The post-Soviet handbook : a guide to grassroots organizations and Internet resources in the newly independent states /

This trade paperback provides information on nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in the newly independent states (NIS) of the former Soviet Union, as well as clearinghouses and resources in the US and on the Internet regarding the NIS. The compilers were highly selective, excluding political and religious groups and the Baltic countries, and including only a few hundred of the thousands of NGOs active in the NIS. The information, much of which was supplied by the groups themselves, includes (when available) name, address, telephone and fax numbers, contact person, e-mail address, and a brief description of the group's purpose and activities. NGOs are listed alphabetically, and the NIS section is divided by country and subdivided by city. Internet resources include WWW sites, mailing lists, electronic directories, and news sources, as well as a brief discussion of Cyrillic-font software. Although information on the US-based organizations should be readily available in standard reference sources, the majority of the NIS-based ones will not be found in the International Organizations volumes (1989- ) of Encyclopedia of Associations. Since all entries are alphabetical, a subject index would have made this volume even more useful; but graduate students, faculty, and other specialists attempting to establish contacts with grassroots groups in the former Soviet Union will find it very useful. J. A. Drobnicki CUNY York College

The fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 resulted in the emergence of 15 independent nations and a supranational organization, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). In the intervening years, the CIS vanished due to impotency and was replaced by another acronym that is no less enlightening: NIS, or Newly Independent States. If the public-at-large has found it difficult adjusting to this new order, the third sector of volunteer and aid organizations is increasingly confused about whom it should be dealing with within the former Soviet Union. The Post-Soviet Handbook is, therefore, a timely guide to third-sector organizations in the NIS and those in the U.S. that interact with them in developing the government, economy, and community of these nations. With its American focus, it is an excellent companion to the similar Networking in Eastern and Central Europe (Community Development Foundation, 1995). The authors, staff at the Center for Civil Society International, arrange the listings of these third-sector organizations and resources in three sections: U.S.-Based Organizations; NIS-Based Organizations (arranged by nation); and Internet Resources. Entries include contact information for the organization with, when available, phone and fax numbers, e-mail addresses, and names of people to whom queries should be addressed. Sometimes a brief description of the organization and its activities follows. For example, the entry "Save the Children" also has a description of its activities, followed by descriptions of various institutions operated by Save the Children. The Internet Resources section includes information on communicating in Cyrillic on the Internet. Appendixes include an annotated list of relevant books and periodicals, an index of entries for the NIS by nation and city, and an alphabetical index of U.S.-based organizations. The authors note that Internet resources are constantly changing. Consequently, they provide the URL to their Center's home page (http://solar.rtd.utk.edu/ccsi/ccsihome.html), which maintains an updated Internet list. This site is an excellent mirror of the book, although its arrangement by subject (Education, Law, etc.) is more user-friendly than the book. Both this site and the book are extremely useful guides to the development of the third sector in the former Soviet Union and, as such, are highly recommended for any library collection.

This unique, highly selective directory is derived largely from the database maintained by the Center for Civil Society International, a nonprofit group, to identify and monitor the state of the burgeoning independent sector and private volunteer groups that have sprouted up since the demise of the Soviet Union. The work will be particularly useful in locating advocacy groups, health organizations, educational institutions, and women's and youth groups. A few categories of groups are excluded, such as clubs, religious organizations, and political parties. Groups, individuals, or businesses in the United States with a direct stake in promoting grass-roots social change in the newly independent states (NIS) will find this an invaluable source of listings. While some of the Internet URLs have already disappeared or changed, this in no way detracts from the book's value as a wonderful resource presenting private organizations assisting in the business of rebuilding the NIS. Outdatedness in several years is inevitable, but for now the book includes a number of organizations virtually impossible to find easily elsewhere. Highly recommended for all academic libraries and public libraries serving large ethnic populations mirroring the composition of the peoples in the NIS.‘Stephen W. Green, Auraria Lib., Denver (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.