B O O K REVIEWS Harner, ..James L., editor. MLA Directory of Scholarly Presses In Language and Literature. New York: Modern Language Association of America, 1 991. 286 p. ISBN 0·87352·391 ·1. James L . Harner, professor of English a t Texas A & M university, has published bibliographies and reference works for more than two decades. His oeuvre includes the following books : Ex Libries F.S.Ferguson, 1972; English Renaissance Prose Fiction, 1500-1660: An Annotated Bibliography of Criticism, 1978; Samuel Daniel and Michael Dayton: A Reference Guide, 1980; English Renaissance Prose Fiction, 1500-1660: AnAnno­ tatedBibliography of Criticism, 1976-1983, 1985; On Compil­ ing an Annotated Bibliography, 1985 and Literary Research Guide: A Guide to Reference Sources for the Study of Literatures in English and Related Topics, 1989. In 1991 he published his seventh book, the MLA Directory of Scholarly Presses in Language and Literature, intended to provide authors with a "systematic guide to identifying and assessing publishers who might be interested in a manuscript or proposal on a particular topic" (p.v). It contains entries on 283 scholarly publishers from 31 nations. A full entry would consist of 41 parts, although, because publishers did not provide all the information for which they were asked, no entry contains all 41 parts, and some contain far fewer. The entries are divided into six sections, as follows : . 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. General information, including the publisher's name, address, and phone number. The scope of each press' publishing interests, including the topics, genres and theoretical approaches in which it especially seeks manuscripts. Submission requirements, including what information it wants authors, when they make their initial contact, to supply about their manuscript. Editorial information, including the number of manu­ scripts in language and literature it received in 1989, the number it sent to outside readers, and the numbers it accepted. Contract provisions. Publication and distribution information, including the typical press run for titles in language and literature and how long books are kepts in print. These 283 publishers vary widely in the number of manu­ scripts they receive and the number and proportion of them they - 28 accept. Harvard University Press, for example, received only about 200 manuscripts in language and literature in 1989, fewer than less heralded by Southern Illinois Universith Press (about 700) and Scarecrow Press, (about 250). Some publishers accept a substantial proportion of the manuscripts submitted to them. (All numbers and percentages listed below are approximate.) Peter Lang accepts 50%, Georg Olms Verlag (Germany) 44%, and even august Cambridge University Press accepts 22%. Others accept much lower propor­ tions of the manuscripts submitted to them, like the university presses of Harvard (8% ), Stanford (6% ), Columbia ( 4% ), Princeton (3%) and the Feminist Press at the City University of New York (1% ) . Some presses did not accept a single book in language and literature in 1989, despite having many such manuscripts sent to them, such as Academy Chicago Publishers (150 submissions) and Iowa State University Press (100). The MLA Directory of Scholarly Presses in Language and Literature will be a very useful reference book for those seeking a publisher for a book-length manuscript. References James L. Hamer, Ex Libries F.S. Ferguson: A Checklist of the F.S. Ferguson Collection of Scottish Imprints and Scotica at the Uni­ versity of Illinois. Champaign-Urbana: University of Illinois Li­ brary, 1972. James L. Harner, English Renaissance Prose Fiction, 1500-1660: An Annotated Bibliography of Criticism. Boston: G .K. Hall, 1978. James L. Harner, Samuel Daniel and Micha�l Drayton: A Reference Guide. Boston: G.H. Kall, 1980 Boston: G.K. Hall, 1980. James L. Harner, English Renaissance Prose Fiction, 1500;1660: An Annotated Bibliography of Criticism, 1976-1983. Boston: G.K. Hall, 1985. James L. Harner, On Compiling anAnnotatedBibliography. New York: Modem Language Association of America, 1985. James L. Harner, Literary Research Guide: A Guide to Reference Sources for the Study of Literatures in English and Related Topics. New York: Modem Language Association of America, 1989. David S. Webster is Associate Professor of Educational Administration and Higher Education at College of Education, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, U.S.A. •duoatlon Llbr•riM • Vol 1 7, No. 2 Equity and excellence; A select bibliography and resources for the training of library staff In serving people with disabilltes. Comp. by .Janet R. Murray. Canberra: National Library of Australia, 1 992. ISBN 0·642 1 05855. This excellent annotated bibliography, although compiled primarily with public librarians in mind, will be of use to librar­ ians working in other sectors too, such as special and university libraries. lt is also recommended to library educators and students of library science who are not often exposed to this type of literature. The author notes in her introduction that while the literature about library services to people with disabilities is now quite extensive, there is a definite lack of publications in the field of library training as well as staff development for various disability groups. The bibliography is arranged by four main areas: Govern­ ment policies; the library background; planning and preparing for staff development programs and training materials. Each oft he 83 entries contains the appropriate bibliographic information, in­ cluding ISBN or ISSN number, and a brief summary of the work with evaluative comments. As this work was compiled in Australia, under the aegis of the National Library of Australia, there is a preponderance of materials originating from there.However, materials available in other English speaking countries, Canada, the U.K. and the U.S. are also listed as well as one international publication, issued by IFLA. The only problem in using this publication is that the entries, in most cases, are only identified by city (e.g.London) or state (e.g. N.S.W.) and the journals are not identified as to place of origin at all . Other than that, the author i s to b e congratulated for having provided a first step towards wider recognition of the fact that more and more librarians will be called upon to serve people with disabilities, be they in the public, university, school or special library sector of the profession, as i�tegration of these patrons takes place. Anne M. Galler, Associate Professor of Library Studies, Concordia University, Montreal, Que., Canada Simons, Geoff. Robots: the quest for living machines. London: Cassell, 1 992, 224 pp. 20 111. (distributed by Sterling: N.Y.) $29.95 U.S., $39.95 Can. hardcover. ISBN 0·304-34086·3 On a recent tlight, I wondered if and how the exterior of planes are cleaned and surmised that this must be an astronomical task, involving several hours and many people. Shortly after­ wards, I found the answer to my question in the introduction of this fascinating book.1 Geoff Simons takes his reader on a robotic journey through the history of antiquity and mythology to the twentieth century. He is well qualified to do so, being former managing editor of the National Computing Centre and author of many books on com­ puting, robotics and artificial intelligence. Chapter 1 focuses on the robot dream in the human mind and touches on religion and modern mythologies. Examples of his­ torical automata such as those used by priests to impress the pious and by early entrepreneurs to make money are discussed in Chapter 2. In Chapters 3 and 4, Simons examines some of the main features of modern robotic theory and practice and also discusses what constitutes a robot today together with the neces­ sary software. He explains structural details of characteristic working systems and how an intelligent robot must be able to act "on its own." Sense, artificial ears and smell and taste are also covered. Chapter 5 lets the reader know that computer-based robots are used in factories, offices, schools, hospitals, at the Education Libraries • Vol 17, No. 2 bottom of the sea, in outer space and in modern warfare. It is common knowledge that they are used on car assembly lines but not so well-known that they are used as waiters, nurses, surgeons and librarians, too. In the library of the Japanese Kanazawa Industrial University, three dozen "intellibots" --small wheeled robots - service over four thousand students. "Surrogate People" is the title of Chapter 6 and covers the background of artificial intelligence and artificial expert systems as well as advisors and counsellors to run these systems. Simons even includes a section here on robot lovers in fiction and film, replete with details of how this was effected and predicting that the robot lover will eventually be accepted as pari of normal life. Chapter 7, aptly titled "The Impact on our Attitudes," explores the idea that human beings can be thought of, in some ways, as robotic systems and the last chapter, "Futures," describes a more pragmatic approach, enumerating different substances used as a result of advanced technology, such as robot brains based on silicon. Geoff Simons has put together a remarkable book covering robotic functions from the mundane to the extraordinary. He makes complex explanations seem simple so that even readers with little or no knowledge can benefit from his expertise. As 29 - computers and the robots they control are an inescapable fact of life, bringing them closer to home is essential . The twenty black and white photographs enhance the work, demonstrating robots from the Omni 2000 for home services and entertainment to industrial robots. The book concludes with a references and bibliography section and an index. All in all, this is recom­ mended reading for anyone interested in the computer age, past, present and future. 1For the curious, an enormous (360 ft/26m) robot arm, under computer control, does the job in less than three hours compared to twelve people taking eight hours. Carol R. Mitchell is Co-ordinator, Library Studies . Distance Education and Oocumentalist at Simone de Beau voir Institute, Women 's Studies, both at Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec. The hep 1993 Higher Education Directory. Edited by Mary Pat Rodenhouse. Falls Church, Virginia: Higher Education Publications Inc., 1 993. 601 pp. There are numerous directories and guides to higher educa­ tion describing curricular programs and specific courses. This Directory, however, is unique in content. Its essential purpose is to present accreditation information about public post-secondary education institutions in the United States offering, at the very least, one year degree-granting college-level programs. The Directory's informational preliminary pages begin with a listing of regional and national accrediting agencies and asso­ ciations. Regional agencies are listed alphabetically while na­ tional agencies are arranged by specialization. For example, an interest in acupuncture discloses that the accrediting agency is the National Accreditation Commission for Schools and Col­ leges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. Address, phone number, name of director and occupations or professions wHhin the accrediting body's mandate are provided. The preliminary matter also includes changes in the name, accreditation or aca­ demic status of the institutions; lists of statewide agencies of higher education as well as higher education associations and interestingly, a grouping of the institutions by religious affilia­ tion. The Directory proper is organized alphabetically first by state and then, within this geographical framework, by name of academic institution. The following essential i nformation is presented for each institution: address, phone and fax numbers, annual i n-state undergrad tuition and fees, enrollment figure, - 30 affiliation, academic program(s) and highest degree(s) offered, specificaccreditationagencies relevant to the academicprogram(s) and finally a list ofthe names ofthe administrative officers, deans and heads of services. Three indexes cross-reference to the main academic listing: an alphabetical index of administrators including their phone numbers; an index of specific accreditation bodies with a list of all accredited academic institutions arranged alphabetically by state; and an alphabetical index of all academic institutions. Much of the information in this Directory can be found in other sources such as Lovejoy's College Guide and American Universities and Colleges. However, the list of academic insti­ tutions by religious affiliation, the lists of accreditation agencies, and the accreditation and administrators indexes are not usually found in other sources. The hep is a worthy complement to other sources providing information on academic programs and should be part of the collections of collegy and university libraries, large public librar­ ies and vocational guidance centers. Lonnie Weatherby is a Reference Librarian at McLennan Library, McGill University, Montreal, Que., Canada. Education Llbrarl• • Vol 17, No. 2