College and Research Libraries


Swartzburg, Susan G. Preserving Library 
Materials: A Manual. Metuchen, N.J. : 
Scarecrow, 1980. 293p. $12.50. LC 80-
11742. ISBN 0-8108-1302-5. 
Because of the specialization often re-

quired for many of its procedures, preserva-
tion is a forbidding area for most librarians. 
This volume fills a long-standing need for a 
basic and comprehensive text on the sub-
ject, one that presents preservation in a 
clear, nontechnical fashion. It is not a 
manual on how to perform various tech-
niques, but rather an introduction to the 
general requirements for care of all types of 
library materials. As such, it is a valuable 
aid for librarians since the job of making our · 
holdings accessible also requires a commit-
ment to maintaining those materials in 
good , usable condition . 

Swartzburg emphasizes the importance of 
proper collection management , or good 
housekeeping, as a key element in any pres-
ervation program. Throughout, she makes 
clear what can be accomplished by regular 
staff and notes the stages at which the aid of 
a professional conservator is required. She 
strikes a sensible balance in her discussion 
on care between rare materials and those 
that are for wider, and therefore heavier , 
use . The difficulty for any one library to go 
it alone in a thorough and systematic effort 
is also recognized , and Swartzburg strongly 
recommends cooperative conservation ven-
tures. 

Beginning with an overview and historical 
perspective on library materials and their 
care, Swartzburg then details the require-
ments for care of books, emphasizing en-
vironmental factors as well as proper han-
dling. A significant chapter deals with disas-
ter planning and another treats bookbind-
ing. A very clear and concise chapter con-
cerns the historical development of paper 
and the problem of acidic deterioration. The 
balance of the text , roughly one-third, is 
about nonbook materials, most notably photo-
graphs , slides, and movie films, though 
such items as maps, paintings, manuscripts, 
sound recordings, and videotapes are also 
included. Each chapter of text is followed 
by a list of selected readings on the subject. 

The narrative portion occupies less than 
one-half of the volume. In addition, there 
are several appendixes relating to preserva-

Recent Publications I 79 

Expert Evaluations of 
Photocopiers, 
Microfiche Readers, 
Printer Terminals 
by 
Library Technology 
Reports 
Photocopiers-Test reports on eight 
electrostatic office copiers , seven of which 
use plain paper and four mini-copiers 
which can be purchased for $500 to 
$1 ,000 . An introductory article discusses 
selection criteria and coin operation . 

In the January/ February 1980 issue, 
Vol. 16 No . 1.-$40.00 

Microfiche Readers-This latest set of 
reports includes laboratory results and 
informed judgements on the performance 
of a group of fifteen popular microfiche · 
reader models suitable for either source 
document or COM fiches . 

In the March /April1980 issue, 
Vol. 16 No. 2.-$40.00 

Printer Terminals-A new category of 
library equipment which may soon be as 
common as the card catalog and the date 
stamp. Joseph Becker, international 
authority in the field of library automation 
and information science , describes 
current printer technologies and discusses 
selection criteria . Also included are 
reports on nine typical printers suitable for 
library use. 

In the May/ June 1980 issue, 
Vol. 16 No. 3.-$40.00 

Library Technology Reports is a unique 
bimonthly publication of the American 
"Library Association that provides critical 
evaluations of products and services used 
in libraries , media centers and other 
educational institutions. Its purpose is to 
enable librarians and educators to make 
economical purchasing decisions and to 
alert manufacturers of the needs of 
libraries and the standards of performance 
expected by them . 

Annual subscription (6 issues)-$135 

Library Technology Reports 
American Library Association 
50 East Huron Street 
Chicago, Illinois 60611 



80 I College & Research Libraries • January 1981 

tion , the most useful of which are an anno-
tated list of periodicals and one of organiza-
tions. The latter is especially valuable in 
that a short history of the organization is 
supplied along with details of its activities 
and publications. These appendixes are fol-
lowed by a glossary and an extensive, anno-
tated bibliography that is convenie ntly di-
vided by chapter. In all , Swartzburg ex-
hibits a familiarity with a wide range of 
archival , museum, and library literature . 

I have only two criticisms of this volume . 
The first is that though Swartzburg general-
ly avoids detailing specific preservation pro-
cedures , she does make some unusual ex-
ceptions. In the case of the matting of 

· prints , for example , the detail provided 
seems unjustified in that other easily 
learned techniques are given only the 
briefest of descriptions. Second , the useful-
ness of the volume would have been en-
hanced by a more comprehensive index. 
These are , of course , minor quibbles . 
Swartzburg' s work is indeed a valuable one 
and should be required reading for most 

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practicing librarians and all library stu-
dents.-Roy H. Tryon , Th e Balch Institute 
for Ethnic Studies , Philadelphia . 

Chan, Lois Mai. lmmroth's Guide to the 
Library of Congress Classification. 3d ed. 
Library Science Text Series. Littleton, 
Colo.: Libraries Unlimited, 1980. 402p. 
$22.50. LC 80-16981. ISBN 0-87287-224-6. 
This a fine revision of Philip Immroth' s 

work , Guide to the Library of Congress 
Classification, last published in 1971. Lois 
Mai Chan has updated this guide to reflect 
the revision and expansions in the Library 
of Congress classification schedules as well 
as changes in Library of Congress policies 
and practices. 

The first four chapters have been reorga-
nized and rewritten , and the effect on the 
reader is more positive. The introductory 
chapter covers the history of classification, 
systems used by the Library of Congress, 
and the purpose of the Library of Congress 
classification. Chapter 2, "Principles, Struc-
ture and Format," describes the notation , 
display, and general characteristics of the 
classification schedules and includes new 
material on the use of Library of Congress 
cataloging records and on the revisions and 
expansions in the classification schedules. 
Chapter 3 is a discussion of the Library of 
Congress call number notation and includes 
an excellent explanation and description of 
the uses of Cutter numbers in the Library 
of Congress classification schedules. Chap-
ter 4 discusses the various tables used in 
the schedules-form, geographic, chronologi-
cal, subject, and author. Chapter 5 is the 
class-by-class breakdown of the system . 
There are some new examples in addition to 
those used in earlier editions. All examples 
have been verified at the Library of Con-
gress. Each of these chapters contains up-
to-date bibliographies . 

The author has added a new chapter, 
"Classification of Special Types of Library 
Materials." Included in this chapter are ex-
planations of Library of Congress classifica-
tion usages for serial publications, mono-
graphic series, collected sets and collected 
works, abstracts, indexes, supplements , 
materials cataloged under corporate head-
ings, juvenile materials, nonbook materials, 
microforms , incunabula, translations,