ACRL News Issue (B) of College & Research Libraries June 1988 / 357 are interested in huge datafiles for many users; the only successful scholarly databases have been tax- supported. Leslie Hume of the Research Libraries Group also spoke of the proliferation of very specialized scholarly databases and about the need for com pre­ hensive sources or indexes to make these accessible. She sees a need for databases with an interdiscipli­ nary focus, for more archival repositories in elec­ tronic form , and for more access to visual m ateri­ als. She re ite ra te d th e need for in stitu tio n al funding, since scholarly databases are not revenue- producing. W h at emerged from these meetings was that E u ­ ropean libraries are exploring the sharing of re­ sources, mostly within their own boundaries, but that national libraries are contending with prob­ lems of increasing regional ethnic focus. It is clear that in Europe, as in the U.S. ‚ that new technology is forcing librarians to make hard choices. The E u ­ ropeans are trying to make appropriate and finan­ cially possible selections of electronic technologies, but are finding difficulties w ith incom patible hardw are and rapidly changing products. Most Continental librarians continue to see their role as curatorial; however, they do not aim at completeness of collections as do A m erican re­ search librarians. In fact, the idea of a complete collection appears unrealistic to European librari­ ans, as indicated by the discussion at the session on “ The Conspectus as a C ollection M anagem ent Tool for Western European Studies.” All in all this first overseas A C R L conference was both enlightening and stimulating. U.S. librarians found much to exchange with others from their own country as well as with the Europeans. As al­ ways, the informal exchanges were as valuable as the working sessions. Florence was an ideal choice for a site, although perhaps too seductive a city for conferees. It took real strength of character to resist the lure of the museums, churches, and Renaissance streets in fa­ vor of meetings. And the hospitality (repasts and entertainment) arranged by Mario Casalini of C a ­ salini Libri was superb— probably never again will a library conference offer such feasts in such ele­ gant surroundings. — Claire D udley, Science and N onprint Editor, C hoice, M iddletow n, C onnecti­ cut. RTSD preservation microfilming institute at Yale University F o r two and a half days, April 2 1 - 2 3 ,1 9 8 8 , over 110 librarians and archivists m et at Yale University for a program entitled “Preservation Microfilming: Planning & Production,” a regional institute spon­ sored by the ALA Resources and Technical Services Division’s Reproduction of Library Materials Sec­ tion. The Institute was a follow-up to their earlier institute, “Preservation Microfilming: Administra­ tive Issues,” held in M arch 1986. Both programs were planned in order to meet the training needs of libraries currently or prospectively involved in preservation microfilm ing. The recent institute was designed to provide practical information and training to those responsible for microfilming pro­ grams. Following welcoming remarks by Yale Univer­ sity librarian Millicent Abell, Wesley Boom gaar- den, preservation officer at the Ohio State Univer­ sity L ib r a r ie s , spoke on th e elem en ts in th e preservation microfilming process and their inter­ connections to the library’s preservation activities and other operations, such as collection develop­ m en t and p ro vid in g b ib lio g rap h ical co n tro l. Boomgaarden also discussed such “macro-issues” as the institutional planning process, cost control, technologies to consider, and the effect on the li­ brary users. To ensure that microfilm will provide a perm a­ nent copy, libraries must meet many special stan­ dards and specifications in the preparation, pro­ duction, duplication, and storage of the microfilm. Myron B. C hace, head of the Special Services Sec­ tion, Photoduplication Service, at the Library of Congress, reviewed m any of the standards and specifications in the filming process, providing some insights into their development. A key p art of the Institute was four preparation workshops, each focusing on a different type of m a­ terial: monographs, serials, newspapers, and m an­ uscripts and archives. E ach of the workshop lead­ ers described key steps in the preparation process: searching available records to determine the exist­ ence of other microform or hard copies; the physi­ cal examination and preparation of m aterial; the physical preparation of the items to be filmed, in­ cluding collation, targeting, and reel p ro gram ­ ming; film inspection and other post-filming pro­ cedures. The workshop leaders for these sessions w ere Sherry Byrne, preservation lib rarian, the University of Chicago Library (Monographs); T a ­ m ara Swora, assistant preservation microfilming officer, Preservation Microfilming Office, the L i­ brary of Congress (Serials); Ann Swartzell, associ­ ate librarian (Conservation), New York State L i­ brary (Newspapers); and Vanessa Piala, head of preservation services, Smithsonian Institution L i­ braries (Archives and Manuscripts). Participants had the opportunity to see such 358 / C &RL News preparation and filming in progress during several tours. In addition to a tour of the Yale University L ibrary Microfilming Unit, the group viewed the facilities for contract filming at Micrographics Sys­ tems of Connecticut and the micropublishing plant of Research Publications, Inc. The program concluded with the presentation of papers addressing key issues in moving the national preservation effort fo rw ard . M arg aret Byrnes, head of the Preservation Section, National Library of Medicine, reviewed some of the factors to con­ sider in making a decision between doing m icro­ filming in-house and contracting for filming with a service bureau. Patricia McClung, associate direc­ tor for program coordination, Research Libraries Group, In c., discussed the process of identifying and monitoring the costs of microfilming, referring to the results of surveys of research libraries with active filming programs. After defining coopera­ tion as “a dynamic state of institutions working to­ gether for sufficient mutual benefit to outweigh the disadvantages,” Carolyn Harris, assistant director for preservation, Columbia University Libraries, analyzed the issues to be considered when estab­ lishing a cooperative program , using some existing programs as models. Gay W alker, head of the Pres­ ervation D epartm en t, Yale University L ib ra ry , wrapped up the institute with visionary remarks. She looked forward to the day when a network of regional centers would ensure that the materials documenting our civilization are being preserved through microfilming. More importantly W alker saw the use of an older technology, microfilming, for permanent preservation, running simultane­ ously with the newer digitization technologies to provide open and comprehensive access to the con­ tent of the materials— regardless of the scarcity or condition of the original— to all library users.— K aren M uller, Executive D irector, R T S D . Man arrested as suspect in thefts of rare materials Los Angeles police are investigating the activities of a man discovered in a closed stack area of the University of California-Riverside Library in con­ nection with the thefts of more than $1 million in m aterials from university libraries on the W est Coast. The m an, identified as Mathew M cGue, 40, was arrested April 18 after a custodian twice dis­ covered him in the special collections area on the third floor of the library. Although no items were apparently missing from the U CR library, McGue was arrested and cited on suspicion of trespassing and possession of burglary tools (both misdemean­ ors) and released on his own recognizance. At least three libraries have had large numbers of books and manuscripts stolen recently, including C larem ont College (m ore than $1 m illion), the University of Oregon ($ 2 1 7 ,0 0 0 ), and Washington State University ($ 2 0 0 ,0 0 0 ). Materials from the 15th and 16th century have been the major targets, although the missing holdings from Oregon are pri­ marily letters, diaries, railroad records, stock cer­ tificates, and Indian treaties docum enting the state’s 19th-century history. T h e th e fts a p p e a r to h a v e been c a re fu lly planned. In each case the stolen items were kept under lock and key in non-public areas. The thefts have also been exceptionally selective, indicating a high degree of familiarity with each of the collec­ tions. The suspect was apparently representing himself to Riverside library staff as a University of Minne­ sota associate professor of psychology named M at­ thew McGue in order to gain access to special col­ lections. He is a male Caucasian with thinning, grayish-brown hair and a slim build, 5 feet 8 inches tall. Anyone with information regarding this person or his activities should contact Sheryl Davis, Assis­ tan t to the University L ib rarian , University of California-Riverside, P .O . Box 5900, Riverside, CA 9 2 517; (714) 787-3221. Intellectual Freedom Award Nominations for the 1988 Robert B. Downs In­ tellectual Freedom Award are being accepted by the University of Illinois G raduate School of L i­ brary and Information Science. The aw ard recog­ nizes individuals or groups for their efforts to op­ pose censorship or to further intellectual freedom in libraries and information centers. It carries with it a $500 prize funded by Greenwood Press, of W estport, Connecticut. Last year the honor went to Gene D . Lanier, di­ rector of graduate studies in the D epartm ent of L i­ brary and Information Studies at E ast Carolina University. The aw ard was established in 1968 to honor Downs, who is widely known as a crusader for in­ tellectual freedom. A distinguished author, educa­ tor, and administrator, he served as director of the University of Illinois Library and Lib rary School from 1943 to 1958, and dean of library administra­ tion from 1958 to 1971. He is now dean emeritus of library administration. Letters of nomination, which will be considered until October 1, m ay be sent to: Leigh Estabrook, Dean, University of Illinois G raduate School of L i­ brary and Information Science, 410 David Kinley Hall, 1407 W . Gregory Drive, U rbana, I L 6 1 801; (2 1 7 )3 3 3 -3 2 8 0 . New Jou C rna a ls m Fro b m ridge! Visual Neuroscience Editor: Katherine V. Fite V i s u a l N e u r o s c i e n c e p u b l i s h e s h i g h - q u a l i t y r e s e a r c h and t h e o r e t i c a l a r t i c l e s w i t h p r i m a r y emphasis placed upon studies which address the retinal and b r a i n m e c h a n i s m s t h a t u n d e r l i e v i s u a l l y - g u i d e d b e h a v i o r s a n d v i s u a l perception. Visual Neuroscience (ISSN 0952-5238) is published quarterly. Subscription to Volume 1, 1988 is $100.00. The Journal of Economic History Editors: Claudia Goldin & Paul Hohenberg T h e J o u r n a l o f E c o n o m ic H i s t o r y , p u b l i s h e d b y Cambridge University Press from 1 988, is devoted to the interdisciplinary study of history and econom ics and c o v e r s a b r o a d s c o p e including both method and geography. The Journal of Economic History (ISSN 0022-0507) is published quarterly. Subscription to Volume 48, 1988 is $40.00. Polar Record Editor: Bernard Stonehouse N o w p u b l i s h e d b y Cambridge University Press, P o l a r R e c o r d , a c r o s s - disciplinary journal, publishes a r t i c l e s and n o tes on all subjects of polar exploration and research , both current and historical. Polar Record (ISSN 0032-2474) is published quarterly. Subscription to Volume 24, 1988 is $70.00. International Industrial Biotechnology Editors: Roger Gilmore, Roderick Greenshields, John Higgin & Chistopher Lowe I n t e r n a t i o n a l I n d u s t r i a l Biotechnology, relaunched in 1 9 8 8 b y C a m b r i d g e U n iv ersity P re ss, presents v a l u a b l e i n f o r m a t i o n to people working both in the professional and academ ic worlds and is unique in its attempts to interface the two worlds. International Industrial Biotechnology (ISSN 0269-7815) is published bi­ monthly. Subscription to Volume 8, 1988 is $99.00. The New Phytologist Chief Editor: D. H. Lewis Since its inception in 1902, T h e N ew P h y to lo g ist has g r o w n to be a p r e m i e r botany journal. From 1988 it is published by Cambridge University Press. Its monthly issues include research notes, r e v i e w a r t i c l e s and book reviews on all aspects of the plant sciences. The New Phytologist (ISSN 0028- 646X ) is published monthly. Subscription to Volumes 108-110, 1988 is $395.00. The Knowledge Engineering Review Editor: John Fox The Knowledge Engineering Re v i e w is a high quality jo u rn a l c o mmi t t e d to the c r i t i c a l d e v e l o p m e n t o f A rtificial Intelligence, the clarification of its methods a n d c o n c e p t s , a n d t h e d i s s e m i n a t i o n o f m a t u r e k n o w l e d g e to t h o s e who need it. The Knowledge Engineering Review (ISSN 0269-8889) is published quarterly. Subscription to Volume 3, 1988 is $98.00. Send Orders to: Journals Department, Cambridge University Press, 32 East 57th Street, New York,