Describes the development of Books for Africa, an organization that solicits donations of books in the United States and sends them to Africa, largely to school libraries, to improve literacy rates, increase library holdings, and build library shelves. Other organizations that donate books are also listed. (LRW)

Offers a listing of 80 books considered to be important for a professional library in social studies. The categories included are: (1) foundations of social studies education; (2) social studies curriculum; (3) social studies instruction; (4) change processes in social studies; and (5) sources on sources. (JDH)

Briefly reviews 41 books and periodicals about antiques and collectibles such as glassware, porcelain, dolls, buttons, ceramics, folk arts, furniture, jewelry, rugs, textiles, and woodenware. Books are arranged in the following topic areas: price guides; general surveys; out-of-print titles; trends; conservation and restoration; dealers; and…

Reviews previously proposed schemes of classical rationality in book selection, describes new approaches to rational choice behavior, and presents a model of book selection based on bounded rationality in a garbage can decision process. The role of tacit knowledge and symbolic content in the selection process are also discussed. (102 references)…

This analysis of the circulation records of books added to a psychiatric library from July 1983 through May 1985 reports the total number of books circulated, their number and percentage in specific subject areas, missing titles, and usage by in-house and off-site borrowers. Implications for future collection development are explained. (Author/EM)

The "MLA Bibliography" Scope and Overlap Committee was formed in response to a request from the Modern Language Association for librarians' assistance in examining the coverage and overlap between the "MLA International Bibliography" and other reference tools. This report contains the following 20 papers, prepared by the…

A school librarian and book reviewer argues that buyers, reviewers, editors, and publishers need to look more carefully at series books. Discusses series and reviewing tools and ways reviewers can help colleagues make the best choices for students. Recommends two social studies series, and suggests questions to ask when buying series books. (PEN)

Discusses the need for the preservation of both print and non-print library materials. Issues raised include problems of photocopying; deciding what to discard and weed out of collections; special considerations for children's books; jobs for preservation librarians; and the need for good judgment in making preservation decisions. (LRW)

Describes a formula that nonspecialists can use for evaluating rare books. Concurrent consideration of the scarcity, significance (importance), beauty, and demand for a given book will determine its value or rarity. (JKP)

Presents an overview of libraries and related services for Palestinian Arab Children in the Haifa and Galilee regions of Israel and on the West Bank based on interviews with librarians and educators between 1993 and 1996. Covers funding, organization, collection development, censorship, staffing, and programming. (MMU)

Describes the use of the "Science Citation Index" in deciding whether to keep older basic science books that have failed to meet other criteria for collection retention. It is concluded that manual searching of the indexes proved feasible and reliable, while the lack of book titles on the online version reduced reliability of weeding…

Outlines a method for establishing a depreciated value of a library collection and includes an example of applying the formula for calculating depreciation. The method is based on the useful life of books, other print, and audio visual materials; their original cost; and on sampling subsets or sections of the collection. (JKP)

The materials listed in this reference circular are recommended to libraries and organizations as basic resources for providing a current information service on visual impairments and physical disabilities. The selections, which are based on the holdings of the Reference Section of the National Library Service (NLS) for the Blind and Physically…

Describes a study that investigated the abuse of library materials through theft, mutilation, unauthorized borrowing, and vandalism at the University of Port Harcourt (Nigeria) and King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (Saudi Arabia). Motivations for abuse are discussed, and recommendations for improved collection protection are…

Presents recommendations for developing sound baby collections that include selecting books that: have designs infants are attracted to, provide tactile experiences, incorporate rhymes, have rounded edges (board books), and can be cleaned (cloth books). Includes an alphabetical list of good books for babies, as well as books on planning a lapsit…