The first edition of this work, which was included in Eugene Sheehy's Guide to Reference Books (10th ed.), became an indispensable snapshot of the state of librarianship and publishing around the world. This revised edition, an update and expansion of the original volume, offers almost 1,000 entries compared to the 644 entries of the first edition. Included are entries detailing the book trade in individual countries, biographical profiles, quotations about books and librarianship, and representations of book people in fiction and postage stamps. This revised edition also provides much new information on topics such as Latin terminology, job search strategies, and awards and grants.
The heart of the volume is an alphabetical listing of countries from around the world. Each entry provides valuable data about the political and economic condition of the country, illiteracy rate, and ratio of library holdings to inhabitants. More specific information is then provided about the number of libraries and their holdings, the number of publishers, and the number of books and newspapers published per year. Libraries of special note are indicated. The rest of the volume contains fascinating information on quotations about books and librarians, biographical sketches of book people, and representations of book-related topics in creative works. This new edition also provides a guide to Latin terms used in the book world, information on job search strategies for librarians, library awards and grants, and helpful advice for librarians and supervisors.