Print Media

Elizabeth L. Eisenstein, The Printing Press as an Agent of Change (Cambridge and New York: Cambridge University Press, 1979---$49.50 for the two volume set)

Roy Harley Lewis' Antiquarian Books: An Inisder's Account (New York: Arco, 1979---$10.00)

Jack Lindsay's William Morris: His Life and Work (New York: Taplinger, 1979---$14.95)

Thomas Weyr's Reaching for Paradise: The Playboy Vision of America (New York: Times Books, 1979---$12.50)

Book Publishing Worldwide, A Publisher's Weekly Extra (New York: R.R. Bowker, 1979---S6.95, paper)

Scholarly Communication: The Report of the National Enquiry (Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1979---$3.95, paper)

Charles B. Osburn's Academic Research and Library Resources: Changing Patterns in America (Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 1979---$18.95)

Robert Egan's The Bookstore Book: A Guide to Manhattan Booksellers (New York: Avon Books, 1979---$5.95, paper)     

The Concept of “Best Practice”: A brief overview of its meanings,scope, uses,and shortcomings

“Best practice” has multiple meanings and particular connotations. We examine the origin of the term “best practice” and related terms and concepts and provide some examples of its use in disability fields. We identify some reasons why its use should be more judicious, if not curtailed altogether. We also suggest two complementary options to address our concerns.     

Some practical observations on the writing, implementation, and revision of collection development policy

This paper was conceived in the context of the "RTSD Guidelines for the Formulation of Collection Development Policies." It describes fundamental qualities of policy applicable to all kinds of libraries and recommends a step-by-step process leading to the successful realization of policy planning. Placing an emphasis on the values of the process itself, the paper also suggests implications for collection development personnel and for the library as an organization, when a working policy is adopted.