The Gazette 1977

JULY

GAZETTE

Book Review MOYS, Elizabeth M., ed., Manual of Law Librarianship; the use and organisation of legal literature; a Grafton Book published for the British and Irish Association of Law Librarians. London: Deutsch, 1976. £IS.00. (£16.S0 in Ireland, including V.A.T.) This extensive volume is the frrst published in English in Europe relating to this subject, and, as regards England and Scotland, Betty Moys is to be congratulated for editing so competently the various facets of this intricate subject. She has entrusted each chapter to an expert, with the result that this volume will remain for years the essential textbook. Law librarianship can only be acquired after years of practical experience. It was Don Daintree's enthusiasm that was responsible for the foundation of the British and Irish Association of Law Librarians (hereinafter called the Association), and he has given much practical insight as to the information to be obtained in Society Libraries, Court Libraries, Government Law Libraries, and Academic Law Libraries, and Professional Associations. Professor Cornish of L.S.E. has written learnedly about the evolution of the Courts in England and Scotland, including trial by jury, and the difference between Common Law and equity: he has dealt with legislation, judicial precedent, texts and custom as sources of law. Derek Way of Liverpool University has given us the benefit of his expertise on legislation as a primary source of law including parliamentary Bills and Statutes, as well as such invaluable sources as Halsbury, Current Law Statutes, and Butterworth's Annotated Legislation Service. The method of citing Statutes is described in detail, as is also the bulk of English Subordinate Legislation contained in Statutory Instruments an~ Orders in Council. The present Chairman of the Association, Wallace Breem, Librarian of the Inner Temple, London, is a very learned librarian, as well as an eminent writer, and these qualities have been displayed to the full in writing about English and Scottish Law Reports. He has described in detail the various English Law Reports from 186S to date, as well as what are described as "Nominate Reports" from IS71 to 186S. Useful hints are given about citations and references, as well as about Digests and Indexes and Noting-Up. Derek Way then considers in detail the Secondary Sources, such as specific features of textbooks, Encyclopaedias of law and of Precedents, Practice Books, and Case Books; the notes on the use and functions of periodicals are particularly valuable. Wallace Breem is an expert on legal history and he has given us an excellent account of the historical sources of Eriglish Law. Kenneth Parsons, the Law Librarian of L.S.E. has provided us with his deep knowledge on publications of International Organisations. He considers firstly, basic general publications, such as U.N. Official Records, then Legal Publications, then Miscellaneous Publications such as Copyright Laws of the World, and finally Reference publications such as Yearbooks. But the subject of legal publications relating to Foreign Law really comes to life under the masterful pen of Willi Steiner, Librarian of the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (hereinafter called the Institute) who mentions the main works not only in Comparative Law, but also Collections from several

jurisdictions, such as Peaslee's Constitution of Nations. The main bibliographies in all main European languages are fully covered, as is the legal bibliography of the Commonwealth and of the U.S.A. The Civil Law Continental jurisdictions and the publications of the European Community are fully mentioned. Kenneth Parsons then deals in more detail with primary legal publications relating to Public International Law, such as collections of Treaties, and Reports of International cases. The secondary sources comprise treatises, periodicals, and reference works. Ian Sainsbury, Law Librarian of Reading, then delves learnedly into the rarified atmosphere of Roman Law and of Roman-Dutch Law. Sheila Doyle of Durham University deals learnedly with religious laws, such as the Catholic Canon Law, the Law of the Church of England, Jewish Law and Islamic Law. Robert Logan of Nottingham University and Barbara Tearle of University College, London, have combined their wisdom and knowledge in writing on legal bibliographies and Reference Books. Current bibliographies such as "Law Books in Print" are fully covered, as well as "Where to Look for your Law", Law Library Catalogues, Periodicals Union Catalogues and Law Dictionaries. Part III of this work deals specifically with the practical subject of the Law Library Practice. Betty Moys offers excellent advice in dealing with general principles such as policy and planning, Finance, Library Administration, Office organisation and public relations by means of publications and exhibitions. Paul Richardson, the Librarian of the Law Society, London, writes expertly on providing services for readers, such as reference and lending facilities, and the essential rules and regulations applicable to law libraries, and whether copyright attaches to photo-copying. Daphne Parnham, Sub-Librarian of the Inner Temple, has given us the advantage of her expertise on the subject of Acquisition and Storage of Law BOQk~ Tn oidering, constant watch must be Kept for new editions and in reviewing parts of periodicals and suggestions should be invited. The rules relating to gifts and exchanges, collating, stamping and bookplates are fully set out, and very useful advice is given as regards storage, including micro-ftlms, and also as regards repairs and binding. Betty Moys then deals with the various methods of Cataloguing and Indexing, including the Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules of 1967: several practical examples are given. In a subsequent chapter, she deals with Classification of Law Books in which she is an acknowledged expert, having published a large book on the subject. She lays down useful criteria for law library classification, then deals in more detail with the general classification schemes. Margaret Chubb of Trinity College is well aware of staff conditions in Ireland, and her remarks are thus of particular value; she deals with professional training and staff management, as well as the ticklish problem of salaries, and of conditions and career prospects. Muriel Anderson, Deputy Librarian of the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, gives invaluable advice on the problem of space, which is a perpetual nightmare to librarians. The height and thickness and depth of books determines the shelf space, and many illustrations are given. The minimum recommendation for reading space is one seat for every three members of staff or students. 30ft. sq. is the minimum space per seat. Details are given about catalogue space and about staff working space. Paul 117