Soergel’s book is a comprehensive, well-organized analysis of information storage and retrieval systems. His particular emphasis is on organizing information for effective retrieval, especially for computer-based bibliographic searching. However, he does consider system structure, objectives, operation, and design. He devotes considerable effort to describing means to determine users’ information needs so that indexing and retrieval techniques can be applied as appropriate. He follows this up with detailed plans for evaluation of specific aspects of system operation.

The text is divided into five parts: Systems Approach to Information Transfer; Information Storage and Retrieval System Objectives; Data Schemas and Structures; Indexing Language Function and Structure; and System Operation and Design. Each chapter within the five divisions begins with a statement of the objectives of the chapter, and the chapters themselves are further subdivided into numbered sections and subsections. The chapter, section, and subsection identifiers are referenced in the Bibliography. The author mentions in the Introduction that a workbook with exercises to accompany the text is in preparation. The workbook will, no doubt, be keyed to the highly structured text.

The book would make a good text for introductory and, in some cases, intermediary information science courses. Additionally, it should be a useful reference for would-be system analysts and designers.

There is an extensive annotated Bibliography presented in two parts: general references to textbooks, handbooks, journals, and other source material; and specific references to conference papers, journal articles, book chapters, etc. The detailed Subject Index is meant to be used in conjunction with the highly structured Table of Contents. There is also an Author Index.

Although much of the material presented and many of the references relate to topics which exists in information systems in general, as opposed to automated information systems, the author’s treatment of information systems within the broader framework of database management systems gives the text a state-of-the-art orientation.