REF Startling from the idea that 'the difference between a bunch of books and a library is the difference between not knowing and knowing,' poet, author, and journalist Wagner, who writes the 'Practical Bookshelf' column in Bloomsbury Review, gathers between two covers everthing one needs to know to transform a bunch of books into a library that works. Her book alternates between topical lists of resources and narrative sections of step-by-step, how-to information. Among the interesting and useful parts are a short and breezy section on evaluating the physical state of your books, with details on weeding, mold and pests, storage, display, and retrieval; and explantion of the how, what, when, and where of acquiring books; a discussion of the book market; and sections on cataloging, restoration, conservation, online and Internet resources, home archives, and ways to pass the love of books on to the next generation. Wagner writes in an irreverent style and presents much expert information in an enjoyable way. Her work fills a niche at the public library reference desk by providing a source aimed at the home librarian that is comprehensive, serious, and up-to-date. Recent titles worth noting in a similar vein are Jane Williams's How To Stock a Home Library Inexpensively (Blue Stocking, 1995) and Allen Ahearn's Book Collecting (Putnam, 1995), which is aimed more at the antiquarian. Recommended for most public libraries. - Paul A. D'Alessandro, Portland P.L., ME.-

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