Specializations recorded in the current decade amount to about half of the total volume of publishing. They came into being as a result of the favorable political and economic factors of the late 1960s, but the reversal of these favorable influences in the 1980s brought about closures of two, and continuing production problems. A factor in survival has been the amount of institutional s upport these journals have received. This has also brought about a higher degree of professionalism in their editing. Authors with higher degrees, and therefore obviously with considerable experience in research, writing up and presentation of data, form the majority of writers of published articles.
Brazilian authors form the overwhelming majority.
In facing the future, success must depend upon serious professionalism, application of new technologies for both graphics and dissemination, and aggressive marketing, both within the country and abroad. The paper is written from the author's experience as a reviews editor of an international journal, The International Journal of Information and Library Research . Earlier deadlines and longer production periods for each issue have helped to overcome communication setbacks, although personal stress has increased. The personal contact with all the problems of journal production that are normal in most of Afri ca has brought about a greater understanding of the tenacity and endurance needed by most library science journal authors, editors and publishers in developing countries.