College and Research Libraries of the book trade, and in 1831 also, his im- print first appeared in a tiny religious work entitled Crumbs from the Masters Table. Wolfe's book recounts faithfully the chronicles of the Appleton firm from those · modest beginnings through the next 150 years. From religious books the firm went on to children's books, Spanish-language books, medical books, subscription books, fiction, science books, periodicals, atlases and travel guides, history and biography, and virtually all other imaginable aspects of trade publish- ing. The House of Appleton proceeds not un- like a picaresque novel itself. The saga is told of the many members of the family who guided the firm through the period of its greatest ascendency (between 1850 and 1900), and the circumstances that led to its latter-day transmogrification as a conglom- erate subsidiary issuing books solely in the fields of health and nursing are related. The book is graciously written and easy- even fun-to read. Its breezy, journalistic style captures quite effectively the sense of hustle and bustle that have pervaded the New York book trade, especially through the middle years of the nineteenth century. The gossip and fashions, as well as the political news and economic fortunes of the times, are reviewed for each period in a lively pano- rama of social history. Some will feel that the book sometimes de- parts a bit far from its central theme, how- ever. For example, only about 15 percent of the chapter on the Civil War has, except by inference, even the remotest relationship ei- ther to Appleton's or to the book trade. The book also tends to superficiality. The chronicle is all here, with myriad detail about every member of the firm, every au- thor it published, every title on its lists, but there is a dearth of interpretation. The au- thor nowhere either asks or attempts to an- swer the question "What does it all mean?" In that sense, the book is less a history than it is a record-albeit a full, well written, use- ful, and much needed record-of one of America's great imprints.-David Kaser, In- diana University, Bloomington. Cline, Hugh F. and Sinnott, Loraine T. Building Library Collections. Lexington, Mass.: Lexington Books, 1981. 170p. Recent Publications I 249 $16.95. LC 80-8602. ISBN 0-669-04321-4. Sociologists Cline and Sinnott use a com- parative case study methodology to analyze collection development in relation to the structure and function of complex organiza- tions and in relation to resource allocation theory. This is not a book for readers inter- ested in the "how to" of collection develop- ment, but is for the reader who seeks a theo- retical framework for and detailed analyses of the fund allocation and item selection as- pects of collection development. The authors collected data related to the organizational locus and collection develop- ment practices of seven academic libraries: Earlham College, Stockton State College, Brown University, Pennsylvania State Uni- versity, University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill), University of Wisconsin (Madison), and University of California (Los Angeles). The data were then analyzed with respect to the planning for and implementa- tion of collection development. The analysis of the distribution of acquisi- tions funds spent by vendor, librarian, and faculty at each of these groups in the collec- tion development process is especially inter- esting. In addition the work includes the more traditional analyses of expenditures by format and broad discipline. The summary tables and detailed discus- sions of the planning and implementation process, both within specific institutions and in comparative summaries, document and highlight the wide variability of collection development practices, something most col- lection development librarians are well aware of. The strength of this book lies in the authors' collection of comparable data and placement of the information in a broad the- oretical context, something heretofore sorely lacking in the library literature. The mobil- ity of libraries to relate collection develop- ment policy statements to actual expendi- tures is interpreted in relation to the complex reporting responsibilities of the library within an institution and in relation to social change. The only weakness of the book lies in the final chapter, where the authors go beyond their data collection and analyses and discuss several areas of librarianship that they per- ceive as important to change and adaptation in academic libraries; namely, library in- struction, special collections, microforms, 250 I College & Research Libraries • May 1982 Low-Cost Microcomputer Based AV Circulation System Replace outdated manual booking methods for as little as $129 a week! With AM I you can improve service to your custom- ers, keep more complete and accurate re- cords, increase inventory turnover, reduce labor expense and speed up response time. AM I is the truly low-cost way to mod- ernize your operations and save money. Call TOLL FREE 800/323-7520* I R~l " RESEARCH TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL 4700 Chase, Lincolnwood , Illinois 60646 'Illinois, Alaska, Hawaii Call 3121677·3000 MCGREGOR "PERSONALIZED SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE" Every customer is assigned an experienced "Home Office" representative. You correspond direct; any title nHds, changes, cancellations or problems can be handled promptly by Ienir or phone. This makes your job easier and keeps you abreast of your subscription needs at all times. With over 45 years expertMce, McGregor has built a reputation of prompt and courteous service on both domestic and International titles. We prepay subscrip- tions ahead of time. Our customers, large and small, like the prompt attention we give them. We think you would tool Ask about McGregor's "Automatic Renewal" plan de- scribed In our new brochure. Wrltll today for your free copy. OUR 49th YEAR Mount Morris, Illinois 81054 and library research. Although thought- provoking, there is little in the data gathered that support their analyses of the importance of these topics to collection development. This is a well-organized work and should provide considerable insights to the thought- ful collection development librarian or li- brary director. In addition it should be read by planning officers and administrative offi- cials having to deal with library budgets in academic institutions.-Barbara A. Rice, State Library Cultural Center, Albany, New York. European Americana: A Chronological Guide to Works Printed in Europe Relating to the Americas, 1493-1776, Volume I: 1493-1600. Ed. by John Alden with the assistance of Dennis C. Landis. New York: Readex, 1980. 467p. $50. LC 80-51141. ISBN 0-918414-03-2. Scholars have long relied on Charles Evans' American Bibliography and Joseph Sabin's Bibliotheca Americana for biblio- graphical and historical information about the Americas. In spite of the excellencies of these works, however, they have recognized limitations for research. The usefulness of Sa- bin's work for investigating a particular year or decade, for example, is virtually nil be- cause of its dictionary arrangement by name and not by date. Evans' work, on the other hand, does have a chronological arrange- ment, but it also inconveniences the re- searcher by only recording imprints of the British North American continent. These limitations of chronology and geog- raphy have now been bridged in European Americana. The name of the editor, John Al- den, may well become as familiar as those of Sabin and Evans. And rightly so, for this first volume signals the appearance of an excel- lent, major reference work. Even the most casual examination of the book reveals sev- eral potentials for research. This volume, for example, covers the years from 1493 through 1600, with future volumes to include works published through 1776, thereby including all colonial history of the United States. The book also adds many "unknown" works about America for "of the works thus de- scribed, some 4300 in number, only a fourth appear already in 'Sabin' " (p.xvii). The im- plications for historical studies of this star- tling increase of "newly available" primary