medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Bernadette asks:
>How can a newly published book not be available?
Answer: Relatively easily, when the book is listed under a different title and a different publisher and the persons you ask to find it for you either 1) lack the means or the initiative to locate it under its correct but not very different title or else 2) do not have access to a fairly comprehensive database of North American library holdings.
In the chiefly USA-based union catalogue WorldCat (a service of OCLC, Inc.), the book in question is described thus:
Title: Quand les hommes parlent aux dieux :
histoire de la prière dans les civilisations /
Author(s): Meslin, Michel.
Publication: Paris : Bayard,
Year: 2003
Description: 855 p., [32] p. of col. plates : ill. ; 28 cm.
Language: French
Standard No: ISBN: 2227471255
...
Accession No: OCLC: 53177793
Database: WorldCat
At present, seven institutions are shown in WorldCat as holding a copy, viz.
CA UNIV OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES
IL UNIV OF ILLINOIS
IN UNIV OF NOTRE DAME
MA BOSTON COLLEGE
NJ DREW UNIV LIBR
QC UNIV DE MONTREAL
QC UNIV LAVAL BIBLIOTHEQUE
"Libraries with item" is however a loose concept at OCLC, Inc.: some of these institutions may only have a copy on order or received but not yet catalogued. Still, this should be enough information to allow your interlibrary loan department to perform at its accustomed level of brilliance.
Best,
John Dillon
PS: It is quite possible that there _is_ an edition under Fides' imprint as well. Paris imprints usually get earlier international notice and better international distribution (this is an artefact of the unequal capacities of the French book trade on one hand versus that of Quebec on the other); under such circumstances most non-Canadian copies are likely to be of the edition published in France.
On Mon, 05 Jul 2004 20:12:41 -0400
Charles Giguere <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
>
>I seek enlightenment on a question, O learned ones: - I have been trying for
>months to get my hands on Quand l'homme parle aux dieux, ed. Michel Meslin,
>Fides 2003. Finally, our interlibrary loan dept. (usually brilliant in
>tracking down the most obscure works) announced that it could locate only
>two copies: one in Toulouse (which was not going to be lent to anyone) and
>one in Salzburg - that is in the process of being catalogued, and in the
>fulness of time (if I live that long), I can reapply and maybe I'll get it.
>What gives? I don't understand how anything by Meslin is not available pdq.
>How can a newly published book not be available?
>Bernadette Filotas
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