However librarians that collect heavily in Africana have some very well established mechanisms in collecting this material. Collecting Africana is unlike collecting most other materials because of the lack of well known high profile vendors and because of the low level of organization of much of the book trade in most of the countries of Africa.
Many materials are only available by making direct contact with the publishers.
Exchange agreements are also potentially very useful, but please be forewarned that libraries in rich countries will likely end up sending more than they receive. In this paper I will note the standard current reference sources, blanket and approval plan dealers, bookshops and publishers, printed and online library catalogs, and two microform collections. Zimbabwe Books in Print. The African Book Publishing Record. The Office publishes an excellent current awareness tool with cataloging records.