College and Research Libraries


496 College & Research Libraries 

of MRDF, worksheets, MARC/MRDF rec-
ords, ISBD(G) punctuation, and a chapter 
for data file producers and distributors 
with guidelines for bibliographic descrip-
tions of their files. The text is followed by a 
250-item glossary of MRDF related terms 
and an index. Although this manual re-
lates in detail the descriptive cataloging of 
MRDF, it is not a manual on how to cata-
log. It is assumed that those using it have 
an understanding of, or access to , 
AACR2. 

MRDF cataloging is in its infancy, and 
the rules have not been fully tested. The 
very nature of MRDF makes it impossible 
to foresee what technological advances 
await . Dodd describes her work as a first 
effort on the road to a new cataloging ven-
ture. She succeeds admirably in illuminat-
ing an area where AACR2 guidelines do 
not adequately define bibliographic ele-
ments as they specifically apply to MRDF, 
and where there is no specific industry to 
control or standardize the bibliographic 
representation of MRDF. 

~ MAGAz;~~.;, 
8 0 « OII r>> 'f" --1. 
~ Fift ieth Yea r Q 

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0 MC~;;EGOR i!] 
~ < \-- "' 
'1-)' 1933-1983 f2 'o 

1toRRIS. 1\..\..\~0 
DISCOVER McGregor 

Where Customers Are 
Names-Not Numbers 

"Personalized " Subscription Service-Since 1933 

• All domestic and • Single billing 
foreign .titles • Automatic renewal 

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subscriptions representatives 

Let on experienced McGregor "Home 
Office" representative simplify your complex 
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like it- We think you would . too! 

Write for catalog or 
Phone 8151734-4183 

November 1983 

Judith Rowe, in her foreword to the 
manual, summarizes the value of this 
publication: "Dodd has provided the 
guidance which data producers, data ar-
chivists, and data librarians need to sup-
ply consistent bibliographic information 
about the MRDF which they service, has 
provided the instructions and examples 
which catalogers need for the production 
of catalog cards for MRDF, and has laid 
the groundwork for the development of 
the additional products and services 
which users require for improved access 
to the growing collections of MRDF now 
available to them . We are all in her 
debt." -Marianne I. Gaunt, Rutgers-The 
State University. 

Introduction to Serials .Management. 
Foundations of Library and Information 
Science, V.ll . Ed. by Robert D. Stueart. 
Greenwich, Conn.: JAI, 1983 324p. LC 
81-81658. ISBN 0-89232-107-5 . 
It is an ambitious undertaking to try to 

cover in one work the range of library 
processes as they apply to the serials for-
mat. Marcia Tuttle, in Introduction to Serials 
Management, presents a very detailed, 
practical discussion of that broad topic. In 
addition to serials acquisition, cataloging 
and public service, there are chapters on 
collection development, preservation, 
and data and resource sharing. The stated 
primary audience is library school stu-
dents and librarians new to serials work, 
however, the secondary audience proba-
bly expands to include the rest of the pro-
fession. 

Although this work deals with basic the-
ory as it applies to serials, the emphasis is 
clearly on practice. For example, in the 
chapter on serials acquisition there is a 
section entitled "What to Do with the 
Mail .'' In the serials cataloging chapter is a 
most helpful discussion: "What the Rules 
Do Not Tell You." In general a number of 
practical approaches to a process are pre-
sented. Often, however, categorical state-
ments regarding the "best" or "only" 
way to handle an issue provide a glimpse 
of the strong opinions that tend to surface 
whenever the topic is serials. All discus-
sions and the bibliography are quite cur-
rent, providing a snapshot of the current 



I 

I 

Let SLA Help You Manage 
Your Future 

Managers VieW Information 
. Arley Ripin M acDonald 

1983/96 p./IS8N 0-87111 -283 -3/ 
LC 82-19570/ casebound / 524.50 
Offers a new focus on the attitudes of information 
professionals and their corporate managers. The data 
provided in this comprehensive study can help you to 
build a more effective working relationship with your 
corporate managers and can lead to a more effective 
positioning of the library within your organization. This 
book will be useful to both the practitioner and the 

student. 

Management By Design: 
Library Management, Vol. II 
Shirley Loo. ed. 
1982/ 72 p./ISBN 0-87111 -301 -3/softcover/ 513 .00 
The variety and complexity of situations that librarians 
handle daily require proficiency in management as well 
as information techniques. In this timely new book. 
experienced library managers offer advice to decision 
makers on ways to improve these techniques. 

Managing the Electronic 
Library: Library Management 
Volume Ill 
Michael E. D. Koenig. ed . 
1983/120 p./ISBN 0-87111 -305 -8/ softcover/ 515.50 
In this collection of essays. information professionals can 
find practical ways to tailor the new technologies to the 
se rvices they provide . In addition to artides on 
managing. planning. and staffing. there are essays on 
marketing and consulting - topics of interest to library 
managers who w ant to reduce costs and enhance the 
value of information in their organizations. 

Position Descriptions in 
Special Libraries: A Collection 
of Examples. 
With Guidelines 
by Miriam Tees 

Plan to join w ith us In celebrating 
sLA's 75th anniversary at our annual 
conference, to be held June 9 - 141n 
NeW York City. Share In the 
opportunity to shape "Information In 
the Electronic Revolution." 

A sampler of Forms For 
Special LibrarieS 
washington. oc Chapter I Social Science 
Group 
1982/ 212 p ./ ISBN 0-87111 -262 -0 / 
LC 81 -874 7 ; spiral bound/ 526.00 
Now in its second printing. this valuable reference 
tool should be a part of your collection . 
Containing over 250 use-tested forms -
acquisition. cataloging. reference. interlibrary 
loans. budgeting - it also provides easy-to-follow 
tips on designing your own forms. Sampler is 
the tool for expediting library services. 

Look tor our 1984 publications 
catalog, which contains the 
complete list of SLA's Information 
resources. Available this 
December. 

Reach the special people who can 
make the difference - use the 
SLA Mailing List Service to 
promote your business and 
products. 

Order from 
Special LibrarieS Association 
235 Park Avenue south 
New York , NY 10003 

Price s subject to change w ithout notice 

Barbara lvantcho. ed. 
1983/160 p./ISBN 0-87111 -303-1 / 
LC 83 -10168/softcover/ 516 .75 
The position de:;criptions presented in this book - from 

l9f.YJ · \~ 

I_ 

information resource manager to support staff -
represent various special libraries - from those in 
advertising and banking firms to those in specialized 
departments in public and university libraries. They can 
be used to help managers write job descriptions for 
their own libraries; as samples for personnel 
departments; and as evaluation guidelines. 

l 

J 



498 College & Research Libraries 

status of serials treatment. Statements are 
frequently based on the present state of 
the economy, standards, database cover-
age or technology, and would be some-
what invalidated with a significant change 
in any of those conditions. However, such 
instances are well qualified with the criti-
cal, environmental definitions so that fu-
ture readers will be able to examine them 
for validity. 

The annotated bibliography contains 
over six hundred citations, and is ar-
ranged with subcategories that generally 
parallel chapter headings; that is, major 
serials treatment categories. The book was 
originally conceived as a text to facilitate 
the teaching of serials management in li-
brary schools. The annotated bibliogra-
phy will provide students with a most ef-
fective guide to further study. -Shere 
Connan, Stanford University Libraries. 

Wilson, Pauline. Stereotype and Status: Li-
brarians in the United States. Westport, 
Conn.: Greenwood, 1982. 225p. $27.50. 
LC 82-6119. ISBN 0-313-23516-3. 
The purposes of this book are "to help 

librarians in deciding upon and imple-
menting actions necessary to help over-
come the unfavorable stereotype that has 
plagued the library profession throughout 
this century . . . to provide fuller under-
standing of the stereotype-its pervasive-
ness in the library profession, the multi-
tude of ways in which it is manifested, ahd 
the many ways in which it affects librari-
ans and their behavior.'' (Stereotyping is 
defined as "the general inclination to 
place a person in categories according to 
some easily and quickly identifiable char-
acteristic, such as sex, ethnic membership 
... or occupation, and then to attribute to 
him qualities believed to be typical of 
members of that category.'') Among the 
more important components of stereo-
types are alleged personality and intellec-
tual traits. 

The hypothesis used by the author is: 
"Librarians handle their identity, as be-
stowed on them by the stereotype, in the 
manner of a minority group; their re-
sponse is similar to that made by members 
of minority groups in response to minority 
status." (A minority grOup is "any group 

November 1983 

of people who because of their physical or 
cultural characteristics, are singled out 
from others in the society ... for differen-
tial and unequal treatment, and who 
therefore regard themselves as objects of 
collective discrimination.'') 

The methodology used was adapted 
from a study of minority groups and con-
sisted of a quantitative content analysis of 
journal articles, chapters in books, and 
news reports written about the stereotype 
of librarians by members of the library 
profession during the period 1921-April 
1978. Sentences in the documents that 
were judged to be like a typical minority 
group response were counted and classi-
fied. Five categories of responses were an-
alyzed: (1) acceptance of the stereotype-
confirmation of negative view of 
librarians; (2) concern with in-group 
purification-stereotype is the result of 
only a few members of the group who 
should conform to majority behavior; (3) 
denial of differences-librarians are just 
like other people; (4) denial of group 
membership-dissociation of oneself from 
others in the profession; (5) for group 
action-to combat the unfavorable stereo-
type. 

Of the 499 documents examined, 77 fit 
the study's specifications for inclusion. A 
coding of sentences based upon the classi-
fication of responses noted above reveal 
that: 24 percent were category 1 type re-
sponses, i.e., acceptance of stereotype; 
category 2-38 percent; category 3-24 
percent; category 4-8 percent; category 
5-6 percent. The author concludes from 
this that the evidence supports the hy-
pothesis and that being a librarian "is a 
burden and is perceived as being a bur-
den. Librarians do regard themselves as 
receiving differential treatment, and they 
do see themselves as being objects of col-
lective discrimination." 

This reviewer has major problems with 
the research design and conclusions of 
this study. No attempt was made to bal-
ance the negative findings in the study by 
identifying the favorable components of 
the librarian stereotype, or analyzing posi-
tive statements in the literature that con-
tradict these responses. And so, of course, 
the evidence examined supports the hy-