The two journals that captured my attention for this comparative study were The New York Times Book Review and Publisher's Weekly. Neither journal was refereed and both are trade publications that play the dual role of evaluating books and then providing information crucial to book marketing to potential buyers.

The New York Times Book Review (NYTBR) 229 West 43rd Street New York, NY 10036 (212) 556-1234

The NYTBR is published weekly for $52.00 a year or $1.25 per issue and is found as a supplement to the New York Times or can be bought separately. It's printed on newsprint and was first published in 1896. The September 3, 1995 issue had only 24 pages of three and four column articles, lengthy reviews of none nonfiction books and seven fiction books, three full page color ads, eleven small black and white ads, two actual photos, and eleven line drawings. These ads dealt with upcoming books, books newly published, or with upcoming articles in the next issues of the Times. The front cover picture was in color and this issue included special depart ments, such as, In Short, which provided five additional shortbook reviews, Crime, which had an additional five reviews, and two pages devoted to the fifteen bestsellers, fiction and nonfiction, in paperback and hardcover. In addition, there was a Book Exchange section and an advertising section that covered book offers, books wanted, out-of-print books, and printing and related services. TNYTBR is known for its "essays and articles on topics and trends in publishing, literature, culture and the arts." (Ulrich's International Periodicals Directory 1994-1995, p. 5112).

TNYTBR derives its authority from its editors: Mitchell Levitas, editor, and from book review editor, Leroy Baylor, and from the method and number of its circulation: 78,000 copies, its availability as a supplement to The New York Times, and the length of time in print - ninety-nine years.

Publisher's Weekly touts itself as "The International News Magazine of Book Publishing and Bookselling." It, too, as a trade publication, is a tool for collection development, and includes articles of interest to publishers, booksellers, and librarians. These news articles include trens in the industry, marketing book design, manufacturing articles, author interviews, and a great number of advance book reviews - reviews of books that are still in the galley - and that may, or may not, be published.

Publisher's Weekly Cahners Publishing Co. 249 West 17th St. New York, New York 10011

Publisher's Weekly was first published in 1872, thus it has been in print for 123 years, twenty-four years longer than The New York Times Book Review. There are fifty-one issues a year for $129.00. The August 14,1995 issue had ninety-six pages printed on glossy paper in a magazine format. The front and back cover were done in color and this issue had color ads scattered throughout the entire magazine. There were thirteen full page color ads, seven smaller color ads, and ten full page black and white advertisements. There were seventeen actual photographs, many of book jackets and covers. PW not only reviews books in print, but has a fore- cast section that reviews print galleys of yet-to-be-published books three months prior to publishing. Twenty pages were devoted to this section. The news and feature sections contained lengthy articles of news on publishers and publishing. There are interviews with and about editors, authors, designers, and marketers. In addition, there is a column reviewing children's books, and a column that reviews special subject areas such as religion. Like TNYTBR the PW has a hardcover and paperback bestsellers top fifteen list.

Publisher's Weekly derives its authority from its editor-in-chief, Nora Rawlinson, and an extensive editorial staff of eighteen with an additional staff of nineteen contributing editors. It has been in print for 123 years with a current circulation of 37, 714.

In conclusion, Publisher's Weekly has many more articles that deal with trends in the book publishing field, including news and features, stories, surveys and profiles, as well as numerous extensive and short book reviews than The New York Times Book Review. It has more visual appeal, is more colorful, and has four times the amount of pages in each issue. However, it has a smaller circulation. Both weekly publications are indexed, but not refereed. Current publications are covered well by both journals, but PW does capture the market for about-to- be-published books through its galley review articles and this adds substantially to its length. Both publications should be considered as a selection tool for collection development for librarians in public, academic, and libraries with particular subject concentrations such as religion or children's books. There would be journals more specifically geared to collection development for school libraries than these publications, but they do provide interesting reading for current trends in the book industry.