College and Research Libraries 414 I College & Research Libraries • September 1972 when he explains the make-up of the book and his reason for its publication: The ISR reports covering the SMART system are not generally available in the open market; moreover, the information contained in the reports is difficult to as- similate, being dispersed over a large num- ber of volumes including many thousands of pages. For this reason it has seemed ad- visable to collect in an organized manner, as a single book, the most important con- tributions contained in the earlier reports. The present volume thus consists of up- dated versions of twenty-seven studies tak- en from the material contained in the ten most recent scientific reports ( ISR-8 to ISR-17). Among the material covered are theoretical developments, including the derivation of system evaluation measures language analysis techniques, document grouping techniques, and adaptive space transformation methods, as well as experi- mental studies relating to document analy- sis methods, interactive user feedback pro- cedures, partial document searches based on clustered £le organizations, and com- parisons between the SMART system and more conventional operational information systems. The material and research done in these reports was accomplished between 1964 and 1969. The research which this volume reports has been reviewed generally in those years. Some of the experimentation is rigorous and the ideas are fresh (or were fresh). However, since commentary on the experimentation is already available, it is more important to delve into the utility of this publication. The gathering together and reorganization of the materials and ex- periments on automatic document process- ing, rearranged to put thesaurus construc- tion, experimental evaluation, etc. in con- text is valuable. For people generally not looking for reports in this area, this is a good state-of-the-art review for SMART ex- periments. For someone who is interested in experiments in automatic indexing, query negotiation automatically, and so on, this is not a bad book to own. If however, you are working in this field, you should already have read the reports reproduced herein. Some of the chapters have also appeared in periodical literature and in proceedings of meetings, and as parts of a book. The publication of the reports as they are causes redupdancy in some of the reports.-Henry Voos, Rutgers University. Library Service to the Disadvantaged. Eleanor Frances Brown. Metuchen, N.J.: The Scarecrow Press, 1971. 560p. A more descriptive title for this book might be "Public Library Service to the Disadvantaged," for there is little or no dis- cussion of programs of other types of li- braries for serving this special group. The emphasis on public library programs is not a limitation-the quantity and range of the literature, which consists in large measure of reports of individual librmy successes and failures, necessitated a comprehensive overview. In this book, the author reviews many relevant programs and synthesizes the various experiences and viewpoints into general and specific guidelines for action. Eight groups which are disadvantaged by economic, social, mental, or other handi- caps are identified: the aged; neglected youth; physically handicapped persons; the mentally handicapped; persons deprived economically; persons confined in institu- tions; those with language barriers; and persons who are discriminated against be- cause of race. The particular needs and ser- vice-related problems of each group are presented with numerous examples of actu- al programs. In the chapter on the physical- ly handicapped, for example, topics include requirements for special reading aids and the need for adapting facilities for persons with impaired mobility. Psychological ap- proaches and techniques, steps to take in initiating programs, and the use of nonbook materials are other useful features of the chapters on the eight groups. The suggest- ed reading lists for the disadvantaged (for example, "Best Books for Disadvantaged Blacks") perhaps should not be accepted without some reservation; it is difficult for any individual to determine what is best for a large group. Some general problems emerge from a study of programs for these groups. Lack of funding and adequate staffing, attitudes among the disadvantaged that the library is not relevant to their needs, low educa- tional levels, and passive attitudes on the part of library boards and librarians are among the several problems cited. Ways of coping with these obstacles, such as partici- pation of the disadvantaged in program planning and increasing the tax base through the establishment of regional sys- tems, are realistic, if predictable. Librarians are more aware of the need for continuing evaluation of programs and services. It is to the author's credit that this function is discussed and the need for it stressed. If evaluative techniques had been employed consistently as the public library evolved, the current crisis in meeting the needs of a changing clientele might have been averted. The trend toward diversified services ad- dressed to the particular needs of a group has its critics. As libraries take on activities such as sex and hygiene classes and con- sumer education groups, a reasonable ques- tion can be raised as to whether nonbook oriented activities are within the domain of library functions. These new activities, as illustrated in many of the program ex- amples, demand an expertise beyond the training of the librarian. The author deals with this question at some length, suggest- ing the need for cooperation between li- braries and other agencies and the use of personnel from other professions. Some dis- cussion of the possibility of integrating cer- tain library services into agencies such as settlement houses would have been pro- vocative. This reviewer detected some unsupport- ed and somewhat biased statements ("The flight of industry and white, middle-class families to the suburbs has also robbed the inner cities of leadership." p. 76). It is probably a subjective judgment as to whether these statements mar the effective- ness of the book; the reviewer simply found them annoying. Library Service to the Disadvantaged should be of value as a source book for public librarians. The extensive references to ongoing or experimental programs and the suggested approaches for implementing new programs are particularly useful fea- tures. Academic librarians, who in many in- stances are becoming increasingly sensitive to the needs of disadvantaged students among their clientele, will find some of the guidelines relevant to their planning.- Saundra Rice Murray, Howard University. Recent Publications I 415 Langmead, Stephen, and Beckman, Mar- garet. New Library Design: Guidelines to Planning Academic Library Build- ings. Toronto: John Wiley & Sons, 1971. $12.25. It is always interesting to look at the so- lutions of a building program through someone else's eyes. In this case the build- ing program belongs to the University of Guelph library. Mr. Langmead, the project architect, and Ms. Beckman, Deputy Li- brarian, have done an excellent job of de- scribing their philosophies and approaches to library building planning and develop- ment. It is their thesis that successful li- brary buildings must be functionally and aesthetically satisfying. The question one must raise is, "To what extent did the authors satisfy this ambitious undertaking?" Let us take a close look at the two parts of this book. The first sixty-nine pages are dedicated to the task of identifying such complex problems of new library building develop- ment as site selection, selection of planning team, functional considerations for library operations, architectural considerations, fur- niture selection and layout, moving, and op- erating the new library. The second half of the book includes approximately forty pages of the University of Guelph Library Building Program and its floor plans. Mter reading his work, the reviewer was left with the strong suspicion that the build- ing program for Guelph was written before the guidelines for planning were developed in the first part of the book. The guidelines suggested reflect much of the local scene at Guelph which may or may not have any bearing for other campuses. One can only surmise that the authors' technique is justi- fied by assuming that what is good for Guelph must be good for others as well. A good example of this takes place in Chap- ter 3, where the role of the planning team is covered: the discussion reflects strictly local attitudes and circumstances. Very few, if any, of the many items dis- cussed in this book are explored in any depth. Major considerations are treated briefly and in almost abstract style, offering little help and few solutions to problems. The issues of centralized vs. decentralized