College and Research Libraries loss of these brought about by the actions of other users. In today' s world, the library no longer enjoys a monopoly of information services. If the library is to survive in an in- creasingly competitive market, it must be- come more efficient. Braunstein argues that library efficiency can be enhanced by the adoption of appropriate pricing policies and by tailoring services to better meet patron needs. The most provocative paper in the collec- tion is Michael D. Cooper's "Economics of Library Size: A Preliminary Inquiry." His empirical research, conducted in the public library setting but still applicable to academic libraries, seems to indicate that average costs per measurable unit of output-measurable output includes mate- rials cataloged, reference questions an- swered, items circulated, etc.-remain the same regardless of the size of the library or the population it serves. Despite the meth- odological problems that Cooper recognizes, including the difficulty of measuring many forms of library output, assigning appropri- ate weights to different kinds of output, and recognizing differences in the quality of output, this is an important study, which alone justifies the purchase of the volume. The concluding essay by Maurice B. Line, entitled "The Psychopathology of Un- economics," is pure delight. The responses of librarians unaccustomed to thinking in economic terms to growing demands that they do so are neatly and humorously classified. Students, faculty, and academic administrators are not spared, either. Line concludes with an apt reminder that an economic and systematic approach to librar- ianship is essential if we are to achieve our ultimate purpose of providing the best pos- sible service to library users.-Robert L. Burr, Gonzaga University, Spokane, Wash- ington. American Library Association. Collection Development Committee. Guidelinea.. for Collection Development. David Perkins, editor. Chicago: American Library Assn., 1979. 78p. $5. LC 79-16971. ISBN 0-8389-3231-2. Budgetary constraints and a growth in re- source sharing have given libraries the im- petus to establish new collection policies or Recent Publications I 169 to revise old ones. This valuable publication brings together four guidelines that will greatly assist in this process. Task forces within the Resources Section of ALA's Re- sources and Technical Services Division (RTSD) have worked on these guidelines since 197 4; librarians will find the guidelines well worth the wait. The "Guidelines for the Formulation of Collection Development Policies" give a general overview of the need for clearly written policies and also present detailed suggestions on specifics to include in the policy, suc.h as levels of collecting and lan- guage codes. The guidelines recommend that analysis of collecting by subject field be broken down by detailed Library of Con- gress class; the specific breakdown into sub- divisions used in the comparative shelflist measurement project is included in the appendixes. The "Guidelines for the Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Library Collections;, list methods to use to determine if the collec- tion is actually meeting the library's goals. Specific evaluation methods are listed, along with the pros and cons of each. The "Guidelines for the Review of Li- brary Collections" provide · recommendations on ways to select items for discard, storage, or preservation. And the "Guidelines for the Allocation of Library Materials Budgets" list factors to consider in budget allocation, methods to use, and a description of allocation by for- mula. A citation to, and description of, for- mulas proposed by McGrath, Dillehay, Gold, Kohut, and Pierce are given in the appendix. Bibliographies compiled by three of the task forces are included, plus a separate, annotated list of items on collection de- velopment policies that was compiled by a special committee of the California Library Association. Although the annotations are helpful, this one section of the bibliography is older and lacks some important citations. (The excellent articles on collection de- velopment that appeared in the Winter 1979 issue of Library Resources & Technical Services are too recent. to be included in the bibliography.; they complement these guidelines and should be read with them.) These guidelines, especially the one on 170 I College & Research Libraries • March 1980 formulation of policies, provide an excellent combination of theory and specifics and are a base that individual libraries can use to es- tablish procedures to help meet their indi- vidual needs. At only five dollars, this book is one of the best buys in library publishing.-William Schenck , University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Collection Management. LJ Special Report #ll. New York: Bowker, 1979. 48p. $5; cash with order, $3.95. ISBN 0-8352- 1215-7. ISSN 0362-448X. This group of thirteen articles provides collection management ideas in a readable reportorial and inspirational style. Editor Karl Nyren has divided the LJ-size pam- phlet into three topics: buying on a budget; the new special collection; and periodicals, needs/costs/uses. The articles range from being quite spe- cific in suggesting management respon: sibilities and methods to being rather philosophical in supporting the need for re- sponsible collection management. To buy on a budget, libraries are encour- aged to use remainder houses, committees, computer data bases, rigorous use studies, and the process of developing a "collection development" policy as means for control- ling expenditures. Even in times of retrenchment a library keeps growing, changing, developing its programs. One means of doing so is to start a special collection. Nyren print~d five es- says that suggest the birthing process of, and then the maintenance methodology for, special collections. This section is especially reportorial/inspirational in nature, yet with bibliographic information amply presented. The third section contains two essays about the need for, and methodology of, adequately managing the library's serials material. This section returns the reader to the need for more rigorous study of use, cost, and need for each subscription. Though the price seems steep for a forty-eight-page production, the essays do provide ideas for the collection manager of any size or type of library. One weakness is You Need Only One. When selecting an acquisitions agent or changing from your current agent, what are your needs and who should you be looking for? Does your library need ... ? 0 1. Fiscal management programs specially designed to aid library budgets. 0 2. Complete U.S. and European sales/service staffs and falfillment centeD. 0 3. Periodicals, continaatiou, and monographs. 0 4. Frequent bibliC)grapbic and service publications. 0 5. Coordhlatecl programs for conversion from •ciireet ordering" or other agents. 0 6. Worldwide resources. If these are your needs, then Stechert Mac:millan, Inc. is your one II01U'Ce- one service ac:quisitiou agency! With over 100 years of acquisitions experience, Stechert's tradition of excellence (started way back in 1872 by Stechert-Hafner) offers you a total, compre- hensive service, whether your library is large or small; academic, public or special. Coupling these six Stechert Macmillan services with our management information systems- Holdings Renewal List, Quarterly Claims Report, Union List of Holdings, Consolidated Invoice by Department (CID)- for periodicals; standing order program for continuations; publisher relations program; and the PONT A (Popular New Titles From Abroad) plan- it's easy to see why, when you select Stechert Macmillan, •You Need Only One." Why not write today for information about the complete line of Stechert Macmillan services! Stechert ~ Macmillan,lnc. W Serving Libraries Since 1872 866 Third Avenue/New York, N.Y. 10022 USA