Year: 1975
Type: book-review
Abstract: Although emphasis is given to articles which are descriptive of the Library, some of outstanding working tools are included.142 books or articles comprise the list and they are so organized and classified that it is easy to locate any topic of interest.For example, included under the entry Science is item No. 139, an article by Dr. Zwemer on "Medical science resources" which appeared in the BULLETIN.It is most difficult in this case to pit one's self against a body of experts.Hence, in lieu of this, your reviewer has concerned himself with the chronology or mechanics of such a specialized compilation.One-half of the references repre- sent publications from 1950 to date and three-fourths of the publications carry publication dates of the last ten years.This might make it appear that it is not only a selected bibliography but a bibliography of recent publications.This is not quite true, however, since there are three references in years prior to 1900, the earliest being 1897, and it would appear that the vintage years for publications on this Library were 1942 and 1948 to 1955.Since your reviewer has digressed this far from a description of the list, he would like to raise a question concerning entry No. 53 which is "The interna- tional exchange of publications" by Laurence J. Kipp, who is a librarian at Harvard University.Under place of publication we find [Wakefield?Mass., 1950?].Whoever made the entry was concerned enough with the place and date to make a guess and then question it.I have often wondered why in circum- stances like this the cataloger does not address a postal card to his confrere and ask him to come clean and tell us exactly where and when this was published.Won't those who use entries like this in the future wonder whether or not there was a lack of communication between librarians in the 1950's?FOSTER E. MOHRHARDT
Source: African Research & Documentation
Author: Kinney, Margaret M.
Language: English
Subfield: Library and Information Sciences
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W342472227