College and Research Libraries 264 College & Research Libraries other phenomenon will have (or is hav- ing) greater impact on libraries and librari- ans than technology. How well the issue is handled will go a long way toward the success or failure of library leadership, and from there our success or failure as li- braries and librarians. Overall, one can get a good start on visu- alizing the future of library leadership in this collection of essays, though some will be disappointed. Librarians in the medium-size public library, the four-year college, or the small university will not find their concerns addressed directly, an interesting lacuna, considering from num- bers alone, their positions in the library world. This is not to say that librarians in these settings will not find something of value to them in the book, but they do have specific needs that should have been addressed. There is something for everyone in this book, and hopefully, it might stimulate a class lecture or two in the library schools. All in all, a thoughtful beginning point for focusing on a critical need for the pro- fession in the immediate future, leadership.-Robert D. Carmack, University of South Dakota. Coser, Lewis A. Books: The Culture and Commerce of Publishing. New York: Basic Books, 1982. xiii, 411p. LC 81-66100. ISBN 0-465-00745-7. Each year, it seems, at least one new book on publishing comes on the market. Books about the making of books remain popular and the industry continues to draw interest from within as well as from the outside. Viewpoints, of course, differ. Publishers such as William Jovanovich, Stanley Unwin, and more recently McGraw-Hill's Curtis Benjamin, offer strong personal views based on long-term experience, but without the benefit of re- search. Others, such as John Dessauer, have approached the subject in a more general, almost journalistic way, thus of- fering good descriptions, but no interpre- tations. The late Fritz Machlup made a monumental attempt to capture the world of books in his macro-economic study on the printed word (New York, 1978). May 1983 Now the time for the sociologists has come . Lewis Coser and Charles Kadushin are established and prominent social sci- entists, and their associate Walter Powell appears to be on his way to such standing with his forthcoming book on decision making in scholarly publishing (Chicago, 1983). Appropriately, the authors are ''largely concerned with the rich context of human relations.'' They recognize that it is hard to generalize about an industry as diversified and heterogeneous as pub- lishing. Yet, they aim at a full-scale study emphasizing nonfiction, using prevalent social science research techniques and methods. The first part of the book deals with the history and structure of the industry. The topic has been well described elsewhere, but the treatment here is different. For in- stance, the always controversial topic of mergers and power concentration is en- lightened by good research on specialized and successful smaller publishing ven- tures, thus presenting a much more bal- anced point of view. A most interesting chapter on networks, connections, and circles presents invaluable insight into the flow and process of decision making. The people who write and make books are the subject of the second part of this book. These chapters, by combining fac- tual data and interview results, make for very informative reading about authors, editors, and others in the industry. The chapter on the growing importance of women in publishing deserves special at- tention. The final chapters deal with ''out- siders" such as literary agents and book reviewers. It is somewhat surprising that the authors identify book distribution channels as if they were outside of the in- dustry. While it is true that many pub- lishers consider the matter of distribution to be someone else's problem, the recent Book Industry Study Group report on the issue (New York, 1982) suggests that it is a problem central to the industry. A fascinating epilogue on publishers as ''gatekeepers'' of ideas will stand as a wel- come and important contribution to the literature. The book ends with a very use- ful and enlightening appendix on research methodology, an extensive list of notes and references, as well as a good index. Although this book will undoubtedly stand as a significant contribution to the sociological literature, the volume clearly has even greater value for academic librar- ians whose world of books is so closely re- lated to the publishing industry. -Hendrik Edelman, Rutgers University. Cave, Roderick. Rare Book Librarianship. 2d, rev. ed . Hamden, Conn.: Shoe String, 1982. 162p. $20 cloth. ISBN 0- 85157-328-2. Roderick Cave has successfully summa- rized the most significant concerns and precepts of rare book librarianship in a de- ceptively slim volume that will stand as a major resource in the field for a long time to come. There is much more content than the size of the volume might suggest. For librarians already in the field, Cave's book is a welcome review of major concerns and practices of rare book libraries. For admin- istrators of large institutions, of which rare books and special collections operations constitute a part, Rare Book Librarianship should be required reading and should also stand alongside other reference tools used by administrators in their work. For students contemplating a career in the field of rare-book librarianship, Cave's text will serve as an excellent description of what such a career is likely to entail and how the students should plan to prepare themselves for entering the profession. Although Rare Book Librarianship reflects Roderick Cave's British background and many of the references are to British li- braries and institutions, libraries of North America are not ignored. Cave clearly de- lineates how differing historical traditions in Britain and the United States have pro- duced somewhat different types of rare book libraries. He also identifies some of the major distinctions in service and orien- tation in rare book libraries that are pri- vately or publicly funded. Perhaps most significant to North American readers is Cave's treatment of the growth of major rare book operations within state- supported universities and colleges. Cave has organized Rare Book Librarian- Recent Publications 265 ship along the lines of an administrative analysis . He moves from a general intro- duction to the field, through an admirably succinct definition of what rare books and special collections are, and why they are important, to the actual operation of rare book libraries, treating the special acquisi- tion activities required of a rare book li- brary, the processing of rare books, the care, restoration, and housing of rare books, the organization of special collec- tions for use, and the common methods that rare book libraries use to publicize their collections both to potential users and to potential benefactors. Finally, he discusses the training of rare book librari- ans. Of particular value is Cave's discussion of the antiquarian book trade and its rela- tionship to the operation of rare book libraries. He recognizes the cross- fertilization that booksellers and rare book libraries experience if they have a healthy working relationship. Because the mar- ketplace for antiquarian books is far more influenced by scarcity and unpredictable availability of goods than is the new-book marketplace, rare book librarians must work out significantly different strategies for collection development than is true for general libraries. Cave's treatment of this subject should make clear to all concerned library administrators just why their spe- cial collections operations do not follow the same well-established procedures that are used in acquiring current publications. Those interested in the development of rare books training programs in North America will need to look somewhat be- yond Rare Book Librarianship for informa- tion about current trends. Although this is the second edition, revised, develop- ments in the field are moving quickly, and there has been considerable activity of note. The Rare Books and Manuscripts Section of the Association of College and Research Libraries had greatly strength- ened its programs and activities since the late 1970s, and while Cave identifies the section's work, he did not have the oppor- tunity of bringing his text up-to-date with the latest activities. Librarians interested in the field will want to consider member-