ACRL College & Research Libraries News

College & Research Libraries News

New Publications

George M. Eberhart

Advances in Preservation and Access,edited by Barbra Buckner Higgin- botham and Mary E. Jackson (297 pages, November 1992), is the first in an annual se- ries of essays that will ad- dress topics in this complex field. The themes here are cooperation, standards, and choices. Selected chapters in- clude: NEH’s program for the preservation of brittle books; preservation education; envi- ronmental issues; digital preservation; and developing a nationwide strat- egy for archival preservation. A copy is $55.00 from Meckler Corp., 11 Ferry Lane West, Westport, CT 06880. ISBN 0-88736-787-9-

Animal Rights and Human Morality, byBernard E. Rollin (248 pages, revised ed., October 1992), examines the ethics of human-animal relationships from both a philosophical and practical perspective. Rollin presents arguments for the moral and legal rights of animals both as pets and as research animals. This is a very thoughtful book that should be read by everyone who owns a pet. Copies may be ordered for $17.95 from Prometheus Books, 700 E. Amherst St., Buffalo, NY 14215. ISBN 0-87975- 789-2.

Columbus Was Last: From 200,000 B.C. to 1492, a Heretical History of Who Was First,by Patrick Huyghe (262 pages, 1992), recounts the long series of discoveries of and migrations to the Western Hemisphere from the first Americans (the Calico site in California) to the voyages of the Zeno brothers (1390) and the mariners of Bristol (1480s). Some other possible candidates, according to Huyghe, are the Chinese, the Polynesians, the Phoenicians, Romans, Libyans, Jews, Subsaharan Africans, Irish monks, and a Welsh prince. The author also discusses the extent of Norse exploration in America, and whether Columbus possessed any knowledge of previous discoveries. Copies are available for $22.95 from Hyperion, 114 Fifth Ave, New York, NY 10011. ISBN 1-56282-940-8.

The Health Care Data Source Book: Finding the Right Information and Making the Most of It,by John D. Fry and Robert W. Young (Oc- tober 1992), provides valu- able statistical information for anyone interested in health care reform. Detailed tables list sources of inpa- tient, outpatient, and finan- cial data in each state. Ap- pendices contain state sources of information on inpatient admissions and discharges; ancillary service procedures and visits; out- patient data; and a state-bystate guide to finding revenue and expense data for hospitals. Copies are available for $45.00 (AHA members, $36.00) from the American Hospital Association Services, P.O. Box 92683, Chicago, IL 60675-2683.

Imagining the Middle East,by Thierry Hentsch (218 pages, November 1992), examines how western perceptions of the Middle East were formed and how we have used these perceptions as a rationalization for setting policies and determining actions. Not a history of the Orient, this book is a history of popular imaginings about the region from the Crusades to Kuwait. Copies are available from Black Rose Books, 340 Nagel Drive, Cheektowaga, NY 14225. ISBN 1-895431-13-1.

Incunabula: The Printing Revolution in Europe, 1455-1500,a microform project launched this year by Research Publications, brings together the holdings of some 50 libraries and repositories throughout the world. Selected from the British Library’s Incunabula Short-Title Catalogue (ISTC), the collection will make available full-text, full-image copies of the earliest European printed materials in 20 units of approximately 450 microfiche published over the next ten years. The first three units, “Printing in Mainz before 1480,” “The Classics in Translation,” and “Maps and Discovery,” are available now. Future releases include: “Early Chronicles and Historiography,” “Medicine,” and “Science.” Each unit is accompanied by a temporary printed guide, listing all material included by title and location. On completion of the project a combined index will be issued in a variety of formats (print, magnetic tape, CD-ROM). The standing order price per unit is $2,975. For more information, contact Research Publications, 12 Lunar Drive, Woodbridge, CT 06525; (800) 444-0799.

Provision of Computer Printing Capabilities to Library Patrons,SPEC Kit and Flyer #183 (101 pages, April 1992), presents the results of a survey to determine how ARL libraries provide printing services from their online public access catalogs and from CD-ROM workstations. The survey covers methods of charging, problems with downloading and viruses, and types of printers. SPEC Kits are available mainly by subscription, but individual back issues may be purchased for $33-00 from the Office of Management Services, 1527 New Hampshire Ave., N.W., Washington, DC 20036 (prepayment required). ISSN 0160-3582.

Spaghetti Westerns—the Good, the Bad and the Violent,by Thomas Weisser (502 pages, November 1992), is a well-illustrated and amazingly comprehensive review of 558 Eurowesterns released between 1961 and 1977. Equal time is given to the musical scores of these films, which often are more memorable than the plots. The filmography is supplemented with lists of performers, directors, composers, scriptwriters, best and worst spaghetti Westerns, a bibliography, and index. A copy is $45.00 from McFarland & Co., Box 611, Jefferson, NC 28640. ISBN 0-89950-688-7.

The Storm Gathering: The Penn Family and the American Revolution,by Lorett Treese (245 pages, October 1992), sheds light on a neglected niche in the history of colonial Pennsylvania between the end of the French and Indian War in 1763 and the demise of the Penn proprietorship in 1779. Based on Penn family correspondence and other records, this book describes the events of the time as seen by one Loyalist family whose fortunes were in decline. A copy is $26.50 from Penn State Press, Suite C, Barbara Building, 820 N. University Dr., University Park, PA 16802. ISBN 0-271-00858-X.

Varsity Letters: Documenting Modem Colleges and Universities,by Helen Willa Samuels (281 pages, September 1992), was written as an aid to archivists, records managers, administrators, librarians, and others with the responsibility for documenting an academic institution. Samuels divides the book into seven broad topics that define and describe the primary functions of colleges and universities: to confer credentials, convey knowledge, foster socialization, conduct research, sustain the institution, provide public service, and promote culture. Each broad category is broken down into smaller divisions, with some general guidelines and strategies to clarify the documentation process. Beyond its primary purpose, this book is also an excellent introduction to the structure of the academic community. Copies are available (including dustjacket!) for $29.50 from Scarecrow Press, P.O. Box 4167, Metuchen, NJ 08840. ISBN 0-8108-2596-1.

Without Consent: The Ethics of Disclosing Personal Information in Public Archives,by Heather MacNeil (224 pages, 1992), is an exploration of the theoretical and practical issues associated with the administration of access to government-held personal information generally, and to personal information held in government archives specifically. Its theme is the balance archivists must strike in negotiating access to such information: how do you reconcile research and privacy interests? A copy is $27.50 from Scarecrow Press, P.O. Box 4167, Metuchen, NJ 08840. ISBN 0-8108-2581-3.

Women and World Literature: A Bibliography of Anthologies of Women’s Literature in Translation,by Carolyn J. Kruse (15 pages, June 1992), includes anthologies with either global, national, or regional focus, as well as bibliographies of translated works. A free copy may be requested either on paper or electronically from Phyllis Holman Weisbard, University of Wisconsin System, 430 Memorial Library, 728 State St., Madison, WI 53706; (608) 263-5754.

World Class Business: A Guide to the 100 Most Powerful Global Corporations,by Philip Mattera (763 pages, September 1992), profiles the largest and most influential multinational corporations. Each firm’s history, business activities, top executives, outside directors, and financial data are summarized, along with its labor relations and environmental record. This guide is especially useful for the general reader who wishes to avoid business jargon and detailed financial analysis. Copies are available for $50.00 from Henry Holt Reference Books, 115 W. 18th St., New York, NY 10011. ISBN 0-8050-1681-3. ■