College and Research Libraries Selected Journals in Library and Information Sciences Beverly P. Lynch his article continues the series of reviews of journals pub- lished in the field of library and information science. Although it c,1ppears under a byline, the reviews are a project of the librarians of the University of Illinois at Chicago. Each review is signed with the initials of the librarian who prepared it. 1 Bulletin of Bibliography. Westport, Conn.: Meckler Publishing. V.1, no.1 (Apr. 1897), quarterly, $45 a year. ISSN 0190- 745X. Continues Bulletin of Bibliography and Magazine Notes with v.36 (1979). In its eighty-six years of continuous publication, this journal has shown varia- tions in title and publisher. Bulletin of Bibli- ography addresses a wide range of II topics in the humanities and social sciences . . . of scholarly and general interest which contain bibliographical material not acces- sible · through published sources" (scope note in each number). Editor Nancy Jean Melin has narrowed this focus somewhat toward the strictly scholarly since assum- ing the editorship in 1982. She empha- sizes the acquisition of ''out of print and elusive materials as well as of highly spe- cialized subject areas," together with "the philosophic aspects of developing bibliog- raphies including the matter of biblio- graphic citation and indexing, as well as problems of access to specialized periodi- cals c,1nd collections" (Bulletin of Bibliogra- phy, v.39, March 1982, p.3). Thus far the backlog of articles accepted prior to her ed- itorship has prevented any discernable change in direction. Bibliographies may be of primary and/or secondary sources, depending on the au- . thor's aim and the scope of the bibliogra- phy. They are generally introduced by bi- ographical or critical sketches and, in the case of persons, a photograph of the sub- ject. Annotations are usually included un- less the number of entries is prohibitive. The fact that these bibliographies are new to print makes this an invaluable tool for research libraries. The infrequency of let- ters criticizing or augmenting the bibliog- raphies indicates that the editorial board of scholars in the various disciplines cov- ered has an impressive record of demand- ing high-calibre scholarship. Examination of the articles in volumes 38 to the latest shows a strong emphasis on the humanities, particularly English- language literature, which accounts for forty-three of sixty titles, or 71.6 percent. Foreign literature claims another four ti- tles, or 6.6 percent. The remaining titles in history, political science, anthropology, geography, art, philosophy and religion make up 1 percent to 5 percent by disci- pline only. A cursory examination of three previous volumes did not show a signifi- cantly different' orientation. Among the subjects covered in this sample were Ford MadoxFord, Vietnam War literature, Joan Didion, Anne Tyler, James Dickey, travel literature (1949-78), Arthurian legends, Reinhold Niebuhr, Pio Baroja, Sacco and Vanzetti, and twentieth-century witch- craft. Regular features of earlier volumes that now appear sporadically include a photo- graph and biographical sketch of a promi- nent librarian or bibliographer-v.8 (1914) through v.24 (1964)-and the section 1. John Cullars, Lori Goetsch, Frank lmmler, Louis A. Schultheiss, Patricia Tegler, Stephen E. Wiber- ley, Jr. 116 "Births, Deaths, and Magazine Notes," which listed new, changed, or discontin- ued serials titles. Occasional book reviews have always appeared, but this is not a major feature. A cumulative index from 1897 to 1975 is separately available.-J.C. Computer Equipment Review. Westport, Conn.: Meckler Publishing. V.1, no.1 (Jan.-June 1979), biannual; rate varies between $85 and $150 per year, depend- ing upon subscriber classification. ISSN 0728-260X. Intended for executives and office man- agers in organizations large enough to profit from some level of office automa- tion, this journal should also be of interest to managers in all but the smallest li- braries. This review is based on a single issue, v.4, no.1 (July-Dec. 1982), which deals with multifunctional office systems. It be- gins with an introduction stating the pur- pose of the issue and a list of the manufac- turers and specific systems to be reviewed. The introduction is followed by a very well written status report on the kinds and capabilities of existing systems and the technologies involved. The re- mainder of the issue is devoted to a de- tailed examination of systems from ten different manufacturers, selected as ex- amples of the current state of the art. In many cases, more than one system is pre- sented per manufacturer. Evaluations of individual systems are clearly presented and illustrated with ex- cellent photographs . The writing is clear and concise. A general knowledge of com- puter terminology is assumed, however, and probably is necessary for full compre- hension of reports. Unfortunately, journals of this kind are quickly dated by constant changes in the field. Although excellent at the time of publication, they would not be an accurate reflection of state of the art a year later. Nevertheless, this is a valuable publica- tion and one that should be checked be- fore investing in computer hardware for li- brary or business use.-L.A.S. Database: The Magazine of Database Reference and Review. Weston, Conn.: Online, Selected Joll}"Dals 117 Inc. V.1, no.1 (Sept. 1978), quarterly, $56 per volume. ISSN 0162-4105. Database magazine grew out of Online, according to publisher Jeffrey Pemberton, as a place to "publish the in-depth articles on database searching that we can't fit into Online." Pemberton conceived Database as a magazine "to help you search better," with its focus on database contents and search techniques and strategies. Over the six years of its existence, Data- base has remained essentially that. Each quarterly issue contains approximately six feature articles with six columns and spe- cial features. The articles are typically database and system reviews, or discus- sions of search techniques and applica- tions. Some of the articles are of a highly specialized nature and likely to be of inter- est to a limited number of readers. Typi- cally, each issue contains a few articles with broader appeal. Even more than the feature articles, the . columns and special features provide use- ful suggestions on improving search tech- nique and keeping up with new develop- ments in online searching. Despite changes in columns over the years, quality has remained high. Most of the columns focus on the practical aspects of online searching, specifically techniques for im- proving the quality of search results, tips on keeping up with developments in the field, reviews of database publication and documentation, and news from the field. A regular column by Pemberton, ''The Linear File,'' discusses what he sees as the major issues facing the online industry. Since Pemberton is usually at least one step ahead of his readers, his ruminations make for provocative reading. Database does an excellent job of cover- ing the nitty-gritty of online searching while still providing food for thought. It remains a key publication in the field.- P.T. International Journal of Oral History. West- port, Conn.: Meckler Publishing. V.1, no .1 (Feb. 1980), three issues yearly, $40 per volume. ISSN 0195-6787. Although the first oral history program in the United States was founded in 1948, not until1980 did the field's first dedicated 118 College & Research Libraries journal, International Journal of Oral His- tory, appear. More than half of the typical issue's seventy-five pages are devoted to two or three articles covering philosophy and methods of oral history or reporting historical research that used oral history sources. These articles are solid contribu- tions and international in scope. These, combined with three to five perceptive book reviews, give librarians a good sense of the leading problems in oral history and of the scholarship that oral history collec- tions support. Most issues also have one equipment review, an important feature. Two other regular sections, "Recent Works of Note" and "News and Notes," raise questions. It is often unclear why the recent works of note are noteworthy. Some entries whose titles have no appar- ent relevance to oral history have their re- lationship to the field explained by a brief annotation. Other entries, which need an- notations, lack them. Librarians, who have the special responsibility to acquire finding aids that give intellectual control over oral history sources, will observe that, except for v .4, no .1, an average of only two or three such aids are listed per issue. There are usually fewer than five pages of news, normally six or seven items, half from the United States. This seems remarkably little for a triannual of international scope . The paucity of listings of finding aids and of news makes one wonder if the editors have not yet estab- lished an adequate network to gather such information or if oral history is a field of relatively low activity. This is a valuable publication for librari- ans active in oral history. Its bibliographi~ section and especially its cost-78 percent above that of the average history journal- lessen its worth for others.-5. W. Online: The Magazine of Online Information Systems. Weston, Conn.: Online, Inc . V.1, no.1 (Jan. 1977), bimonthly, $78per volume. ISSN 0146-5422. Publisher Jeffery Pemberton in the first issue of Online expressed an interest in having a letters column that was "lively, interesting ... and fun." Seven complete volumes later it appears that he has suc- ceeded in publishing an entire magazine March 1984 that meets those criteria. As publisher and president of Online, Inc., Pemberton has had unusual flexibility and editorial free- dom to create the magazine that he envi- sioned. He has exercised that freedom by publishing a trade magazine rather than a scholarly journal and by emphasizing the practical over the research-oriented. Each issue contains as many as eight fea- ture articles and eight to ten columns and special features. All contributions main- tain a consistently upbeat, innovative, and pragmatic tone, and are written by and for the practitioner. In addition to the usual articles on improving search tech- niques, Online focuses on the manage- ment, training, and economics of search systems. The feature articles often de- scribe interesting approaches to common problems, and offer excellent suggestions for improving both search technique and search service management. Current columns include "Printout," a regular column of ''news from around the world of online information,'' ''Manage- ment Outpost, II "European Notes, 11 "Document Delivery, II and a book- review section. Despite changes in subject and editorship, the quality of the columns has been consistently high. The one con- stant throughout Online's seven volumes has been "Inverted File," a column writ- ten by Pemberton. The column occasion- ally features guest editors, but typically consists of either Pemberton's opinions on events in the online industry or his "crystal ball gazings." These contribu- tions are always entertaining and informa- tive, and often provocative. Recent issues have included an attack on Mead Data Central's purchase of the New York Times Information Bank, an analysis of online trends in the 1980s, and an assessment of the role of the search analyst in the future. Pemberton's columns exemplify Online's greatest strength. In a field that is moving too fast for most of us, Online has man- aged not only to keep up with changes but to look to the future. For example, recent developments in end-user searching and in applying microcomputer technology to database searching have been thoroughly discussed in the pages of Online. The arti- . des on these topics can serve as tutorials for those who are unfamiliar with the state of the art. To date, Online has achieved an exem- plary record of anticipating, reporting, and responding to advances in the online field. In doing so, it has become essential reading for all librarians interested in this area.-P.T. Online Review: The International Journal of Online Information Systems. Medford, N.J.: Learned Information. V.1, no.l (Mar. 1977), bimonthly, $70 per vol- ume. ISSN 0309-314X. Online Review is unique among online system publications in that it is both schol- arly in tone and international in perspec- tive. Over the seven years of its publica- tion, it has maintained an unusually consistent quality and approach. Each bi- monthly issue (it moved from a quarterly publication schedule with v .5, no.1, 1983) typically consists of a ten- to fifteen-page news section, a calendar, several book re- views, and four or five feature articles. Columns on online user groups and search techniques, which appeared in ear- lier volumes, have since been dropped. Beyond that, few format or editorial policy changes are apparent. The feature articles reflect the journal's international approach. Authors are most frequently from Western Europe or the United States, with occasional representa- tion from Australia or Canada. Other ar- eas of the world are largely unrepre- sented. The articles themselves are an interest- ing mix of database and system evalua- tions or comparisons, trend analyses, dis- cussions of the search process, and descriptions of individual systems or prac- tices throughout the world. The research- based articles frequently employ sophisti- cated methodologies, although for the most part they can be easily read by any online professional. More practically oriented pieces, such as price comparisons, command charts, and database analyses, have immediate appli- cation for the online searcher. The quality of the articles is consistently high, and the occasional lapse can be easily forgiven, given the usual quality that is maintained. Selected Journals 119 The news section provides information on the online industry, new databases, system changes, industry surveys, per- sonnel changes, and other timely events in the online world. The focus is generally on information from the United States and Western Europe and is typically reported in an informative, unbiased fashion. Despite high-quality scholarship and in- formative news, there is still something lacking with Online Review. All of its vir- tues cannot fully make up for the journal's rather bland tone and its distance from its readers. This seems largely due to the edi- tor's low key, almost invisible, presence. For example, the journal's editorial poli- cies or statement of purpose have never appeared in its pages and can only be de- termined indirectly. Relatively few letters to the editor have been published, and those that have are rarely controversial or thought- provoking. More letters from readers, and occasional columns or comments from the editor or editorial board, might enliven the publication. Problems in tone, how- ever, cannot mar the fact that Online Re- view is an unusually solid journal. It has al- ready made a significant contribution to the field with its unique emphasis on scholarly international online literature.- P.T. Special Collections. New York: Haworth Pr. V.1, no.1 (Fall1981), quarterly, $95 per volume.- ISSN 0270-3157. Each issue of this serial focuses upon collections of materials in a developing, or otherwise problematical, subject area in the arts, sciences, social sciences, or hu- manities. Each is edited by an expert in the field surveyed and follows a common or- ganizational pattern: a summary of the growth of collecting in the field, descrip- tions of several important individual col- lections, an article on some aspect of bib- liographic control, a directory to collections, and reviews of recent publica- tions relevant to the subject area. These- ries editor, Lee Ash, also provides reviews of titles of interest to the broader field of speciallibrarianship. The four issues that have so far ap- peared cover theatre and performing arts, 120 . College & Research Libraries biochemistry, gerontology, and science fiction. Each serves its purpose reasonably well, with knowledgeable curators dem- onstrating the strengths and varieties of their collections. Inevitably, a project de- signed to appeal to such disparate sorts as librarians, collectors, students, scholars, and dealers, will appeal as a whole to few. Some inconsistencies occur: style and tone vary even within an issue, and the thrust of the most provocative issue- biochemistry-is toward collections devel- opment rather than special collections. More seriously, the curious and provok- ing production problems that plague some other Haworth publications are evi- dent in Special Collections. Nine quarters have passed since the autumn of 1981, but only four issues have emerged. Why such delays? The fifteen articles of the first issue occupy 166 pages; three issues later, the second "double issue" (v.2, no. 1/2) also has fifteen articles in 181 pages. What le- gitimately constitutes a "double" issue? Finally, in excusing the first double issue (v.1, no. 3/4), the series editor alludes to the issue's larger content. In fact, there are eleven articles in 171 pages. Worse, the next page informs the reader that ''due to manufacturing limitations four papers originally scheduled" for the issue would appear in future issues of another Ha- worth Press publication! This raises seri- ous and regrettable questions concerning editorial control and publishing integrity. Surely, the distinguished editors and con- tributors, not to mention subscribers spending $95, deserve better than this. Probably only libraries that support li- brary schools would want a series sub- scription. Wisely, Haworth has also mar- keted the two most recent issues as hardbound monographs at $29 .95.-F.I. WLW Journal. Berkeley, Calif.: Women Workers. V.1, no.1 (Jan. 1976), quar- terly, $4 per volume ($2 sample issue). ISSN 0272-1996 . WL W Journal's subtitle, News/Views/Re- views for Women and Libraries, accurately describes this lively publication. Each is- sue is full of information and opinion valu- able to anyone interested in resources on March 1984 women's issues and concerns. The journal's primary contribution to li- brary literature is as a selection tool for women's studies and women-related sub- jects. Several regul~r features, such as "Media Review, II "Framed, II "Rec- ords," "Finders Sleepers," and "Contin- uing Guide to Women's Serials,'' provide straightforward and often lengthy re- views of fiction and nonfiction, nonprint media, periodicals, and pamphlets. Mate- rials selected for review are predomi- nantly publications of alternative presses and organizations that are unlikely to be reviewed elsewhere. Other regular features are the columns "Highlighting Women," which focuses on women's collections around the coun- try, "Up Your Wages," and "Women in Librarianship: Research," which dis- cusses literature on the status of women li- brary workers. Each issue includes one or two lengthy articles or bibliographic es- says on topics such as parenting, manage- ment, science fiction, and women's his- tory. The editorial tone is unapologetically feminist and viewpoints range from com- mentaries on librarianship to more global issues, such as nuclear war. Thus the jour- nal, through both its reviews and its arti- cles, provides an important alternative perspective not found in other library journals. As a news publication, WLW Journal pro- vides information on Women Library Workers and similar groups around the nation. Early issues show a strong West Coast slant, but the publication has devel- oped a more national perspective in its coverage of events and its selection of writers and reviewers . The publication is a helpful resource for both collection development and research in women's issues, particularly as those issues relate to librarianship. Its low sub- scription price makes it a bargain for aca- demic and public librarians.-L. G. Women in Libraries. Newark, N .J.: Ameri- can Library Assn . Social Responsibili- ties Round Table Feminist Task Force. V .1 (1971-72), five times/year from Sep- tember to June, $4 for individuals, $6 for institutions prepaid, and $8 for institu- tions invoiced. This eight-page newsletter of the Femi- nist Task Force reports primarily on wom- en's activities and concerns within the American Library Association. The Sep- tember 1983 issue, for example, has stories on business transacted by various wom- en's groups in Los Angeles and on pro- grams at the ALA conference that were sponsored by these groups. Other infor- mation in a typical issue might be an- nouncements on women's activities around the country as they relate to librar- ianship or scholarship, information on Selected Journals 121 publications on women's issues, govern- ment activities, calls for papers, reviews, conferences, and brief summaries of re- search. The news and reviews are timely and thorough, making the publication essen- tial for anyone interested in staying in- formed on women's programs within ALA and in librarianship in general. The newsletter is helpful to women's studies librarians and researchers for the informa- tion it provides on conferences and recent research. It is more suited for an individ- ual than an institutional collection.-L.G. You Can Tell Our Coverage By Our Cover 2. But There•s So Much More Inside • All the oosic and support services that make BRS the system of choice for information professionals. • All the databases available on BRS, grouped by major subject categories into families showing the breadth of online information. • All the facts about BRS databases -more than 80 of them-includ- ing scope, producer, years of coverage and updating frequency. Don't wait to learn all about BRS. Return the coupon and we'll rush you a complimen- tary copy of our all-new catalog. Open it up and discover Send me my free copy of the new BRS Database Catalog NAME ------------------------------------------~~~ COMPANY /INSTITUTION CllY -------------------------·STATE _________ _____. TELEPHONE ----------------------~ Mail to: BRS 1200 Route 7 Latham, NY 12110 CRJ 3/ 84