Choice Review

This alphabetically arranged list of words, phrases, and acronyms contains about 1,800 so-called definitions that seem more to be identifications of such items as specific databases, networks, programming languages, viewdata systems, software packages, computer manufacturers, and turnkey systems. There are also straightforward definitions of words and phrases such as database (the definition is poor-it fails to mention that it is a machine-readable file). The title of the work appears to be promotional rather than functional. The book is neat and compact; it feels good; and it is a real ``Handy-Andy.'' But-a dictionary? Rather, call it a handbook for students (and are not we all?) of library automation, not a how-to-do-it manual but a what-is-it-when-they-call-it gem. Word-by-word alphabetizing is utilized. The acronyms are well chosen and need clarification, but the definitions are weak. It is a specialist's job to construct a dictionary; Hipgrave, the compiler, is a teacher whose field is not specified. Coverage is as much as can be expected from a book of this size. Recommended for what it is, not for what it is called.-D.B. Lilley, East Texas State University