College and Research Libraries Letters To the Editor: For John M. Budd and Charles Seavey (C&RL, September 1990) to perform a bibliome- tric analysis of recent library literature by academic librarians is one thing; to infer from this data ''a disparity between the rhetoric of the [publishing] requirements and the per- formance exhibited by librarians at these [academic] institutions'' is quite another. Ac- tually, there is a marked disparity between their own research and rhetoric, in part be- cause they misuse a common rhetorical device, synecdoche, by deliberately or inadvertently using the part to (mis)represent the whole. At Ohio State University Libraries, faculty publications certainly are not confined to journal articles on library science. Are Budd and Seavey unaware that librarians do write books and may even have expertise in areas outside library science? In the past five years, OSU librarians, for example, have published book length research on such topics as Anglo-American relations, American journalism history, single-parent children, the dying child, and public opinion polls, the works of Dov Sadan and Yesha'ayahu Avrech, commedia dell'arte, Ohio archaeology, and a history of a turn-of-the-century Midwestern religious commune, as well as peer-reviewed articles in journals such as the Bulletin of the American Physical Society, Journal of Pharamacy Teaching, American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, Journal of Veterinary Medical Education, Journalism History, Fontes Artis Musicae, American Journal of Occupational Therapy, Journal of Teacher Education, Papers of the Bibliographic Society of America, and Communication Education. As regular university faculty, OSU librarians meet faculty responsibilities in the areas of teaching (defined as their primary job duties), service, and research. As current Chair of the Libraries' Appointment, Promotion and Tenure Committee, I can testify that re- search leading to publication is a major component of tenure consideration. This does not mean that II anything in print'' is accepted as grounds for a favorable decision on tenure and promotion, for the emphasis is on peer-reviewed publications. The demon- strated ability of our library faculty in meeting these requirements indicates that, with strong administrative support, it is possible for librarians to achieve success in research and publication while still providing excellent service and job performance. I doubt that the OSU situation is unique among academic libraries, though Budd and Seavey may well be correct in their conclusion that ''academic librarians have a wide range of em- ployment possibilities that do not require publication for continued employment.'' Cha- cun a son gout. JAMES L. MURPHY Head, Monograph Cataloging Section, Ohio State University Libraries To the Editor: I would like to comment on the methodology used in the study ''Characteristics of Journal Authorship by Academic Librarians'' by John M. Budd and Charles Seavey (Col- lege & Research Libraries 51(5):463-70 (Sept. 1990). Many academic libraries include health sciences libraries; in the case of the University of illinois at Chicago, health sciences librarians made up about one-third of the library 93 94 College & Research Libraries January 1991 faculty during 1985-86. Academic health sciences librarians publish heavily in the Bulle- tin of the Medical Library Association, a highly respected refereed journal excluded from the study. Therefore, the data for ranking most productive institutions, including total credits and per capita figures (p.468), are skewed in favor of libraries without health sciences components. The differences could be considerable in some cases. TRUDY LANDWIRTH Health Sciences Librarian, University of Illinois at Peoria STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT College & Research Libraries is published bi-monthly by the American Library Association, 50 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611-2795 . Annual subscription price, $22 .50. American Library Association, owner; Gloriana St . Clair, editor. Second- class postage paid at Chicago, Ilhnois . Printed in U.S.A. As a nonprofit organization authorized to mail at special rates (Section 423 .12, Domestic Mail Manual), the purpose, function, and nonprofit status of this organization and the exempt status for federal income tax purposes have not changed during the preceding twelve months . EXTENT AND NATURE OF CIRCULATION ("Average " figures denote the average number of copies printed each issue during the preceding twelve months; " Ac- tual" figures denote actual number of copies of single issue published nearest to filing aate-the July 1990 issue.) Total number of copies printed: Average, 13,304; Actual, 13, 100. Paid and/or requested circulatzon : not applicable (i.e. , no sales through dealers and carriers, street vendors and counter sales). Mail subscriptions: Average, 12,498; Actual, 12,437. Total paid and/or requested circulation : Average, 12,498; Actual, 12,437. Free distribution by mail, cameror other means, samples, compli- menta~ and other free copies: Average, 179; Actual, 153. Total distribution : Average, 12,677; Actual, 12,590. Copies not distrib- uted: o ·ce use, left over, unaccounted, spoiled after printing: Average, 627; Actual, 510. Returns from news agents: not applicable. Total sum previous three entries): Average, 13,304; Actual, 13,100. Statement of Ownership, Management and Circulation (PS form 3526 Feb. 1989) for 1990 filed with the United States Post Office Post master in Chicago, September 20, 1990.