College and Research Libraries


programs between its founding in 1957 and 
its formal termination in 1965 gives some 
measure of its importance. 

The editor makes two essential points 
about an honors program: First, that "a 
beginning must be made" even though lack-
ing assurance of adequate support and 
with planning that is less than perfect; 
and, second, that an honors program "must 
always be something dynamic, something 
vital, something unstereotyped." (An ap-
pendix to the third chapter lists "The six-
teen major features of a full honors pro-
gram-an admirable checklist for those en-
gaged in or planning honors work.) There 
is abundant evidence in the following chap-
ters that these principles are frequently ig-
nored: too often programs are postponed 
awaiting ideal circumstances; or, once set 
in motion, they become, tragically often, 
dull, routine, sterile. An honors program 
needs superior teachers as well as superior 
students. 

A chapter of particular interest and sig-
nificance is that on "Honors and the Sci-
ences," in which the difficulties of honors 
work in science is explored in depth; and 
there are indeed problems. Nevertheless, a 
few science honors programs have been de-
veloped, although they are most frequently 
departmental programs involving under-
graduate research than all-college programs 
for the nonscientist. " ... some public un-
derstanding of scientific doctrine is impera-
tive. In their own self-interest, if not for 
less selfish motives, scientists must engender 
sympathetic reception of their proposals. 
What better audience could be asked than 
a group of honors students?" 

The objectivity of the contributions is 
noteworthy throughout, and nowhere more 
than in the chapter on the evaluation of 
honors programs, in which are summarized 
critical studies of honors, the place of the 
honors student in the mind of his peers, 
his later achievement, and so forth. In all, 
this represents a useful and valuable con-
tribution to the literature on one of the 
more interesting and productive aspects of 
American higher education. 

If the librarian wishes some enlighten-
ment of the place of the library in honors 
work, he will have to look elsewhere. There 
is literally no mention of libraries in the 
book! Where, one wonders, lies the fault? 

Book Reviews I 409 

Is the library of no significance in honors 
work? Does it make no contribution? Per-
haps its usefulness is so accepted that it 
needs no mention? Or perhaps those con-
cerned with honors have not exploited the 
library? 'Tis a puzzlement!-John M. Daw-
son, University of Delaware. 

Library Publications. By William R. Hol-
man. San Francisco: Roger Beacham, 
1965. viii, 67p. + pocket with inserts. 
$28.50 + $16.50 ( 65-28969). 
This sumptuous volume, in the tradition 

of Adrian Wilson's Printing for Theater, is 
a valuable addition to the notable list of 
beautiful books produced by fine printers 
in the San Francisco Bay Area. Composed 
in Monotype Van Dijck, with Bruce Rogers' 
Centaur for display, printed on Curtis rag 
paper, hand-bound with hand-marbled pa-
per over boards, the book has numerous 
examples of announcements and leaflets 
tipped in by hand as illustrations. It was 
designed by Barbara Holman, who also 
did the hand-marbling of the cover papers, 
and printed by Graham Mackintosh. 

Library Publications contains many val-
uable suggestions for anyone responsible for 
the format of library announcements, book-
lists, etc. Its chapters are titled: Approach 
to Printing, Simplicity in Design, Planning 
is Essential, Personality of Type, Paper is 
Persuasive, The Printing Process, and Print-
ing on a Budget. These chapters are filled 
with advice on paper, type faces, choice 
of size of stock, color, illustrations, and 
methods of printing. 

Available only from the publisher ( 406 
Pacheco, San Francisco, Calif. 94116), li-
braries may list the two parts separately on 
the order, but both must be included. The 
volume is recommended for all collections 
of fine printing. 

Mr. Holman's purpose was to "foster a 
renewal of interest in printing, especially, 
in printing for the library." Further, he 
believes that "The book should prove of 
special value to the medium and small li-
braries-public, college, and school-who 
do not have the services of a graphic artist." 
But there is a difficulty here, as is indicated 
by the suggested device of separating the 
prices of the book and the inserts. What 
small- or medium-sized library budget can 
stand $45 for a "a practical 'how-to' book"? 



4101 College & Research Libraries • September, 1966 

It is apparent to this reviewer that Mr. 
Holman and his talented designer-wife are 
a combination of sophisticated taste and 
high capability that is somewhat less than 
frequent in the profession. What is possible 
for them, having a Colts Armory Press and 
a careful selection of imported type, is 
simply beyond the reach of most librarians, 
nay, even of most academic librarians fa-
vored with a university press. 

One would hope that there are enough 
large libraries and collectors at large to 
exhaust the edition of 350 copies. ( U nfor-
tunately, this probably means that the vol-
ume will be available to those who, in a 
sense, need it least.) Hopefully, too, every 
library school library will procure a copy, 
which might be the best way to maximize 
the book's usefuhiess. If only a small hand-
ful of beginning librarians were fired by 
the passion and good taste exhibited by 
Mr. Holman, printing for libraries might 
one day be revolutionized. 

A more practical and immediate route to 
the upgrading of library publications-so 
fervently desired by Mr. Holman-would 
seem to be this: ( 1) raise the level of taste 
on the part of librarians, and ( 2) encourage 
them to seek out a high-quality printer who 
is, or who has on his staff, a good designer. 
Library Publications is a notable contribu-
tion to the first of these goals.-Wm. R. 
Eshelman, Bucknell University. 

Special Libraries: A Guide for Manage-
ment. Ed. by Edward G. Strahle. New 
York, Special Libraries Association, 1966. 
63p. illus. $4. (66-17107). 

Special Libraries: A Guide for Manage-
ment fills a gap in the literature of special 
librarianship. Rather than being aimed at 
the neophyte special librarian, this slim, 
paperbound book is intended for the use of 
management personnel in deciding the 
when, why, how, and what of a special 
library. Written by six special librarians, 
the information it contains is accurate, cur-
rent, and well-presented. It is not written 
as a quick course in librarianship; it pre-
sents the type of information the manager 
of a research laboratory, for example, re-
quires to determine the need of his or-
ganization for a library, the functions he 
might expect such a library to perform, 

and the probable costs of establishment 
and operation. 

A number of photographs, floor plans, 
and tables augment the text nicely. These-
lection of examples has been chosen 
thoughtfully to include the whole range 
from very small to very large special li-
braries. The data supplied to demonstrate 
the probable costs of establishment and 
operation is as current as possible and 
some suggestions concerning trends are 
made which should keep the book from 
being outdated too quickly. Three ap-
proaches to budget planning are suggested 
and it might be possible to use them as a 
check on each other. The data in this sec-
tion may also have some useful applica-
tions in the estimation of operational costs 
of "special" libraries which are a part of 
university library systems. The increasing 
volume of contract research on university 
campuses has resulted in a significant 
growth of special libraries within the aca-
demic milieu. 

A useful bibliography, again aimed more 
at management than librarians, is appended. 
This supplements the numerous books and 
articles mentioned in the text. 

This book is a powerful tool for the li-
brarian who steps into the normally cha-
otic situation which pertains when an in-
dustrial or business concern suddenly 
senses a need for a library. A few copies 
in the hands of management would lend 
support to the librarian's desire to provide · 
optimum service. Unfortunately, it is not 
likely that too many managers will see a 
copy before their literature problems be-
come overwhelming. The Illinois Chapter 
of Special Libraries Association is to be 
congratulated for sustaining this project 
and producing this useful pamphlet.-Rob-
ert E. Burton, University of Michigan. 

Lyceum to Library: A Chapter in the 
Cultural History of Houston. By Orin 
Walker Hatch. Houston: Texas Gulf 
Coast Historical Association, 1965. [ix1, 
73p. $3. 

Every institution should have its history 
recorded. This maxim is as true for a cul-
tural institution as for a financial, govern-
mental, or academic one. Library histories 
are important if for no other reason than