily Miller Danton, Frank A. Lundy, John Crerar, Walter L. Newberry, John Henry Ottemil- ler, and A. S. W. Rosenbach. A number of impressions may be formed as one reads about the prominent library figures in the United States. They have rep- resented a great variety of backgrounds, interests, and activities and have shown considerable diversity in their approaches to professional issues in librarianship. In short, librarians have not fit a stereotype. As a Recent Publications I 405 group they have evidenced a strong sense of dedication, service orientation, and scholas- tic integrity. Librarians have represented a breadth of subject interests that would un- doubtedly equal those of any other profes- sional group. They have been committed to professional organizations and cooperative efforts and have had strong associations with civic movements and public causes. A sig- nificant number of prominent figures in li- brarianship have also had theological train- ing and experience. The Dictionary of American Library Biography is an impressive publication with which few will find fault. It is a large vol- ume with double-column pages measuring eight and one-half by eleven inches . The physical design is attractive and the ar- rangement uncomplicated. The type is clear and readable; the weight and quality of paper appear to be very good; the binding should be adequate for average use but may not be sufficiently strong for library refer- ence collections. The price is high, probably of necessity, since the DALB's primary sales Will be to a limited number of institutions rather than a large group of individuals. The editors, advisory board members , con- tributors, and publisher are all to be com- mended for their successful efforts in pro- ducing . this important and valuable work.-Kenneth G. Peterson , Southern Illi- nois University at Carbondale . Johnston, Donald F. Copyright Handbook. New York: Bowker, 1978. 309p. $14.95. LC 77-27449. ISBN 0-8352-0951-2. Librarians and others inundated with in- formation about the new copyright law will welcome the appearance of this handbook, which contains a vast amount of information in its 309 pages. The author, who serves as legal counsel to R. R. Bowker Co. , declares his purpose is to "explain the new copyright law and its complexities, . . . to offer a gen- eral understanding of the law ... [in] an accessible format in which specific informa- tion can be expeditiously located." The book is to be used by librarians, publishers, educators, authors, and others who "have a need for direct access to information about the law." Not only does this handbook ad- mirably achieve the author's purpose and well serves its intended audience, but it