College and Research Libraries Machlup and Leeson have demonstrated more clearly than anyone else before what a task still lies ahead. The failure of the re- cently completed National Enquiry on Scholarly Communication (its report pub- lished by Johns Hopkins, 1979) to come to terms with even the basic concepts of the problem is a similarly clear illustration. A~ cording to the introduction, Machlup ex- pects to publish a revision and update of his 1962 study in the next few years. We look forward to this with great anticipation. Meanwhile, these three volumes of primary data should be on the desk of everyone who wants to work in this field that is so essen- tial to academic librarians.-Hendrik Edel- man, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey. Serials Management and Microforms: A Reader. Edited by Patricia M. Walsh. Micmform Review Series in Library Mi-:- crographics Management, no.4. Westport, Conn.: Microform Review, Inc., 1979. 302p. $21.50. LC 78-13179. ISBN 0-913672-11-4. Like the other readers in this series, this is a collection of articles, most of which were published in well-known journals dur- ing the seventies. A general introduction by the editor describes it as "an attempt to analyze factors that would affect the efficient functioning of the microform serials collec- tion, both from a management point of view and from the point of view of the user." The material she has chosen does that well. Introductions to each section preview the factors treated under "Microforms and Se- rials: The User's Point of View"; "The Eco- nomics of Microforms and Serial Conversion Priorities"; "Specific Microform Applica- tions: Case Studies"; "The Impact of Mi- croforms upon Journal Format"; and "Ex- tended Applications of Microforms for Se- rials." The appendix contains ·excerpts from A National Periodicals Center: Technical Development Plan and a statement about the CONSER File on COM. Many of the authors quoted stress the importance of studying the usage patterns, budget, and personnel of the individual li- braries before deciding to convert all or part of the collection to microform. Only then can they expect to enjoy the benefits of the Recent Publications I 15 change, including the replacement of back issues often at lower prices than paper copies. Purchasing the microform eliminates preparing, binding, and processing volumes while costing less than binding and saving 90 percent of the storage space needed for hard copy. A viewing area with well-designed, easy- to-operate equipment, sufficient storage cabinets, and · enthusiastic personnel are prerequisites for obtaining user acceptance, lack of which reputedly results from poor management decisions. The case studies represent libraries connected with large and small universities, junior colleges, a high school, and a hospital. Librarians wish all microform items could be in the same for- mat in order to save equipment costs and instruction time. Additional readings listed at the beginning of each section, as ~ell as after many articles, make evident the prolif- eration of writings on the topic. Libraries receiving many inquiries .about microforms and that do not want . to risk the disappearance of hard copies of these infor- mational articles will find this volume worthwhile.-Sister Alma Marie Walls, Im- maculata College, Immaculata, Pennsyl- vania. Personnel in Libraries. LJ Special Report #10. New York: Library Journal, 1979. 63p. $5; cash with order, $3.95. ISBN 0-8352-1192-4. ISSN 0362-448X. This group of essays offers a brief, suc- cinct overview of some of the problems en- countered by library personnel in this era of rapid change. It covers a wider range than personnel work, per se, as could be mis- takenly interpreted from the title. There are ten essays and one bibliogra- phy, most of which should be thought- provoking. No definitive answers are at- tempted, but several of the essays have ref- erences appended that are helpful for fur- ther investigation. Some of the areas cov- ered include management, continuing edu- cation, performanCe and evaluation, associa- tions, sexual discrimination. and economic inequalities (with bibliography), and a help- ful bibliography of general and library- related personnel literature. Many changes have occurred over the years that have had an effect on libraries 76 I College & Research Libraries • january 1980 Out of Stock? Back Orders? If your wholesaler has long de- lays in completing "out of stock" and "back orders", why not try the firm that specializes in this area. Current imprints are easy to deliver but it takes a personalized, special- ized attention to give you reliable service on back list or other hard-to- get items. At Book House we call it "Con- cerned Service" and it works every day for a growing clientele includ- ing academic libraries just like yours. Call 517-849-2117 Collect the BOOK HOUSE SINCE 1962 JOBBERS SERVING LIBRARIES WITH ANY BOOK IN PRINT 208 WEST CHICAGO STREET JONESVILLE . MICHIGAN 49250 Heritage on Microfillll Rare and out-of-print titles and documents on 35mm silver halide microfilm. • French Books before 1601 • Scandinavian Culture • 18th Century English Literature • Victorian Fiction • Literature of Folklore • Hispanic Culture Send for catalog and title information today. GENEW\L C MICROFilM OMP~Y 100 Inman St. , Cambridge, MA 02139 Tel. (617) 864-2820 and librarians, and the responses to those changes have never been unanimous. Perhaps an underlying theme to these es- says can be stated in this way: The effective management 'of the human resources avail- able should be realized in a fair and mean- ingful way, and individuals should grow, develop, and become contributing members of a maturing profession that fully ap- preciates the value of each one. It is important that individuals, as persons and as librarians, recognize the worth and value of themselves and the tasks they are performing. Believing in one's self and one's work is necessary in order to realize the overall worth and value of the profession as a whole. Until that is accomplished, we may well remain, as one essay indicates, "a pliant and passive profession." Another essay, by Kenneth J. LaBudde, calls for "a national voice for university li- braries." It is all well and good and true that there is a need for a strong, effective voice, but perhaps it should be a voice for librarians as librarians and not just as uni- versity or school or public or special or, even, male or female librarians. As Benja- min Franklin remarked to John Hancock on July 4, 1776, "We must indeed all hang to- gether, or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately." - Special Report #10 should be an excel- lent catalyst for further thought, discussion, and research.-]. Wayne Baker, Ohio Northern University, Ada. McCoy, Donald R. The National Archives: America's Ministry of Documents, 1934- 1968. Chapel Hill: Univ. of North Carolina Pr., 1978. 437p. $19. LC 78- 2314. ISBN 0-8078-1327-3. The appearance of Donald R. McCoy's history of the National Archives is even more timely given the circumstances that led to the recent resignation of the archivist of the United States, James B. Rhoads, and the rather murky process by which Rhoads' successor will be selected. The. National Ar- chives, as McCoy so thoroughly documents, has been immersed in a swirl of politics since its inception. It appears that the pres- ent situation does not represent a substan- tial departure from firmly entrenched tradi- tion, as the archives stands just five years