Subject: FAQ for alt.books.reviews
From: [email-masked] (Steve Brock)
Date: Fri, 17 Dec 1993 00:43:43 GMT
Newsgroups: alt.books.reviews,alt.answers,news.answers

Archive-name: books/reviews-faq

                               FAQ
                    (Version of December, 1993)

Alt.books.reviews (a.b.r. for short) is a forum for posting reviews
of books of interest to readers, school and public librarians,
bookstores, publishers, teachers and professors, and others who
desire an "educated opinion" of a book.  This is an unmoderated
newsgroup, and my comments are merely suggestions - they are not
set in stone.  Please send suggestions/clarifications/modifications
to [email-masked].  

ARCHIVE:  The reviews in alt.books.reviews are archived at csn.org.

Ftp to csn.org, login: anonymous, password: your complete e-mail
address.  At the ftp prompt, type cd pub/alt.books.reviews.  Let me
know if you have trouble with this.

Changes this month:

16.  Are there archives of book reviews on Native American topics?

17.  Are there any book publishers that have their catalogues
     online?

This FAQ consists of the following questions:

1.   What materials may be reviewed here?
2.   What is a review?
3.   Are there standards that each review must maintain?
4.   Can this area be used for book publicity?
5.   Can those reviewing textbooks make recommendations for their
     use in classes?
6.   Can this area be used for discussion of books?
7.   Can people place reviews in alt.books.reviews that are written
     by others?
8.   Can the reviews posted here be downloaded and used in other
     media, such as newsletters, and print and electronic
     magazines?
9.   Can people post requests for books they are looking for?
10.  Can people ask for reviews of certain books?
11.  Can reviewers post profiles of themselves?
12.  What else should reviewers do if they post a review here?
13.  Can I post to alt.books.reviews without being able to read it?
14.  Is there any way one can find out how many times a certain
     book has been reviewed?
15.  Do the reviews have to be in English?

1.   What materials may be reviewed here?

Any book, fiction or non-fiction, used or new.  "Book" includes
short stories, novellas, textbooks, anthologies, references, and
graphic novels.  "Book" also means text on compact disks and books
read aloud on audiocassettes.

2.   What is a review?

A review consists of evaluative commentary on the work by someone
who has read (or, in the case of an audiocassette, listened to) it.
The review is posted with the goal of helping the reader decide
whether or not to read or use the work.

3.   Are there standards that each review must maintain?

The only standard is that the review be fair and well written.  If
there is a criticism of a book, concrete reasons should be stated. 
The same is true for praises.  Enough bibliographic information
should be provided so that the reader may be able to find the book
easily.  Title, author, publisher (name, address, and, if possible,
phone number for orders), number of pages, price, binding (cloth or
paper), and ISBN should be included.  If the publisher has their
catalogue on the Internet or the capability of taking orders via
the Internet, please mention it.  Here is a sample of the format I
use:

ON THE HOME FRONT: THE COLD WAR LEGACY OF THE HANFORD NUCLEAR SITE
by Michele Stenehjem Gerber.  University of Nebraska Press, 901 N.
17th St., Lincoln, NE 68588-0520.  The University of Nebraska Press
online catalog is available on the Internet by telneting to
CRCVMS.UNL.EDU, username INFO, choosing UNIVERSITY PRESS, and
ONLINE CATALOG.  Illustrated, index, glossary, maps, notes.  312
pp., $35.00 cloth.  0-8032-2145-2

4.   Can this area be used for book publicity?

This should not be an area for book publicity or promotion, but
book information and criticism.

5.   Can those reviewing textbooks make recommendations for their
use in classes?

Since almost every college and many public schools in the United
States have an Internet connection, professors and teachers use
alt.books.reviews to look for recommendations for textbooks to use
in their classes.  If a book is particularly useful as a textbook,
please indicate so.  Technical and business books may be
recommended for corporate libraries.  Be careful what you say. 
Readers are very astute and opinionated themselves.  They will
catch the most minor errors and roast you for them.

6.   Can this area be used for discussion of books?

There is a newsgroup just for book discussions - rec.arts.books. 
It is suggested that those posting reviews here cross-post them to
that newsgroup and direct followups there by placing
"rec.arts.books" on the "followup to:" line.  Discussions are
encouraged at many of the subject-specific newsgroups, and cross-
posts to them are encouraged.  For example, a book by Isaac Asimov
could be placed in alt.books.reviews, and cross-posted to
rec.arts.books and alt.fan.isaac-asimov.  Reviews of science
fiction titles may also be posted to rec.arts.sf.reviews, if the
poster downloads the FAQ and follows the posting instructions. 
Reviews of art books may be posted to rec.arts.fine.  There are
many other newsgroups that welcome reviews of books relevent to
their areas of discussion.

7.   Can people place reviews in alt.books.reviews that are written
by others?

Yes.  Any review may be posted here, as long as it is credited to
the person who wrote it.

8.   Can the reviews posted here be downloaded and used in other
media, such as newsletters, and print and electronic magazines?

This is a decision to be made by the individual reviewer.  Please
do not reprint a review without their permission.

9.   Can people post requests for books they are looking for?

Searchers will do better by posting their requests to
rec.arts.books.  I encourage others to help them in their search.

10.  Can people ask for reviews of certain books?

Sure, but if the book isn't new, a certain title probably won't
have a very good chance of being reviewed.  Also, if there is any
sort of deadline involved for the review of a new book, it's better
not to ask.  Publishers try to have review copies ready, but even
if they are, the U.S. mail, the processing time, the reading time,
and the writing time cause a lag.  So ask away, but don't keep your
fingers crossed.  Those looking for a review of a certain title,
and not finding a review in alt.books.reviews or the archive, may
look in the "Book Review Index" in the reference section of their
nearest academic or public library.  It is also available via
Dialog, for those who have passwords.

11.  Can reviewers post profiles of themselves?

Yes, this is a good idea.  If this is done, the credentials of the
reviewer should be mentioned, as well as the types of books that
they review.  A good frequency would be every other month.

12.  What else should reviewers do if they post a review here?

If a review is posted here, please send two copies of it to the
publisher's publicity department.  They will retain one copy for
their files and send the other to the author.  It's only common
courtesy.  I encourage authors to post to rec.arts.books if they
have a complaint about a review.

13.  Can I post reviews to alt.books.reviews without being able to
read them?

I honestly don't know the answer to this question.  I recommend
that you give it a try.  Then have someone who does get
alt.books.reviews tell you if it gets posted.  If not, ask your
system administrator to make the newsgroup available to you, or to
post the review for you.

14.  Is there any way one can find out how many times a certain
book has been reviewed?

At present, I don't believe that any book has been reviewed here
more than once.  With more reviewers posting, though, this will
undoubtedly begin to happen.  The archive is occasionally indexed,
and that is probably the best way for searchers to find multiple
reviews of a particular title.

15.  Do the reviews have to be in English?

No, but those posting reviews in a language other than English may
want to be more aware of their areas of distribution, i.e. to areas
where that language is primarily spoken.

16.  Are there archives of book reviews on Native American topics?

Yes.  Book reviews are part of the archive at ftp site:
ftp.cit.cornell.edu.  At the ftp prompt, type: cd
pub/special/nativeprofs/nativelit.  Also, the reviews are collected
from NativeNet and archived at the Inter-Tribal Network, a division
of City News Service.  Gopher to: cscns.com, from the main menu,
choose #11 (Inter-Tribal Network), and #1 (Book Reviews).

17.  Are there any book publishers that have their catalogues
online?

Yes, the ones I know about are listed below.  If you know of a book
publisher (publisher, not bookstore) with an online catalogue not
listed below, please let me know, with specific information
(address, method of access (gopher, telnet, ftp, etc.), login,
password, etc.).  Thanks to those who have helped me so far.  

Many of the publishers below also have the capability of taking
electronic book orders.  A caution: do not give out your credit
card number over the net.  Download the application and FAX or send
it back with your credit card number.  The publisher will then give
you an account number for use in placing online orders.  

If this list gets too large, I will make it into an archive. 
Please let me know if you have problems getting into any of these
databases.  For now, here's the list to date:

                             CANADA

HARBOUR PUBLISHING CO. LTD.:

Gopher to gopher.usask.ca, from the main menu, choose #5 (Library),
#7 (Useful Non-U of S Library Information), #14 (Publisher's
Catalogues), and #2 (Harbor Publishing Co. Ltd. 1993-94 Online
Catalog).

Also available from the gopher at nysernet.org.  At the main menu
choose #6 (Search the Internet), #6 (Veronica at NYSERNet), type
"book publishers," choose #6 (BC Book Publishers), and #1 (Harbour
Publishing Co., Ltd.).

UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA PRESS:

Gopher to gopher.usask.ca, from the main menu, choose #5 (Library),
#7 (Useful Non-U of S Library Information), #14 (Publisher's
Catalogues), and #3 (University of British Columbia Press).

Also available from the gopher at nysernet.org.  At the main menu
choose #6 (Search the Internet), #6 (Veronica at NYSERNet), type
"book publishers," choose #4 (Book Publishers), #3 (University
Press Catalogues), #3 (Online Academic Press Catalogs), and #5
(University of British Columbia Press).

                             HOLLAND

KLUWER ACADEMIC PUBLISHERS:

Available from the gopher at nysernet.org.  At the main menu choose
#6 (Search the Internet), #6 (Veronica at NYSERNet), type "book
publishers," choose #4 (Book Publishers), #3 (University Press
Catalogues), #3 (Online Academic Press Catalogs), and #12 (Kluwer
Academic Publishers).

                         UNITED KINGDOM

EDINBURGH UNIVERSITY PRESS:

Gopher to gopher.usask.ca, from the main menu, choose #5 (Library),
#7 (Useful Non-U of S Library Information), #14 (Publisher's
Catalogues), and #4 (Edinburgh University Press).

Also available from the gopher at nysernet.org.  At the main menu
choose #6 (Search the Internet), #6 (Veronica at NYSERNet), type
"book publishers," choose #4 (Book Publishers), #3 (University
Press Catalogues), #3 (Online Academic Press Catalogs), and #7
(Edinburgh University Press).

                          UNITED STATES

ADDISON-WESLEY PUBLISHING (BENJAMIN/CUMMINGS - College-level
science textbooks):

Inquiries may be made by e-mailing to [email-masked].

Online catalogs will be available soon (approx. one month) by ftp,
login: anonymous, password: your complete e-mail address, 

Also available from the gopher at nysernet.org.  At the main menu
choose #6 (Search the Internet), #6 (Veronica at NYSERNet), type
"book publishers," choose #5 (Book Publishers), #2 (University
Publishers Catalogs), #6 (Addison Wesley).

AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY PRESS:

Available from the gopher at nysernet.org.  At the main menu
choose #6 (Search the Internet), #6 (Veronica at NYSERNet), type
"book publishers," choose #5 (Book Publishers), #2 (University
Publishers Catalogs), #7 (American Chemical Society).

ARTECH HOUSE PUBLISHING:

Available from the gopher at nysernet.org.  At the main menu
choose #6 (Search the Internet), #6 (Veronica at NYSERNet), type
"book publishers," choose #5 (Book Publishers), #2 (University
Publishers Catalogs), #8 (Artech House).

GREYDEN PRESS:

Available from the gopher at nysernet.org.  At the main menu
choose #6 (Search the Internet), #6 (Veronica at NYSERNet), type
"book publishers," choose #5 (Book Publishers), #2 (University
Publishers Catalogs), #9 (Greyden Press).

HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL PUBLISHING CORPORATION: 

Gopher to gopher.usask.ca, from the main menu, choose #5 (Library),
#7 (Useful Non-U of S Library Information), #14 (Publisher's
Catalogues), and #5 (Harvard Business School Publishing
Corporation). 

Also available from the gopher at nysernet.org.  At the main menu
choose #6 (Search the Internet), #6 (Veronica at NYSERNet), type
"book publishers," choose #4 (Book Publishers), #3 (University
Press Catalogues), #3 (Online Academic Press Catalogs), and #9
(Harvard Business School Publishing Corporation).

HARVARD UNIVERSITY PRESS:

Gopher to gopher.usask.ca, from the main menu, choose #5 (Library),
#7 (Useful Non-U of S Library Information), #14 (Publisher's
Catalogues), and #6 (Harvard University Press).

Also available from the gopher at nysernet.org.  At the main menu
choose #6 (Search the Internet), #6 (Veronica at NYSERNet), type
"book publishers," choose #4 (Book Publishers), #3 (University
Press Catalogues), #3 (Online Academic Press Catalogs), and #8
(Harvard University Press).

HIGH MOUNTAIN PRESS (Technical books and journals for the software
industry, specifically CAD, GIS, operating systems, databases, DTP
and LANS):

Inquiries may be made by e-mailing to [email-masked].

JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY PRESS:

Gopher to gopher.usask.ca, from the main menu, choose #5 (Library),
#7 (Useful Non-U of S Library Information), #14 (Publisher's
Catalogues), and #7 (Johns Hopkins University Press).

Also available from the gopher at nysernet.org.  At the main menu
choose #6 (Search the Internet), #6 (Veronica at NYSERNet), type
"book publishers," choose #4 (Book Publishers), #3 (University
Press Catalogues), #3 (Online Academic Press Catalogs), and #11
(Johns Hopkins University Press).

LEHIGH UNIVERSITY PRESS:

Available from the gopher at nysernet.org.  At the main menu
choose #6 (Search the Internet), #6 (Veronica at NYSERNet), type
"book publishers," choose #5 (Book Publishers), #2 (University
Publishers Catalogs), #13 (Lehigh University Press).

MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY PRESS:

Telnet to techinfo.mit.edu, login: anonymous, password: your
complete e-mail address.  At the main menu choose #2 (Around
MIT - Offices and Services), #17 (MIT Press).

Also available by gopher at gopher.mit.edu.  From the main menu
choose #5 (MIT Press Information and Catalog).

Also available at gopher.usask.ca, from the main menu, choose #5
(Library), #7 (Useful Non-U of S Library Information), #14
(Publisher's Catalogues), and #8 (MIT Press).

Also available from the gopher at nysernet.org.  At the main menu
choose #6 (Search the Internet), #6 (Veronica at NYSERNet), type
"book publishers," choose #4 (Book Publishers), #3 (University
Press Catalogues), #3 (Online Academic Press Catalogs), and #14
(The MIT Press).

MECKLER PUBLISHING COMPANY:

Gopher to gopher.usask.ca, from the main menu, choose #5 (Library),
#7 (Useful Non-U of S Library Information), #14 (Publisher's
Catalogues), and #9 (Meckler Publishing Company).

Also available from the gopher at nysernet.org.  At the main menu
choose #6 (Search the Internet), #6 (Veronica at NYSERNet), type
"book publishers," choose #5 (Book Publishers), #2 (University
Publishers Catalogs), #15 (Meckler Publishing Company).

O'REILLY AND ASSOCIATES (Computer Books):

Telnet or Gopher to gopher.ora.com

Ftp to ftp.ora.com

Also available at gopher.usask.ca, from the main menu, choose #5
(Library), #7 (Useful Non-U of S Library Information), #14
(Publisher's Catalogues), and #10 (O'Reilly and Associates).

Also available from the gopher at nysernet.org.  At the main menu
choose #6 (Search the Internet), #6 (Veronica at NYSERNet), type
"book publishers," choose #4 (Book Publishers), #1 (O'Reilly
Associates Gopher).

PRENTICE-HALL PUBLISHING:

Gopher to gopher.prenhall.com

Ftp to ftp.prenhall.com

Telnet to gopher.prenhall.com

Login: anonymous, password: your complete e-mail address, then type
cd pub.  From the main menu, choose #1 (PTR Prentice Hall
Catalogs).

Other services available: order form from
ftp.prenhall.com, login: anonymous, password: your complete e-mail
address, then type cd pub/ptrph_cat/net.comm.  Orders can also be
placed by e-mailing to [email-masked].

Also available at gopher.usask.ca, from the main menu, choose #5
(Library), #7 (Useful Non-U of S Library Information), #14
(Publisher's Catalogues), and #11 (Prentice-Hall).

Also available from the gopher at nysernet.org.  At the main menu
choose #6 (Search the Internet), #6 (Veronica at NYSERNet), type
"book publishers," choose #4 (Book Publishers), #2 (Prentice Hall
Publishers).

PRINCETON UNIVERSITY PRESS:

Gopher to gopher.pupress.princeton.edu

Also available at gopher.usask.ca, from the main menu, choose #5
(Library), #7 (Useful Non-U of S Library Information), #14
(Publisher's Catalogues), and #12 (Princeton University Press).

Also available from the gopher at nysernet.org.  At the main menu
choose #6 (Search the Internet), #6 (Veronica at NYSERNet), type
"book publishers," choose #4 (Book Publishers), #3 (University
Press Catalogues), #2 (Princeton University Press).

RUTGERS UNIVERSITY PRESS:

Gopher to gopher.usask.ca, from the main menu, choose #5 (Library),
#7 (Useful Non-U of S Library Information), #14 (Publisher's
Catalogues), and #13 (Rutgers University Press).

Also available from the gopher at nysernet.org.  At the main menu
choose #6 (Search the Internet), #6 (Veronica at NYSERNet), type
"book publishers," choose #4 (Book Publishers), #3 (University
Press Catalogues), #3 (Online Academic Press Catalogs), and #18
(Rutgers University Press).

STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK (SUNY) PRESS:

Available from the gopher at nysernet.org.  At the main menu
choose #6 (Search the Internet), #6 (Veronica at NYSERNet), type
"book publishers," choose #4 (Book Publishers), #3 (University
Press Catalogues), #3 (Online Academic Press Catalogs), and #19
(SUNY Press).

UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA PRESS:

Telnet to info.ccit.arizona.edu.  Login: info.  From the Main Menu
choose #5 (On-line Information Services), #3 (University of Arizona
Information), #1 (Campus Services), and #4 (University of Arizona
Press).

Also available from the gopher at nysernet.org.  At the main menu
choose #6 (Search the Internet), #6 (Veronica at NYSERNet), type
"book publishers," choose #4 (Book Publishers), #3 (University
Press Catalogues), #3 (Online Academic Press Catalogs), and #4
(University of Arizona Press).

UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO PRESS:

Gopher to press-gopher.uchicago.edu.

Services available: University of Chicago Press Complete Catalog of
Books in Print, order form.

Also available at gopher.usask.ca, from the main menu, choose #5
(Library), #7 (Useful Non-U of S Library Information), #14
(Publisher's Catalogues), and #14 (University of Chicago Press)

Also available from the gopher at nysernet.org.  At the main menu
choose #6 (Search the Internet), #6 (Veronica at NYSERNet), type
"book publishers," choose #4 (Book Publishers), #3 (University
Press Catalogues), #3 (Online Academic Press Catalogs), and #6
(University of Chicago Press).

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS PRESS:

Gopher to gopher.usask.ca, from the main menu, choose #5 (Library),
#7 (Useful Non-U of S Library Information), #14 (Publisher's
Catalogues), and #15 (University of Illinois Press).

Also available from the gopher at nysernet.org.  At the main menu
choose #6 (Search the Internet), #6 (Veronica at NYSERNet), type
"book publishers," choose #4 (Book Publishers), #3 (University
Press Catalogues), #3 (Online Academic Press Catalogs), and #10
(University of Illinois Press).

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA PRESS:

Gopher to gopher.usask.ca, from the main menu, choose #5 (Library),
#7 (Useful Non-U of S Library Information), #14 (Publisher's
Catalogues), and #16 (University of Minnesota Press).

Also available from the gopher at nysernet.org.  At the main menu
choose #6 (Search the Internet), #6 (Veronica at NYSERNet), type
"book publishers," choose #4 (Book Publishers), #3 (University
Press Catalogues), #3 (Online Academic Press Catalogs), and #15
(University of Minnesota Press).

UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA PRESS:

Telnet to crcvms.unl.edu, username: info, and choose
#14 (University Press), #1 (Online Catalog).

Also available at gopher.usask.ca, from the main menu, choose #5
(Library), #7 (Useful Non-U of S Library Information), #14
(Publisher's Catalogues), and #17 (University of Nebraska Press).

Also available from the gopher at nysernet.org.  At the main menu
choose #6 (Search the Internet), #6 (Veronica at NYSERNet), type
"book publishers," choose #4 (Book Publishers), #3 (University
Press Catalogues), #3 (Online Academic Press Catalogs), and #16
(University of Nebraska Press).

VENTANA PRESS:

Available from the gopher at nysernet.org.  At the main menu
choose #6 (Search the Internet), #6 (Veronica at NYSERNet), type
"book publishers," choose #5 (Book Publishers), #2 (University
Publishers Catalogs), #27 (Ventana Press).

If there are additional questions, please e-mail them to
[email-masked], and they will be posted next month.

Note to book publishers:  I highly recommend that you make the
contents of your catalogues available to Internet users, in the
form of a database that they may telnet into.  I also encourage the
formation of a system for taking orders electronically via the
Internet.  Gopher seems to be a good way of setting this up.