There remain theoretical and practical difficulties in the subject analysis of visual arts documents and the assignment of appropriate index terms. Visual arts indexing would be aided by an internationally agreed, controlled vocabulary with rules of usage. In devising such a language, subject knowledge and experience of the literature are as necessary as an understanding of indexing theory. Examples of current indexing practice are cited, notably PRECIS, Library of Congress, RILA, and the Répertoire d’Art et d’Archéologie.

Just as African literature is going through a process,-of change and adaptation to new conditions, so African art is combining new techniques and ideas with ‘traditional’ ideas of the place of art in society. The illustrated book is a relatively new phenomenon in African literature, and the whole area of design and illustration is a problematic one for African publishers.

Illustration has so far had a limited role in African publishing — there are very few lavishly illustrated books produced in Africa. To those used to the production and design standards of the West, it is difficult not to overlook the vitality, excitement and potential of the existing examples of illustration. This is not to say that I think African publishers have fully exploited talent available to them, or explored the scope allowed them in spite of limitations of finance, production methods and market pressures. These limitations have been overcome in examples quoted below.

Describes the art libraries and art collections visited in Budapest during a ten day visit sponsored by the British Council.

Sincere acknowledgements are due to the Hungarian Art Librarians and Museums staff whose genuine interest and hospitality provided the raw material for this paper.

This statement has been developed from a paper submitted to the CNAA Working Party on Libraries and Related Resources by myself as a member of that Working Party, and discussed at its meeting on 12th June 1978. The purpose of that paper was to define the special needs of a particular subject area, art and design, and to show how those needs can be lost sight of if quantitative standards are overstressed by comparison with the quality of a library’s service to its readers. The Working Party welcomed this paper, took note of its emphasis on the ‘browsability’ of library materials, and suggested that it might be put before the CNAA Committee for Art and Design, ‘possibly in a revised version’.

A book which accompanied an exhibition organised for the 1977 Welsh Eisteddfod is Davies Brothers, Gatesmiths: 18th century wrought ironwork in Wales by Ifor Edwards, Welsh Arts Council/Crafts Advisory Committee (153 Charles Street, Cardiff, CF1 4ED), c. £2.00.111 p. This introductory visual study of the work of the Davies Brothers shows examples of the gates they made for Chirk Castle, Erdigg Hall, Hawkstone Hall and the Parish churches of Wrexham, Oswestry and Ruthin in North Wales. The designs of Archibald Knox for Liberty & Co. by A.J. Tilbrook and Gordon House, London: Ornament Press Ltd., 1976, £10.40,283 p., approximately 300 monochrome photos, is a splendid visual survey of this art nouveau craftsman.