Items listed under State Documents have been received by the Documents Unit, Illinois State Library, Springfield, and are usually available from public libraries in the state through inter-library loan. Issuing agencies may have copies available. For items listed under Other Reports, write to the publisher as listed.

State Documents

■ A View of the Past: An Introduction to IIlinois Geology, by Christopher J. Schuberth, Illinois State Museum (1986), 181 pp.; State Museum Building, Springfield 62706; tel. (217) 782-7011.

As the preface indicates, this volume will explain to the reader "how the better-known minerals or fossils or rocks got where they are and how each fits into the broad geologic character of the region." It traces the physical events from more than 1.5 billion years ago through to the Great Ice Ages three million years ago that determined how this state looks today. The author has included a great many (interesting and useful) photographs, charts and drawings, as well as a glossary, a list of sources of geologic information and an index.

Other Reports

■ Plan for Minority and Women Business Enterprise Contract Participation, Board of Education, City of Chicago (October 1986), 32 pp.; Bureau of Purchases, Department of Operation Services, 1819 W. Pershing Rd., Chicago 60609; tel. (312) 890-8815.

In order to "remediate the adverse effects of historically discriminatory and exclusionary practices," the Chicago Board of Education has been operating since November 1, 1986, under a plan that "sets forth procedures to be used in awarding contracts for goods and services, encouraging and providing for the greatest practicable participation by business enterprises owned by minorities and women." It sets forth criteria for certification, participation goals, standards and procedures for set-asides, circumstances under which waivers and substitutions may be allowed, how contracts are to be monitored, and sanctions for noncompliance.

■ New Directions, Tony Perry & Associates, Inc., P.O. Box 845, Kankakee, 60901; tel. (815) 933-2537.

TPA was established in 1986 to assist in bringing together communities seeking economic development opportunities and businesses and industries seeking new locations. Their newsletter describes specific projects and general information that may be of interest to community and business leaders.

■ Where's Room 185?" How Schools Can Reduce Their Dropout Problem, Chicago Panel on Public School Policy and Finance (December 1986), Part I, 48 pp., Part II, 128 pp.; 220 S. State St., Suite 232, Chicago 60604.

The group that produced this report is a coalition of 16 civic agencies in Chicago; an earlier report had concluded that the city's public schools have a dropout rate of 43 percent. The present study was undertaken to discover what characteristics seem to distinguish lower dropout rate schools. The panel found these: strong leadership from the principal, good student discipline, better attendance, lower failure rate and better physical facilities. Data was gathered in four pairs of Chicago schools; an ethnographic description of each is contained in Part II.

■ logos, Argonne National Laboratory, Office of Public Affairs, 9700 S. Cass Ave., Argonne 60439.

This magazine, which is published four times a year, is designed to provide updated reports on selected programs at the laboratory to people in industry and the academic community. Argonne is a multidisciplinary research center with primary focus on engineering research, basic science and biomedical and environmental science and technology.           Anna J. Merritt

35/March 1987/Ilinois Issues