Covers extent and distribution of American library resources, types of libraries, cooperative acquisition programs, microforms, bibliographic control, subject specialization, surveys of holdings, nature of research holdings, research library standards, collection development methods, and the future of the book. (LS)

Trends examined include an early period of conservatism followed by an innovative period, the advent and implications of paperbacks, micropublishing, hardcover reprints, the small press movement, self-publishing and fine printing, and the effects of these trends on libraries and their development. (MBR)