College and Research Libraries 554 I College & Research Libraries • November 1980 pilot project and welcomes suggestions and comments. My suggestion is that the com- pilers define for themselves and for their in- tended audience what CLIP Notes: #1-80 seeks to do.-Thomas M. Gaughan, Uni- versity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Strawn, Richard R. Topics, Terms, and Re- search Techniques: Self-Instruction in Us- ing Library Catalogs. Metuchen , N.J.: Scarecrow, 1980. 98p. $8. LC 80-12569. ISBN 0-8108-1308-4. Instruction librarians, especially academic ones, complain that they have too many stu- dents to teach and not enough time to do it in. Using a programmed, self-instruction guide could be of benefit to both instruction librarians and students . Richard Strawn has added his contribution to the burgeoning literature of self-help books in the field for library users . As his title suggests, this book is written for individual users who are re- searching a topic. The subjects covered in the text are how to read a Library of Congress catalog card, words as possible "subject headings," how to use subject headings, specificity (when a term is too narrow), subdivisions (how sub- jects are divided up), and filing. Each topic includes a pretest, exercise , and summary of the basic information needed to complete the exercise·. The answers are given in the back of the book. The text is based on LC classification and subject headings and, according to the author, "uses actual topics that Wabash College students have had to treat in the last several years." Strawn aims his text at "high school and college stu- dents, library aides and technicians" and gives a completion time of seven hours for the entire book, or four hours following the shortcuts. The reproduction of the LC cards is often poor; they are fuzzy and hard to read . The layout of the exercises could also be im- proved: one exercise overlaps onto another page, making the user turn pages to follow an exercise. The exercises were confusing to rrie in their numbering system: letters and numbers are used to designate · question numbers, card numbers, and example num- bers. The book depends on a good academic PUBLICATIONS FROM THE UNITED NATIONS YEARBOOK OF THE UNITED NATIONS 19n The only annual publication of the United Nations to provide a comprehensive. objective account of the work of the Organization . The year's agenda of conferences, meetings, reports and field activities are cov- ered succinctly, as well as the various programmes of the intergovernmental agencies related to the Unit- ed Nations. It includes bibliograph-ies of primary source materials, texts and voting details of resolutions passed , and a detailed analytical index . The Yearbook is offered as a basic reference tool to diplomats and public officials, scholars, journalists, teachers, librarians and others interested in the activities of the international community. Sales No. E.79 :1.1 Clothbound $50 .00 DEMOGRAPHIC YEARBOOK 1978 One of a co-ordinated and inter-related set of publications issued by the United Nations and the special- ized agencies, this is the official international compendium of demographic statistics . Covering about 220 countries, it contains tables giving the world summary, followed by tables presenting statistics on the size distribution and trends in population , natality, foetal mortality, infant and maternal mortality, general mor- tality, nuptiality and divorce . An historical supplement containing basic population and vital statistics data for a 50-year period will appear shortly . Sales No. E/F.79.XIII.1 Clothbound $50.00 UNDOC : Current Index United Nations Document Index ST/LIB/SER .M/ 11 . Annual subscription $96 .00 UNITED NATIONS PUBLICATIONS Room A-3315 Palais des Nations New York, N.Y. 10017 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland library to be used effectively; not every academic library will have the particular catalog cards for Strawn's examples. Perhaps the most serious drawback is the confusing directions for the exercises. All instruction librarians know how difficult it is to phrase clear, logical directions, and these direc- tions are like most that appear in the litera- ture. The author does bring out points that confuse users: titles of books may be mis- leading as subject headings, general subject headings may be made specific by adding a subdivision, and filing rules can be under- stood by giving a few concrete examples. From my ten years of experience in li- brary instruction I find the exercises some- what confusing, especially in the directions given. Having said that, I acknowledge how difficult it is to develop a clear, logical, trouble-free programmed text-to date I haven 't seen one. Strawn's text might be used most effectively in a structured situa- tion where professional help is at hand. His examples are good , and I found his use of relationship formation effective . Instruction librarians might find something to adapt in his approach . While I applaud Strawn for his efforts , the clear-cut, logical, easy-to- use, programmed, self-instructed text for library instruction has , alas, yet to be writ- ten.-Anne F. Roberts, State University of New York at Albany. Davinson, Donald. Reference Service. Lon- don: Clive Bingley; New York: K. G . Saur, 1980. 235p. $20 . ISBN 0-85857- 291-X. The librarian who is conversant with the literature of reference service will find little that is new in this overview of reference service in the academic, public, and special library. Many of the articles and books cited are by American authors such as Bill Katz (most quoted), Helen Gothberg, Charles A. Bunge, Jesse Shera, and Robert S. Taylor. Different viewpoints on a topic are included and the important points from the cited au- thors are explained with some additional comments by- Davinson, but his opinions are not intrusive. The comparison of British and U. S. reference service reveals many of the same developments , problems, and solutions for providing information to the library user. Recent Publications I 555 The discussion of reference service is pre- sented in twelve chapters. Topics covered in these chapters include definition of terms, which notes the differences and simi- larities in terminology used in the United Kingdom and the U.S. "The Theory of Ref- erence Service" briefly recapitulates what has been written, but has no new insights. "Costing and Evaluating Reference Service" concludes that, though difficult, the need for developing adequate measures is impor- tant because of economic developments and budget cuts. The chapters "Librarian-User Relationship," "Dealing with Enquiries," and the "Reference Interview" concentrate on communication theory and interpersonal relations. Also noted is that ready refer- ence, or quick reference, the British phrase, for which only one source is con- sulted, is the bulk of reference service pro- vided to users. "Search for Answers" deals with search strategy. "Evaluating the Results of the Search" is a very brief chapter with no new informa~ion presented. The chapter on li- brary networks mentions those in the U.S., but gives details on networks being developed in the UK, e. g., BLAISE (British Automated Information Service); PRESTEL, earlier known as VIEWDATA, which stores and displays data on a video screen and uses telephone lines to com- municate with the enquirer; CEEF AX and ORACLE, which provide local information using conventional audio and video broad- casting channels. "New Directions in Reference Service" concentrates on public library service that advocates community information services. "Instruction in Library Use" discusses the pros and cons of user education, with emphasis on the programs in academic li- braries. The different ways of teaching ref- erence service-by title , by type , by case studies, and by the pathfinder method-are the topic of the last chapter. At the end of each chapter a bibliography of cited refer- ences is given·. Also provided are subject and author indexes.-Jean Herold, Uni- versity of Texas, Austin. March of Library Science: Kaula Fest- schrift. Papers presented in honor of Pro- fessor P.- N. Kaula. General editor: V.