College and Research Libraries 88 College & Research Libraries the conference is aptly summarized in the book under review by one of the eminent scholars in the field, Bernth Lindfors. His slim volume provides many services at once. It is a statement of research priorities on the part of a representative mix of Afri- can literatures specialists. It is a succinct compendium of bibliographic data em- bedded in a meaningful text. It is also somehow a harbinger of future develop- ments in African literatures that can be culled out of the strong feelings expressed by the few African participants in favor of an Afro-centric, historical and social use of African literary works on their own terms, as opposed to the aesthetic and abstractly "universal" epistemological approach to which these works have been subjected by non-African idealist critics. Finally, the book is a multiple approach manual for be- ginners, for the budding student of Afri- can literatures who is able to glance at the bast subject under the guidance of experts themselves struggling to produce the tools by which analysis, interpretation, and comparison are possible, By almost unanimous agreement, the 1983 London conference participants designated the following to be top research priorities; (1) achievement of bibliographic control now scattered and incomplete; (2) desirability of centralizing the growing body of biblio- graphic and biographic data; (3) provi- sions for instruction in new research methodologies in the same center, such as computer assisted techniques; (4) instruc- tion and linguistic research in African lan- guages and systematic translation pro- grams of works produced by African writers. Just as unanimous was the real- ization that the funds necessary to imple- ment these programs would not become easily available. Considering that this vol- ume is a collection of merely sixteen pa- pers, it goes a long way to give the reader a guide for a better understanding of the cultural realities teeming within the fifty states of contemporary Africa. Indeed, even the seasoned researcher will find considerable insights in the section de- voted to literature in Hausa, Somali, Por- tuguese, and Southern African lan- guages. Those who want to go further can turn to the excellent quarterly journal, Re- January 198~ search in African Literatures published by the University of Texas Press since 1970. While it may not be practical here to name the titles of general and specialized bibli- ographies, one must cite the African Book Publishing Record, published quarterly since 1975 by Hans Zell, which is re- stricted to books published in Africa. The Africana Index, edited by Colin Darch, lists journals published in Africa. Of the spe- cialized bibliographies, the only one with a global focus is Bibliographies for African Studies 1980-83 compiled by Yvette Scheven. Hans Zell and others have com- piled the most useful A New Reader's Guide to African Literature published by Africana in New York in 1983. Finally one may rec- ommend the work of the African Litera- ture Association and its ALA Bulletin, a quarterly edited by Stephen Arnold, the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada T6G E6.-Hans E. Panofsky, Northwestern University Library, Evanston, Illinois. Fraley, Ruth A., and Carol Lee Anderson. Library Space Planning: How to Assess, Al- locate, and Reorganize Collections, Re- sources, and Physical Facilities. New York: Neal-Schuman, 1985. 158p. $35. LC 84- 18996. ISBN 0-918212-44-8. Library Space Planning touches on many of the planning details encountered dur- ing planning for reorganization, expan- sion, and addition of library space, includ- ing budgeting for the party at completion of the project, pizza and all. It is based on the librarian authors' direct experiences, made the more poignant by citing mis- takes, perhaps theirs, and/or those of oth- ers. The library space planner in this book is the library director or a staff member as- signed the job of space planner for the du- ration of the project, putting aside other responsibilities temporarily. These techni- cally inexperienced individuals check floor loading, electrical power, ·and even rent cranes, activities normally delegated to professionals for reasons of safety, if nothing else. Occasional references are made to the use of the services of an archi- tect or an electrician, none to those of a professional library planner, an engineer, nor a construction contractor. A more de- tailed description is provided for the ser- vices of a moving contractor, and a sample bid document for moving services is in- cluded in the appendix. For the uninitiated, the greatest difficul- ties this book poses are in determining when to retain a professional and when to do a task in-house, when a fact is in error or is only partially correct, how much de- tail is actually required for a particular task, and how reliable planning informa- tion can be gathered. On page 31 the statement is made that ''The floor should be able to handle at least 300 pounds per square foot'' for com- pact shelving. The floor-loading capacity required for compact shelving depends on many faCtors, primarily the specific layout of the compact shelving, which is influ- enced by the building column spacing. The capacity required may be two hun- dred pounds per square foot, sometimes lower; three hundred pounds is the higher limit and may be required if mate- rial heavier than books is being stored or if shelving is higher than standard. Often a floor constructed on grade will carry compact shelving if it is constructed with adequate reinforcing steel and if soil and other site characteristics are not un- usual. However, before embarking on any program to install compact shelving, a structural engineer should be retained to check the proposed shelving layout against the actual structural characteristics of the building. "Decreasing the aisle widths by moving the ranges closer together is another way to recoup floor space and maximize collection-housing." This statement ap- pearing on page 36 may be contrary to building code regulations for providing access to the disabled if the aisles between ranges are reduced below thirty-six inches and the cross-aisles below forty-four inches. These dimensions vary from state to state, and the building codes should be checked before changing aisle widths. Planners also must .not forget that access must be provided for disabled staff as well as disabled patrons. The alternative to extend shelving up- rights as a way to add stack capacity with- out having to shift the collection does not Recent Publications 89 appear to be an economically feasible al- ternative. In California, a cost analysis was made to strengthen existing shelving seismically, a process that appears to be no more complicated than extending the shelving. The engineer found that it would be substantially cheaper to buy new frames rather than modify the old ones. In earthquake country, this alterna- tive would also require redesign of the shelving for seismic safety. If you do de- cide to pursue this alternative, do not rely on the shelving, vendor; retain a struc- tural engineer to confirm or determine the appropriate design. An extensive description of electrical wiring and power is located on pages 50-52. Inexperienced staff should take no chances with electrical use and require- ments. If possible, eliminate all extension cords. It is difficult to monitor staff use of these cords and, therefore, the fire danger is substantial. If extension cords appear to be needed, then additional outlets should be considered instead and installed by a qualified electrician. An electrician or elec- trical engineer should be retained if there is any question about adequate power sup- ply and distribution. On page 70, on de- termining costs, Task Method is dis- cussed. Be certain that the method will work. Some card catalog cases will break apart if they are moved with fully loaded drawers. Two topics that are particularly interest- ing and not usually touched upon in li- brary planning publications are cost- benefit analysis on pages 71-74 and the timetables in chapter 7. The cost-benefit discussion is described as "the costs of in- activity," the costs associated with operat- ing with space deficiencies. The most compelling reason to invest in a space change or addition is the cost of not doing so, yet few librarians want to take the trou- ble or the time to think through and gather the statistics for this most valuable justifi- cation for a major capital expenditure, the largest single expenditure a librarian may ever make or recommend. A cost-benefit analysis is not easy to prepare, especially when many of the costs cannot be easily quantified. Librarians need help in this area. This book provides some good tech- Winter, 1985/1986 The world in your hands. Genmd Yearbook of the United Nations The principal reference work of the United Nations, providing in single annual volumes, a comprehensive account of the organization's wide-ranging activities since 1946. Latest issue: 1981 E.84.1.1 (ISBN: 92-2-100038-6) $75.00 Everyone's United Nations Official textbook which contains a definitive history of the Organization from 1946 to date. Latest issue: I Oth ed. E.85.1.16 (ISBN: 92-1-100273-7) $14 .95 (cloth) E.8"5.1.16 (ISBN : 92-1-100274-5) $ 9.95 (paper) Directory of United Nations Databases and Infonnation Systems A repertoire of over 600 information databases in 36 UN affiliated organizations. It enables one to see what information and services are available in the United Nations family as a whole and how to obtain detailed information from particular organizations. GV.E.84.0.5 (ISBN: 92-9048-295-8) $35.00 Assumptions and Perceptions in Disannament Provides a comprehensive and sincere survey on Soviet and American assumptions and perceptions. It offers an indispensable contribution for understanding the dynamics of Soviet and American armaments and disarmament. GV.E.84.0.4 (ISBN: 92-9045-006-1) $14 .00 Racism and its Elimination by Sir Rupert john Racism is learned and can, therefore, be unlearned. It is also argued that racial di scrimination undermines human rights and threatens the peace and security of our world. E.8 1.XV.ST/18 (ISBN: 92-1-157057-3) $15.00 Fertility and Family International Conference on Population 1984. Proceedings of the Expert Group on Fertility and Family. E.84.XIII.7 (ISBN: 92-1-151099-6) $41.00 United Nations Action in the Field of Human Rights Reviews United Nations activities in the field of Human Rights from 1945 to 1977. It sets forth the measures taken by the Organization and also describes administrative procedures. E.79.XIV.6 (ISBN: 92-1-154022-4) $24.00 UNBIS (United Nations Bibliographic Infonnation System) Thesaurus Trilingual list of terms in English, French and Spanish used in indexing and cataloguing of documents and other materials relevant to United Nations programmes and activities for the UNBIS system. 2nd edition. E.85.1.20 (ISBN: 92-1-100279-6) $25.00 Report on the World Social Situation Biennial since 1961. Latest issue: 1984 E.85.1V.2 (ISBN: 92-1-130097-5) $17.50 Reference Handbook of Industrial Statistics This analysis provides comprehensive coverage of industrial statistics that will be of interest to researchers in a variety of fields. It examines important structural trends in 70 developing and developed countries, including: changes in the pattern of apparent growth in all industrial branches, the changing composition of output in all the manufacturing sector and the export performance of key industries. E.82.1l.B.2 (ISBN: 92-J-106117-2) $22.00 Statistical Yearbook for Asia and the Pacific Contains a wealth of statistics covering population, manpower, national accounts, agriculture, forestry and fishing, industry, energy supplies, consumption, transport and communications, internal and external trade, wages and banking. Bilingual English/French. Latest issue: 1982 FJF.84.1I.F.8 (ISBN: 92-1-019003-3) $52.00 Statistical Yearbook for Latin America This survey is an overall appraisal of Latin American economy and its place in the world economy. Balance of payn1ents, growth, prices, trade, employment and labour productivity and external finance are surveyed in utmost detail. Latest issue: 1983 2 vols. E.84.11.G.2 (ISBN : 92-1-021003-4) $40.00 Yearbook of International Commodity Statistics First issue: 1984 · E.84.1l0.22 (ISBN: 92-1-112180-9) $45.00 The United Nations Disannament Yearbook Issued since 1976. Topics include special sessions of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament, nuclear arms limitations (including SALT II. Test-Ban IAEA Safeguards), prohibition of chemical, biological and radiological weapons and reduction military budgets. Latest issue: Vol. VII 1982 E.83.IX.7 (ISBN: 92-1-142026-1) $22 .00 Demographic Yearbook Covers data on population for more than 250 countries and areas. Annual since 1949. Latest issu e: 1983 FJF.84.XVII.I (ISBN: 92-1-051030-5) $90.00 (cloth) (ISBN : 92-1-051029-1) $80.00 (paper) Statistical Yearbook Provides a wealth of data for more than 280 countries and territories on economic and social subjects such as population, agriculture, trade, national income and many others. Annual since 1949. Latest issue: 1982 FJF.84.XVII.I (ISBN : 92-I-061100-4) $70.00 (cloth) FJF.84.XVII.I (ISBN : 92-I-061101-2) $60.00 (paper) Yearbook of International Trade Statistics Annual since 1950. Latest issue: 1982 (2 vols.) FJF.84 .XVII.6 (ISBN : 92-1-06 1002-4) $80 .00 National Accounts Statistics Annual si nce 1957. Latest issue: 1982 ( 4 vols.) E.85.XVII.3 $85 .00 E.85.XVII.4 $45.00 E.85.XVII. 5 $35.00 E.85 .XVII.6 (forthcoming) Yearbook of Construction Statistics Annual since 1974. This yearboo k provides international statistics on dwelling construction which permits an outlook on the relevant industries. Latest issue covers 1975- 1982 E.84.XVII.9 (ISB : 92-1-161049-4) $35 .00 Industrial Statistics Yearbook former title: Yearbook of Industrial Statistics Annual since 1950. Latest issue: 1982 (2 vols.) E.84.XVII.7 $50.00 E.84.XVII.8 $50.00 $95 .00 (set) at ions law of the Sea The Convention on the Law of the Sea creates a new record in legal history covering every aspect of the uses and resources of the sea. E.83.V.5 (ISBN: 92-1 -I33243-5) $I2.95 Yearbook of the International Court of justice Published since 1946 The Yearbook discusses the cases before the Court, usually pertaining to territorial rights, law or the sea and treaty interpretation but a wide range of topics have been covered over the years. Latest issues: 1983-84 (No. 38) ICJ No. 502 . $10.00 Reports of International Arbitral Awards Latest issue: vol. 18 FJF.80.V.7 (ISBN: 92-1033-009-9) $33.00 United Nations juridical Yearbook Included in the volume are legislative texts and treaty provisions concerning the legal status of the United Nations and related bodies, and a general review of their legal activities. · Latest issue: 1981 E.84.V. I (ISBN: 92-1-133332-6) $25.00 United Nations Commission on International Trade Law Yearbook Annual issued since 1968. Included are studies and reports on international trade contracts, international payments, international commercial arbitration and conciliation, the new international economic order, lransport law and activities of other organizations. Latest issue: 1983 E.85.V.3 $41.00 Yearbook oftbe International Law Commission Issued since 1949. Subjects dealt with include arbitral procedures, diplomatic immunities, law of the sea, nationality, law of treaties and rights and duties of States. Latest issue: 1983 vol. I E.84.V.6 $33.00 voi.U pt. I E.84.V .7 (ISBN: 92-1-133262-1) $23.00 voi.U pt. 2 E.84.V.7 (ISBN: 92-1-133331-8) $12.50 Energy in the Eighties Highlights of the Meeting of the Ad Hoc Group of Energy and Petroleum Experts. E.83.li.A.l6 (ISBN: 92-1 -104138-4) $16.50 Main Features and Trends in Petroleum and Mining Agreements Prepared by United Nations Centre on Transnational Corporations E.83.li.A.9 (ISBN: 92-1-104057-4) $13.50 A Guide to Ocean Thennal Energy Conversion for Developing Countries E.83.1l.A.21 (ISBN : 92-1-104148-1) $9.50 Energy Transition in the ECE Region E.83 .11.E.21 (ISBN: 92-1-116305-6) $16.50 Energy Statistics Yearbook Provides a global framework of comparable data on trends and developments in the supply of all forms of energy. Essential to study the outlook in the supply and demand of energy. Hardcover. Latest issue: 1983 FJF.85.XVII.9 $45 .00 Airborne Sulphur PoUution This thought-provoking report was prepared within the framework of the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution . It assesses air pollution effects on the environment, evaluates the technical efficiency and costs for controlling pollutant emissions and analyses costs and benefits of alternative emission control programmes. E.84.li.E.8 (ISBN : 92-1 -116307-2) $19.00 The studies presented in both of the following publications are compulsory reading for industrial project planners who seek to successfully negotiate with government planners of developing countries. These titles have been widely adopted as textbooks at economics education centres. Will a project contribute towards increasing employment and higher buying power for the population? What would be the impact on distribution of income and quality of living? Guidelines for Project Evaluation proposes methods to evaluate projects in order to provide the answers, and should be used in conjunction with the Manual for the Preparation of Industrial Feasibility Studies. Guidelines for Project Evaluation. E.72.1l.B.Il (ISBN: 92-l -1o6o84-2) $20.00 Manual for the Preparation of Industrial Feasibility Studies. E.78.U. B.5 (ISBN: 92-1-106109-1) $9.00 World Economic Survey Provides an overview of salient developments in the world economy. Attention is drawn to changes in international policies needed to improve the pace of development in developing countries. Annual since 1948. Latest issue: 1985 E.85.U.C.l (ISBN: 92-1-109107-1) $14.50 Macrotbesaurus for Information Processing in the Field of Economic and Social Development This third edition of the Macrothesaurus has been produced in cooperation between the UN and OECD and is a trilingual English/French/Spanish multidisciplinary vocabulary for the indexing, classification, retrieval and exchange of information on economic and social development. E.85 .1.15 (ISBN: 92-1-100272-9) $25 .00 Transnational Corporations and International Trade: Selected Issues A Technical Paper. E.85.li.A.4 $11.00 To order publications, by title and sales number, contact your wholesaler or order direct. For more information write for our complete 1985 catalog at the address below. Publisher's ISBN prefix: (92-1) United Nations~(;-~. Publications ~8 r . ~~ Room DC2 - 853 ~ · • NewYork,NY10017 ~~ e-ll Palais des Nations ........-; ~ 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland 92 College & Research Libraries niques in a few pages, but the professional literature has not yet adequately met this need. Chapter 7, "The Last Planning Steps" contains PERT and Grantt charts and an ''Operations Research Time Study, I I all of which can aid the staff in reducing the complexities of moving to manageable de- tails. Upon reading through this useful, compact volume of 132 pages of text, it sometimes seemed as though it were in- tended for the librarian who would be faced with doing everything entirely alone and at other times as though one might just be able to get a little outside help. For the novices who read this book, they may not realize just how much help is available nor how possible it might be for them to ask for help. This book is filled with many how-to details that help the read to under- stand the planning process, but not al- ways fully nor absolutely correctly. It is important for the librarians who read this book to recognize their own limitations in time and experience and to understand when they can do parts of the planning themselves and when they should seek outside professional help.-Gloria Novak, University Library, University of California, Berkeley. Swisher, Robert, and Charles R. Mc- Clure. Research for Decision Making: Methods for Librarians. Chicago: Ameri- can Library Assn., 1984. 209p. $25. LC 84-12381. ISBN 0-8389-0398-3. This is a difficult book to review because it addresses a significant gap in the litera- ture on research for librarians but does not, in my opinion, fill the most important part of that gap. The authors identify ''action research'' as research for decision making. This fits well into the more gen- eral trilogy: research for the sake of better understanding, research for action, and research for no good reason at all. In each category it is possible to do good research or bad research. In fact, research that is good for one category may be fair or even poor in another. The trouble with this book is that it does not tell us enough about how to do good action research, or even how to recognize (and thus avoid) bad action research. I am January 1986 left somewhat ill at ease by a book that tells me something is doable, and worth doing, but doesn't show me, through either good or bad examples, how to do it well. On some subtle questions, such as the meaning of confidence intervals, the au- thors do a very nice job. On other issues, dealing with logical relations, they have more trouble. An example is the use of flowcharts toil- lustrate the interrelation of concepts, processes, signals, or other entities. Flow- charts can be powerful aids to thought, or abominable. The worst are diagrams with eight or ten circles, all linked by lines, to suggest that all the parts have something to do with each other. At the other ex- treme we have the feedback diagrams of systems engineering, which can be so pre- cise that the diagram itself specifies a dif- ferential equation, up to a few undeter- mined constants. The flowcharts on pages 5, 7, and 9 are poor because they mix concepts, products and processes in a confusing fashion. The authors do not use the powerful analysis of the relation to environment presented in Churchman in "The Systems Ap- proach." He stresses the distinction be- tween resources, which may be used by the system, and constraints, which must be obeyed or satisfied. Churchman's book is accessible to a bright high school senior, and is worth reading. Again, the flowchart selected on page 36 to illustrate the use of flowcharts is not a good example, because it does not make clear where items enter the system, how they come out, and how many of them fol- low each path. The basic structure of the process is simpler than it appears here . Confusion about functional relation- ships is shown in the pair of graphs on page 15 that ought, by the labeling of their axes, to be symmetric to each other. None- theless, the dotted lines droop down in both graphs. This kind of carelessness is reflected throughout the text. Properties, . concepts, and objects are loosely inter- changed even within a single sentence. In longer discussions an implied equivalence is set up (for example, between research competency and research literacy, on page 15) among different concepts, mak-