College and Research Libraries


of Catalogues of Libraries includes all 
thirty-nine of the rules and a substantial 
portion of the preliminary essay. The omis-
sions from the latter are mainly lengthy 
quotations supporting Jewett's arguments 
in addition to the seven opening pages re-
peating (from other sources included) his 
plan for stereotyping the catalog entries. 
The omission of the two pages on the 
"Preparation of Titles so as to Serve for 
both General and Particular Catalogues" 
is to be regretted, however, as important 
to later cataloging codes on such matters 
as editions, copies, and size. 

The book is a valuable source for those 
not havi'ng access to the complete works. 
Nevertheless this reviewer was somewhat 
disappointed, especially by the quality of 
Harris' essay. It is more a biographical 
than a "substantive critical" essay and its 
tone is more panegyric than critical. Fur-
thermore, a more sophisticated style might 
be expected from a writer of Harris' ex-
perience.-Edith Scott, The Library of 
Congress. 

Goodell, John S. Libraries and Work Sam-
pling. (Challenge to Change: Library 
Applications of New Concepts, no.1) 
Littleton, Colo.: Libraries Unlimited, 
Inc., 1975. 60p. $5.00 pa. (LC 7 4-
79026) (ISBN 0-87287-087-1) 
Goodell's book is an auspicious begin-

ning for this new series, giving an easy-to-
understand presentation of a technical sub-
ject. For those unfamiliar with the topic, 
an example of work sampling is the use of 
statistical methods to determine the per-
centages of the total time circulation clerks 
spend on their various duties. The informa-
tion obtained can then be used to establish 
a better work schedule. Properly per-
formed, work sampling can be a valuable 
management tool for making more effective 
use of limited resources. 

The author does a commendable job of 
presenting a library-oriented introduction 
to work sampling. He :first reviews the 
theory of sampling and then explains the 
:five steps of a typical study. There are nu-
merous examples, tables of statistical infor-
mation, clear instructions for using the ta-
bles, and :finally there is a review of the 
literature of sampling as applied to li-

Recent Publications I 175 

braries. Statistical terminology and mathe-
matics have been kept to a minimum, and 
few people will have trouble understanding 
the material. 

This compact book must be read with 
great care: Its brevity leaves too little room 
for discussion of areas where the beginner 
may encounter problems. One can obtain 
poor results through the use of a biased 
sample, or through failure to deflne the 
problem properly, or through a lack of ap-
proval and cooperation by the people con-
cerned. Goodell touches on these areas, but 
his warnings are not strong enough. Inac-
curate work sampling studies can have 
harmful effects that may be difficult to 
overcome. 

With proper regard for the techniques 
of work sampling, almost anyone can pro-
duce useful studies with only a little experi-
ence. Goodell's book is an excellent one for 
the librarian or graduate student interested 
in learning the basics, but further informa-
tion will be necessary. Detailed guidance 
on making and using work sampling studies 
will have to come from experienced practi-
tioners and through studying the publica-
tions the author lists in his bibliography.-
Edward Gibson, Assistant Librarian, Wash-
ington College, Chestertown, Maryland. 

Davies, D. W. Public Libraries as Culture 
and Social Centers: The Origin -of the 
Concept. Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow, 
1974. 167p. $6.00. (LC 74-8420) (ISBN 
0-8108-07 38-6) 
David W. Davies, long an academic li-

brarian and a historian and typophile as 
well, here turns a critical, somewhat ironi-
cal eye on the relationship between goals 
and programs of public libraries in Great 
Britain and North America. On the basis 
of both his particular point of view and his 
research-which is stronger for the early 
nineteenth century than for later years, es-
pecially our own time-he sees public li-
braries as having been diverted from their 
legitimate function, the provision of books 
and a place to read, by a faulty conception 
of their social role. Though he promises to 
follow the progress of scholarly along with 
popular libraries, the entire book, except 
for a few paragraphs, is devoted to the 
latter; there is no attention given to the re-