Presidential Libraries and Collections

Veit, a veteran university librarian and authority in information science, presents a brief descriptive account of the historical development and current state of presidential libraries and collections in the US. Not intended as a piece of original research, the work relies heavily on information distilled from government publications and questionnaires sent by the author to the nine presidential libraries and to repositories, such as the Library of Congress, that possess presidential archives. The largest section of the publication describes the scope, policies, programs, and services provided by the individual libraries. A brief bibliography is current as is a discussion of the legal and financial implications of the 1986 Presidential Records Acts. . . . Veit's monograph will serve as a useful reference tool of undergraduate college students. ChoiceRIn recent decades, the value of presidential papers for an understanding of the nation's history and the operation of our government has come to be more fully appreciated. While efforts have been made to preserve these materials, little has been done to describe their availability. This authoritative new volume is designed to provide the researcher or librarian with complete data regarding the contents, organization, and facilities of each library and collection, as well as an informed perspective on how these institutions have been created and maintained.

?To aid the research needs of presidential scholars and interested citizens Veit has prepared this overview of the availability of our former presidents' papers. He has covered the presidential libraries, as well as the collections of presidential papers in the Library of Congress and elsewhere. It is this 'extra' information that to me is the most useful feature of the book. . . Presidential Libraries and Collections includes valuable factual and bibliographic information that makes its purchase worthwhile.?-The Library Quarterly, ?Veit, a veteran university librarian and authority in information science, presents a brief descriptive account of the historical development and current state of presidential libraries and collections in the US. Not intended as a piece of original research, the work relies heavily on information distilled from government publications and questionnaires sent by the author to the nine presidential libraries and to repositories, such as the Library of Congress, that possess presidential archives. The largest section of the publication describes the scope, policies, programs, and services provided by the individual libraries. A brief bibliography is current as is a discussion of the legal and financial implications of the 1986 Presidential Records Acts.... Veit's monograph will serve as a useful reference tool of undergraduate college students.?-Choice, "To aid the research needs of presidential scholars and interested citizens Veit has prepared this overview of the availability of our former presidents' papers. He has covered the presidential libraries, as well as the collections of presidential papers in the Library of Congress and elsewhere. It is this 'extra' information that to me is the most useful feature of the book. . . Presidential Libraries and Collections includes valuable factual and bibliographic information that makes its purchase worthwhile."-The Library Quarterly, "Veit, a veteran university librarian and authority in information science, presents a brief descriptive account of the historical development and current state of presidential libraries and collections in the US. Not intended as a piece of original research, the work relies heavily on information distilled from government publications and questionnaires sent by the author to the nine presidential libraries and to repositories, such as the Library of Congress, that possess presidential archives. The largest section of the publication describes the scope, policies, programs, and services provided by the individual libraries. A brief bibliography is current as is a discussion of the legal and financial implications of the 1986 Presidential Records Acts.... Veit's monograph will serve as a useful reference tool of undergraduate college students."-Choice

FRITZ VEIT, is Director of Libraries Emeritus, Chicago State University.