The Anneli Lax New Mathematical Library is an expository monograph series published by the Mathematical Association of America (MAA). The books in the series are intended for a broad audience, including undergraduates (especially in their first two years of collegiate study), advanced high school students, the general public, and teachers.[1] The American Mathematical Society (AMS) makes available the AMS/MAA Press Archive eBook Collection featuring several MAA book series, including the Anneli Lax New Mathematical Library.[2]
The book series was initiated in 1958 with the name New Mathematical Library by the Monograph Project of the School Mathematics Study Group (SMSG) with financing from the National Science Foundation. Anneli Cahn Lax was the editor-in-chief of the series, intended as mathematical expositions written by outstanding mathematicians for an audience not necessarily having advanced mathematical education. The first six volumes in the series were published in 1961 by Random House and the L. W. Singer Company.[3][4][5] Ivan Niven wrote volume 1 of the series.[6][7]
In 1958 there were 13 mathematicians on the series editorial committee, including Lipman Bers, Paul Halmos, Norman Jacobson, Herbert Robbins, Norman Steenrod, James J. Stoker, and Leo Zippin.[8] In 1975, the MAA became the publisher of the New Mathematical library.[9] Upon the death of Anneli Cahn Lax in 1999, the MAA renamed the book series the Anneli Lax New Mathematical Library in her honor.[4]