Acquisitions from the Middle East

Abstract

Despite the growth of Middle Eastern studies in the U.S. and accompanying growth of library collections, in general these lag behind other areas of the world. Efforts to address this problem include the PL-480 acquisitions program and the current effort to compile a Near East Union List. Many of the problems in developing collections lie with the countries of the Middle East. National bibliographies and other bibliographical compilations are, where they are even available, often published only after the books are out of print. Some recent reference bibliographies and serials lists have made a small beginning to correcting this. Part of the problem lies with the publishing industry which is often diffuse, subject to political policies, and directed toward existing limited markets. Similarly, dealers are reluctant to offer blanket order service as currency and export restrictions act as deterrents. The two best approaches are acquisitions trips and exchanges. In general the polical volatility of the region precludes generalizations about any aspect of acquisitions, publishing, or distributing. A list of dealers in the Middle East, Europe, and the U.S. is appended.