College and Research Libraries 300 College & Research Libraries Young, Arthur P. Books for Sammies: The American Library Association and World War I. Lexington, Ky.: Beta Phi Mu, 1982. 149p. $12.50. LC 81-17095. ISBN 0-910-23015-3. Young has added an evocative title to Beta Phi Mu's series of valuable library memorabilia. He points out, with clarity and insight, several of the dichotomous, indeed ambivalent, courses followed by ALA in its involvement in the Great War, 1914-19. There can be no doubt, as he demonstrates carefully and clearly, that li- brarians, operating libraries in wartime conditions at horne and abroad, "per- formed exceptionally well under some- times exhausting, stressful conditions'' (p.96). Yet, the small national organiza- tion, rapidly politicized and polarized into a controversial operation with either many enemies or few understanding sup- porters, found itself embroiled in many undesirable morasses of professional con- cerns, personnel problems, and public dif- ficulties. Too few jobs and activities, all told, for too many men-this statement by John Cotton Dana-pointedly summarizes the entire 1917-20 service period. Herbert Putnam, Library of Congress extraordi- naire (forty years worth), was director of ALA's War Service Committee, which controlled the military library program; he was ably assisted by several outstanding men and women librarians who left suc- cessful careers to serve at horne and over- seas. The details about developments during the years of the committee's service reflect the difficulties of a small association's at- tempt to influence policy and operate pro- fessionally within the framework of a gi- gantic, total national conversion from peace to war. Problems arose constantly with many groups, including the YMCA. Such conflicts were important as they por- trayed pettiness by people and organiza- tions along the path of supplying reading and help to several million men in uni- form. Young's documentation is impressive, as a historian's approach should be. A synopsis of his bibliographic approach is an unusual and welcome gift to current July 1983 and future writers. The six chapters in- volve the use of 299 references (including ibids). The total may or may not be im- pressive; the facts revealed by such docu- mentation are put into a fabric of well- connected, clearly stated reportage. The author acknowledges rightfully the fact that a new generation of library leaders emerged from this period -Carl Milam, Malcolm Wyer, Joseph L. Wheeler, Caro- line Webster, Burton E. Stevenson, and others. To us of a not-so-tender age (I was born one month before the U.S. entered the war in 1917, and I served under Mr. Wheeler at EPFL before World War II), this record will be fascinating for its reve- lation of half a lifetime (ALA's and mine) of concern with librarianship. Did war ser- vice responsibilities help ALA mature? _ Did the emerging leadership seize the op- portunities gained from wartime public exposure to go on to greater heights? An- other volume may be needed to answer these two questions; the author provides his answers: "new horizons of profes- sionalism and service were the enduring legacies of the American Library Associa- tion's participation in World War I (p.99).'' This slender volume is deserving of a wide readership-there are many names to conjure with listed in appendix I, "Major Army/Navy Camp Libraries (1917-1919)," some of whom might well be worth a story or book in future writ- ings. A quarter of a century later, America was at war again. Is the ALA of post-World War II so different from the ALA of 1919? (PS Dr. Young, what's a "sammy"? See Webster's for the answer. )-Harold Goldstein, Florida State University. Hebert, Fran~oise and Noel, Wanda. Copyright and Library Materials for the Handicapped: A Study Prepared for the In- ternational Federation of Library Associa- tions and Institutions. Hamden, Conn.: Shoe String, 1982. 111p. $20 cloth. ISBN 3-598-20381-0. Most of the numerous publications on copyright law that have appeared since the United States revised its copyright statute in 1976 have been practical advice on the law's implications for classroom, interlibrary loan, reserve, and photocopy room operations. In contrast, in their study prepared for IFLA, Fran~oise He- bert and Wanda Noel consider in terms of international law the needs of a minority of library users, those who cannot read standard print. For the handicapped, copyright restrictions are of critical impor- tance because they must have standard print transcribed into an alternative medium-Braille, large print, or audio- tape-before they can use it. Materials in alternative media are pro- duced principally by nonoprofit organiza- tions including libraries. Libraries take copyright law into account both at the time of original transcription and at dis- semination. The authors point out that ob- taining the right to transcribe usually en- tails delay and is sometimes costly. Rights to disseminate are usually divided geo- graphically, and obtaining them fre- quently involves considerable time and expense. While Hebert and Noel see special pro- visions in domestic laws as the ultimate way to meet the needs of the handi- capped, they expect the process leading to these provisions to be long and difficult. They recommend that IFLA in conjunc- tion with the World Council for the Wel- fare of the Blind, prepare positions that can be presented to the Berne and Univer- sal Copyright Conventions, UNESCO, and member nations of these groups. Most important among their recommen- dations is that IFLA ''must give serious consideration to the principle that a copy- right owner should not have the right to refuse permission for a published work to be transcribed into another format for use by a person unable to read the printed edi- tion" (p.67). Because of the great variation throughout the world in rules governing remuneration to copyright holders for transcription of their works, the authors contend that IFLA should not object to re- muneration if copyright owners agree to the proposed payment system in a given country. Their position on remuneration is consistent with what they argue else- Recent Publications 301 where in the book. But their recommenda- tion that IFLA ''must give serious consid- eration" to elimination of an author's right of refusal to transcriptions is weaker than arguments against such refusals that they make in earlier pages. Their analysis persuaded this reviewer that there is no reasonable or moral basis (although there is a technical legal basis) for such a right of refusal, particularly if there are guarantees of remuneration. Since 1976 academic librarians who spe- cialize in copyright have mastered the ba- sics and now read with profit discussions of international law and of issues beyond photocopying. Copyright Law and Library Materials for the Handicapped is a brief and well-organized discussion that will ex- pand one's understanding of the implica- tions of copyright law for library services.-Stephen E. Wiberley, Jr., Univer- sity of Illinois at Chicago. Online Search Strategies. Ed. by Ryan E. Hoover. White Plains, N.Y.: Knowl- edge Industry Publications, 1982. 345p. $29.50 paper. LC 82-17179. ISBN 0- 86729-004-8. The first in a Professional Librarians se- ries, this work is aimed at the intermediate to advanced searcher of bibliographic databases and presumes a familiarity with at least one search system, a background in library or information science, and a knowledge of general search strategy. Its purpose is "to stimulate ... searching cu- riosity . . . to try new approaches and techniques.'' Ten chapters cover government infor- mation, chemistry, the biosciences, en- ergy and the environment, social and be- havioral sciences, patents, legal research, health sciences, news banks and news databases, and business and economics. They discuss the primary databases for the subject area, their special characteris- tics, and sometimes their specific indexing practices. Sample searches done on multi- ple files are provided. Though the chap- ters take the same general outline, some are more detailed than others, usually dic- tated by the number of databases in a field. The four chief vendors-BRS, DIA- LOG, NLM, and SDC-are emphasized,