This book, edited by two experienced African studies bibliographers, addresses a very broad range of topics in the field of African studies librarianship. The central idea, consolidating a total of eight chapters into one monograph, is the examination of various bibliographic, information retrieval, educational and organizational issues pertinent to the study of Africa from the viewpoint of reference. As stated in the Introduction, the unifying themes addressed by the authors, writing on different subjects are: overcoming obstacles and solving problems, responsibility of libraries and librarians, partnership and cooperation, and activism.
The book is divided into two parts: African Studies in the United States and Collaboration and Innovation in Africa and the United States. The first part includes three papers. Central to the entire book is an exceptionally detailed review of typical reference problems and their causes, written by Gretchen Walsh. This chapter can be recommended as an introduction to reference work in African studies. The chapter by Frank‐Wilson describes the experience of teaching a credit course on African studies bibliography at Indiana University, and Batiste has compiled a list of internet resources on African business and economics as the third paper in this part.
The second part consists of five articles. Limb discusses the influence of technology and electronic resources on reference and collection development, as well as the ways in which collaboration of the US and African libraries could improve access to information. Contech‐Morgan provides an interesting example of the expanding educational role of librarians through suggesting and developing a course on the works of African female writers. Nosakhere describes collaboration between an American and an African university in the development of an English language collection for a francophone African environment. Darch discusses the philosophy of collection development in African studies at universities in Africa. LaFond reflects on her observations in academic libraries in Kenya and South Africa, analyses ways of establishing cross‐continental partnerships and the role of libraries in the West in supporting African‐centered scholarship.
Some of the papers are more valuable for the information they contain, and others for their innovative ideas and approaches. In many places the text could be condensed and better organized. However, a patient and attentive reader will find the book very useful. This book is an essential reference resource for all libraries supporting African studies. Librarians working in other fields, especially those who specialize in area studies, may find the very broad and proactive approach to reference taken by the authors of the book to be stimulating and productive.
