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Namibian National Bibliography, 1971–1975
214
Namibischc
Book reviews
Nationrl-BibHog~phie/N8mib~
Ndioanl
Bibliography,
19714975.
meyer. Basel: Basler Afrika Bibliographien, 1978. xxxviii, 242 pp. Communications Bibliography, Vol. 20. SFr 63.00. ISBN 3-9800277-2-4. Namibischc
N8tlonrl-Biblloltrrpbic/N8mibian
National Bibliography,
By Eckhard Strohfrom the Base1 Africa
1976-1977. By Eckhard Stroh-
meyer. Basel: Basler Afrika Bibliographien, 1979. xx, 168 pp. Communications Bibliography, Vol. 21. SFr 54.00. ISBN 3-9800277-3-2.
from the Base1 Africa
Among students and scholars of Namibia it is now possible to speak of the pre-Strohmeyer era in bibliographical matters, and in due course Strohmeyer beyond doubt will be hailed as the Mendelssohn of Namibian bibliography. This phenomenon began in 1975 with the appearance of Volume One of Strohmeyer and Moritz’s Umfassende Bibliographic der Vtilker Namibiens (Stiidwestafrika) und Siidwestangolas (Starnberg: Max-Planck-Institut, 1975). It has continued almost unabated with the publication in 1978 and 1979 of the Namibian National Bibliography (NNB), of which further supplements are expected to appear annually. In compiling the NNB Strohmeyer is providing an indispensable source of bibliographical data for all students of current Namibian affairs. In the first volume the bilingual introduction clearly outlines the nature, scope and content of this important project, relating it both to the Namibian situation and to the specific need for a Namibian national bibliography. As the compiler correctly indicates, until now there has been no attempt to provide a comprehensive and ongoing national bibliography of Namibian publications, not even within the scope of the South African National Bibliography (which in fact virtually ignores Namibia). Furthermore, the undeveloped nature of the country and its sparse population mean that indigenous publications are minimal in number; at the same time international interest in Namibia is such that scores of monographs, articles and documents appear each year on a wide range of topics related to this part of southern Africa. For these reasons Strohmeyer attempts to construct each volume of the NNB on the broadest possible definition: “a listing of titles of monographs, pamphlets, journal articles, and similar documents of Namibian interest, published anywhere in the world” (1971-1975, p. xvii). For any country, even Namibia, this is an ambitious undertaking, particularly when Strohmeyer includes items only after he has actually seen and evaluated them. “Brbliographical references to hitherto unseen documents have been held back by the author for future’autopsy’and completion”( 1971-1975, p. xx). To accomplish this task he relies primarily on seven major collections of Namibian publications: Basler Afrika Bibliographien, his personal library, South West Africa Scientific Society (Windhoek), State Archives (Windhoek), Archives of the Rhenish Missionary Society (Windhoek), Stadt- und Universitittsbibliothek (Frankfurt), Christian Centre of South West Africa (Windhoek). For the most part, particularly in the 1976-1977 volume, only the first two of these libraries figure significantly as contributing locations; since a bibliography of this sort can be only as comprehensive as the sources of data themselves, one wonders just how adequate Strohmeyer’s personal library and that of the Basle Africa Bibliography can be. Furthermore, without contributions from such major collections as the Library of Congress, Dag Hammarskjold Library or Northwestern University, it seems likely that there will be significant Iacunae in the NNB. Each volume of the Bibliography consists of two parts: a classified listing of entries and an author/ title index. The classified section consists of numbered entries (l-2014 in 1971-1975; 2015-3187 in 1976-1977) arranged according to Dewey (with headings in German and English). Each entry includes a full bibliographical citation (author, title, journal title and volume, pagination). Some items, usually those with vague titles, are annotated in the language of the entry or in German. In addition location symbols are included for every item listed, giving the NNB value as a union catalogue. The author/title index comprises all personal and corporate authors together with the names of editors, compilers, joint authors and contributors. The titles of anonymous and vernacular works, but not of items with named authors, are interfiled in this sequence; it is important to consult the filing rules described in the 197 1-1975 volume (pp. xxx-xxxi) for treatment of indigenous languages. Each volume includes a list of symbols for the location of entries, a list of journal abbreviations, separate lists of contents in German and English (including the classified listing). There is no detailed subject index, which is an important omission in view of the broad classification of entires. To date the NNB has listed 3187 items of Namibiana, and it is fair to question the range of coverage exhibited in these items. To begin with there is no list of periodicals from which articles are taken, so it is difficult to ascertain the thoroughness of coverage in this area. On the whole it is clear that the existing Namibian serials are treated quite fully, but the same cannot be said of foreign periodicals. For example, few of the major development studies journals (Journal of Developing Areas, Journal of Development Studies, Third World Quarterly, etc.) appear to have been scanned, yet in terms of Namibian economic
Book reviews
275
and social development these can be significant sources of information. As a result. the writings of such Namibia experts as R.H. Green are not represented. This is a serious omission for a compilation which purports to cover Namibian materials “published anywhere in the world.” and it is repeated for every form of documentation. including monographs and official publications. Every year various UN agencies bombard the public with information on Namibia: in these two volumes something less than three doTen UN publications are listed-and that for seven years! No. Strohmeyer clearly does not live up to his claim. Having said this. one must not chastise the compiler too harshly. for in his coverage of materials published cc.ifhin Namibia (and to some extent within South Africa) he has succeeded admirably in providing us with a comprehensive and up-to-date bibliography. Government agencies. churches. missions. interest groups. professional associations..research institutions and scientific associations all come within Strohmeyer’s coverage. Reports. essays. newspaper articles.journal articles. annual reports and specialist monographs issued by any of these bodies are included regardless of their political views. To give but one example. publications on politics in the 1976-1977 volume cover such topics as the political situation. relation of state to individuals. elections and referenda. migrations and colonization. legislation. and political parties. The first of these (political situation) includes 65 entries. ranging from Colin Winter’s Namibia to essays in S. W.A. Annual and articles in the Times yf Namibia. as well as several South African publications. Libraries and bibliographical tools available to most of us provide adequate information on foreign pubications about Namibia. What they do not manage to provide are data on indigenous output. and this is Strohmeyer’s particular strength. The sciences. social sciencesand humanities are all dealt with most thoroughly. and scholars interested in tracing both primary source materials (including much “fugitive” documentation) and interpretive documents from Namibia will find Strohmeyer an indispensible guide. One hopes that future NNB supplements will not claim to be so comprehensive but instead concentrate on what the available volumes have already done-providing accurate and complete data on the full range of publications issued in Namibia. G.E. GORMAN The Library Institute of Development Studies The University of Sussex Falmer Brighton BNI 9RE England
Opinions of the Office of Legal Counsel of the United States Department of Justice; Consisting of Selected Memorandum Opinions Advising the President of the United States, the Attorney General, and other Executive Officers of the Federal Government in Relation to their Official Duties.U.S. Department of Justice. Washington, 027-000-0080 I -1.
D.C.:
Government
Printing
Office,
1980. 305 pp. $10.00.
(J 1.5/4:977)
S/N
The lengthy title of this volume is an accurate description of the contents of the volume and prqjected series. The memoranda were selected by the editor with the consent of the addressees. According to the editor only twenty-five % of those informal opinions rendered by the Office of Legal Counsel during I977 are represented in this volume. The opinions are informational only. They are not signed by the Attorney General. Although the Office of Legal Counsel has been issuing informal opinions since 1925. this is the first published collection of its opinions. The volume is a treasure chest of front page news stories. Among the 73 opinions included are those on controversial topics such as the “Power of a State Legislature to Rescind its Ratification of a Constitutional Amendment.” “Liability of Government for Retroactive Veterans Benefits Where Discharges are Upgraded.” and “Dues-Paying Practices of Private Clubs-Discriminatory Practices.” Although theadressee may (and I am sure many did) veto the inclusion of an opinion. the issuance of any volume of the informal opinions of the Office of Legal Counsel of the Department of Justice is a step forward. One hopes that the Office of Legal Counsel will stick to its prqjected annual publication schedule. The foreword contains a concise history of the Office of Legal Counsel. Department of Justice. since its inception in 1925. along with a statement of its statutory authority. The volume was distributed to federal
Namibischc
Book reviews
Nationrl-BibHog~phie/N8mib~
Ndioanl
Bibliography,
19714975.
meyer. Basel: Basler Afrika Bibliographien, 1978. xxxviii, 242 pp. Communications Bibliography, Vol. 20. SFr 63.00. ISBN 3-9800277-2-4. Namibischc
N8tlonrl-Biblloltrrpbic/N8mibian
National Bibliography,
By Eckhard Strohfrom the Base1 Africa
1976-1977. By Eckhard Stroh-
meyer. Basel: Basler Afrika Bibliographien, 1979. xx, 168 pp. Communications Bibliography, Vol. 21. SFr 54.00. ISBN 3-9800277-3-2.
from the Base1 Africa
Among students and scholars of Namibia it is now possible to speak of the pre-Strohmeyer era in bibliographical matters, and in due course Strohmeyer beyond doubt will be hailed as the Mendelssohn of Namibian bibliography. This phenomenon began in 1975 with the appearance of Volume One of Strohmeyer and Moritz’s Umfassende Bibliographic der Vtilker Namibiens (Stiidwestafrika) und Siidwestangolas (Starnberg: Max-Planck-Institut, 1975). It has continued almost unabated with the publication in 1978 and 1979 of the Namibian National Bibliography (NNB), of which further supplements are expected to appear annually. In compiling the NNB Strohmeyer is providing an indispensable source of bibliographical data for all students of current Namibian affairs. In the first volume the bilingual introduction clearly outlines the nature, scope and content of this important project, relating it both to the Namibian situation and to the specific need for a Namibian national bibliography. As the compiler correctly indicates, until now there has been no attempt to provide a comprehensive and ongoing national bibliography of Namibian publications, not even within the scope of the South African National Bibliography (which in fact virtually ignores Namibia). Furthermore, the undeveloped nature of the country and its sparse population mean that indigenous publications are minimal in number; at the same time international interest in Namibia is such that scores of monographs, articles and documents appear each year on a wide range of topics related to this part of southern Africa. For these reasons Strohmeyer attempts to construct each volume of the NNB on the broadest possible definition: “a listing of titles of monographs, pamphlets, journal articles, and similar documents of Namibian interest, published anywhere in the world” (1971-1975, p. xvii). For any country, even Namibia, this is an ambitious undertaking, particularly when Strohmeyer includes items only after he has actually seen and evaluated them. “Brbliographical references to hitherto unseen documents have been held back by the author for future’autopsy’and completion”( 1971-1975, p. xx). To accomplish this task he relies primarily on seven major collections of Namibian publications: Basler Afrika Bibliographien, his personal library, South West Africa Scientific Society (Windhoek), State Archives (Windhoek), Archives of the Rhenish Missionary Society (Windhoek), Stadt- und Universitittsbibliothek (Frankfurt), Christian Centre of South West Africa (Windhoek). For the most part, particularly in the 1976-1977 volume, only the first two of these libraries figure significantly as contributing locations; since a bibliography of this sort can be only as comprehensive as the sources of data themselves, one wonders just how adequate Strohmeyer’s personal library and that of the Basle Africa Bibliography can be. Furthermore, without contributions from such major collections as the Library of Congress, Dag Hammarskjold Library or Northwestern University, it seems likely that there will be significant Iacunae in the NNB. Each volume of the Bibliography consists of two parts: a classified listing of entries and an author/ title index. The classified section consists of numbered entries (l-2014 in 1971-1975; 2015-3187 in 1976-1977) arranged according to Dewey (with headings in German and English). Each entry includes a full bibliographical citation (author, title, journal title and volume, pagination). Some items, usually those with vague titles, are annotated in the language of the entry or in German. In addition location symbols are included for every item listed, giving the NNB value as a union catalogue. The author/title index comprises all personal and corporate authors together with the names of editors, compilers, joint authors and contributors. The titles of anonymous and vernacular works, but not of items with named authors, are interfiled in this sequence; it is important to consult the filing rules described in the 197 1-1975 volume (pp. xxx-xxxi) for treatment of indigenous languages. Each volume includes a list of symbols for the location of entries, a list of journal abbreviations, separate lists of contents in German and English (including the classified listing). There is no detailed subject index, which is an important omission in view of the broad classification of entires. To date the NNB has listed 3187 items of Namibiana, and it is fair to question the range of coverage exhibited in these items. To begin with there is no list of periodicals from which articles are taken, so it is difficult to ascertain the thoroughness of coverage in this area. On the whole it is clear that the existing Namibian serials are treated quite fully, but the same cannot be said of foreign periodicals. For example, few of the major development studies journals (Journal of Developing Areas, Journal of Development Studies, Third World Quarterly, etc.) appear to have been scanned, yet in terms of Namibian economic
Book reviews
275
and social development these can be significant sources of information. As a result. the writings of such Namibia experts as R.H. Green are not represented. This is a serious omission for a compilation which purports to cover Namibian materials “published anywhere in the world.” and it is repeated for every form of documentation. including monographs and official publications. Every year various UN agencies bombard the public with information on Namibia: in these two volumes something less than three doTen UN publications are listed-and that for seven years! No. Strohmeyer clearly does not live up to his claim. Having said this. one must not chastise the compiler too harshly. for in his coverage of materials published cc.ifhin Namibia (and to some extent within South Africa) he has succeeded admirably in providing us with a comprehensive and up-to-date bibliography. Government agencies. churches. missions. interest groups. professional associations..research institutions and scientific associations all come within Strohmeyer’s coverage. Reports. essays. newspaper articles.journal articles. annual reports and specialist monographs issued by any of these bodies are included regardless of their political views. To give but one example. publications on politics in the 1976-1977 volume cover such topics as the political situation. relation of state to individuals. elections and referenda. migrations and colonization. legislation. and political parties. The first of these (political situation) includes 65 entries. ranging from Colin Winter’s Namibia to essays in S. W.A. Annual and articles in the Times yf Namibia. as well as several South African publications. Libraries and bibliographical tools available to most of us provide adequate information on foreign pubications about Namibia. What they do not manage to provide are data on indigenous output. and this is Strohmeyer’s particular strength. The sciences. social sciencesand humanities are all dealt with most thoroughly. and scholars interested in tracing both primary source materials (including much “fugitive” documentation) and interpretive documents from Namibia will find Strohmeyer an indispensible guide. One hopes that future NNB supplements will not claim to be so comprehensive but instead concentrate on what the available volumes have already done-providing accurate and complete data on the full range of publications issued in Namibia. G.E. GORMAN The Library Institute of Development Studies The University of Sussex Falmer Brighton BNI 9RE England
Opinions of the Office of Legal Counsel of the United States Department of Justice; Consisting of Selected Memorandum Opinions Advising the President of the United States, the Attorney General, and other Executive Officers of the Federal Government in Relation to their Official Duties.U.S. Department of Justice. Washington, 027-000-0080 I -1.
D.C.:
Government
Printing
Office,
1980. 305 pp. $10.00.
(J 1.5/4:977)
S/N
The lengthy title of this volume is an accurate description of the contents of the volume and prqjected series. The memoranda were selected by the editor with the consent of the addressees. According to the editor only twenty-five % of those informal opinions rendered by the Office of Legal Counsel during I977 are represented in this volume. The opinions are informational only. They are not signed by the Attorney General. Although the Office of Legal Counsel has been issuing informal opinions since 1925. this is the first published collection of its opinions. The volume is a treasure chest of front page news stories. Among the 73 opinions included are those on controversial topics such as the “Power of a State Legislature to Rescind its Ratification of a Constitutional Amendment.” “Liability of Government for Retroactive Veterans Benefits Where Discharges are Upgraded.” and “Dues-Paying Practices of Private Clubs-Discriminatory Practices.” Although theadressee may (and I am sure many did) veto the inclusion of an opinion. the issuance of any volume of the informal opinions of the Office of Legal Counsel of the Department of Justice is a step forward. One hopes that the Office of Legal Counsel will stick to its prqjected annual publication schedule. The foreword contains a concise history of the Office of Legal Counsel. Department of Justice. since its inception in 1925. along with a statement of its statutory authority. The volume was distributed to federal