AFRICANA LIBRARIES NEWSLETTER No. 79, July 1994 ISSN 0148-7868 Africana Libraries Newsletter (ALN) is published quarterly by the Michigan State University Libraries and the MSU African Studies Center. Those copying contents are TABLE OF CONTENTS asked to cite ALN as their source. ALN is produced to support the work of the Africana Librarians Council (ALC) of the African Studies Association. It carries the meeting Editor’s Comments minutes of ALC, CAMP (Cooperative Africana Microform Project) and other relevant Acronyms groups. It also reports other items of interest to Africana librarians and those concerned about information resources about or in Africa. ALC/CAMP N EW S............................................... 2 Calendar of Future Meetings Editor: Joseph J. Lauer, Africana Library, MSU, East Lansing, MI 48824-1048. ALC Schedule for Toronto (Nov. 1994) Tel.: 517-355-1118; E-mail: 20676jjl@msu.edu; Fax: 517-432-1445. ALC Meeting in Durham, NC (April 1994): Deadline for no. 80: Sept. 20, 1994; for no. 81: Jan. 1, 1995. Business Meeting Minutes Resolution on Government Documents Bibliography Committee Minutes EDITOR’S COMMENTS Cataloging Committee Minutes Cooperative Cataloging Workshop Report Executive Board Meeting Minutes Most of the this issue is taken up with the ALC activities in Durham, North Member Activities Carolina. Unfortunately, the decisions taken by CAMP were not available for this number. OTHER N E W S ...................................................... 8 Contributors to this issue include Moore Crossey, David Easterbrook, News from other Associations Karen Fung, A1 Kagan, Bob Lesh, Elizabeth Plantz, Nancy Schmidt, Andrea Calendar Stamm, and Hans Zell (who deserves a special thanks). American Library Association I had hoped to continue my comments in ALN no. 78 with some numbers Free Materials Offered & Requested (derived through keyword searches via the Internet) about comparative Personnel Changes collection strengths. Instead I have a simpler idea: A materials budget of roughly $50,000 per year is enough to satisfy the local library needs of an RESEARCH ON LIBRARIES & African studies program. The spending above local needs is for the nation INFORMATION SCIENCE............................... 9 (and theoretically available for a cooperative program). Should bibliogra­ Books and Documents phers be asked to identify which materials fall into each of these categories? Journals & Articles My apologies for suggesting more work. Readers are reminded that Publications of African Library Associations comments here are in no way to be taken as representing the views (either formal or informal) of ALC. In fact, members generally dislike numbers. REFERENCE SOURCES.................................... 10 Note: African Books in Print New Reference Titles: African Studies Abstracts, Atlas of the World’s Languages, SARDIUS acronym s LETTERS & O PINIONS..................................... 11 ACRL - Association 'of College ¿ Research : \ Analysis of the Reviewing of Hans Zell Titles ALA • American Library Association (Chicago) ALC * Africana LihrnriahsCbuhcil (formerly Archives- NOTES ON MATERIALS AND VENDORS .... 12 ¡g. Libraries Committee)'of A§A::-:l ^ ^ M l l ^ ^ l l l l i^ l llll Vendor Announcements A S A A fr ic a n Studies Apociatibn Book Awards CAMP • Cooperative Afri«»na MicrofoiWi: Project (CSL) If! Events CRL ♦ Center for Research Libraries (Chicago) 1 Literature on the Book Trade I FLA * International Federation of Libra^:'As^ciatibhs'g l Online Files LC - Library of Congress Serial Changes iM i& *sM P® ë*^ri*N brarians|A ssbeiatK H ^^^^^^^^ New Serials MSU - Michigan State University Videos SCOLMA - Standing Conf. on Library Materials on Africa Selected New Books U. - University Special Issues of Journals UCLA • University of California; Los Angeles’s l § f | | | | | l | | | l | AFRICANA LIBRARIES NEWSLETTER 2 JULY 1994 AFRICANA LIBRARIANS COUNCIL / CAMP NEWS CALENDAR OF FUTURE MEETINGS Toronto Program Finnegan, Chair Elect, discussed plans for the 1994 Annual November 2-6, 1994, Toronto - ASA Annual Meeting. Meeting of the African Studies Association (ASA) in Toronto. May 4-6, 1995, Evanston, IL - ALC/CAMP Spring Meeting. As the regular ASA programs begin on a Thursday this year, November 3-6, 1995, Orlando - ASA Annual Meeting. ALC meetings will begin one day ahead, as voted by the group Spring 1996, Boston - ALC/CAMP Spring Meeting. at the fall meeting in Boston. ALC will sponsor a roundtable Fall 1996, San Francisco - ASA Annual Meeting. entitled “Africana Libraries Without Walls: Internet Resources Fall 1997, Norfolk - ASA Annual Meeting. for African Studies”, chaired by Finnegan. The core of the Fall 1998, Midwest site - ASA Annual Meeting. program will be a “canned” demonstration by Gretchen Walsh. Her presentation will be “Gateways, Gophers, and NGO’s: Internet Resources demonstrated.” The program will also in­ ALC SCHEDULE FOR TORONTO clude Faraz Rabbani, University of Toronto (AFRICA-N : Pit­ (subject to change) falls and Beacons of Running a Listserv), and Denise Shorey (Integrating the Internet into Africana Library Instruction). A Wednesday, November 2: Friday 9-11 a.m. slot has been requested, but not confirmed. 9:00-10:00.....ALC Executive Finnegan intends to publicize the program electronically and 10:00-11:30.... Cataloging Committee will be looking for others with Internet resources and expertise 11:30-1:00....Bibliography Committee to be on hand to speak as well. 1:00- 2:00......Lunch; CAMP working groups 2:00- 4:00......CAMP Business Meeting Spring Meeting 1995 4:15- 5:30......CAMP Executive Easterbrook proposed holding the ALC spring 1995 meeting at Thursday, November 3: Northwestern on April 28-29th. He was asked to investigate the 9:00-11:00.....ALC Business Meeting possibility of the first weekend in May. If this is not possible, 11:00-12:00.... ALC Executive the originally proposed dates will be accepted. Friday, November 4: 9:007-11:00.... ALC-sponsored Roundtable: Spring Meeting 1996 Internet Resources for African Studies. Westley extended an invitation to hold the spring 1996 meeting at Boston University. The invitation was accepted. ALC Elections Committee AFRICANA LIBRARIANS COUNCIL Kagan announced that Baumann and Easterbrook have been appointed to form the Elections Committee for the fall 1994 BUSINESS MEETING MINUTES meeting in Toronto. Anyone interested in running for office or nominating someone should contact either of them. Duke University Durham, NC, April 16, 1994, 9:30am-12:00pm 40th Anniversary Program Schmidt and Malanchuk presented plans for the ALC 40th The meeting was called to order by Al Kagan, Chair. Anniversary Conference program. The name of the conference will be “Africana Librarianship into the 21st Century: Treasur­ Present were: Helene Baumann (Duke U.), Julianne Beall (LC), ing the Past and Building the Future.” They stressed that they Phyllis Bischof (U. of California, Berkeley), John Blosser (North­ want to include all types of libraries. Topics to be included: western U.), Dan Britz (Northwestern U.), Joseph Caruso (Columbia sharing information, new forms of distribution of information, U.), David Easterbrook (Northwestern U.), Kay Elsässer (LC), training of librarians, methods of compiling and distributing Onuma Ezera (Michigan State U.), Gregory Finnegan (Dartmouth bibliographies, cooperative agreements, cooperation in index­ College), Karen Fung (Stanford U.), James Gentner (LC), Marieta ing and abstracting, collection management—especially of new Harper (LC), John Bruce Howell (U. of Iowa), Al Kagan (U. of formats, and networking within Africa as well as with Africa. Illinois), Joseph Lauer (Michigan State U.), Robert W. Lesh (North­ Sessions will focus on the old and the new and there will be a western U.), Peter Malanchuk (U. of Florida), Razia Nanji (Univer­ variety of papers, panels and working groups. The site of the sity of Florida), Dorothy Niekamp (Indiana U.), Pat Ogedengbe conference will be the Library of Congress, for approximately 2- (Northwestern U.), Elizabeth Plantz (Northwestern U.), Yvette 2 1/2 days in April 1997. They hope to establish linkages with Scheven (Champaign, IL), Nancy Schmidt (Indiana U.), Mette other library associations in order to identify people interested Shayne (Northwestern U.), Denise Shorey (Princeton U.), Andrea in presenting and attending. Any “gemstones” from the confer­ Stamm (Northwestern U.), Thomas Weissinger (Cornell U.), David ence will be reported on at the annual fall ASA meeting. Westley (Boston U.), Dawn Williams (Northwestern U.), and Joanne Goals for the fall meeting in Toronto: 1. develop a list of Zellers (LC). speakers for the above topics and a list of potential dynamic keynote speakers; 2. develop a list of funding sources; 3. fix an exact date for the conference so hotel rooms can be reserved; and 4. develop a mailing list for publicity. Anyone with suggestions for any of the above, please send them to either Schmidt or AFRICANA LIBRARIES NEWSLETTER 3 JULY 1994 Malanchuk. Everyone is reminded to ask their institutions about ARL Foreign Acquisitions Demonstration Project supporting a librarian from overseas to attend the conference. Easterbrook reported that they have submitted their report and the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) Foreign Acquisi­ Conover-Porter Award (Schmidt): 12 titles were nominated tions Project Advisory Committee will discuss it at the annual and 4 were selected as finalists. The award will be split between ALA meeting in June. Copies of the report are available upon 2 of them; and there will be 2 honorable mentions. The winners request. In the next stage of the project, they may be asked to do will be announced at the fall meeting in Toronto. a “demonstration project.” This would involve developing a small scale project to implement something in the report. An Long Range Strategic Planning Committee edited version of the report will be submitted as a paper for the Finnegan and Nanji reported on their initial meeting. The issue next ACRL Conference. of what to do about the editorship of Africana Libraries News­ letter (ALN) was discussed. The possibility of securing funding Statement on Access to Government Documents lot A L N from Title VI centers was raised. Schmidt noted that due A revised statement on access to government documents, en­ to the Title VI funding cycle and cutbacks, it would not be titled “Government Documents Resources in Academic Librar­ feasible to ask them to take on any additional expenses. Lauer, ies: Implications for International and African Government the current editor, indicated that he felt that the problem was not Publications,” was presented by Kagan and Bischof. [After really a question of money, but of time. The Committee will discussion], ALC voted to endorse it. [The statement, after prepare a report on how muchALiVcosts to produce in both time minor additional editing, was distributed via Email on 20 May. and money. At the same time it will look into evaluating the A copy appears at the end of these minutes.] importance and value of ALN to others outside of ALC. In addition, it will think about how to go about getting an editor, ALC Distribution List / Listserv developing some kind of application procedure. Finnegan proposed the possibility of turning the ALC “distribu­ The Committee also has plans for developing an ALC manual tion list” into an actual listserv. Some of the advantages: 1. can that would provide all the rules, bylaws, etc. of the Council. It choose to receive one days mailings as a block; 2. archiving is possible that it would be available in both electronic and print capabilities; 3. can post brief notes that can lead to larger form. They will look into what ASA is doing and perhaps documents; and 4. solve the problem of the huge header. Some include some information about ASA as well. discussion followed on how the nature of the “list” would change Finally, the Committee presented the possibility of becoming as a listserv is a “public” space. Some members do not want to a standing committee of ALC, charged with looking at long be on another listserv. Others felt that a place was still needed range issues. It was noted that the ALC needs to look into how for purely ALC business. It was decided that we would experi­ our planning fits in with ASA’s goals. ment with having both until the fall meeting. A distribution list will be maintained as a formal place for ALC business. Finnegan Book Donation Project Report will take on the responsibility for setting up a listserv that will A written report was submitted by Gretchen Walsh. Five provide a forum to discuss issues of interest to Africana applications were received for ASA money for book donation librarianship and information science. Once he has set it up, he projects. [Of these, 3 were funded and the awardees will be will publicize it to ALC members and invite those interested to announced inASA News.] All of the applications represent small “subscribe.” to medium scale donations with strong recipient participation. Walsh continues to receive numerous appeals for books, and Scope of ALC Directory she has distributed the handbook/directory to interested partici­ Noting the increasing size of and interest in the ALC Directory, pants in Africana-L, an electronic discussion group focusing on Finnegan asked the ALC what they thought should be done with information technology for Africa. The group Bridge to Asia has it. He cited several examples of people being asked to be listed begun work in establishing a sister organization, Bridge to in it who were not involved in ALC, as well as people who were Africa, headed at present by Willie LaMousse Smith, University interested in purchasing it. In general the group felt that the of Maryland at Baltimore. Walsh is on their board of advisors. directory should be made available for non-commercial pur­ poses and that the scope of the people listed should be tighter ALA Acquisitions Book, Africa Volume rather than looser. Only people involved with the ALC will be Schmidt presented a report on long standing problems involving listed, rather than just any person or publisher interested in a proposed set of volumes being published by the American Africana materials. It was decided to change the name to Library Association (ALA) on library acquisitions. She and Africana Librarians Council Directory. An ALC copyright several other ALC members have been working on the section statement will be added to the cover page as well. for Africa for the second part of the already published volume Kagan and the entire Council thanked Finnegan warmly for all entitled Selection o f Library Materials fo r Area Studies. Hans his work on both the distribution list and the directory. Panofsky began work on this project in 1984. There have been a large number of delays and communication problems with the Use of E-mail for ALC Business project and because these seem insurmountable, the contribu­ The appropriateness of using e-mail in between meetings for tors to the Africa volume have decided to withdraw. ALC business was discussed. Of particular concern was its use Easterbrook noted that this is a very important project that for voting. It was noted that there are no provisions for such should not be dropped without pushing for more discussion votes in the by-laws. Several votes attempted by e-mail since the within ALA. Finnegan, Easterbrook and Malanchuk will all fall meeting have proven to be a failure due to the lack of take up the issue in ALA. The first volume published won an response by members. It was thought however that e-mail award and the project is an important commitment by ALA that should be useful for votes among the Executive Committee. should be followed up. Baumann will draft a proposal for the use of e-mail for voting. AFRICANA LIBRARIES NEWSLETTER 4 JULY 1994 Linkages to African L ibrarians and Associations James Gentner reported on the activities of Overseas O pera­ Schmidt received 7 replies to her letters to various African tions Division. He reminded everyone that LC was developing library associations. There were replies from Nigeria, Senegal, a new cost recovery scheme for participants in its Overseas Cameroon, Sierra Leone, Gabon and Namibia. Information Acquisitions Programs. Comparison bills were to have been about newsletters and other materials provided by these various sent to participants showing their FY 94 bills under the present organizations will be provided inAZJVas they are received. The scheme and what they would have been charged under the new ALC directory will be sent out to those who responded and they scheme. Unfortunately there was a flaw in the model created by will be informed of our plans for the ALC 40th Anniversary Price-Waterhouse which would result in bills 3 times higher Conference. It was suggested that a list be compiled of African than in the past. LC is currently working to change the model in librarians who have attended ALC meetings in the past. Infor­ order to keep the program alive, as well as share costs in a fair mation about the conference will be sent to them as well. and equitable manner. A new model is expected to be approved shortly. As soon as it is approved, information concerning FY 95 O utreach to Black Studies L ibrarians charges will be disseminated to participants. In spite of the Kagan will look into providing information about ALC to new expected “flat” budget for FY 1995, LC has no plans to cut either Title VI centers, inviting them to participate in our activities. the Cairo or the Nairobi offices. However, the Division is not Weissinger, editor of ACRL’s African American Studies Sec­ working on any proposals for a West Africa Office at this time. tion listserv, will look into sending out information about ALC The Accessions List: Eastern & Southern Africa will continue to to members of that listserv. Kagan will also make copies oiALN be published for the time being. There is a $5,000 Rockefeller available during appropriate programs at ALA in Miami. Harper grant for the Quarterly Index. Unfortunately, this is insufficient suggested that Library Fellows who have gone to Africa be to cover the entire cost of the publication. They would appreci­ contacted about ALC as well. ate any suggestions for where they might find additional funding for this important publication. The Nairobi Office is currently Library of Congress Reports putting a collection of Somalia contemporary history publica­ Zellers noted that on 2/6/94 Beverly Gray was appointed chief tions on microfiche. They plan to return the original documents of the A frican and Middle E astern Division, after having to Somalia when there is a stable government. The fiche will be served as head of the African Section since 1978. Zellers is available for purchase when complete. The Nairobi Office has currently acting head of the Section, which now consists of 2 made a number of acquisition trips since the last ALC meeting. area specialists and 1 technician. These include: Madagascar, Nov/Dec. 1993; Ethiopia and Eritrea, GenBib : a Guide for Searchers, a new in-house manual, has Nov/Dec. 1993; Zaire, March 1994; Angola, April 1994; been compiled to assist staff in searching these online files. The Seychelles, April 1994; Botswana, April 1994; Tanzania, April GenBib files are accessible via the internet and include data­ 1994 and Malawi, April 1994. bases produced data by the African Section. Paper copies of the guide will not be available to outside users, but it is available via Marieta Harper reported on the activities of the O rder Division. the LC gopher, LC Marvel. There is a new GenBib file, CD- The Africa/Middle Eastern Acquisitions Section has been utiliz­ ROMREF, which will eventually provide bibliographical con­ ing the services of bibliographic representatives in Liberia, trol and location access for all CD-Rom title used for reference Togo, Benin, Ghana and Nigeria. They have acquired interim at LC. government reports and white papers from Liberia, as well as The Federal Research Division reports that the following increased numbers of newspapers. They have had increased country studies are in preparation: Algeria (mid ’94), Cameroon numbers of newspapers and official gazettes from Togo. They (late ’94 or early ’95), Ghana (mid ’94), Indian Ocean Isles have been able to update their holdings on periodicals and (early autumn ’94), Rwanda (in limbo), South Africa (late ’94) government annuals that have ceased publication in Nigeria, and Zaire (Spring ’95). although they still have no definitive directory of new state The budget for FY ’94 had only a slight increase over FY ’93, governments. More state publications have been acquired from and is barely adequate to cover increased costs. Given the Eastern Nigeria. An online database of PNDC statutes from financial situation, foreign newspaper subscriptions and micro­ Ghana on CD has been acquired in addition to customary law filming costs are a concern. Over the next several months, all publications. They hope to acquire more legal databases. They titles will be reviewed and prioritized in the event that cuts must have begun tracking costs per item from bibliographic represen­ be made. tatives and will later compare those with vendor costs. It appears LC is in the process of undertaking six “case studies” in that, in general, actual item costs may be lower from the collection evaluation. Dr. George Atiyeh, Head, Near East representatives than from vendors. Administrative and trans­ Section, is in charge of preparing a study on the field of Islamic portation costs will need to be factored in to obtain true costs. Studies, the only African related study. ALC members are They plan to increase travel in order to locate representatives in encouraged to inform Dr. Atiyeh of materials they think are Gambia, Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, Mali, Central integral to an Islamic Studies collection; materials they think African Republic, Gabon and Guinea-Bissau. should or should not be acquired. A user survey was distributed to the Middle East Librarians Association. Anyone wanting a OTHER copy should contact Dr. Atiyeh (tel. (202) 707-5407). Schmidt announced that Indiana University is now offering a LC has acquired photocopies of 9 Mauritanian manuscripts joint MLS and MA program with a focus on Africa. It includes from Prof. Stewart, Univ. of Illinois. The Collections Policy working for one year in the library. Office is in the process of revising acquisitions policies state­ ments. These statements will be published, at the earliest, in The meeting was adjourned. 1995. They will not be available over the Internet. —Elizabeth J. Plantz, Secretary AFRICANA LIBRARIES NEWSLETTER 5 JULY 1994 RESOLUTION ON GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS BIBLIOGRAPHY COMMITTEE MINUTES Friday, April 15, 1994, 1:30-3:00 pm Government Documents Resources in Academic Libraries: Im­ plications for International and African Government Publica­ The meeting was called to order by the Helene Baumann, Chair. tions 1. Conover-Porter: Schmidt expressed disappointment at the The Africana Librarians Council of the [U.S.] African Studies small number of nominations and encouraged members to start Association views with concern the apparent national trend of a “Conover-Porter” file for the next award in 1996. She also downgrading resources available for the acquiring, collecting, suggested revising the evaluation form to include two additional processing and servicing of government publications in aca­ criteria: the importance of the work in the field, regardless of demic libraries. This sometimes takes the form of merging scope, and a better definition of “Africa.” Current criteria are departments, collections, and or/processing functions with other too technical and fail to take into account the intellectual input. units without providing for necessary expertise and resources in Even though the Committee took such input into account, no the resulting new structures. harm would be done by spelling it out. The Committee voted to In several cases, such actions appear to have been taken accept Schmidt’s motion. She will revise the current version. without thorough research into the implications emerging from Schmidt also asked whether a narrow definition of Africa or a new electronic context. On the one hand, new technologies broad definition that included the diaspora and works world­ make the library more user-friendly, but on the other, new wide in scope should be used. It was agreed that the definition specialized products may be immensely complicated both for should be broad, but should not include titles that are primarily librarians and for end-users. This double-edged situation is African-American or diaspora oriented. In general, the meeting particularly true for government publications. For example, felt that this could be left to the discretion of the Committee on loading documents records into an online catalog makes them a title-by-title basis. easier to find and lessens the need for expert reference assis­ Schmidt reported that the issue of a reception at the Toronto tance. On the other hand, new government document CD-ROM meeting would be discussed at the ASA Board Meeting shortly, disks are often much more complicated than their commercial and that an informal offer had been received from WARA (West counterparts and require very specialized levels of expertise for African Research Association) for assistance, should ASA de­ service to end-users. In a different realm, automated acquisi­ cide not to host a reception. tions and processing will be more efficient, but cannot address the very real complications of acquiring and collecting materials 2. ARL Foreign Acquisitions Project: Schmidt summarized a that fall far outside the mainstream acquisitions processes, such letter from Jutta Reed-Scott asking ALC’s views on the feasibil­ as international and African documents. ity of an African studies demonstration project, perhaps similar Documents specialists perform work which is essentially to the three acquisitions projects which have at present been different in kind from other collection development and refer­ identified (Latin America, German language, and Japanese ence work. Specialists must understand the intricacies of language scientific and technical resources). On the whole, the government organizational structures and processes in various meeting was not inclined to enter into the project, even with countries and in international intergovernmental organizations ARL funding, as previous area studies had been conducted for in order to acquire publications and later access them for users. Latin American and Japanese material, with no follow-up. It It is the need to know provenance and the way governments work was felt that, unless ARL were to fund a project, ALC would that sets this work apart. continue to operate as it had in the past, particularly since the Africana materials are probably the most difficult library ALC work would be broader in scope than merely acquisitions. resources to collect. Furthermore, the collection of African Easterbrook expected the matter to be discussed at advisory government publications is more difficult than documents from panels at ALA in Miami and agreed to find out what is being more developed world areas. It is obvious that African studies done. The issue might become an agenda item for the ALC collections are at great risk when government publications Toronto business meeting. resources are cut or reorganized. The Africana Librarians Council urges library administra­ 3. Materials on Africans in the diaspora in Europe: Schmidt tions to maintain adequate government publications resources raised the question of who is collecting materials on Africans in and expertise. We urge thorough study before organizational Europe. Current acquisition practice varies too widely to ensure changes are made that may negatively impact collection and a thorough job. There was agreement that materials collected access to documents. We understand the need for efficient should focus on regions rather than on specific countries. Zellers operations and the need to cut costs, but we ask that administra­ referred to LC’s useful bibliographies on ethnic communities, tors also consider the cost of not acquiring and not servicing Easterbrook suggested liaisons with institutions who collect on what is or is not acquired. The right to know must be applied to immigrant groups. Finnegan pointed to local community mate­ government publications throughout the world, and it is self- rial in Europe which may also be uncollected. It was agreed that evident that this is in our national interest. a list of ALC member’s current policies would be useful, and We are, of course, most concerned with African documents Schmidt volunteered to collect these for discussion in Toronto. and international documents related to Africa, but we think these issues apply to all area studies. We welcome responses 4. Collection and cataloging of foreign dissertations: Schmidt and comments from individuals and organizations in addressing suggested a cooperative project to catalog and share information our common needs. on foreign dissertations, since CRL, although willing to pur­ chase them, does not catalog them and Northwestern has a —Adopted by ALC, April 16, 1994 significant backlog of uncataloged dissertations. Given that there were over 300 dissertations in 1980, CRL’s approach was AFRICANA LIBRARIES NEWSLETTER 6 JULY 1994 felt to severely hinder access and delivery. This was suggested component. Since the beginning of the project, 142 new titles, as a possible CAMP agenda item. nearly all of them newspapers, from 25 countries have been ordered. Copies of just over 70% of the titles ordered have 5. Resource Sharing/Cooperative ventures: This was a fol­ started to be received. Northwestern was granted funds for a low-up to the discussions in Boston. Baumann suggested that second year of the project which began on December 1,1993. A they be linked to outreach discussions; she will work on it over proposal for a third year of funding was submitted in early March the summer. of this year. The cataloging component of the grant has made considerable progress to date. The focus here is both the new 6. UN High Commission for Refugees access to “infobases” : titles acquired with project funds and the Africana serials Baumann circulated a copy of a letter from the UNHCR indicat­ backlog. John P. Blosser is the project’s half-time Africana ing its pleasure with the response to its databases and informing Serials Cataloguer and as of March 31, 1994, had completed that ASA has been added to the list of proposed new partici­ cataloging for 803 titles (96 newly acquired and 654 previously pants. acquired). Records for all titles catalogued as a result of the project appear in OCLC, RLIN, and JALA. 7. Individual Bibliographic Projects: Bischof announced that most of her work for the new edition —Denise Shorey, Secretary of the Guide to Reference Books is complete. Much editing remains to be done. Malanchuk expected that his updates for Katz, Magazines for Libraries, would be done by July. CATALOGING COMMITTEE MINUTES Shayne has completed her revision of African Newspapers Friday, April 15, 1994, 3:15-4:45pm Currently Received. Schmidt reported that Indiana’s list of African languages is Present: Beall, Blosser, Barbara Branson (Duke U.), Caruso, nearly complete and that Indiana’s Title VI grant, which permit­ Elsasser, Fung, Gentner, Harper, Howell, Kagan, Lauer, Lesh, ted the acquisition of the BBC Somalia Service archive from the Nanji, Niekamp, Plantz, Schmidt, Shayne, Stamm, Williams, 1950s to the present, had been renewed. It will be housed at the and Zellers. Archives of Traditional Music. Scheven is cumulating the bibliographies of reference works The meeting was called to order by Robert Lesh, Committee that appeared in the African Book Publishing Record from 1987 chair. to 1993. 1. The minutes of the December 3rd Boston meeting were 8. L ibrary of Congress rep o rt: Zellers reported that U.S. approved as they appeared in ALN, Jan. 1994. Imprints on sub-Saharan Africa, vol. 8 (1992) has been issued. It includes records for African languages and literatures as 2. Old business: defined by specific LC call number ranges and has been broad­ a. African Languages Survey: Lesh sent corrections to the ened in scope by using the geographic area code for developing Indiana statistics as replacement pages to all who attended the countries to identify additional edited works with essays about last meeting or participated in the survey. sub-Saharan Africa. For vol. 9 (1993), all Third World studies monographs will be included if at least ten percent of their texts b. DT classification schedule: Elsasser specified that LC is concern Africa. Under consideration is the cessation of this eager to go forward with schedule changes and enhancements; title, to be superseded by a serial which would include all what is sought is an entire span of development. She suggested monographs about Africa. that those who will be doing the work should start with one Africana Data Base—a “master” base tape of about 90,000 country, such as Nigeria, and fill out the schedule and enhance records citing sub-Saharan African materials created by running gaps in information. Since the schedules for Namibia and other a detailed query was run against the MARC BOOKS file. Two Southern African countries have been developed recently, they other queries—one for developing countries (including miscel­ would be good examples to follow. The schedules are easily laneous regions) and one for various peculiar language fields segmented into parts, which is the best method of working with (such as for multilingual and creole works) were separately them. Priority should be given to expanding DT469, for the produced for review before merging with the Africana master island countries off the coast of East Africa, which now exist tape. Each run is updated every 3 months with the records only as cutters. Presently there is no timeframe for any expan­ catalogued during the previous 30 days. LC welcomes coopera­ sion project, but it would be preferable to start work soon. The tion in reviewing these records for errors or exclusion. End following countries were also suggested as needing expansion: products may include a CD-ROM. Eritrea, Djibouti, Rwanda and Burundi, Somalia, Sudan, and a Zellers reminded the meeting that a number of special biblio­ great many of the countries of West Africa. North Africa should graphic files compiled by the African Section are searchable on be considered by our Middle Eastern colleagues. She recom­ the Internet, including the contents notes of edited works such mended expanding close by within the schedule, for the work as conference proceedings cited in U.S. Imprints. Another will be easier, no recataloging is required, and many people will Library division has compiled a new file citing CD-ROM data­ prefer this. bases in LC reading rooms that are available on the Internet. c. & d. Enhancement of LC authority records for African 9. Northwestern University: Easterbrook reported on the For­ languages and Time period subdivisions in LCSH for A fri­ eign Periodicals Program grant at Northwestern which began on can countries: [See also report on end of minutes on morning December 1 1992 and has both an acquisitions and a cataloging workshop.] Lesh asked if the Committee as a group wanted to AFRICANA LIBRARIES NEWSLETTER 7 JULY 1994 examine different areas of need and make decisions on what we 5. Report on the reorganization of cataloging at LC: Elsasser would like to see enhanced first. After some discussion and the mentioned the reorganization is about two years old now; it has observation that Northwestern was already submitting biblio­ been a major change to which everyone has had to adjust, as a graphic records to LC within a cooperative cataloging project, it very new environment was created. Forty-one cataloging teams was noted that the Committee seemed to prefer individual, not now exist, which vary in size; there are some contract employees group, contributions. Lesh will send a letter from the Commit­ also. With a reduced staff, copy cataloging is becoming more tee to Sarah Thomas, thanking her for organizing the workshop, and more important. The LC classification will eventually all be and reporting that we will undertake individual contributions. online and browsable. The overseas offices are doing an Members of the Committee agreed to document problems en­ increasing amount of cataloging. A special team at LC processed countered and the types of headings submitted, and will report 7,600 items from the backlog in six months. about them at the next meeting. 6. Amharic romanization tables: Lauer announced he is e. Dewey proposals (Stamm): The Dewey Editorial Policy reasonably satisfied with the new tables. James Gentner men­ Committee will meet in May to review previously proposed tioned that Nairobi’s MLC Amharic records are being loaded in changes. OCLC for the first time; no authority work has been done for these records, but they do contain a summary note (520). f. Africa geographic area code (f--------- ) vs. Africa, Sub- Saharan (fb------): Lesh wrote a letter to Karl Kahler, Chair of 7. Announcements: the Committee on Cataloging: Asian and African Materials a. NUL Africana conference paper indexing project: North­ regarding issues relating to application of these codes; he has western has not yet received a reply to its grant application. received no response. Someone suggested a letter to John Meanwhile work on these materials continues, with 502 confer­ Byrum, of the NISO Standards Committee, to see if he has any ences and over 8,000 (1991-) papers indexed thus far. advice. b. DDC: Julianne Beall asked that comments regarding the 3. ALA/CC:AAM report (Stamm on second meeting at Mid­ proposed revision of 296 and 297 be sent directly to her. She was winter, in absence of Bell-Gam): Brenda Bickett gave a progress aware that there are not as many numbers for African languages report on the proposed revision of DDC 296 and 297 (Judaism as we would like, but balance is needed in the tables. She also and Islam). It was discussed whether or not it would be asked for suggestions on other areas in DDC where more appropriate for ALC to work on the expansion of the DT LC Africana numbers are needed. classification schedule, and have CC: AAM endorse it. CC: AAM was asked to approve or not approve NISO standards for repre­ a Lesh’s term as Chair will expire after the fall meeting. sentation of languages for information interchange. Also dis­ Anyone interested in replacing him should talk to Kagan. cussed was the proposal to reduce series authority work at LC. Bell-Gam suggested that the Africana librarians could work on The meeting was adjourned. an African musical instruments subject heading project similar to that for Thai musical instruments; the Grove Dictionary of —Dawn Williams Music is the authority for spelling. James Gentner added that the LC Nairobi office is now independent in creation of bibliographic description. Prelimi­ LC ENCOURAGES COOPERATIVE CATALOGING nary records from the field offices will be able to be seen on A REPORT ON A WORKSHOP OCLC and RLIN, which is new. Nairobi is also submitting serial by Andrea Stamm records to Conser. Elsasser stated we should report our activi­ ties to CC: AAM, so other groups see what we have accomplished On April 15, 1994, LC staffers David Michener and Kay and are encouraged to do the same. Elsasser led a half-day workshop on cooperative subject catalog­ Lauer suggested reports about ALA meetings be published in ing in conjunction with the spring ALC meeting at Duke Univer­ ALN in the issues prior to meetings of ALC. Lesh offered to talk sity. Africana librarians from approximately 10 institutions to Bell-Gam about coordinating this. were represented. In an era of shrinking budgets, this workshop is seen as a vital tool to encourage the growth of national 4. Cooperative cataloging at LC: Elsasser announced that LC cooperative cataloging projects. is gradually moving toward combining the names/subjects au­ David Michener’s presentation focused on how to propose thority files. A number of new NACO participants are new LC subject headings. Although the process of non-LC consortiums. For example, art and dance materials are being staffers submitting subject heading proposals is not new, LC submitted by groups working in those two subject areas. NACO will now consider the headings “preapproved” in order to is becoming much more specific regarding topical focuses and expedite action. This major change breathes life into a stagnant area studies. LC cataloging now has a newsline available by procedure and encourages catalogers to submit proposals. subscription. The National Coordinated Cataloging Program Michener stressed that any individual can submit proposals, has been expanded; for example, LC has entered into a coopera­ regardless of attendance at this workshop, and that there is no tive program with Sanford Berman and the Hennepin County membership requirement. Library. There is a six-month pilot project underway to add Before creating a new subject heading, check LC’s Subject Hennepin’s subject headings to LCSH. She concluded her Cataloging Manual: Subject Headings, H I93-203, as well as announcements by saying that a tremendous change is needed in the current edition of LC’s Free-floating Subdivisions. The attitudes toward cooperation. Cooperation is the only way LC manual form is illustrated in the Subject Cataloging Manual, can survive in the present financially-strapped atmosphere. H200. LC is also encouraging us to modify existing subject AFRICANA LIBRARIES NEWSLETTER 8 JULY 1994 headings as part of their new willingness to cooperate. was decided to appoint Baumann and Easterbrook to the com­ LC will accept either manual or electronic versions of the mittee. proposals. The electronic proposal form is available by dialing Finnegan noted that the meeting schedule for ALC had been up to LC Marvel (Internet address: lcmarvel@seql.loc.gov), sent in, but not officially approved yet. He noted there may be and searching the menu for cooperative cataloging programs at some possible complications since one of the presentors is not an LC. Completed electronic proposal forms should be sent to ASA member. naco-cscp@seql.loc.gov. Fax the manual forms to 202-707- Kagan reported that, in an e-mail vote, the Executive Commit­ 2824. tee had rejected a proposal to co-sponsor an African Publishers Kay Elsasser spoke about the submission of LC classification Network (APNET) roundtable at the fall 1994 meeting. Walsh proposals. Africana catalogers in ALC are interested in updat­ has offered to help them and is waiting for a response. ing the DT schedule (History of Africa), which was largely written before World War I. For this project, LC’s Subject The Committee discussed Northwestern’s proposed dates Cataloging Manual: Classification should be consulted. Work (April 28-29) for the spring 1995 meeting. It was decided to ask on this project is being coordinated by Joe Caruso of Columbia Easterbrook to look into the possibility of holding the meeting in University, and it is anticipated to take several years to com­ early May. If this is not possible the originally proposed dates plete. will be accepted. Kagan noted that Boston University is inter­ For further information, contact Bob Lesh, chair of ALC’s ested in sponsoring the spring 1996 meeting. Cataloging Committee at r-lesh@nwu.edu or 708-491-7585. The business meeting agenda was reviewed and LC reports were added. Meeting was adjourned. ALC EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING MINUTES —Elizabeth J. Plantz, Secretary Saturday, April 16, 1994, 8:30-9:30 am The meeting was called to order by A1 Kagan, Chair. Present were: Lesh, Baumann, Finnegan, Lauer, Caruso, Kagan, Nanji, RECENT MEMBER PUBLICATIONS Howell, Plantz, Schmidt, & Zellers. OR ACTIVITIES The Executive Committee discussed the make up of the Dorothy Woodson recently spent a year on a Fulbright at the Elections Committee for the fall 1994 meeting in Toronto. It Mayibuye Centre, University of the Western Cape. While there, she helped to organize the Robben Island Archives. OTHER NEWS NEWS FROM OTHER ASSOCIATIONS Book Fairs: Aug. 3-7, 1994 - Zimbabwe International Book Fair CALENDAR Oct. 1994 - Africa Books Expo ’94 (London) ALA: Aug. 5-7, 1994, Milwaukee - National Conf. of AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION: African-American Librarians. Black Caucus of ALA presents the Second National Confer­ Feb. 3-9, 1995, Philadelphia - Midwinter Meeting ence of African American Librarians, to be held August 5-7, Mar. 29-Apr. 1, 1995, Pittsburgh - ACRL National Conf. 1994, in Milwaukee, WI. Theme: Culture Keepers II: Unity June 22-29, 1995, Chicago - ALA Annual Conf. through Diversity. For additional information, contact Alex Jan. 19-25, 1996, San Antonio - Midwinter Meeting Boyd, Caucus president, 201-733-7780. June 20-27, 1996, Orlando - ALA Annual Conf. Feb. 14-20, 1997, Washington - Midwinter Meeting ALA International Relations Committee was just expanded June 26-July 2, 1997, San Francisco - ALA Annual Conf. from 9 to 12 people. A1 Kagan was appointed by the ALA 1998, New Orleans - Midwinter Meeting President to a one year term, beginning after the Miami meeting. 1998, Washington - ALA Annual Conf. The Committee advises the ALA Council. 1999, Philadelphia - Midwinter Meeting 1999, New Orleans - ALA Annual Conf. Program in Miami (June 27, 1994): Promoting Cooperation 2000, San Antonio - Midwinter Meeting and Understanding Among Librarians in the US and Africa, 2000, Chicago - ALA Annual Conf. sponsored by International Responsibilities Task Force, Social Responsibilities Round Table, International Relations Commit­ IFLA Annual Conference: tee, ALA Black Caucus: Aug. 21-27, 1994, Havana • Ismail Abdullahi, Clark Atlanta U. (Moderator); Aug. 22-26, 1995, Istanbul • Lucy Kinyanjui, Kenya Polytechnic U.; 1996, Bejing • Mary Ivy Saa Boye, U. of Ghana. 1997, Geneva • Kacem Saad, Morocco National Documentation Centre 1998, Edmonton AFRICANA LIBRARIES NEWSLETTER 9 JULY 1994 SCOLMA Zanzibar Library Project seeks donations from individuals Images of Africa was the name of a conference held on 9-10 and institutions to support a new research library for scholars in June 1994. The program included speakers on resources, the House of Wonders (Beit al-Ajaib) Museum. Priorities cataloging and storage of pictorial materials. include scholarly materials on Africa in general and East Africa in particular. It also seeks more general material for the new National Library for the general public; and Macintosh comput­ FREE MATERIALS OFFERED AND REQUESTED ers and printers (Imagewriters preferred). All donations should be sent (preferably in 12x12x18 boxes) Notes on requests for books are listed as received, to: Zanzibar Library Project, c/o Mr. Leo Robinson, ILWU Local without any endorsement by the editor, MSU orALC. 10, 400 North Point St., San Francisco, CA 94133. The longshoremen's union will ship the contributions in November K-Executive Club of Uganda (PO Box 3992, Kampala) pro­ 1994. The Project is endorsed by the Association of Concerned motes libraries, adult education and voluntary services. It seeks Africa Scholars. Questions should be directed to Ed Ferguson in new and used books on all subjects, plus financial assistance to Berkeley at 510-204-9837, through July 31st; afterwards, 413- help with shipping costs. To support the later, contact: Mr. Cliff 256-8316. B. Gosney Jr., Benevolence T.E. Inc., PO Drawer 291850, Port Orange, FL 32129-1850. PERSONNEL CHANGES Michigan State U niversity's Africana Library has a few copies of Current Development in Proficiency Evaluation for African Louise Freden is the new head of the Library at the Scandina­ Languages, edited by David J. Dwyer. 1991. 46p. OP vian Institute of African Studies. Tanzania's Environm ental Inform ation Centre seeks current Dr. P A . Awogbami (Kenneth Dike Library, University of texts on environmental monitoring management, natural re­ Ibadan, PO 20905, Ibadan) seeks a one to three-year position in sources, G.I.S., remote sensing, biodiversity, etc. Contact Ms. a university or agricultural library or library school during his Ade Towry-Coker, National Environment Management Coun­ sabbatical from 1995/1996. Advanced degrees from the Univer­ cil, P.O. Box 63154, Dar es Salaam. sity of Pittsburgh; areas of interest: CD-ROM technology and information technologies. RESEARCH ON LIBRARIES AND INFORMATION SCIENCE The following items have come to the attention of the editor. answer? ... Checks against other libraries’ holdings BOOKS & DOCUMENTS show that more than we [Institute of Commonwealth Studies] would like is also held elsewhere within the Berman, Sanford. Prejudices and Antipathies: A Tract on the University of London from which we deduce that we are LC Subject Heads Concerning People. Jefferson, NC, & Lon­ all using the same sources of supply. Such duplication don: McFarland, 1993. 211p. $19.95 pbk. of coverage is no service to scholarship.... Reprint of 1971 edition, with a new preface and forward. • Mcllwaine, J.H. “Writings on African Archives (Part 1).” Among the new subject headings requested: Afrocentric educa­ tion; Afrocentric historiography; Anti-Arabism; Cultural impe­ Cataloging Bulletin (Edina), or HCL Cataloging Bulletin from rialism; Makossa music; Mbaqanga music; Neocolonialism; the Hennepin County Library (12601 Ridgedale Dr., Minnetonka, New international economic order; New world information MN 55305-1909), no. 129 (March/April 1994) includes catalog­ order; North-South relations; Soukous (Music). e d notes on following subjects: Hansen’s disease; Southern Sudan. JOURNALS & ARTICLES International Information & Library Review, v. 26 (March 1994) includes: * Odi, A. “Library and Information Dissemina­ tion in a Traditional Society: The Igbo of Eastern Nigeria.” * African Research & Documentation, no. 62 (1993) has several Alemna, A., & E. Badu. “The Nature and Trends in Research articles of interest: and Journal Literature in English Speaking Africa.” • “European Centre for African Docum entation/Centrale européene de documentation Africaine.” A Feb. 1993 document Project for African Research Libraries Notes, v. 3, no. 2 (Winter issued by Centre set up at end of 1992 at Cergy-Pontoise 1993/Spring 1994) includes reports on two workshops (Survival (France), much to the surprise of SCOLMA. Strategies in African University Libraries; Electronic Network­ • Larby, Patricia M. “People, Places and African Studies.” A retrospective view by the recently retired librarian from the ing in West Africa) and other news. Available from AAAS Sub- Saharan Africa Program, 1333 H St., NW, Washington, DC Institute of Commonwealth Studies. Includes following obser­ 20005. This same office also issued CD-ROM for Development, vation: Many libraries now acquire African materials using v. 1, no. 2 (Winter 1993-94). agents from the UK or the States; but are they the AFRICANA LIBRARIES NEWSLETTER 10 JULY 1994 Evans, E. “Enabling South Africa: Development of an Intelli­ Association for Health Information and Libraries in Africa. gent Gateway.” Electronic Library, 11 (Aug.-Oct. 1993): 279- Newsletter No. 3, Dec. 1993. 82. Four page newsletter. Comes with membership Z$25 per­ sonal, Z$100 institutional (AHILATreasurer, c/o National Health McGillivray, R. “InfoAccess: Platform for the Distribution of Information Network, Medical Library, University of Zimba­ Southern African Information.” Electronic Library, 11 (Aug.- bwe, PO Box MP45, Mount Pleasant, Harare). Oct. 1993): 245-8. Association for Health Information and Libraries in Africa. Nweke, K.M.C. “National Libraries as Institutes of Interna­ Tenth Anniversary Commemorative Issue. Abstracts from the tional Understanding among Member States of the Economic First Three Congresses. Brazzaville: Library & Documentation Community of West African States (ECOWAS).” International Centre, WHO Regional Office for Africa, n.d. 23pp. Information & Library Review, 25 (Dec. 1993): 281-292. Bilingual (English/French) abstracts of papers from con­ gresses in 1987,1989 and 1991 on the following themes: African Phiri, P.N.C. “Why CD-ROM is Better than Online Database health sciences libraries in the year 2000, management of health Systems for Developing Countries: A Critical Review of These science libraries, and microcomputer applications in health Technologies with Reference to Libraries in Zambia.” Libri, 43 information. (Library & Documentation Centre, WHO Regional (1993): 343-. Office for Africa, PO Box 6, Brazzaville). Seeds, R .“AcademicLibrary Service in the Republic of Burundi.” Namibia. Ministry of Education and Culture. LAS News, News­ International Information & Library Review, 25 (Dec. 1993): letter of Library and Archives Services Vol. 1, No. 1, Oct./Nov. 293-, 1993. Library services, training opportunities, awards, databases Zulu, S.F.C. “Africa’s Survival Plan for Meeting the Chal­ and committees are described. The first issue is 15 pages. lenges of Information Technology in the 1990s and Beyond.” (Directorate of Library and Archives Services, Ministry of Libri, v. 44 (March 1994): 77-. Education and Culture, Private Bag 13186, Windhoek). Namibian Information Workers Association. NIWA-INFO, Vol. PUBLICATIONS OF 3, No. 6, Mar. 1993 through Vol. 4, No. 5, Jan. 1994. AFRICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATIONS The 5 issues vary in length from 20 to 28 pages. Each includes information about NIWA committees and members. Several The following notes were compiled by Nancy J. Schmidt issues include reports on seminars on coordinating information (Indiana University), who received these as part of an services in Namibia, literacy, preservation and conservation, exchange initiated during her 1992/93 term as chair ofALC. and school libraries. The Florence Agreement on Customs and Excise on Books is described in one issue. There is information Association des Documentalistes du Gabon. Annuaire des on awards, training opportunities and publications received by Centres de Documentation et des Documentalistes du Gabon NIWA. (NIWA, PO Box 3060, Windhoek; R20 for 4 issues, 1991-1992. 2e. ed. Libreville: ADG, 1992. 118 p. foreign countries). Covers 130 documentation centers and 163 documentalists. Address: BP 4018, Libreville, Gabon. REFERENCE SOURCES NOTE NEW REFERENCE TITLES Hans Zell has asked that a clarification be made concerning the The following items or issues are noted. compilation of African Books in Print. Nancy Schmidt’s “very For more titles, see the annual “Africana Reference Books” generous review” of the 4th edition oiABIP [see ALA, no. 78, p. in The African Book Publishing Record, no. 2. 10] mentions “questionnaires sent to publishers.” In fact, publishers were sent computer printouts or edit lists. Since A frican Studies A bstra cts is the new name for many publishers [46% of those contacted] failed to return the Documentatieblad, the quarterly abstracts journal of the African edit lists, “it must follow that the availability status of titles Studies Centre Leiden, starting with Vol. 25, no. 1 (1994). Each from these publishers is uncertain...” — Letter of 7 April 1994 issue contains about 450 lengthy abstracts of journal articles and to editor. chapters from edited works. The abstracts are in the language of the article (English, French or German; English summaries for Italian and other languages). Arrangement is by broad geographic region and then country, similar to that of the competing Africa Bibliography and Inter­ national African Bibliography. Instead of see-references, ab­ stracts on more than one country are simply repeated. The geographic “index” belongs with the table of contents. Includes AFRICANA LIBRARIES NEWSLETTER 11 JULY 1994 classified subject and author indexes and lists of books and Section 7 (Middle East & North Africa) has 5 maps and periodicals covered. text by A.K. Irvine & David Appelyard. Section 8 (Sub- Now published by Hans Zell Publishers, orders and remit­ Saharan Africa) by Benji Wald has an overview, population tances go to: Bailey Management Services, 127 Sandgate Rd., figures for over 1200 languages, and 35 maps. Specialists Folkestone Kent CT20 2BL, UK. Subscriptions: £80/$130 for will dispute some decisions on geographic and linguistic institutions; £40/$65 for individuals. boundaries, but the color and detail are impressive. Atlas o f the World's Languages; general editors: Christopher SARDIUS (Southern African Research, Documentation, Infor­ Moseley & R.E. Asher. London: Routledge Reference, 1994. mation User Service) is compiled by Jan Smuts House Library in ISBN 0415019257. Expensive. 372 oversize pages. 113 col. Johannesburg, in association with the South African Institute of maps. International Affairs, the Commission of the European Commu­ General index has names of ca. 9000 languages. Introduction nities and the University of the Witwatersrand Library. It is mentions Meillet & Cohen (1952) as earlier atlas. Other general edited by J. Kalley and E. Schoeman. It is available on CD-ROM sources such as Ethnologue, Ruhlen and linguistic compendi- for R800 ($300 outside South Africa), plus R500 ($200) for ums and encyclopedias are mentioned for non-map detail. annual updates, from Jutastat, POB 14373, Kenwyn 7790 South Africa. LETTERS & OPINIONS In this section, the editor hopes to publish letters and essays 3. Analysis by individual titles of those with best and worst that challenge prevailing practices or beliefs. ratios showed some highly specialist and expensive titles lead­ In all cases, the opinions expressed are those of the writer. ing the list. The actual number of reviews for an individual title No endorsement by the editor or ALC or MSU is intended. does affect sales. 4. Of the 46 titles reviewed (in 321 reviews), 45.7% (21 titles) were rated highly favorable; 36.9% were favorable; 14.6% were ANALYSIS OF THE REVIEWING OF mixed; and only 2.2% were negative. HANS ZELL PUBLISHERS TITLES 5. Journals with the best record of publishing reviews: Choice, by Hans Zell Focus on International & Comparative Librarianship, African Research & Documentation, World Literature Today, African The following is a editorial summary of a document Affairs, and West Africa. Journals with worst record: Library (“Hans Zell Publishers Titles Reviewed in Academic Journal, Journal of Modern African Studies, Review o f African and Library Journals, 1989-1993: An Analysis and Evalu­ Political Economy, Southern African Review o f Books, Cana­ ation”) distributed in February by Hans Zell. For the dian Journal o f African Studies, and Third World Quarterly. complete document, contact: Hans M. Zell, 11 Richmond And there is no evidence that any journals actually return review Rd., PO Box 56, Oxford OX1 2SJ, England. copies when they decide against reviewing. 6. A comparison of sales and published reviews provides evi­ Hans Zell Publishers, an imprint of Bowker-Saur Ltd., are dence that favorable reviews, and a good number of them, have publishers of library references resources in African and Third a positive effect on sales. Reviews in library journals (especially World studies. Until 1993, they also published a number of Choice and Library Journal) generate more sales than those in (non-reference) monographs in series. During the years 1989- academic journals. 1993, they published 54 titles, including 30 reference works. 7. Reviews of reference books in academic journals tend to be more favorable than reviews, frequently by librarians, in library The following analysis of journal practices is based on reviews journals. that came to our attention, mostly via scanning journals. Only 8. The few unfavorable reviews are usually justified, but an a small number of journals actually mailed clippings of their unfavorable review of one title (that received numerous favor­ reviews. Review copies were sent to a core list of 10-15 African able reviews) was judged to be both unfair and harmful to sales, studies periodicals, about 8 major library journals, and occa­ without providing the publisher with an adequate chance to sionally other journals or magazines. (These review copies were reply. usually 3-4% of the print run of 575 to 750 copies.) 9. Many requests for review copies are simply requests for free copies. Major findings: 1. Average time between mailing and appearance of a review Essay concludes with details for each title on number of was just under 12 months, with the first review usually appear­ copies mailed and reviews that came to their attention. ing 6-7 months after mailing. Of the 20 titles received an unsatisfactory ratio of re­ 2. For the 32 titles published through August 1992, the number views (under 40%), 13 were non-reference monographs of reviews ranged from 4% to 100% of the titles mailed, with an (collected papers), 2 were new editions, 1 was a Third average of only 37%. For reference works, the average was World reference title, and 1 was an index to a single 45.2%, versus 29.1% for other monographs or edited collections journal. In general, journal publishers are willing to of papers. A ratio of 40-50% can probably be considered as review the new reference titles, but not the others. And satisfactory. this seems to reflect their impression of the publisher’s strength relative to other publishers. —Editor. AFRICANA LIBRARIES NEWSLETTER 12 JULY 1994 NOTES ON MATERIALSAND VENDORS VENDOR ANNOUNCEMENTS BOOK AWARDS Africa Book C entre Ltd. (38 King St., Covent Garden, London National Awards for Book Development, sponsored by the WC2E 8JT) are the distributors for Haan, a specialist publisher Nigerian Book Foundation, went to: of books about Somalia. • Edmund Asare, Book Illustrator of the Year Award; • Academy Press PLC, Outstanding Book Printer Award; African Book Collective Ltd (ABC). Hans Zell has announced • Fourth Dimension Publishing Co., Legal Deposit Award; he is leaving ABC and the Noma Award to pursue other inter­ • Evans Brothers (Nigeria) Ltd., Legal Deposit Award; ests. He will relinquish overall responsibility for ABC’s opera­ • Chinua Achebe, Outstanding Achievement tions at the end of June 1995, when his colleague Mary Jay will Award for Writers; assume the role of senior consultant. He will continue to be • Wole Soyinka, Outstanding Achievement for Writers. available in a consultative position; and ABC will appoint a The maiden awards ceremony was held in Lagos on 28 April Trainee Manager. 1994. Further details available from the Foundation, POB 1132, At the end of 1995, Hans Zell will also step down as Secretary Awka, Nigeria. to the Managing Committee of the Noma Award for Publishing in Africa. He will continue to develop the list of Hans Zell Publishers (an imprint of Bowker-Saur Ltd./Reed Reference EVENTS Publishing) in a freelance capacity. And he will continue as editor of the quarterly African Book Publishing Record. Africa Books Expo ’94 will be in October 1994 at Friends House, Euston Rd., London. Details with Toby Milner, Africa African Im print L ibrary Services (236 Main St., Falmouth, Book Centre, 38 King St., London WC2E 8JT. MA 02540; tel: 508-540-5378) has lists of “Titles Recently Received” for various countries, including Malawi. It also Zimbabwe International Book F air will be held 3-7 August produces lists by subject, e.g. Women’s Studies. 1994 in Harare on the theme “Science and Technology.” More than 200 exhibitors are expected, including up to 50 from the Clarke’s Bookshop (211 Long St., Cape Town) issued its South Africa. The program of satellite events at ZIBP94 Catalogue 88, which has about 500 older titles and 500 current includes the first African Rights Indaba, an international confer­ publications. ence on African rights protection and trading. Further informa­ tion available from POB CY 1179, Causeway, Zimbabwe; or Librairie Kongo (BP 65, F-08600 Givet, France) has issues its Margaret Ling, ZIBP (UK), 25 Endymion Rd., London N4 1EE. first catalog of “Livres anciens et modernes sur l’Afrique et divers tropiques.” LITERATURE ON THE BOOK TRADE Linguistique Africaine (Université de Paris 7, U.F.R.L., T.C. 9è étage, 2 Place jussieu, 75251 PARIS cedex 05) has announced Mbanga, Trish (Director, ZIBP). “The Zimbabwe International a new series: Les Documents de Linguistique Africaine. The Book Fair: Africa’s Publishing Showcase,” African Book Pub­ first 3 titles are reproductions of Paris theses. lishing Record, v. 19, no. 4 (1993): 223-7. Rhodes U niversity’s Dept, of Political Science has prepared an “Publishing in Africa: The Crisis and the Challenge: An ASA extensive, indexed set of Press Clips on South A frica’s Trans­ Roundtable.” African Book Publishing Record, v. 20, no. 1 formation, mostly drawn from The Weekly Mail and covering (1994): 13-22, includes the complete (slightly edited) papers February 1990 to May 1994. About 5000 items are arranged into presented at the ASA Roundtable in Boston. These are: 100 categories. The Collection is available from Joan Muller, • Bgoya, Walter. “Taking Books to the Non-Literary Market who compiled the collection, or from the secretary at: Interna­ Place.” Managing Director of Mkuku na Nyota Publishers tional Studies Unit, Rhodes University, PO Box 94, Grahamstown discusses ways to promote reading in East Africa. 6140, South Africa. Cost: $1000 plus $100 postage (surface • Nwankwo, Victor. “Access to New Technologies for Africa’s mail). Publishers.” Cover his experiences with computers as Managing Director, Fourth Dimension Publishing Co. Robyn Michaels (6916 N. Wayne, Chicago, IL 60626; tel: 312- • Brickhill, Paul. “Regional and Collaborative Approaches in 973-3663) offers a color reprint of the original George Peter African Publishing.” Focuses on APNET (African Publishers’ Murdock ethnic map of Africa. Single copies are $10 & $3 p&h, Network). with substantial discounts for multiple copies. • Chakava, Henry. “Discussant’s presentation.” Yoruba Book Center (610 New York Ave., Brooklyn, NY African Publishing Review (available from APNET, POB 4209, 11203) distributed a list of African and Afro-Cuban books, Harare) appears 6 times per year. In addition to news about cassettes and compact discs in Spanish. publishers and some new books, there are country reports for Ghana, Mozambique and Zambia (Vol. 3, no. 1 - Jan/Feb 1994) and Kenya, Uganda and Zaire (Vol. 3, no. 2). AFRICANA LIBRARIES NEWSLETTER 13 JULY 1994 Bellagio Publishing Network Newsletter, no. 10 (June 1994), South African Journal of International Affairs (SAJIA), v. 1, no. includes reports on a symposium (23 March) organized the 1- (Spring 1993), is a new bi-annual issued by the South African Southern African Book Development Education Trust (SABDET), Institute of International Affairs. Along with the Jan Smuts the African Books Collective, and publishing in Nigeria, Kenya, House Newsletter (a gratis quarterly for Institute member), Senegal and Zambia. SAJIA replaces the Institute’s International Affairs Bulletin and Southern Africa Record which have ceased. ONLINE FILES Tanzania Zamani is being revived by the Dept, of History, University of Dar es Salaam, in conjunction with the Historical Electronic Mail Information for Africanists is available from the Association of Tanzania. Subscriptions (outside Tanzania) are University of Pennsylvania’s Pennlnfo where there is a bulletin $20/£12 for institutions or $15/£8 for individuals from: Dept, of board on the Internet created specifically for Africanists. To History, UDSM, PO Box 30505, Dar es Salaam. access information, telnet “penninfo.upenn.edu.” After con­ necting to the BNBS, choose “Interdisciplinary programs” and then “African Studies.” NEW SERIALS Black Studies on the University of Missouri-St. Louis’ African- See also new serials in Research on Libraries & American Collection gopher includes: Information Science and in References Sources. 1. Black Studies gophers on the Internet; 2. Internet Resource Guide “Black/African Development” African Affairs Bulletin (vol. 1, no. 1 (Spring 1994)) is the (McGee); newsletter of the Center for African Studies, Central State 11. Somalia Army Area Handbook 1993. University (Wilberforce, Ohio 45385), which is one of four This can be reached by gopher at host: umslvma.umsl.edu. undergraduate national resource centers. The initial 8-page Path=l/ Library/ Subjects/ BlackStudies. — AFAS Newsletter, issue has brief articles on African culture, plus institutional Spring 1994. news. Information Bank on African Development Studies (IBADS) The ANITEPAM Bulletin is the newsletter of the African Net­ is an electronic mailing service of the World Bank’s Africa work of Institutions of Theological Education Preparing Angli­ Technical Department. IBADS consists of an index and a list of cans for Ministry. The first issue appeared in September 1994. abstracts of studies undertaken by the Africa Technical Dept. In Subscriptions rates are $12.50 for 3 issues in 1994; $15 for 4 order to subscribe, send to Listserv@tome.worldbank.org the issues in 1995. Payment by check in U.S. dollars payable to following message: Subscribe IBADS [first name] [last name]. “Virginia Theological Seminary (ANITEPAM)” should be sent Include your specialty, organization, address and subject of to ANITEPAM, Trinity Bible College, PO Box 72430, Nairobi, interest in the message. Kenya. The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Free Press Hal-Abuur (Journal of Somali Literature and Culture) is an Newsletter (May/June 1994) may be accessed via anonymous ftp independent journal in Somali and English. Annual subscrip­ from: wmail.misanet.org in the directory: /pub/FreePress. tions: $31 for individuals; $52 for institutions. Address: POB Filename: misamay.txt. 3476, London SE15 5QP. Weekly Mail (excluding the parts that are sourced from The Questions actuelles: revue trimestrielle internationale des cul­ Guardian, the Washington Post or Le Monde) is now available tures et sociétés africianes. No. 1 (3e trim. 1993)-. Published in an electronic version that is E-mailed each Friday to subscrib­ by Les Editions du Pharaon, BP 06-1079, Cotonou. Overseas ers. South African price is R250 per year for individuals; R1000 price: $20 per number; $75 per year. for organizations. Overseas price is SlOO per year for individu­ als; $500 for organizations. Discounts available for students and other African or Latin American addresses. Enquiries VIDEOS should be directed to: wmail-info@wmail.misanet.org. First Run/Icarus Films has issued 9 new releases about South Africa in transition. For details about sale or rental, contact SERIAL CHANGES them at: 153 Waverly Place, 6th Floor, New York, NY 10014. Tel: 212-727-1711 or 800-876-1710. Historiens et géographes du Sénégal is an annual from Ecole normale Supérieure (Dakar). Address: B.P. 5036, Dakar. 6 Kofi chez les français = Kofi, an African in France is a 58- issues have appeared. Subscription of $20 may be made to minute 1993 documentary in French, with English subtitles, Joseph Lauer, c/o David Robinson, History Dept., Morrill Hall, about an African immigrant elected mayor of a small town in Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824. France. Contact Karin Farnworth, National Film & Television School, Station Rd., Beaconsfield, Bucks HP9 1LG, England. Industrial and Social Relations Journal, previously known as U.S. contact: Beth Epstein at 7-18832-6327. the Industrial Relations Journal of South Africa, is now avail­ able from the Graduate School of Business, University of Stellenbosch, Bellville, South Africa. Vol. 13, nos. 3/4 includes author and title indexes for vols. 1-13 (1981-1993). Subscrip­ tions (foreign): R100 per year. AFRICANA LIBRARIES NEWSLETTER 14 JULY 1994 SELECTED NEW BOOKS Jaggar, Philip J. The Blacksmiths of Kano City: A Study in Tradition, innovation and Entrepreneurship in the Twentieth This section is generally limited to titles outside the Century. Cologne: R üdiger Koppe V erlag, 1994? regular book trade, or titles received by the editor. (Westafrikanische Studies, Frankfurter Beiträge zur Sprach- Many more titles and/or details on publisher addresses und Kulturgeschichte; v. 2). can be found in Joint Acquisitions List of Africana (6 issues per year available for $50 from Northwestern University Library), Lusignan, Guy de. Political Conditions o f Development: Africa The African Book Publishing Record (Hans Zell Publishers), American Book Publishing Record (Bowker), Accessions List: in the Year 2000 andBeyond. Bloomington, IN: School of Public Eastern and Southern Africa (LC Office, Nairobi), and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, 1994. 30p. or in one of the current national bibliographies. (Occasional paper, no.32) $5 from School, SPEA RM 241, IU, Bloomington, IN 47405. Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Center for Human Rights (1206 30th S t, NW, Washington, DC 20007; tel: 202-333-1880) McGarry, Richard G. The Subtle Slant: A Cross-linguistic issued: Discourse Analysis Model for Evaluating Interethnic Conflict • Failing the Democratic Challenge: Freedom o f Expression in in the Press. Boone, NC: Parkway Publishers, 1994. Based on Multi-Party Kenya, 1993, by Joel A. Solomon; edited by James the Otieno court case concerning burial in Kenya. $35 (or $45 J. Silk. 76p. outside the US) from Box 3768, Boone, NC 38607. Tel: 704- • Justice Enjoined: The State o f the Judiciary in Kenya, by 265-3993. Drew S. Days et al. 90p. SPECIAL ISSUES OF JOURNALS “Beira, Mozambique: Learning from Life in a Distant City” is an education pack produced by the Southern Africa Resource Cen­ “History Making in Africa.” History and Theory, Beiheft 32 tre. Available for £9.50 plus £2 p+p from SARC, 6 West S t, Old (1993). Includes articles by V.Y. Mudimbe and B. Jewsiewicki, Market, St. Phillip’s, Bristol BS2 0BH. Jean-Loup Amselle, David Schoenbrun, Jocelyne Dakhlia, David Coplan and Patrick Harries. Available from: Wesleyan Univer­ History o f the Galla (Oromo) o f Ethiopia, by Bahrey, Almeida, sity, 287 High S t, Middletown, CT 06459. Huntingford & Beckingham; intro, by Donald N. Levine. 1993. 93p. Available from: African Sun Publishing, PO Box 21365, “Women and Change.” SASH, v. 36, no. 3 (Jan. 1994). Pub­ Oakland, CA 94620. lished by the Black Sash, 5 Long S t, 7700 Mowbray, South Africa. •uoijnjpsui ¿jiunjuoddo-jvnbz ‘uoijov-d<\i}vuuiffv uv si fiS W \Z 'ON lira-raj ££0T-tZ88fr ueSiipM ‘S u is u b i }seg im ‘Suisutn -a J9JU33 1BU01}BUJ3)UI 00T diva X lIS J3 A tU fl 3JBJS U B iftip iJ V aovxsoa s n U3JN33 sa ia a is nvdihjv •gjQ ILJOjj-uojsi