- Email: [email protected]
Subject guide to major United States government publications
492
Reviews
can discover if the organization engages in social services, refugee sanctuary, legal aid, political organizing, community education, religious liaison, human rights advocacy, research, resource center work, and/or cultural activities. As an aid to finding information, the directory has six indices that list the organizations by a variety of other criteria, including group name, contact person, activities, etc. In addition, the volume has two appendices that contain pertinent information on 30 private and 16 government refugee- and immigrant-related organizations and agencies that did not make their way into the directory. Schorr began his research by sending about 4,000 questionnaires to potential groups throughout the United States. Of the nearly 2,300 returned, he included only those that provide direct services. Since that questionnaire served as the chief conduit of information for the book, he would do his readers a service by including a copy of it or at least a description of the questions used. In addition, while the political orientation of the organizations is often implicit, the directory could have provided more explanation of the politics and guiding principles of those organizations whose convictions are hardly captured by brief service statements. Cross-references to ways of finding help in various social services would add some more depth to Schorr’s coverage. Even though, as he points out, “the foreign born have a unique set of needs” (p. 9), they also share common human needs and may like to know where to look for more information. Moreover, while the directory contains a wealth of information, it does not make mention of the funding sources of each organization. In some cases that would be information that is either irrelevant or impossible to ascertain; but for many, it is crucial and a matter of public record. For example, the Office of Refugee Resettlement of the Department of Health and Human Services published a report (which Schorr does not mention in his reference to that office) that lists government grants awarded to private groups, most of which are in Schorr’s directory. As the government contracts with voluntary agencies, so they become part of a policy network that affects services to refugees and immigrants alike. Alan Schorr’s book is an outstanding resource and a pioneer in its field. While there are a few local directories, none have encompassed organizations around the nation as does the Directory of Services fhr Ref~~gees and Immigrants. Because his work is built on facts, Schorr realizes that “the material is already dated” (p. 10). His form seeking “Suggestions, Corrections, and Additions” (p. 377) is a ready promise that he will continue to provide his thorough and helpful guidance for years to come. NOTES
1. U.S. Congress, House, Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees and International Law of the Judiciary Committee. Hearing on H.R. 1452: Refugees p. 26.
Assistance
Extension
Act ~$1985, 99th Cong., 1st Session, 17 April 1985,
PAUL JEROME CROCE Department of History Rollins College Winter Park, FL 32789 USA
Subject Guide to Major United States Government Publications. Wiley J. Williams. 2nd ed. Chicago, IL: American Library Association, 1987. 257 pp. ISBN 0-8389-0475-O. LC 87-1152. $21.95. Not all librarians are born knowing government documents, and so it is nice to know that volumes such as Williams’ Subject Guide to Major United States Government Publicmtions are around to help them find their way. This volume is a resurvey of Hirshberg and Melinat’s Subject Guide to United Stutes Government Publications (ALA, 1947) and Ellen Jackson’s Subject Guide to Major United States Government Publications (ALA, 1968). This second edition expands on both titles with 60 percent new material. The Subject Gmde covers sources from the earliest federal period to 1986. Works are included that have lasting or continuing importance and are useful over the years. As Williams himself states in the preface, “[T] his guide selectively attempts to identify some of the publications of permanent importance” (p. viii). Like Jackson’s work, this volume also includes publications not distributed by the Government Printing Office (GPO) but by agencies themselves such as the board of Governors
Reviews
493
of the Federal Reserve System and the National Technical Information Service. However, individual bibliographies and audiovisual materials produced by government agencies are not included; information concerning these may be acquired through the indexes and catalogs in Appendix I. It is that gives the book its strength. Williams had to be this bent toward “enduring significance” selective in his choice of works to include under each heading, but each topic is well represented, if not by several entries, then by one or two choice ones. Entries are arranged alphabetically by subject. Subject headings are Library of Congress standard with a few variations worth mentioning. Inverted headings have been dropped with two exceptions: “Kennedy, John Fitzgerald, Pres. U.S. 1917-1963 - Assassination” and “Pearl Harbor, Attack on, 1941.” In addition, “United States” is omitted in subject entries, for example “Laws” instead of “United States - Laws.” Each entry consists of the full title of the document, as well as personal authors or editors (if any); publication date; pagination; the inclusion of any illustrations, maps, or other graphic information within the publication; issuing agency; and Superintendent of Documents (SuDocs) number. Most entries include a brief annotation. Williams supplements these annotations with information notes (marked by a triangle). These direct the reader to other useful government and non-government titles. Each subject heading used in the Guide’s predecessors has been individually examined by Williams before inclusion in this volume. This was done to determine if: a) the title and subject are of continuing importance; b) the title has been changed, updated, or issued by a different agency and so has a new Superintendent of Documents classification number; c) the subject heading as entered in the tenth edition (1986) of the Library of Congress Subject Headings has changed from an earlier heading; or d) the title has changed its frequency of publication. When a title or SuDocs classification has changed, this information is listed in the entry. In addition, Williams has surveyed various periodicals, guides, catalogs, and indexes to identify more recent works of current interest. These references are listed in Appendix I. There are two appendixes to the Guide. The first, “Guides, Catalogs and Indexes, and Directories,” lists guides to government information resources supplemental to the main body of the work. Included are entries for the more useful general works, published privately as well as by GPO. These include general and subject guides; bibliographies; current catalogs; retrospective catalogs; general, current, and retrospective indexes; Congressional publications (Serial Srt); and directories. Sources in this appendix are primarily for the period after 1968. For pre-1968 titles, the reader is referred to the Katz appendix in the Jackson edition. The second appendix, “Subject Bibliographies,” lists the more than 250 subject bibliographies published by the Superintendent of Documents. In 1975, that offtce replaced the Price Lists (except for Price List 36, Government Periodicals and Subscription Services) with the Subject Bibfiographies, which lists titles currently available from GPO. Whereas Jackson’s edition incorporated the almost 50 Price Lists within the appendix “Guides, Catalogs, and Indexes,” Williams has listed these separately in their own appendix. Throughout the Guide, Williams make references to both these appendixes. This edition is a tremendous improvement over its predecessors with the inclusion of a title index at the end of the book. Thus, if the reader knows the title of a publication, but not its subject heading, and wishes to find related publications on the same topic, the index can direct him/her to the proper subject areas. The second edition of the Subject Guide is a valuable reference source, but it is intended for the library professional or student, which is Williams’ design, not for the general public, as is LeRoy Schwarzkopf s Guide to Popular U.S. Government Publications. Therefore, topics such as selfimprovement or home repair are excluded. There should be a space on every government publications department’s reference shelves for Williams’ Guide. It is not only useful for documents librarians, but also for reference librarians who work with documents or need a quick reference to key government publications. MICHELE A. WIDERA International Documents Librarian Documents Division, Marriott Library University of Utah Salt Lake City, UT 84112 USA
Reviews
can discover if the organization engages in social services, refugee sanctuary, legal aid, political organizing, community education, religious liaison, human rights advocacy, research, resource center work, and/or cultural activities. As an aid to finding information, the directory has six indices that list the organizations by a variety of other criteria, including group name, contact person, activities, etc. In addition, the volume has two appendices that contain pertinent information on 30 private and 16 government refugee- and immigrant-related organizations and agencies that did not make their way into the directory. Schorr began his research by sending about 4,000 questionnaires to potential groups throughout the United States. Of the nearly 2,300 returned, he included only those that provide direct services. Since that questionnaire served as the chief conduit of information for the book, he would do his readers a service by including a copy of it or at least a description of the questions used. In addition, while the political orientation of the organizations is often implicit, the directory could have provided more explanation of the politics and guiding principles of those organizations whose convictions are hardly captured by brief service statements. Cross-references to ways of finding help in various social services would add some more depth to Schorr’s coverage. Even though, as he points out, “the foreign born have a unique set of needs” (p. 9), they also share common human needs and may like to know where to look for more information. Moreover, while the directory contains a wealth of information, it does not make mention of the funding sources of each organization. In some cases that would be information that is either irrelevant or impossible to ascertain; but for many, it is crucial and a matter of public record. For example, the Office of Refugee Resettlement of the Department of Health and Human Services published a report (which Schorr does not mention in his reference to that office) that lists government grants awarded to private groups, most of which are in Schorr’s directory. As the government contracts with voluntary agencies, so they become part of a policy network that affects services to refugees and immigrants alike. Alan Schorr’s book is an outstanding resource and a pioneer in its field. While there are a few local directories, none have encompassed organizations around the nation as does the Directory of Services fhr Ref~~gees and Immigrants. Because his work is built on facts, Schorr realizes that “the material is already dated” (p. 10). His form seeking “Suggestions, Corrections, and Additions” (p. 377) is a ready promise that he will continue to provide his thorough and helpful guidance for years to come. NOTES
1. U.S. Congress, House, Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees and International Law of the Judiciary Committee. Hearing on H.R. 1452: Refugees p. 26.
Assistance
Extension
Act ~$1985, 99th Cong., 1st Session, 17 April 1985,
PAUL JEROME CROCE Department of History Rollins College Winter Park, FL 32789 USA
Subject Guide to Major United States Government Publications. Wiley J. Williams. 2nd ed. Chicago, IL: American Library Association, 1987. 257 pp. ISBN 0-8389-0475-O. LC 87-1152. $21.95. Not all librarians are born knowing government documents, and so it is nice to know that volumes such as Williams’ Subject Guide to Major United States Government Publicmtions are around to help them find their way. This volume is a resurvey of Hirshberg and Melinat’s Subject Guide to United Stutes Government Publications (ALA, 1947) and Ellen Jackson’s Subject Guide to Major United States Government Publications (ALA, 1968). This second edition expands on both titles with 60 percent new material. The Subject Gmde covers sources from the earliest federal period to 1986. Works are included that have lasting or continuing importance and are useful over the years. As Williams himself states in the preface, “[T] his guide selectively attempts to identify some of the publications of permanent importance” (p. viii). Like Jackson’s work, this volume also includes publications not distributed by the Government Printing Office (GPO) but by agencies themselves such as the board of Governors
Reviews
493
of the Federal Reserve System and the National Technical Information Service. However, individual bibliographies and audiovisual materials produced by government agencies are not included; information concerning these may be acquired through the indexes and catalogs in Appendix I. It is that gives the book its strength. Williams had to be this bent toward “enduring significance” selective in his choice of works to include under each heading, but each topic is well represented, if not by several entries, then by one or two choice ones. Entries are arranged alphabetically by subject. Subject headings are Library of Congress standard with a few variations worth mentioning. Inverted headings have been dropped with two exceptions: “Kennedy, John Fitzgerald, Pres. U.S. 1917-1963 - Assassination” and “Pearl Harbor, Attack on, 1941.” In addition, “United States” is omitted in subject entries, for example “Laws” instead of “United States - Laws.” Each entry consists of the full title of the document, as well as personal authors or editors (if any); publication date; pagination; the inclusion of any illustrations, maps, or other graphic information within the publication; issuing agency; and Superintendent of Documents (SuDocs) number. Most entries include a brief annotation. Williams supplements these annotations with information notes (marked by a triangle). These direct the reader to other useful government and non-government titles. Each subject heading used in the Guide’s predecessors has been individually examined by Williams before inclusion in this volume. This was done to determine if: a) the title and subject are of continuing importance; b) the title has been changed, updated, or issued by a different agency and so has a new Superintendent of Documents classification number; c) the subject heading as entered in the tenth edition (1986) of the Library of Congress Subject Headings has changed from an earlier heading; or d) the title has changed its frequency of publication. When a title or SuDocs classification has changed, this information is listed in the entry. In addition, Williams has surveyed various periodicals, guides, catalogs, and indexes to identify more recent works of current interest. These references are listed in Appendix I. There are two appendixes to the Guide. The first, “Guides, Catalogs and Indexes, and Directories,” lists guides to government information resources supplemental to the main body of the work. Included are entries for the more useful general works, published privately as well as by GPO. These include general and subject guides; bibliographies; current catalogs; retrospective catalogs; general, current, and retrospective indexes; Congressional publications (Serial Srt); and directories. Sources in this appendix are primarily for the period after 1968. For pre-1968 titles, the reader is referred to the Katz appendix in the Jackson edition. The second appendix, “Subject Bibliographies,” lists the more than 250 subject bibliographies published by the Superintendent of Documents. In 1975, that offtce replaced the Price Lists (except for Price List 36, Government Periodicals and Subscription Services) with the Subject Bibfiographies, which lists titles currently available from GPO. Whereas Jackson’s edition incorporated the almost 50 Price Lists within the appendix “Guides, Catalogs, and Indexes,” Williams has listed these separately in their own appendix. Throughout the Guide, Williams make references to both these appendixes. This edition is a tremendous improvement over its predecessors with the inclusion of a title index at the end of the book. Thus, if the reader knows the title of a publication, but not its subject heading, and wishes to find related publications on the same topic, the index can direct him/her to the proper subject areas. The second edition of the Subject Guide is a valuable reference source, but it is intended for the library professional or student, which is Williams’ design, not for the general public, as is LeRoy Schwarzkopf s Guide to Popular U.S. Government Publications. Therefore, topics such as selfimprovement or home repair are excluded. There should be a space on every government publications department’s reference shelves for Williams’ Guide. It is not only useful for documents librarians, but also for reference librarians who work with documents or need a quick reference to key government publications. MICHELE A. WIDERA International Documents Librarian Documents Division, Marriott Library University of Utah Salt Lake City, UT 84112 USA