College and Research Libraries Selected Journals in Library and Information Science Beverly P. Lynch • his article begins a series of re- . ·: .. · views of journals published in : the field of library and infor- mation science. Although it appears under a by-line, the reviews are a project of the librarians of the University of Illinois at Chicago. Each review is signed with the initials of the librarian who prepared it. 1 In a recent review of the journal litera- ture of the field, 2 Richard Johnson identi- fies 500-1,000 periodicals, newsletters, and other publications in librarianship. The 1981 edition of Ulrich's International Periodicals Directory lists about 950 titles under the heading ''Library and Informa- tion Services ." Older journals may be reviewed from time to time in this series in order to com- pare them with newer ones, or to review them again because of changes in content or style. Access:. Microcomputers in Libraries. Westfir, Oreg.: DAC Publications. V.1, no.1 (July 1981); quarterly, $11 per year. ISSN: 0277-9784. The use of microcomputers in libraries is a matter of great interest to many librari- ans; this new publication will provide them with a useful source of information. Obviously intended for those with little computer experience, articles are short, non-technical, and non-intimidating. The first issue discusses dial-up databases and the principles underlying database man- agement systems, publishes a field report on a microcomputer support online cata- log, interviews the creator of Lewis and Clark College's CLAS acquisitions sys- tem, and gives brief descriptions of new software and hardware products. A bar- gain for any library interested in micro- computer applications or increasing staff computer literacy.-LAS. Cataloging & Classification Quarterly. New York: Haworth Press. V.1, no.1 (Fall 1980), quarterly, $35 (individuals), $45 (institutions) per volume. ISSN: 0163- 9374. The "Editorial" in the first issue of Cata- loging & Classification Quarterly begins, ''The appearance of any new journal in the field of librarianship requires justifica- tion." And so it does. The full contents of the first five issues of this publication and the continued appearance of articles on cataloging and classification elsewhere in- dicate that there is no shortage of articles. The number of articles on cataloging in most of the ALA journal publications and in almost every other library publication supports CCQ's contention that it is filling a gap of library scholarly publishing in an area with high interest. A look at the first few issues reveals that the articles contained here are in many cases theoretical. Nonetheless, an effort has been made to include some ''how we do it good" articles and some articles that address topics related to cataloging (e.g., usefulness of archive tapes, indexes). Vol- ume 2, numbers 1-2 (1982) contains the proceedings of the International Sympo- sium on the Future of the Union Cata- 1. Nancy R. John, William G. Jones, Louis A. Schultheiss. 2. Richard D. Johnson, "The Journal Literature of Librarianship," in Advances in Librarianship, V.12 (New York: Academic Press, 1982), p.127-50. 153 ~--------------------------------------------------------------------------- 154 College & Research Libraries logue (University of Toronto, May 21-22, 1981). While, as is to be expected, the qual- ity of these papers varies, this special issue makes available some materials that might be difficult to find on this important topic. It is available from Haworth as a mono- graph for $19.95. It is difficult to tell yet whether issues will often follow themes; two do and three do not. As with all Ha- worth publications, this quarterly seems to have some difficulty meeting its publi- cation schedule. Except for volume 2, numbers 1-2, each issue contains book reviews. The most re- cent issue-volume 2, numbers 3-4 (1982)-contained twelve reviews in the space of more than thirty pages. There- views are thorough and the choice of ma- terials excellent, if not entirely current. The opening reviews (Michael Gorman's review of Michael Carpenter's Corporate Authorship and Carpenter's review of Gor- man's Concise AACR2) demonstrate the quality of the reviewers and the kinds of materials reviewed. They also show the editor's interest in making the journal a fo- rum for the arguing of cataloging philoso- phies. If the journal can sustain this stan- dard, the book review section could outshadow the articles for some readers. The final section, ''The Cataloger's Bookshelf,'' contains a checklist of re- cently published items of interest to cata- logers. In the last issue, "recently" meant between 1980 and 1982, although two 1979 imprints were included. The headline of the section indicates that selected titles will be reviewed in forthcoming issues. A section, "News," appeared in the first issues and has either been dropped, or there has been no news to print. Until a more regular schedule is achieved, there seems little likelihood of "timely" news. The change in size between volumes one and two may also dismay library bindery units. CCQ has fared better than many Ha- worth journals; if the initial irregularities are ironed out, CCQ can have an impor- tant place in professional reading.-NRJ. Information Seroices & Use. Amsterdam: North-Holland. V.1, no.1 (March 1981), March 1983 bimonthly, Dfl 158 (approx. $73.50). ISSN: 0167-5265. This journal describes itself as an '' infor- mation and technology oriented publica- tion with a wide scope of subject matter," including on- and off-line systems, library automation, word processing, and tele- communications. It is directed to an inter- national audience of "librarians, informa- tion managers, designers and users of library and information systems.'' The is- sue used as the basis of this review, vol- ume 1, number 2, contained five articles, three of which were papers previously read at conferences. The titles of these arti- cles were ''The Present Situation Regard- ing Vocal Data Acquisition" (M. J. Underwood); "The Socio-Economic Con- sequences and Limits of the Information Revolution" (L. J. Rankine); "Cultural and Political Traditions and Their Impact on the Transfer and Use of Scientific Infor- mation" (V. Rosenberg); "Use of the BIOSIS Computerized Data Base Taught with Audiovisual Technology" (P. M. Vaillancourt); and "International Market- ing Aspects for Information Services" (A. W. Elias, a member of the three- person editorial board). This issue's "Q & A" column responded to the question "How do I start automating our office?" There was a section of "News, Trends, and Comments," a short conference re- port on the October 1981 National Repro- graphic Centre conference on word proc- essors in the library, and a short book review of the Penguin Dictionary of Micro- processors. The choice of topics covers such a wide range that the reader may wonder whether there is an audience for such a journal, or whether one type of article will eventually predominate. In addition, is- sue number 2 was only fifty pages, so that the potential subscriber might well want to see whether the content expands before making an investment in a subscription. At this time (December 1982) no further is- sues have appeared.-WGJ. Library Computer Equipment Review. West- port, Conn.: Microform Review, Inc. V.1, no.1 (Jan.-June 1979), semiannual. Price varies between $85-$150 per year, depending on library classification. ISSN: 0191-1295. From the librarian's standpoint, the greatest virtues of this new publication are that it presents its material from the librar- ian's viewpoint, and that it does so clearly, with a minimum of jargon. Each issue is organized around a single topic, such as small business computers or turn- key circulation systems, with a state-of- the-art report followed by reviews of six to eight products pertaining to the theme of the issue. Reports and individual reviews are illustrated, mostly with photographs. One potential problem is that everything in the two issues viewed-editorials, re- ports, and equipment reviews-appears to be the work of one individual. While this individual (William Saffady, of the Graduate School of Library and Informa- tion Science, Pratt Institute), is generally very well informed, this fact makes for ex- cessive uniformity of opinion at a time when some diversity might be more use- ful to the reader. The Review is expensive-$42.50 to $75.00 per issue-depending on the size of the acquisitions budget. It will not be of much interest to nonlibrarians. Therefore, its cost will be hard to justify unless the li- brary supports extensive library science collections or has a working commitment to library automation.-LAS. Medical Reference Services Quarterly. New York: Haworth. V.1, no.1 (Spring 1982), quarterly, $25 (individuals), $40 (li- braries, subscription agencies, other in- stitutions). ISSN: 0276-3869. Issue number 1 describes this new jour- nal as a practice-oriented journal, dealing with ''topics of current interest and practi- cal value." One of the justifications for es- tablishing this new journal is the ''sense of urgency felt in medical reference work,'' and the need to provide extensive biblio- graphic services to the members of a de- manding profession. Online searching will be a focus of the journal. This first is- sue contained four topical articles (includ- ing one bibliography on the dying pa- tient); a column of opinion and exchange; an online update column for search ana- Selected Journals 155 lysts; and a user education column publi- cizing "practical information on user edu- cation topics.'' It will include a ''variety of user education material, including arti- cles, editorial comment, notices of avail- able programs and descriptions of suc- cessful projects." The first issue contained six book reviews ranging in length from one to three pages. Research-oriented arti- cles are included only if they contain prac- tical applications, analyzed and clearly presented, for the practicing medical li- brarian. The significant question is whether there is a need for a new journal devoted specifically to medical reference services, there already being journals devoted to reference, to online search services, and to bibliographic instruction, all topics ad- dressed by this title. It will be convenient for medical librarians to have these issues addressed in one title, but in spite of the overlap in coverage, it is not likely that their need to consult the existing topical ti- tles will be obviated.-WGJ. The Reference Librarian. New York: Ha- worth. Nos.1/2 (Fall/Winter 1981), 4 is- sues/$40. ISSN: 0276-3877. The Reference Librarian, edited by Bill Katz, examines a single topic in each num- ber; its editors "seek authors who have· a unique, imaginative and practical point of view about the topic under discussion. Li- brarians from all types and sizes of li- braries will be asked to contribute, as will students and teachers and some layper- sons.'' As with some other Haworth Press publications, each issue will be marketed as a monograph because of its devotion to a single topic. For example, the first com- bined issue (Nos.1/2) on "Reference Ser- vices in the 1980s" contains nineteen arti- cles in 128 pages; the third issue (Spring 1982) on "Reference Services Administra- tion & Management'' contains sixteen ar- ticles in 125 pages and sells for $24. Issue 1/2 also contains a column entitled ''In My Judgment,'' consisting of seventy-nine re- sponses to a letter asking selected librari- ans ''What does it mean to be a reference librarian and what is it going to mean in the years ahead?" The character of both 156 College & Research Libraries the contributed articles and the short re- sponses included in the column is obser- vational, containing prescriptions for action, and written from practical experi- ence. Of course, many of these observa- tions are sound and even provocative, but they are only situationally valid. A journal entirely devoted to such contributions may be limited in its effectiveness. In addi- tion, only the most dedicated reader is likely to read through all the contribu- tions. The contributors are, however, well known for their achievements and knowl- edgeability, and the librarian who pur- chases only those issues dealing with top- ics of personal interest is spending resources most wisely.-WG]. RSR: Reference Services Review. Ann Arbor, Mich.: Pierian Press. V .1, no .1 (Jan. / Mar. 1973), quarterly, $39.50. ISSN:0090-7324. The appointment of Nancy Jean Melin as the new editor of RSR in July 1981 was accompanied by a press release which an- nounced that the ''quarterly review is once again on a regular and timely publi- cation schedule." At that time it added several new columns: "Indexes and In- dexers," describing "the latest develop- ments in manual and online indexing tools," and "Reference Data Bases," fea- turing "reviews of particular data-bases and comparative studies of their costs and value," as well as older columns, "Land- marks of Reference," "Comparative Re- views, 11 "Government Publications," and "Reference Serials. II By fall 1982 there were eleven separate columns on the topics of bibliographic instruction, comparative reviews, core collections, current surveys, government publica- tions, indexers and indexes, landmarks of reference, reference databases, reference management, reference resources, and reference serials, each with its own editor. Issues are approximately 110 pages in length and contain the contributions of be- tween twenty and thirty librarians and subject specialists. RSR does now appear on a much more regular schedule and has clearly expanded the number of its recur- ring columns, evidently flourishing under the direction of its new editor.-WGJ. March 1983 Resource Sharing .& Library Networks : New York: Haworth Press . V.1, no.1 (Fall 1981), quarterly, $35 per volume. ISSN: 0270-3173. Two issues of Resource Sharing & Library Networks, volume 1, number 1 and volume 1, numbers 2-3, have appeared. A third is- sue, volume 1, number 4, has not yet been published. According to Haworth Press, the second volume will be called Network Librarian, and Glyn T. Evans, director, SUNY-OCLC, will be the new editor.- NR]. Science & Technology Libraries. New York:.· Haworth. V .1, no.1 (Fall 1980), quar- terly, $42, plus postage and handling. ISSN: 0194-262X. Editor Ellis Mount states that this jour- nal was established because there has not previously been any journal entirely de- voted to science and technology libraries, regardless of their type of sponsorship and of the fields of science or technology with which they were involved. Each is- sue of this new journal is to be focused on a single theme of interest to sci-tech librar- ians. In addition to the topical articles, each issue is to include three special sec- tions: (1) "Sci-Tech Online," "a compila- tion of information on sci-tech databases and their online utilization"; (2) "New Reference Works in Science and Technol- ogy"; and (3) "Sci-Tech Notes," "short communications from any sci-tech librar- ian wishing to contribute a brief account of some new project or activity of interest to his/her colleagues.'' Because of the topical focus of each issue, individual issues are being marketed and sold as monographs. In spite of the editor's intent to concen- trate on sci-tech libraries, the first issue with its theme of ''Planning for Online Search Service in Sci-Tech Libraries, II contained two articles on online searching in public librarie~. Volume 2, number 2 (Winter 1981) contains a fourteen-page ar- ticle by Tony Stankus on "Journals for Anatomists in Medical versus Nonmedi- cal Biological Research Institutes,'' an arti- cle appropriate for the journal but outside the stated scope of the issue, "Role of Pat- ents in Sci-Tech Libraries." The inclusion of papers outside the scope of the journal or the issue may serve neither author nor reader very well. Volume 1, number 1 contains ten arti- cles in 132 pages (excluding columns); vol- ume 2, number 2 contains five articles in 85 pages and sells as a monograph for $25. In addition, the format has shrunk from 7- by-10-inch to 5112-by-8-inch, and the role that "Sci-Tech Notes" was to play has not materialized. Nonetheless, this journal appears to be alive and well, having now reached publication of volume 3, number 1. Because of the publisher's intent to mar- ket this title both as a journal and its issues as monographs, greater attention should be paid matters of scope, content, format, and length in order that all consumers will receive what they intended to buy.-WGJ. Videodisk/Teletext. Westport, Conn.: Mi- Selected J oumals 157 croform Review, Inc. V.1, no.1 (Winter 1981), quarterly, $52 per volume year. ISSN: 0198-9456. This new publication is intended for me- dia technologists, educators, and librari- ans seriously interested in the uses and ca- pabilities of videodisks and teletext. Although articles on these subjects are published in other professional journals, this is obviously an attempt to bring to- gether material of interest to several re- lated professions. There are well- illustrated general articles, case studies, substantial bibliographies of both general and technical articles, and news of new products and developments. This title is a worthwhile addition to li- braries with an active interest in media technology or computer-assisted instruction.-LAS. • We've collected some of the great issues important world newspapers in microfilm of our times on archival quality 35mm collections, including the recent addition of microfilm. The news and opinion a5 Neue Zurcher Zeitung and the South China presented by preeminent publishers Morning Post. 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