College and Research Libraries The Whole Library Handbook: Current Data, Professional Advice, and Curiosa about Libraries and Library Services. Comp. by George M. Eberhart. Chicago: American Library Association, 1991. vi, 490p. paper, $25 (ALA members $22.50) (ISBN 0-8389-0573-0). LC 91-17311. At first glance this book would seem to be the answer to reference librarians' prayers for a single-volume compendium of timely facts, directory information, and statistics relating to libraries and librari- anship in general. It is organized into chapters dealing with libraries as institu- tions, librarians, librarianship, library materials, library operations, special groups of library users, public relations, technology, current issues in the profes- sion, and library trivia. It makes a valu- able contribution by bringing together data on library size, expenditures, growth, and other quantitative catego- ries from a variety of standard sources such as the ARL and ACRL statistics. Its many lists of agency names and addresses for services and institutions, ranging from national and regional ar- chives offices to library placement serv- ices, are particularly helpful. Upon closer examination, however, some questions arise regarding the book's ultimate usefulness. Its division into chap- ters fails to mask a certain quality of haphazardness in the selection of mate- rial for inclusion, which gives it the character of an almanac rather than a true handbook. The profusion of facts, figures, opinions, suggestions, sample policies, and trivial lore is indeed im- pressive if one reads the volume from cover to cover, but its index of only six pages does not allow the precision of entry which is commonly desirable in works of such scope. There is a very practical article by Anthony Amodeo en- titled "How to Move or Shift Books," for example, but no entry in the index for either "moving" or "shifting." Similarly, those interested in using Macintosh computers for public use will find an excellent fillip by Patrick R. Dewey on that subject-but no mention of either Macintoshes or personal computers (or microcomputers) in the index. Book Reviews 187 __ ,..._ Leave no stone unturned! Search BIOS IS Previews~ BIOSIS Previews is the online database pro- viding the most comprehensive bioscientific information, covering biotechnology, phar- macology, biomedicine, ecology, agriculture, biophysics and more! The exhaustive cover- age spans more than 8 million items derived from approximately 7,600 international life science publications. Don't miss out on any of the vital life science information relevant to your research- search BIOSIS Previews. And, to develop search strategies that yield comprehensive results, consult the BIOSIS Previews Search Guide! Call Today! 1-800-5 2 3-4806 (USA except PA) 215-587-4800 (worldwide) BIOSIS, Marketing Department CRL392NS, 2100 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103- 1399 USA; Telex 831739; Fax 215-587-2016. BIOSIS® Information for Today's Decisions and Discoveries BIOSJS is a regisrered trademark of Biological AbstlliCU, Inc. ~ ----~-----------------------------------------------------------------__J 188 College & Research Libraries It is difficult to determine how this book will be used, to what extent, and by whom. It will surely take its place next to the Botvker Annual and the American Library Di~ectory 'on the reference shelves of medium-sized to large libraries of all kinds, and it will just as certainly find its way into the hands of students, scholars, or general users anxious to find the win- ner of the 1956 Caldecott Medal or the significance of the tenth digit in the ISBN. It may not, despite the ambitious hopes of its editors, become the vade mecum of "librarians, library students, support personnel, friends, and trustees," but there is nonetheless a high likelihood of steady and perhaps even heavy use in academic libraries. Its slick cardboard cover and ungathered adhesive binding, though, do not augur well for sustained use; moreover, its not insubstantial price makes duplicate copies problematic. If success- ful, the publication will presumably un- dergo frequent updating, and indeed the 11 Extraordinary materials on U.S. policymaking Dr. William LeoGrande, The American University A magnificent achievement Dr. James Blight, Harvard University Unparalled in extent March 1992 compiler, in the preface, wisely asks for readers' suggestions for improvements and additions to future editions. One final remark, at the risk of appear- ing mean-spirited: a large chapter of the book, as well as substantial inserts into other chapters, attempt to inject a note of levity into the proceedings by presenting presumably humorous anecdotes about librarians, or reprinting whimsical lists of "worst serials title changes," and the like-all no doubt in the interest of "feel- ing good about the profession." Just as some people don't like mimes or light bulb jokes, so too others may find the compiler's mirthfulness distracting and perhaps even rather tedious. Neverthe- less, the Whole Library Handbook has many positive qualities to recommend it, and even for those whose tastes in humor do not here find resonance, it will prove a useful and enjoyable book- fames H. Spohrer, University of California, Berkeley. Published by Chadwyck-Healey and the National Security Archive, this series has been lauded in nearly every media-from Library Journal to Nightline. These extensively indexed microfiche collections reproduce previously classified and unclassified government documents. Most of this primary source documentation has not been published anywhere else. Dr. Nikki Keddie, UCLA The series contains nine individual subject No research library should sets, the latest of which is South Africa: be withOUt it 11 The Making of U.S. Policy, 1962-1989. Dr. Barnett Rubin, Columbia University The Making of U.S. Policy series has earned praise since the publication of the first in the series, El Salvador: The Making of U.S. Policy, 1977-1984. To receive a brochure or sample fiche, call Melissa Henderson at Chadwyck-Healey Inc. at (800)752-0515. Or write to Chadwyck-Healey Inc., 1101 King Street, Suite 380, Alexandria, Virginia 22314.