ACRL College & Researc Libraries News

College & Research Libraries News

Publications

by George M. Eberhart

• The Collector’s Bookshelf, by Toseph Ravmond LeFontaine (333 pages, 1990), is an interesting yet frustratingly limited compilation of checklists designed for collectors of genre fiction. Arranged by author, The Collectors Bookshelf provides the correct titles and original date and place of publication of 33,000 books written by 931 authors, many of whom are known by various pseudonyms. This book is interesting for its simplicity in providing a chronological list of the monographs generated by popular authors, for whose oeuvre one might otherwise have to sift through one or more prolix and pedantic perpetrators of literary criticism. It is frustrating because many authors are missing. I was pleased to find a complete list of the very elusive works of Marie Corelli and Luis P. Senarens, but puzzled at the absence of Ambrose Bierce, Ian Fleming, Mika Waltari, and Jack Kerouac. Favored genres include crime and mystery fiction, westerns, romance and gothic novels, children's and juvenile fiction, science fiction, fantasy, horror, and novelists who tend to be responsible for movies. A companion volume, The Collectors Bookshelf Value Guide, provides a current (October 1990) market value for every title listed in the main volume. Copies are available for $69.95 from Prometheus Books, 700 E. Amherst St., Buffalo, NY 14215. ISBN 0-87975-605-5.

• Collectors and Curiosities: Paris and Ven- ice, 1500-1800, by Krzystof Pomian (348 pages, February 1991), examines the history of collecting in early modem Europe and describes the myriad treasures—from paintings and antiques to religious relics—that found their way into the private collections and public museums of the time. Pomian argues that shifts in collectors’ tastes can be seen as a sign of wider and more profound changes in mentality and can be analyzed in terms of a conflict between aesthetic and historical sensibilities. The motives and methods of collectors of natural history will especially interest historians of science. The book costs $44.95 and may be ordered from Basil Blackwell, Inc., Three Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142. ISBN 0-7456-0680-6.

• College Library Technologu and Coop- eration Grants Program: Abstracts and Analysis of Funded Projects, 1989, by Neal K. Kaske (74 pages, December 1990), summarizes 52 academic library programs funded under Title II-D of the Higher Education Act. Each program description includes an abstract of activities, the project director’s name and address, the amount of the grant, and the grant period. Copies may be requested from the U.S. Office of Educational Research and Improvement, Department of Education, Washington, DC 20208-5571.

• The Concise Dictionary of American Biography (1536 pages, 4th ed., 1990) contains abridged versions of all 18,110 biographies appearing in the original edition of the Dictionary of American Biography and its eight supplements. New to this edition is a 170-page list of biographical entries arranged by occupation, a most useful enhancement. As in the unabridged edition, entries are limited to people who died before January 1, 1971, so you won’t find an entry for Harry Truman (who died in 1972). On the other hand, many lesser lights from earlier years are here, making this a handy, one-volume reference. The book costs $150.00 (plus $3.00 handling) and may be ordered from Charles Scribner’s Sons, 100 Front St., Box 500, Riverside, NJ 08075-7500. ISBN 0-684-19188-1.

• Continuine Education of Reference Li- brarians, edited by Bill Katz (273 pages, July 1990), offers practical recommendations for utilizing and maximizing on-the-job training and continuing education for the reference staff. Contributors include Louise S. Sherby, Ruth J. Patrick, Rosie L. Albritton, Tara Lynn Fulton, Mary Ellen Collins, and Threasa L. Wesley. Copies may be ordered for $34.95 from the Haworth Press, 10 Alice St., Binghamton, NY 13904-1580. ISBN 1- 56024-020-2.

• Current Cookbooks: A Selected List of Methods and Cuisines, compiled by Christine Bulson (November 1990), is an annotated bibliography of250 titles that serve as a basic collection of cookbooks for all types of libraries. The arrangement is by geographic cuisine and by cooking technique. Cookbooks for specific food courses, food items, and appliances are included in this ninth volume of Choice magazine’s Bibliographical Essay series. Copies are available for $12.00 (postpaid) from Choice, 100 Riverview Center, Middletown, CT 06457.

• Drug Prohibition and the Conscience of Nations, edited by Arnold S. Trebich and Kevin B. Zeese (250 pages, 1990), challenges the direction of current U.S. drug policies and offers some viable alternative solutions. The book includes chapters on a comparison of the treatment-based drug policy in Holland with the law enforcement policies of the United States; a critical look at the alleged epidemic of deaths and damage caused directly by crack; the case for medical use and decriminalization of marijuana; how current U.S. drug policy increases the risk of AIDS infection and transmission; and the rising popular support for radical changes in American drug policy. Also included are excerpts from a controversial report of the California Research Advisory Panel for 1989, which so shocked the state attorney general that he refused to provide state funds to publish it. Copies may be ordered for $9.95 from the Drug Policy Foundation, 4801 Massachusetts Ave., N.W., Suite 400, Washington, DC 20016-2087. ISBN 1-87-9189- 00-3.

• Electronic Information Systems in Sci- Tech Libraries, edited by Cynthia A. Steinke (151 pages, November 1990), examines electronic information systems and document delivery from the local collection to the workplace. Topics included are the Lehigh University network, using the Internet, a survey of academic branch chemistry libraries on their key holder policies, and special databases on molecular biology and genetics. Copies are available for $22.95 from Haworth Press, 10 Alice St., Binghamton, NY 13904-1580. ISBN 1-56024-067-9.

• The Encyclopedia of the Third Reich. ed- ited by Christian Zentner and Friedemann Bedürftig (2 vols., 1150 pages, February 1991), is an English translation of a 1985 German work that encompasses the full spectrum of Nazi politics, culture, sports, religion, and economics. More than 1,200 uncommon photographs and line drawings make this an essential pictorial record of the personalities and propaganda of the time. The focus is necessarily on Germany, but the encyclopedia includes articles on other nations and their citizens who were touched by the Third Reich, whether through occupation, alliance, resistance, or collaboration. Translator Amy Hackett has done a superb job of identifying and clarifying the many layers of meaning of Nazi political terminology. The two-volume set costs $175.00 (plus $17.50 shipping) and is available from Macmillan Publishing Co., 866 Third Ave., New York, NY 10022. ISBN 0-02-897500-6.

• An Eye for Fractals, by Michael D. McGuire (165 pages, February 1991), is a photographic demonstration that nature’s complexity is in actuality a simplicity that can be traced to fractal geometry. If you ever wondered why there are so many stringy, brachiate, filamentous, and ropy phenomena inhabiting the natural world, this book will provide a photo-mathematical rationale for it all. Designed for the non-scientist, McGuire’s book appeals to artists and nature lovers. Copies may be ordered for $29.95 from Addison-Wesley Publishing Co., 350 Bridge Parkway, Suite 209, Redwood City, CA 94065. ISBN 0-201-55440-2.

• The Federal Legal Directory, edited by Richard L. Hermann and Linda P. Sutherland (547 pages, December 1990), is a comprehensive compilation of information about the Federal legal establishment. Arranged by government department or agency, the directory provides a brief description of the programs, statutes and regulations each administers and under which Federal attorneys operate; names and telephone numbers of the agency head and key legal and administrative personnel; central fax numbers; Freedom of Information/Privacy Act office phone numbers and instructions; library facilities and their accessibility to the public; addresses and phone numbers of regional or field counsel offices; publications and accessible government databases; and key legislation or regulations from which each Federal department or agency derives its authority. All executive, judicial, and legislative agencies are included. Copies may be ordered for $140 from Oryx Press, 4041 N. Central at Indian School Road, Suite 700, Phoenix, AZ 85012-3397. ISBN 0-89774-675-9.

• The Guide to the Manuscrivt Collections at the University of Alaska, Anchorage, by Dennis F. Walle with Carolyn J. Bowers (146 pages, 1990), describes more than 350 manuscript collections related to the historical development of Alaska and the Pacific Northwest, from the time of Russian ownership to the present. Among them are papers and records of individuals, families, businesses, and other social, cultural and action groups. A 20-page index provides easy access to the descriptions. The guide may be ordered for $15.00 (plus $1.25 handling) from the University of Alaska Press, 1st Floor Gruening Building, UAF, Fairbanks, AK 99775- 1580. ISBN 0-912006-46-3.

• Guides to Library of Congress Subject Headings and Classification on Peace and Inter- national Conflict Resolution,coτrvpiledby]udithKessinger (488 pages, January 1991), was prepared by the U.S. Institute of Peace with the cooperation and advice of the Library of Congress Office of Subject Heading Policy. The guide includes LC headings and classification schedules for relevant subject areas in the humanities, law, social sciences, and military science. Created to aid both researchers and collection developers, the book uses familiar LC terminology and structure. A copy may be ordered for $30.00 from the Institute of Peace, 1550 M Street, N.W., Suite 700, Washington, DC 20005-1708. ISBN 1-878379-05-4.

• The Handbook of the Center for Research Libraries (134 pages, 1990) describes the scope of CRL’s collection components, lists important microform and reprint sets and original-format collections, and provides information on bibliographic access to the Center’s collections. Center members can order free copies of this new edition; non-members may order copies for $15.00. For further information, contact Yvonne Jefferson, Center for Research Libraries, 6050 S. Kenwood Ave., Chicago, IL 60637. ISBN 0-932486-36-3.

• Kaleidoscope of History: Photographic Collections in the Golda Meir Lib rary, edited by Ellen M. Murphy and Jeane M. Knapp (115 pages, 1990), is an illustrated description of the photographic holdings at the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee. Chief among them are the American Geographical Society collections, which moved to UWM in 1978. Also included are four research papers that accompanied a 1984 symposium on photography in the American West. Copies are available for $12.50 (postpaid) from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Golda Meir Library, P.O. Box 604, Milwaukee, WI 53201.

• Living Traditions of Russian Faith: Books and Manuscripts of the Old Believers, by Abby Smith and Vladimir Budaragin (December 1990), contains detailed descriptions of 25 Russian manuscripts and religious books shown at a special exhibit at the Library of Congress in May 1990 that was opened by Raisa Gorbachev at the time of the Washington summit. The materials, loaned by the Soviet Union, are part of the literary and artistic legacy of the Old Believers, a branch of the Russian Orthodox Church that has been outlawed and persecuted throughout most of its existence. The Old Believers split off from the Orthodox Church in the mid-17th century when they refused to bow to the will of the czar to enforce religious conformity. Their heavily ornamented books preserved many elements of folk art that fell into disuse after printing became widespread. This exhibit catalog is illustrated with 32 plates, all but nine of them in color. Copies are available for $12.50 (plus $3.50 shipping) from the Library of Congress Publishing Office, Box J, Washington, DC 20540. ISSN 0731- 3527,

• Nineteenth-Centurυ Piano Music, edited by R. Larry Todd (426 pages, December 1990), is the first in a series of Studies in Musical Genres and Repertories published by the Schirmer Books division of Macmillan. The piano came into its own in the 19th century, replacing the violin as instrument of choice for composers. Selected chapters in this volume cover the piano works of Beethoven, Schubert, Carl Maria von Weber, Mendelssohn, Chopin, Schumann, Brahams, and Liszt. The essays are filled with historical and musicological data as well as ample musical examples and facsimiles.

Its companion volume is Twentieth-Century Piano Music, by David Burge (284 pages, December 1990), which examines solo piano compositions from Claude Debussy to Frederic Rzewski. Both books are highly recommended as substantial musical reference works. Each costs $42.00 and may be ordered from Macmillan Publishing Co., 866 Third Ave., New York, NY 10022. ISBN 0-02- 872551-4 (Todd); 0-02-870321-9 (Burge).

For those who can’t get enough Mozart, check' out The Mozart Compendium, edited by H. C. Robbins Landon (452 pages, January 1991), also published by Schirmer Books. Two dozen scholars present the most recent research on every aspect of Mozart’s life and music. $34.95. ISBN 0-02- 871321-4.

• Politics and the Support of Libraries, edited by E. J. Josey and Kenneth D. Shearer (265 pages, December 1990), addresses the local political environments of public, university, college, community college, and special libraries. Of special interest to academic librarians are contributions on “The State University Library and Its Political Environment,” by Benjamin F. Speller Jr.; “The Community College Library and Its Political Environment,” by Ngozi Agbim; and “The Private Academic Library and Its Political Environment,” by John Lubans Jr. and Sheryl Anspaugh. Copies may be ordered for $35.00 from Neal-Schuman Publishers, 23 Leonard St., NewYork, NY 10013. ISBN 1-55570-073-X.

• The Shadow World: Life between the News Media and Reality, by Jim Willis (260 pages, January 1991), examines the factors that contribute to an imbalance in the scope and depth of news coverage. Willis looks at contemporary methods of good reporting and stresses the need for specializing in particular subjects, remaining psychologically detached from sources, discerning rumor from documented fact, following appropriate role models, and using information databases. This is an excellent companion piece to Martin A. Lee and Norman Solomon’s Unreliable Sources: A Guide to Detecting Bias in News Media (Lyle Stuart, 1990), essential reading for anyone who wonders whether or not the media were reporting the Gulf War accurately and objectively. Copies may be ordered for $17.95 from Praeger/Greenwood Press, 88 Post Road West, Box 5007, Westport, CT 06881. ISBN 0-275-93424-1.

• Shakespeare on Screen. by Kenneth S. Rothwell and Annabelle Henkin Melzer (404 pages, December 1990), is a guide to the major share of films and videos based on Shakespeare’s plays that have been produced since 1899 (with the exception of certain silent films). With more than 750 entries, it covers a wide variety of genres, including modernizations, spinoffs, musical and dance versions, documentaries, abridgments, travesties, and excerpts. The description for each major production provides critical commentary, a precis, cast and production credits, country of origin, year of release, the target audience, and a supplemental bibliography. The volume is available for $59.95 from Neal-Schuman Publishers, 23 Leonard St., NewYork, NY 10013. ISBN 1-55570-049-7.

• The Song of the Hawk‚ by John Chilton (429 pages, January 1991), is the first full-length biography of tenor saxophonist Coleman Hawkins (1901- 1969), who mastered both big band and bebop jazz styles. The story of Hawkins’s life is thorough, with much anecdotal material and quotes from a variety of sources; however, the book lacks a discography. Copies are available for $32.50 from the University of Michigan Press, 839 Greene St., P.O. Box 1104, Ann Arbor, MI 48106-1104. ISBN 0-472-10212-5.

• Subject Control of Film and Video: A Comparison of Three Methods, by Lucienne Maillet (146 pages, January 1991), examines the following three methods for subject indexing: Library of Congress Subject Headings, the National Information Center for Educational Media system, and PRECIS (Preserved Context Index System). The author’s examination of how 100 educational films were made accessible in each system led her to identify PRECIS as providing superior subject and vocabulary control for media. Copies are available for $25.00 from the ALA Order Department, 50 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611-2795. ISBN 0- 8389-0553-6.

• Surveillance in the Stacks: The FBI’s Li- brary Awareness Program, by Herbert N. Foer- stel (171 pages, January 1991), traces the recent histoiy of federal library surveillance, documents the media and congressional response to the Library Awareness Program, and discusses the professional and legislative moves that have been taken to safeguard library confidentiality. Most importantly, the book explores the issues of free speech and inquiry, state confidentiality laws, and the confrontation between the FBI and the library profession. Relevant FBI documents are examined, including one that reveals an extended investigation of librarians who criticized the Bureau’s program. Another chapter examines the FBI’s activities in the libraries of Columbia University, New York University, the University of Maryland, and the New York Public Library. The book costs $39.95 and is available from Greenwood Press, 88 Post Road West, Box 5007, Westport, CT 06881. ISBN 0-313-26715-4.

Advertiser index

Amigos 227

Blackwell 223

Book House cover 3

EBS 243

EBSCO cover 4

Historical Society of Pennsylvania 247

ISI 251

Saur cover 2

Wilson 217