Government Publications Review, Vol. 16, pp. 663671, 1989 Printed in the USA. AI1 rights reserved.

0277-9390189 $3.00 + .oO Copyright D 1989 Pergamon Press plc

REVIEWS

LOUIS VYHNANEK Holland Library, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-5610, USA

Sup~rrnap~ U.S.A. Hawthorne East, Victoria, Australia: Space-Time Research Pty. Ltd., 1988. Two Compact Discs-Read Only Memory, 1 %-inch floppy disc, and Supermap User’s Guide and Reference. $2730 (all regions of the U.S.); Optional software support, $290 annually. (distributed by Chadwyck-Healey Inc., 1101 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22314.)

Supermap@ U.S.A. is a CD-ROM and software package that allows the mapping and analysis of 1980 U.S. Census data. Hardware requirements include an IBM PC/XT/AT or 100 percent compatible computer with 640K RAM, hard disc with at least 2 megabytes of free memory, CD-ROM player (Supermap@ supports Sony, Philips, Hitachi, or Amdek players), an IBM or compatible Enhanced Graphics Adapter with 256K graphics memory and matching Enhanced Color Display. A color ink jet printer is also required to print color maps (highly recommended}. Alternatively, monochrome printers can be employed, utilizing the 63 available patterns.

Four datasets are included on the compact discs, Summ~ Tape File I (STFI-C) from the 1980 U.S. Census (321 items); Summa~ Tape File 3 (STF3-C) from the 1980 U.S. Census (1,126 items); County Statistics Tape 2 (CO-STAT 2), including 1960-1985 demographic data (1,196 items); and Total Land Area.

From beginning to end, producing a map involves several steps. First, an “expression” needs to be defined. The expression may be as simple as a single item from one of the data sets (for example, total civilian labor force), to complex arithmetic combinations of several items (Super-map@ U.S.A. allows the user to add, subtract, multiply or divide items in the datasets and to calculate percentages). Expressions may be listed to create, in the end, a series of maps (an electronic thematic atlas, if you will), such as a series concerning ethnic populations per capita.

Once an expression has been defined, named, and stored on the hard disc, the user is next faced with the choice of regions from which to retrieve the defined expression. This region may be as large-scale as a combination of block groups or census tracts (for use with data in STFl-C), to a medium-scale of counties within a state, to the small-scale region of the United States as a whole. Additionally, regions may be defind by radius from a centroid expressed as latitude and longitude (minutes and seconds must be converted to decimal coordinates). In this case, the boundaries may be all counties, only tracted counties, enumeration dist~~ts~block groups or zip codes. The region is then named and stored on the hard disc.

Having defined the expression and region, the next step is to retrieve tables of data from the CD, matching expression to region. This step is incredibly fast and is sure to light up the eyes of experienced statistics users. The tables may be edited and labeled before storing. With the data to be mapped now retrieved, the user then creates a base map. This is done from the previously defined regions.

Three types of maps may be created, a defined polygon map, a created poIygon map, or a dot map. The defined polygon map simply is one made from a combination of defined boundaries (for example, block groups, census tracts, counties, or states). The created polygon map displays synthetic boundaries for areas, based on centroids. The dot map is self-explanatory.

Once the base map is created, named and stored, the final step is to map the specified data. The number of classes to be mapped can be determined by the user, ranging from two to 10. Similarly, the captions for each class may be edited, and the choice made from 63 available colors or monochromatic symbols. It is unfortunate that more grey shades were not included, as their use is most successful in displaying class value gradations. The map will then display and can be saved and/or printed.

This lengthy discussion of the steps involved is made to highlight the complexity of using S~~e~~~~* U.S.A. This is not a product that users can master in a short period of time. There are many oppo~nities to make mistakes. While the help screens are for the most part useful, the employment of Supermap@ U.S.A.

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664 Reviews

is a ~me-consurn~n~ exercise, one that most assuredly will require frequent librarian intervention, Periodic workshops might lessen this intervention, as will we~l-writt~~~ concise tutorials {the user manual is decidedly ~~~~~f~l!~. It to& this reviewer nearly 40 hours to become proficient enough in the use of this product to be helpful to library users. With two compact discs, the user will be confused as to which one to have in the drive at any given moment.

One consideration to bear in mind is the datedness of the 1980 census data. While the software continues to be updated on an average of twice a year (according to Chadwyck-Healey), new data will not be available until after the 1990 census (probably 1993) and will be a separate product.

A few other features bear mentioning. Supermup~ U.S.A. allows the ranking of tables of data-a handy option. Data may be imparted or exported via a variety of programs and formats. This will be useful to those researchers familiar with some of the more sophisticated mapping software packages.

Supermap~ U.S.A. is available for the entire country at $2730. Regions may be purchased separately, but it woufd hardly be worth the price (one region sells for $2240; two, $2440; three. $2590).

Recommending Supe~rtiap” .V..L4. to regional depositories and large map libraries is easy. The users of these libraries wili demand its acquisition. Once mastered, this producr is immensely useful in the manipulation and graphic display of census data. Selective depositories and smaller map libraries will want to hold off purchasing Supermap@ U.S.A. Its high cost, complexity and need for frequent staff ~nte~~ntion warrant a wait-and-see attitude by these libraries. Distribution of 1990 census data is still a few years off. While today Superrnup~ U.S.A. is the only game in town, sur@Iy other companies will soon be offering alternative products. Government publications libraries and map libraries will benefit from the competition.

BRENT ALLISON John R. Borchert Map Librarian

University of Minnesota Minneapolis, MN 55455

USA

~~~~~~~~~te~ Software for ~~rf~~~i~g Statistid Analysis: A ~~~~~k S~~p~rt~~g Library Decision Making (~~format~o~ Management, Policy, and Services). Edited by Peter Hernon and John V. Richardson, Norwood, NJ. Ablex. 1988. 31 p. ISBN O-89391-376-6. LC 88-6360. $4.5 (Institutions); $29.50 (Personal).

Now that microcomputers have become available to librarians as tools for evaluating services and collections, software with statistical capabilities has come into demand, For librarians interested in evaluating locally coIlected or compiled data, this publication brings together information about microcomputers, software with statistical capabilities, and library research. It does not offer a linear progression of how to design and carry out extensive statistical research. Instead. the book offers a colIection of essays that will help librarians think about how to proceed and what is available. The book acknowledges that it does not set out to teach research methods; it “serves as a guide for libraries wanting to purchase statistical analysis software, to understand the use of such software, and to decide what software best meets their needs” (p. xi). An audience of practicing librarians, libray students, and users of nlicr~omputers considering statistical appl~catians will find the book useful. In short, this book will be usefuf to those equipped to read it, but may be over the heads of some,

Of the six objectives stated in the preface, the book most successfully accomplishes the following four: to assist libraries and researchers . . . in selecting software; to identify and discuss important issues related to the selection and application of microcomputer statistical analysis software; to identify uses of statistical analysis software and offer recommendations about the use of such software for library decision making; and to identify selected writings concerning statistical analysis software and the effective presentation of data (p. xi). The Appendix of Selected General Purpose Statistical Packages will be a welcome listing for anyone considering purchase of such software. Useful bibliographies that support chapter contents are found throughout the text and an extensive bibliography and indices conclude the volume.

The book starts off with a general overview of micro-based decision making followed by an informative chapter that contains ‘*examples of types of data that library staff might collect” for “the evaluation of libraq programs, services, and collections” evaI~a~o~s, reference desk statistics,

(p_ 15). Anatysis of bibliographic instruction pru?rams, performance document delivery services, and citation analysts are some of the

applications discussed, Sample forms for collecting dara are included. An interesting overview of the “role