This work is a short collection of miscellaneous papers, letters and reviews that the author has gathered to “document the unreliability of standard ‘authorities’ and centrally generated cataloging products.” Berman uses the whole work to demonstrate that current cataloging practices can be improved and to challenge other libraries to question established practices. According to Berman, “The catalog should be [an] effective, modern, easy-to-use tool, not a thing of dread, confusion, embarrassment, or horror.” Berman compliments his criticisms with proposed alternatives to the problematic practices, which gives credibility to the ideas and changes presented in the book. In fact, the suggestions presented by the author are the strongest aspects of the work. The author uses his personal experience as a professional librarian at the Hennepin County Library (HCL) in Minnesota as an example of how to prepare for AACR2, as well as an example how to catalog periodicals using the HCL Rules. These real-world examples of alternatives to the current (in 1981) standards are very helpful for anyone researching the practical application of theoretical changes to current standards.
Unfortunately there is some repetition to the proposed ideas and changes (the suggestion not to repeat the author in the title statement if the author is the main entry is cited twice – once on page 3 and again on page 14.) Also, many arguments (as admitted by the author) are merely extended versions of the arguments from his earlier work, Prejudices and Antipathies, with additional support from letters and cited precedents. He also extends his criticism to the treatment of juvenile works (also an extension of Prejudices and Antipathies) and to the misconceptions and misjudgments of the Dewey Decimal System. He ends the work with several useful book reviews and a mock catalog use-study (of which, the “Methodology” and “Findings” sections may be the most entertaining take on library research ever published).
Although many response letters from LC are published in this book, the bulk of the work is only one man’s opinion. It is an approachable read, but not at all an introduction to the world of cataloging. In fact, only those with at least a mild understanding of cataloging would benefit from the ideas presented in the work. ( )