This is a two-part work
Susan Tidd
Compilation of Group Work
ILS504
Dr. Okobi
Table of Contents
Bibliographic Reference Resources……………………………………………………… 3
Indexes & Abstracts ……………………………………………………………………..11
Dictionaries………………………………………………………………………………23
Encyclopedias……………………………………………………………………………35
Almanacs, Yearbooks, Handbooks………………………………………………………44
Biographical Resources………………………………………………………………….60
Geographical Resources…………………………………………………………………71
My contribution to this project consists of reviewing Magazines for Libraries, National Union List of Serials, New Serial Titles and OCLC.
Group Review of Reference Resources Project #1
A. Citation: American Book Publishing Record. New Providence, N.J.: R.R. Bowker, 1960 - Monthly
B. Authority: R.R. Bowker is a leading authority in reference sources.
C. Purpose: Resource for cataloging.
D. Scope: Provides cataloging records for entire year for published or distributed in the U.S.
E. Format: 2 volume set, arranged in three parts; the main section is organized by Dewey Decimal Classification Number with the remaining Adult Fiction and Juvenile Fiction arranged alphabetically by main entry author or title.
F. Arrangement: Arranged by subject according to the Dewey Decimal Classification and indexed by author, with separate sections for Adult and Juvenile Fiction.
G. Entries: are derived from Machine Readable Cataloging data (MARC) and contain such vital cataloging information as Dewey and LC classifications, title and statement of authorship, edition, series, LC number, ISBN, binding, price, and subject tracings.
H. Overall Evaluation: Not a necessary purchase. Costly addition to a reference collection, unless you catalog your entire record, then it would be beneficial.
A. Citation: Children’s Catalog. 18th Edition. New York: H.W. Wilson, 2001.
B. Authority: H.W. Wilson is a leading publisher in reference materials. This publication also benefited from the work of two groups of experts in library service to children.
C. Purpose: The catalog is aimed at the needs of children, teachers, and librarians in the elementary school setting, through sixth grade.
D. Scope: Sources for the librarian or school media specialist are included among both the print and the web resources. They are works on the history and development of children’s literature, literary criticism, bibliographies, selection aids, guides to the operation of media centers, and periodicals relating to library science, reviewing, and educating.
E. Format: Hardcover volume, (2001) with four annual supplements 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005.
F. Arrangement: The catalog consists for four parts. Part 1, the classified catalog, is arranged according to the Dewey Decimal Classification. Fiction (Fic), Story Collections (SC), and Easy Books (E) follow the nonfiction classes. Part 2, List of Recommended Web Resources. Part 3, Author, Title, Subject, and Analytical Index, serves as a comprehensive key to the classified list. Part 4, Directory of Publishers and Distributors.
G. Entries: Included is complete bibliographical information, including price, grade level, designation, suggested subject headings, a descriptive annotation, and an evaluation.
H. Overall Evaluation: The Children’s Catalog serves its intended purpose. It is a necessary addition for public libraries and School Media Centers.
A. Citation: Fiction Catalog. 13th Edition New York: H.W. Wilson, 1996.
B. Authority: H.W. Wilson is a leading publisher in reference materials. This work was selected with the assistance of experienced librarians from public library systems in various geographical areas.
C. Purpose: Contains detailed information on fiction works for adults, both written in and translated into English. Offers detailed bibliographic data for use in determining library acquisitions and collection-building.
D. Scope: Includes more than 6,300 entries with comprehensive information on fiction and nonfiction works, story collections, magazines, and other publications recommended for adults. Includes more than 800 analytical entries for parts of collections or anthologies. Offers bibliographic data, pricing information, subject headings, descriptive annotations, and review quotations, where available.
E. Format: Hardcover volume: 2006, 1,317 pages. Paperback supplements 2007, 2008, 2009 each approx. 170 pages.
F. Arrangement: Catalog consists of 2 parts; the first part lists works alphabetically by author, the second part is a Title and Subject Index
G. Entries: Included are author, out-of-print status, title, reprint publication data, publisher, ISBN, date of publication, Library of Congress Number, notes regarding sequels, illustration notes, publication history, price, and contents of story collection.
H. Overall Evaluation: This is a very useful resource for readers advisory. It is reasonably priced at $240, which includes the yearly supplements. I found it easy to use and would recommend it be part of both a public and academic library reference collection.
A. Citation: Forthcoming Books. New Providence, N.J.: R. R. Bowker, 1966-. Online source used for evaluation.
B. Authority: R.R. Bowker is a leading source for reference materials.
C. Purpose: To anticipate upcoming releases in the world of publishing.
D. Scope: Includes A database of bibliographic records of in-print, out-of-print, and forthcoming books from over 44,000 North American publishers
E. Format: Published three times a year, May, October, and December.
F. Arrangement: Each issue expands on the previous issue, updating entries and adding new ones.
G. Entries: Information is included about adult trade books, technical and scientific books, young adult and juvenile literature, college texts, paperbacks, imports, revised editions and reprints. Author and title sections, publisher, price, and publication date are included in entries.
H. Overall Evaluation: Good for the librarian that needs to stay ahead of the curve. A nice resource to have, not necessarily a must have at $299.95 a year, but if the budget allows it would be a good addition.
A. Citation: Katz, William A., Magazines for Libraries. 13th ed. 2004. New York: Bowker.
B. Authority: Bowker has a well known reputation as an established and respected company. Publishing this publication since 1969.
C. Scope: Published every three years. The 13th edition has five new chapters and sections. Contains 4,424 titles form 3,745 publishers with four or fewer entries, and 2, 512 titles form 150 publishers with five or more entries. Total of 6,936 entries from large publishers to start-ups. Published every three years.
D. Format: One hardbound volume. Two columns of entries in alphabetical order by subject and then by name of publication. Small type (approx. 6 pt.) with titles in bold.
E. Arrangement: Tables in front of book list titles deleted since last printing by subject and then by title. Lists of CD Rom Producers, document suppliers, micropublishers & distributors, online services, reprint services, aggregators. Trends and forecasts impacting serials publications. Body of book lists serials (in bold) alphabetical by subject. Subject and title index at end.
F. Entries: Include title, ISSN, verified by Ulrich’s Periodicals Directory, date, frequency, location, geographic areas published, address, E-Mail, URL, sample, circulation, reviews, audience, and other information and annotations. Bibliographic data included is outlined in a section entitled How to Use This Book at the front of the book.
G. Uses: Could and should be used by patrons doing research looking for journals and periodicals on a given subject, or by library professionals in choosing appropriate reference material in this form for their libraries, or to help patrons find research materials.
H. Overall evaluation: Comprehensive and valuable resource. One drawback is the frequency of publication. It is in one volume and may be more affordable than Ulrich’s.
A. Citation: National Union Catalog Pre-1956 Imprints, A cumulative author list representing Library of Congress printed cards and titles reported by other American libraries. (1979) London: Mansell Publishing. Also published in Chicago by the American Library Association.
B. Authority: Compiled and edited with the cooperation of the Library of Congress and the National Union Catalog Subcommittee of the Resources Committee of the Resources and Technical Services Division, ALA.
C. Scope: Over 600 volumes, each containing approximately 21,000 entries of books, music, motion-picture and other documents in 704 pages of acquisitions reported by over 700 university libraries, special libraries, and a few libraries with general collections that acquire unusual materials. A card catalog was started in 1909 by the Library of Congress which then began to collect cards from other libraries such as Boston Public, and the New York Public Library. By 1926 the catalog had nearly two million cards. The original use of the catalog was to locate research books in other libraries.
D. Format: Oversized volumes with copies of 18 catalog cards (reduced size) per page.
E. Arrangement: Alphabetical entries with keys to symbols designating holding library and other useful symbols at the end of each volume. Pertinent user information included in volume one along with the history and other information regarding the production of the set.
F. Entries: Each main entry has been ascribed a unique identifying designation which consists of an alphanumeric combination and identifying letters representing the position of an entry to identify it in the sequence of volumes. This is an author catalog only, no titles and as stated above appear as reduced size catalog cards.
G. Uses: Standardization of cataloging entries, bibliographical reference, locating copies of older imprints, verification of titles, avoiding duplicate purchase of expensive items on a national basis, definition of scarcity in evaluating offers of second-hand books, simplifying cataloging procedures, uniformity.
H. Overall Evaluation: A tremendous project that has taken years to accomplish and the predictions of fantastical use by librarians. A search on the internet found many libraries giving their sets away for those who would pick them up or pay for shipping. This would indicate to me that the usefulness does not exceed the need for the space the volumes occupy. However, it would be an essential addition to major libraries, but not essential for all libraries.
A. New Serial Titles: A Union List of Serials Held by Libraries in the United States and Canada. 1999. Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress.
B. Authority: Library of Congress publication, Cataloging Distribution Service, prepared by the Serial Record Division from records created and maintained as part of the CONSER Program.
C. Scope: Serial titles held by libraries in the United States and Canada compiled yearly from 1953 – 1999 with titles included from 1949 – 1999. Newspapers are not included.
D. Arrangement: Presented in traditional catalog format. Entries meet the definition of a serial as outlined in AACR 2. All titles are included regardless of type or initial date of publication. Other language titles are created through the use of Romanization schemes accepted by the ALA. All entries are arranged alphabetically according to the Roman alphabet.
E. Format: Entries are listed in three columns per page with the title in bold type. Explanation of entries found in the Introduction.
F. Entries: Entries may include the name of the serial, a cross-reference if applicable, whether the serial is available online, place of publication, physical description, frequency of publication, address, cot, and ISSN number, whether it is pre-publication, call number, and subject headings. The fullness of the records depends upon the amount of data reported. Holdings are indicated using National Union Catalog symbols arranged alphabetically at the bottom of each entry. If a serial is in pre-publication the information may be preliminary and verified in the following year’s publication.
G. Uses: Same as the Union List of Serials. To aid librarians in locating serials on various topics and to aid the researcher in finding suitable research materials.
H. Overall evaluation: The successor of NST would be the various magazine and periodical databases available on the Internet. Full-text articles available online would certainly be preferable to locating periodicals and serials through inter-library loan. But considering the limitations of online databases, in that most go back only 5-10 years, and NST covers pre-1999, then one must conclude that this is still a valuable tool. If NST becomes digitized, then it will no longer be needed.
A. Citation: OCLC Online Union Catalog, Dublin, Ohio: Online on FirstSearch as WorldCat.
B. Authority: Online Computer Library Center is a nonprofit, membership computer library service and research organization founded in 1967. Over 55,000 libraries in 110 countries use OCLC services. OCLC and its member libraries produce and maintain WorldCat. World’s larges consortium.
C. Scope: Contains all the records cataloged by OCLC member libraries. Over 57 million bibliographic records representing 400 languages. Materials covered include books, websites, computer programs, films and slides, journals and magazines, articles, chapters and papers, manuscripts, maps, musical scores, newspapers, sound recordings and videotapes. The databases are updated daily. Dates covered are from 1000 B.C. to the present. FirstSearch databases include ArticleFirst, Electronic Books, Electronic Collections Online, PapersFirst, ProceedingsFirst, and WorldCat Dissertations and Theses. Over 10 million full-text and full-image articles, abstracts and indices are available. FirstSearch is also partnered with the Library of Congress to provide a comprehensive virtual reference service.
D. Arrangement: FirstSearch is Web-based interfaced and has Z39.50 compatibility, which is maintained by the Library of Congress. There are three different levels of searching available. Boolean operators can string three search terms (in three search boxes) to start and refine searches. Searches can be limited by date, accession number, call number and other descriptive factors. Other limiters can narrow a search by material type, language, availability, number of libraries, year, audience, and format. The search screen is easy to navigate with features and search fields clearly marked and understandable. Searching can be done on any of 25 searching points such as keyword, title, author, title phrase, author phrase, place of publication, publication date, and more. Searching can also be done by choosing databases, or entering a subject and letting FirstSearch choose the databases best suited to the search. This is suited to scholarly journals. The 25 databases cover papers, conferences, theses, and other scholarly material. Results are listed and tabbed with number of hits per material type across the top of result list. Tutorial in the marketing material is available to view.
E. Entries: Results are listed numerically, with the library through which you logged on highlighted if they own the material. Initial citation is similar to card catalog format and lists how many libraries worldwide own the material, and whether it is available in full-text. Clicking on the item you want to view further brings up full details with the option of E-Mailing the results. An abstract may be included if it is a journal article. Results can be exported, sorted, related subjects found, or related authors searched. Results can also be limited by author, subject headings, year, or geographical area.
F. Uses: To locate materials anywhere in the world for interlibrary loan or for scholarly materials. My library uses it in place of Books in Print since we cannot afford to have all resources. Scholars, students, faculty, professional librarians, researchers, and others can use this resource to obtain full-text, abstracts, or bibliographic information. My library uses FirstSearch to find materials for our patrons and to verify titles.
G. Overall evaluation: A must for libraries. Small libraries often have access through a larger consortium. The New Hampshire State Library provides our subscription, or we could not afford to have this valuable service.
A. Yaakov, Juliette, (editor) Public Library Catalog; guide to reference books and adult nonfiction. 12th ed. New York: H.W. Wilson, 2004.
B. Authority: Versions published by H.W. Wilson since 1908. The names of the experienced librarians who selected the books for this catalog are listed in the Acknowledgements.
C. Scope: Over 8,000 nonfiction books that include paperbacks, published in the United States, Canada, or the United Kingdom and distributed in the United States. Works not included are periodicals, non-English items. Exceptions to this include dictionaries, language aids and learning materials. Other items not included are quickly outdated items such as computer software guides. Older titles may be included if they reflect the best material in print on a subject. Three annual supplements keep the work current.
D. Format: Hardbound print in one volume.
E. Arrangement: The catalog is divided into two parts consisting of the Classified Catalog, and an Author, Title, Subject and Analytical Index with subject access containing 1,500 analytical entries. Entries are arranged by Dewey Decimal, two columns per page with works arranged alphabetically under main entry, usually the author. Added entries are made for joint authors and editors. The classification number is displayed in boldface type. If a work can be classified under more than one subject, consult the Index. Directions for use are also included.
F. Entries: Complete bibliographical and cataloging information, price and ISBN provided. Reviews appearing in Booklist, Library Journal, or other critical review magazines are included. Information regarding electronic versions and large print editions included. Entries include suggested headings from Sears List of Subject Headings, a suggested classification number from the Abridged Dewey Decimal Classification and Relative Index.
G. Uses: For use in public and undergraduate libraries to aid in the weeding process to check for newer editions or books on a given subject.
H. Overall evaluation: Other databases or online resources could be used to check for newer books on nonfiction subjects, but this publication is specifically published for this purpose and has a standing reputation. Three annual supplements keep it up-to-date as much as print resources can be and is a useful tool for keeping a collection current.
A. Citation: –
B. Purpose: An electronic database service that contains both print and electronic reference entries (magazines, journals, e-journals, newsletters, and monographs).
C. Authority: According to the website, Frederick Bowes III founded the database in 1998. Infotrieve bought the rights in 2000.
D. Scope: This database contains over 150,000 national and international entries in over 300 subject areas.
E. Format: Entries appear on the screen in the format of a colored card. They are clear and easy to interpret with the heading of each section of information in bold text.
F. Arrangement: Entries are divided into three parts: main screen, publisher information, and full record, as indicated by the three tabs across the top of the “card.”
G. Entries: Entries include information on the following: Title, Publication Type, Frequency, ISSN, Country, Language, Editor, Publisher, Publisher Address, Publisher Contact Information,
H. Special features: There are five ways to search the database: title, publisher, subject, advanced search, browse, ISSN.
I. Uses: User friendly; one does not need to be a scholar to successfully retrieve results from this site.
J. Overall Evaluation: At the time of access, the parts of the website were being reconstructed. Therefore, it was not possible to search by subject. This put the website at a disadvantage. Similarly, the “browse” section was unavailable. This was disappointing; as overall, it appears to be a useful tool for libraries.
A. Citation: The Reader’s Adviser. 13th ed. 5 vols. New York, N.Y.: R.R. Bowker Company, 1986.
B. Purpose: To provide a list of books, sorted by subject, to a broad audience (the nonspecialist).
C. Authority: The Reader’s Advisor stresses that it is NOT a research tool for scholars and students. Therefore, selections are made based on their availability to the nonspecialist through the average, moderately sized library system.
D. Scope: This edition contains entries for books printed in the United States. Only those out of print materials that are deemed extremely important to the field are included.
E. Format: Entries are arranged alphabetically by the author’s last name. Each subsection contains a brief bibliography, followed by a more detailed description of selected authors (in paragraph form). Included is a list of other works by each author, as well as other books about that author.
F. Arrangement: Volumes and chapter within the volumes are organized to flow from general to specific. Each chapter begins with an introduction. General reading lists and full entries follow.
G. Entries: Entries are listed in one of two ways: either a simple bibliographic citation or an in-depth, paragraph form description. Included for each title referenced is the author, title, editor, series title, translator, authors of prefaces (and introductions and forewords), edition, number of volumes, reprint data, publisher, date of publication, and price.
H. Special Features: Included in each entry is the price.
I. Uses: Tailored to the nonspecialist.
J. Overall Evaluation: A must for a public library wishing to aid the common patron in a search for nonspecialized reading material.
A. Citation: Standard Periodical Directory. 23rd ed. New York: Oxbridge Communications, 2000.
B. Purpose: To provide uses with a bibliographic reference tool for searching periodicals.
C. Authority: Largest directory of periodicals in the United States and Canada.
D. Scope: Contains entries from over 56,000 magazines, journals, newsletters, newspapers, and directories in the United States and Canada. Published annually in one volume.
E. Format: The title of each entry is bold. Listed alphabetically by the title of the periodical.
F. Entries: Entries include title; any previous titles; location, telephone number, email address, fax number, website address, executive staff of the publisher; a phrase describing the periodical; the year it was established; publication frequency; target audience; information on the production; ISSN and ISBN; the type of publication and whether it is available in other formats; information on advertising, renting space, etc.; and indexing and abstracting services.
G. Special Features: Also available in CD-Rom.
H. Uses: It is tailored to librarians, suppliers to publishers, marketers, and advertisers.
I. Overall Evaluation: Entries are very thorough and include an enormous amount of information. Having a sample entry outlining the abbreviations is critical to interpreting all of the information provided.
A. Citation: Whitaker’s Books in Print. London: Whitaker, 1874-. Annual.
B. Purpose: To provide users with a master reference list of titles, authors, publishers, wholesalers, and distributors.
C. Authority: Entries are obtained directly from publishers in a variety of formats: catalogs, Advance Book Information Forms, and via telephone calls, faxed submissions, and emails. The Electronic Data Interchange accepts these submissions twenty four hours a day, seven days a week.
D. Scope: Includes over a million entries from 50,000 publishers for all types of books, covering all types of topics (includes a complete list of books having multiple editions as well).
E. Format: Thin, newspaper-like pages
F. Entries: Included author, contributors (if any), title, subtitle, editor’s information, page reference to the full entry in title index, additional titles by the same author, and cross-references to joint authors.
G. Arrangement: Alphabetically by author (as this index was for author). Volume includes a publisher name index, wholesalers, and distributors, a geographic index, and a section devoted to inactive/out of business.
H. Special Features: Preface offers a vast amount of information on how to use the reference book. In addition to providing information on how to use the book (including sample entries), it also informs readers on the history of the book and how the multiple volumes are organized
I. Uses: Reference tool for scholars, anyone seeking literature references.
J. Overall Evaluation: At first glance, each volume is very overwhelming. New users should take a moment to read the preface, so as to understand how to use the book as a reference tool.
Indexes & Abstracts
Jennifer Turner and Susan Tidd collaborated to review the following resources. We communicated via e-mail and decided to share our reviews and observations. Jennifer did the first half and I reviewed the last half. We emailed the results to each other and reviewed the research.
Citation: Article 1st. Dublin, OH: OCLC. (Online on FirstSearch).
Authority: OCLC (Online Computer Library Center is a nonprofit organization found in 1967, designed to help libraries access the most amount of information in the most economical way. Today, over 41,000 use its services.
Scope: Taken from over 16,000 sources, contains nearly twenty million records since 1990. Subjects include business, humanities, medicine, popular culture, science, social science, and technology.
Format: Accessed via FirstSearch. Can perform searches with multiple keywords, author term, title, publisher, etc. Ability to limit by year, full text, and subscriptions held by particular library. Choice of ranking by relevance and date.
Entries: Title is made clear by large blue text. Author and source of article is given below the title. Also included are the number of pages, the number of libraries (worldwide) that contain the material, and whether or not the library being searched from has the material. Selecting the individual entry provides users with even more information: holdings, ISSN number. Key search terms are highlighted.
Overall Evaluation: Having already been exposed to the FirstSearch database probably gave me a biased perspective of Article1st, since I was familiar with the database and its graphics, methods of searching, etc. Article1st covers a wide spectrum of information and is a valuable database to have available at a library, whether it is public or academic.
Citation: Doyle, C. (Ed.) (2005). Book review digest. New York: H.W. Wilson.
Authority: Founded by Halsey William Wilson, this publishing company has been in existence for over one hundred years. Other popular indexes include Readers’ Guide to Periodical Literature, The Reference Shelf, Bibliographic Index, and Library Literature. Offers sixty four reference databases.
Purpose: To index reviews of books published on an annual basis.
Scope: Current juvenile and adult fiction and non fiction in the English language. Excludes government publications, textbooks, technical books in the sciences and law.
Format: Two columns per page. Alphabetically by author’s last name. If there is no author, alphabetically by title.
Entries: Complete citation, including number of pages and ISBN. Summary of work and any reviews. Some reviews contain direct excerpts.
Overall Evaluation: A must for any library. Up to date (published annually). Easy to interpret. Quick reference if you need to know if a book has been reviewed. Reviews with the excerpts are the most useful.
Citation: Ferguson, D. (Ed.) (2006). Book review index. New York: Gale.
Authority: Thomas Gale is a world-renown name in the field of reference publishing. Currently publishes over 600 databases in print, online, e-books, and microform. Other works include Macmillan Reference USA, Charles Scribner's Sons, Primary Source Microfilm, and Scholarly Resources Inc.
Purpose: To index reviews of thousands of books, including audio-books and e-books.
Scope: Reviews over 400 publications from the United States, Canada, Europe, and Australia.
Format: Two sections: reviews alphabetically by last name of author whose books are being reviewed and reviews alphabetically by title. Reviews are classified as small, medium, or large depending on the number of words.
Entries: Complete citation, age code (ex. child versus young adult), publication code, volume, date, issue, page that review appears on, number of words in review.
Overall Evaluation: Succinct, difficult to interpret. No excerpts from reviews. Must devote time to looking up publication code. Does not appear as thought the author of the review is given. Two ways to search if the author of the work is unknown.
*Also available online:
Citation: Yang, H. (Ed.) (1999). Business periodicals index. New York: H.W. Wilson.
Authority: Founded by Halsey William Wilson, this publishing company has been in existence for over one hundred years. Other popular indexes include Readers’ Guide to Periodical Literature, The Reference Shelf, Bibliographic Index, and Library Literature. Offers sixty four reference databases.
Purpose: To index English language periodicals with a concentration in the topic of business.
Scope: Over 1.6 million entries with over 96,000 added annually. The published takes recommendations from the votes of subscribers when choosing which articles to index.
Format: Arranged alphabetically by subject, author, or name of company (in bold lettering). Separate section for book reviews.
Entries: Include article title, author, and complete citation of periodical. Special “title enhancement” section gives the indexer the opportunity to further explain the meaning of the title.
Overall Evaluation: Usefulness would depend on the library. Not as necessary at a small liberal arts academic library, probably more useful for colleges that have a business school. Might be a better reference for a public library to have.
Citation: Children’s magazine guide.
* I was unable to locate a print version of this, so evaluation is limited to the website version.
Authority: Registered trademark of Greenwood Publishing Group. Nationally accredited database for children’s magazine publications; top subject index of magazines for elementary and middle school aged children.
Purpose: To index magazines and websites targeted for elementary and middle school aged children.
Scope: According to the website, the selected magazines fall under the following criteria: useful for reference, contain accurate information, must have child appeal, and follow age-appropriate writing style. Demand also influences whether or not a magazine is included. That being said, over 65 magazines are indexed.
Format: Listed alphabetically by subject. Bold capital letters emphasize the subject.
Entries: Include the following information (in addition to the subject): cross references, title, author, website title, website address and annotation, magazine, date, page number, any additional notes.
Overall Evaluation: I found this to be very user-friendly. The color and overall theme of the initial web pages made me want to explore further. This database would be a must for any public library containing children’s sections and well as elementary and middle school libraries.
Citation: Hazen, E.P. & Fryer, D.J. (Eds.) (1990). The Columbia Granger’s index to poetry. New York: Columbia University Press.
Authority: Founded in 1893. Currently the fourth oldest university press in the country. Publishes over 150 titles each year in a variety of fields.
Purpose: To index poetry in a variety of ways: by title, by first line, by subject).
Scope: Over 100,000 poems from over 150 anthologies.
Format: Alphabetically by title and first line index, author’s last name, and subject.
Entries: Two columns per page for title/first line section. Three columns per page for author/index section. Does not give full citation. Title/first line index gives author and anthology code. Author index gives the title (which you then have to look up in the title section, in order to find anthology information). Subject index provides title and author’s last name.
Overall Evaluation: Limited information. Good for a quick reference or if you know the first line of a poem. Entries are not intimidating; succinct.
Citation: Contents1st. Dublin, OH: OCLC.
Authority: OCLC (Online Computer Library Center is a nonprofit organization found in 1967, designed to help libraries access the most amount of information in the most economical way. Today, over 41,000 use its services.
Overall Evaluation: The following academic libraries were consulted in an effort to locate use of this database: The Madeleine Wallace Library at Wheaton College, the Bridgewater State College library in Bridgewater, MA, Stonehill College’s library in Easton, MA, and the Buley Library at Southern Connecticut State University. Similarly, the Attleboro Public Library was also consulted. None of these five libraries provided users with access to this database. The next step was search for information online. A google search for “Contents1st produced no useful results that would provide information as to the scope, purpose, type of entries, etc. available on this database. As a last result, a similar search was attempted on the OCLC webpage, but no results availed. Due to the apparent obscurity/ difficulty in locating this database, we can conclude that it is not among the top suggested reference databases for academic or public libraries. Perhaps Article1st is comparable and more prevalent.
Citation: Current Contents. Philadelphia: Institute for Scientific Information. (Online version is referred to as Current Contents Search)
Authority: The Institute for Scientific Information has been in existence for over forty five years. It is known worldwide.
Purpose: To index articles from scholarly journals by their table of contents. Topics include sciences, social sciences, and arts and humanities.
Scope: From 1990 until the present. Entries come from over 65,000 journals. As of November 2003, database contained 13,707,664 entries. Updated daily.
Format: Seven “subsets”: Clinical Medicine; Life Sciences; Engineering, Technology and Applied Sciences; Agriculture, Biology, and Environmental Sciences; Physical, Chemical, and Earth Sciences; Social and Behavioral Sciences; Arts and Humanities.
Entries: Include table of contents, bibliographic record for each item (items are articles, reviews, letters, notes, and editorials). The use of all capitalized text makes it difficult to distinguish between the parts within an entry. Bibliographic information is at the top of each entry, followed by a breakdown by page numbers.
Overall Evaluation: I was not overly impressed with this database. Personally, I would not invest money into a database that gives such limited information as a table of contents. While some entries do include an abstract, I did not find the database to be very user-friendly. I have come across others throughout this course that have had more appeal.
Citation: Dissertation Abstracts Online. Ann Arbor, Michigan: University Microfilms International.
Authority: University Microfilms International accepts submissions from school institutions. Updated monthly.
Purpose: To index dissertations accepted by accredited institutions.
Scope: Includes every American dissertation since 1861. Also included in more recent years are dissertations from 50 British universities and European dissertations. Complete abstracts are included in entries from 1988 through the present. As of January 2006, there were 2,016,243 records in the following subjects: agriculture, astronomy, biological and environmental sciences, business and economics, chemistry, education, engineering, fine arts and music, geography and regional planning, geology, health sciences, history and political science, language and literature, library and information science, mathematics and statistics, philosophy and religion, physics, psychology and sociology.
Format: Multiple ways to search: keyword, author, advisor, title, institution, publication date, accession number. Title is bold.
Entries: Entries include full bibliographic information, including the degree earned by the author, the author’s advisor, and the institution awarding the degree. Also included are descriptors and descriptor codes.
Overall Evaluation: A must for college and university libraries, probably not so necessary for public libraries. A useful source offering multiple ways to search.
Citation: Greenfieldt, J. (Ed.) (2000). Essay and general literature index 1995-1999. New York: H.W. Wilson.
Authority: Founded by Halsey William Wilson, this publishing company has been in existence for over one hundred years. Other popular indexes include Readers’ Guide to Periodical Literature, The Reference Shelf, Bibliographic Index, and Library Literature. Offers sixty four reference databases.
Purpose: To index essays published in collections with a concentration on the humanities and social sciences.
Scope: Published semi-annually (paperbound edition in June followed by annual cumulation). Every five years, permanent cumulative volume. Indexes nearly 20,000 essays and articles in over 1,500 collections and miscellaneous works.
Format: Two columns per page. Arranged alphabetically by author’s last name, subject, or title.
Entries: In addition to citation, entries contain an “about” section, which includes information about the author’s life or discussion about the author’s work and an “about individual works” section, which refers to criticism on an individual work. Many subdivision which vary depending on the work and the author.
Overall Evaluation: User friendly. Author’s name and subject are bold. Indentations make for a very organized structure/flow. Subheadings are bold and centered. However, it does not provide the full citation nor ISSN, ISBN, etc.
• Online version is updated daily.
Citation: Ethnic NewsWatch. (I entered this database through the Wheaton College Library’s homepage, since my first try using the suggested link failed).
Authority: Copyright by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. A Google search of “ProQuest” revealed that it is a reliable resource of electronic collections.
Purpose: A bilingual database that provides points different from the mainstream.
Scope: Contains newspapers, magazines and journals of the ethnic, minority and native press from 1990 thru the present.
Format: Main page contains background information about the database, along with the following links: what’s new, timeline, publication information, subjects, and search tips.
Entries: Searches can be limited to Scholarly articles, magazine articles, and newspapers (or, not limited at all). There are three ways to sort the entries: most relevant, most recent, and oldest. Search results include the complete citations below which are two icons: one to select the full text of the article, the other to select the abstract. The “publication” tab allows users to search specific magazines, newspapers, etc. by issue.
Overall Evaluation: One element that I immediately found confusing was how to go about searching. While I could find information on searching tips, at first I failed to realize that I needed to click on the red box labeled “English” to begin searching. I think if the box had been labeled something similar to “search” it would have been clearer. Once I over came this hurdle, the actual search screen was very user-friendly, and search methods paralleled those of other databases I have used in the past. While I found this database to be very user friendly and informative, I am left with feelings of confusion regarding the purpose of the database. I do not see how the database provides different points of views. When I first read this, I was misled into thinking it provided slanted reviews of material: it appears to be no different from any other database in that it simply indexes articles. I do not see how the extreme opinions come into play, unless the sources themselves are controversial.
Citation: Howard, J.M. (Ed.) (1984). General science index. New York: H.W. Wilson.
Authority: Founded by Halsey William Wilson, this publishing company has been in existence for over one hundred years. Other popular indexes include Readers’ Guide to Periodical Literature, The Reference Shelf, Bibliographic Index, and Library Literature. Offers sixty four reference databases.
Purpose: To index English language periodicals by subject with a concentration in the sciences.
Scope: Monthly serial with annual cumulations also on CD. 300 periodicals as far back as 1984, many of them are peer-reviewed. Full text of articles from nearly 100 periodicals, as far back as 1995.
Format: Alphabetically by subject. End of the book contains a list of reviews (also alphabetically by author). Two columns per page.
Entries: Subject is bold and in capital letters. Indentation makes it easier to read. Under the subject heading, entries include title, author, if it has a bibliography and/or illustrations, periodical information (volume, issue, pages, etc.) Plain-language subject headings for non-specialists. Uniform name authority control makes searching easier and more reliable.
Overall Evaluation: Need to read entries carefully – limited punctuation, no bold lettering or italics, quotation marks, etc.
Citation: Global NewsBank. I wasn’t able to use this database. I looked at the information on the Web site.
Scope: Web-based research products satisfy the diverse needs of publishers, public libraries, colleges and universities, schools, government and military libraries, genealogists, professionals and researchers
Usefulness: Information from their Web Site: Web-based research products satisfy the diverse needs of publishers, public libraries, colleges and universities, schools, government and military libraries, genealogists, professionals and researchers Global NewsBank Collection supports both novice and advanced users by offering not only an intuitive basic interface, but also advanced search options.
Users can sort their results by date, relevancy or by easy, medium or advanced reading levels. Students and faculty can browse or search articles indexed by categories: NewsBank’s comprehensive. Web-based access to current and archived content from more than 2,000 newspaper titles, as well as newswires, transcripts, business journals, periodicals, government documents and other publications. Through its databases, intuitive interfaces and powerful search technology, NewsBank enables users to easily explore tens of millions of articles, obituaries, notices, announcements and other news content in order to pinpoint information from primary sources at the local, state, regional, national and international levels.
NewsBank's Readex division offers colleges and universities authoritative digital editions of American historical collections that help students and scholars explore four centuries of history, culture and daily life. Genealogists can use NewsBank's Web-based collections of historical and modern documents, publications and records to research their family histories.
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Citation: Humanities Index. New York: H. W. Wilson, 1974- . Quarterly with annual cumulations. (Online on Ovid as Humanities Abstracts)
Scope: Cumulative cover-to-Cover indexing of over 450 periodicals.
Content: Includes obituaries, bibliographies, operas, dance, ballets, musicals, motion pictures, video recordings, television and radio programs, fiction, drama, poetry, plays.
Arrangement: Author and subject index arranged in one alphabet. No title entries. Subdivisions in the order of: Historical periods arranged chronologically; Form and topical arranged alphabetically; Geographic arranged alphabetically. Under author and subject headings titles are arranged in alphabetical order by first word. Under personal names, titles by a person precede those about the person. (quoted from Explanatory Notes).
Entries: Subject terms are derived from the literature itself, or reference works, other Wilson indexes or LC subject headings. Cross-referencing is provided linking subject headings with one another. See references guide the user from terms not used to those that will enable the user to find the correct entry. A guide to reviews is provided in the Explanatory Notes.
Uses: Researchers doing papers on theater or literature-related subjects. Could be used to review works for purchase by libraries.
Overall evaluation: Print takes up a lot of space. I wasn’t able to use the online version, but it would seem to be the best choice if affordable. Bundled with Wilson products it may be available through a consortium.
Citation: Media Review Digest, 1970- . Ann Arbor, Mich.: Pierian Press, 1971- . Annual. (See Pierian Press publication for more on electronic version of the source - Much of the following information was cut and pasted from the Web site.
Scope: Provides coverage from 1989 to the present, including more than 100,000 media resources with more than 375,000 reviews, evaluations, awards and prizes. Each year this index adds approximately 30,000 reviews, awards, and prizes from over 150 reviewing sources and organizations that present awards. As of January 2000, updates are made monthly. (above information quoted from the Web site).
Content: Standard catalog of media information;
• Database of media reviews, which can be linked to library catalog records,
• Media selection tool, which features the MediaList "magazine" within the database,
• Source of free MARC records, which can be loaded into your library catalog, and
• Collection development insurance,
Arrangement: Media Review Digest includes a self-contained monthly selection magazine -- called MediaList. By bringing up the monthly edition of MediaList, you can see at a glance all the videos, CD-ROMs, DVDs, etc., that have been entered into the Media Review Digest database for the first time that month. The table of contents of back issues can be retrieved at any time. Unlike static print publications, each issue or a combined table of contents for the entire year can be filtered by: quality level, audience level, media type, and/or subject. The various media forms covered include: educational and feature films; videocassettes; videodiscs; educational and spoken-word records, tapes and compact discs;CD-ROMs, DVDs, and other optical media; and slides, transparencies, kits, maps, anatomical models, games, and other miscellaneous media items.
Entries: Detailed information from WorldCat database. Includes brief reviews of item with source citations, and abstract.
Special Features: Media Review Digest provides library catalog MARC records for all titles included in the database -- about 100,000 media items A special Utility in Media Review Digest provides a customized URL that can be copied and pasted into the corresponding library catalog record. Then, simply by clicking on Link to Reviews in the library catalog record, the URL automatically links to the Media Review Digest reviews for that title. Any library that has a subscription to Media Review Digest -- or package that includes Media Review Digest -- may incorporate these linkers in catalog records at no extra charge.
Overall Evaluation: Because it specializes in media it is a good resource for libraries choosing materials. Cost: From $200 - $800 per year depending on package for a public library. Bundled with WorldCat and available from SCSU library.
Citation: New York Times Index. New York: New York Times, 1913- . Semimonthly with quarterly and annual cumulations.
Scope: Contents of the New York Times from 1983 to present.
Content: Abstracts of significant news, editorial matter, special features in daily or Sunday news.
Arrangement: Classified by subject, geographic area, organization, and personal name headings. Headings and their subdivisions are arranged alphabetically. Headings are alphabetized word by word. Inverted headings precede uninverted headings. Headings may be inverted except for Government agencies which now appear in normal word order. Certain companies and other organizations that begin with a personal name will still be inverted.
Entries: Appear in chronological order unless alphabetical is more useful. Entries of unusual interest are in bold-face type. Abstracts of news stories end with a length indicator. (L) means over threecolumns, (M) is between one and three columns and (S) is less than one column. Each entry ends with the date, section, page and column of the story’s publication. Cross-references guide users from one heading to another. SEE ALSO references guide the user to other subject headings. USE references guide user to a variant spelling or synonym. Corrections appear in ADDENDA AND ERRATA in the back of each volume.
Usefulness: Locating articles one knows of, doing research on a subject.
Overall evaluation: Valuable tool. If articles can be found online, again, the space saved might be worth it.
Citation: NewsBank NewsFile Collection. I could not get access to this so I reviewed ProQuest Newspapers online at
Scope: Includes Boston Globe, 1987-current, Christian Science Monitor 1988-current,Hartford Courant 1992-current, Los Angeles Times, 1985- current, New York Times 1980 – current, New York Times Book Review 1997-current, New York Times Magazine 1997-current, Wall Street Journal 1984-current, Washington Post 1987- current.
Content: Full-text articles.
Arrangement: Searches yield most recent or most relevant first – can be changed. Citations appear with title, author, publication, volume date, etc. Search can be refined and suggested topics appear above result list. Tabs with Magazines, Newspapers, or All Sources appear at the top of the list.
Entries: Contain citation, abstract, number of words in full text article, can be translated into Chinese, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Spanish, Turkish. Results can be emailed or printed. Can find similar documents from entry. Publisher information listed as well. Entries can be narrowed by date, publication, or about. Suggested narrowing topics appear, hierarchical in nature.
Usefulness & Overall evaluation: Translation into other languages would be very helpful for some researchers. Limited by number of newspapers, all U.S. newspapers, which makes the translation ability useful for global use. Very easy to use and clear. I would use this frequently.
Title: PAIS International in Print. New York: Public Affairs Information Service, 1991- . Monthly with annual cumulation. (Online on Ovid as PAIS International)
Scope: The database from CSA includes publications from over 120 countries in English, some French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish. Dates covered: 1972 - current. PAIS International includes records from the print PAIS Bulletin 1977 and forward; and from the PAIS print Foreign Language Index published 1972-1990, at which time it merged with the PAIS Bulletin.
Content: Contains references to over 553,000 journal articles, books, government documents, statistical directories, grey literature, research reports, conference reports, publications of international agencies. Also included are microfiche and Internet material. Updated monthly.
Arrangement: Searching can be done by title, author, keyword and subject etc. Subjects include:AIDS, Asbestos removal and health related issues, Assisted Suicide, Campaign Funding, Child Labor, Child Sexual Exploitation, Citizen Militia, Climate Change, Cybercops, Disaster Relief, Ethnic Cleansing, Female Circumcision, Free Speech, Generation-X, Genetic Engineering, Globalization, Growth Hormones, Gun Control, Home Drug Testing, , Neo-Nazis, Ozone Depletion, Patenting Human Genes, Political Correctness, Political Persecution, Privatized Space Exploration, Recycling, Spousal Abuse, Street Children Teen Pregnancy, Violence on TV, Virtual Reality, Waste Minimization, Weapon Stockpiles, Workplace Violence .
Entries: Include Title, author, source, abstract, publisher, year, accession number, descriptors, availability (fee for document delivery), language, features, publication type.
Special features: Document delivery fees and document delivery through New York Public Library.
Overall evaluation: Wasn’t able to look up articles. If articles can be found elsewhere then this database would not be my first choice. I’d like to do a sample search to see if articles searched on PAIS are available free elsewhere.
Citation: Periodicals Contents Index. Alexandria, Va.: Chadwyck-Healey, 1996- . (Online on Chadwyck-Healey through the UIUC library gateway)
Scope: Over 15 million articles covering more than 300 years regarding the arts, humanities, and social sciences, world-wide. Periodical Indexes Online and Periodical Archive Online, which is full-text. Over 4,700 journals included.
Content: Also powered by ProQuest. Artilces appearing in magazines and journals. Articles are full-text, or links on how to obtain the article. Over 40 languages and dialects going back to 1665. Thirty-seven subject areas. Includes unindexed, non-article matter so researchers can find useful information about the journal an article appears in.
Arrangement: Cross-searching with Z39.50. Searching using typical methods. Results can be saved and not dumped upon exiting program. Can search for articles or journals and other limiters as well. Filters can be used or turned off to narrow results.
Usefulness & Overall evaluation: Libraries can download free MARC records forjournals. The tutorial was very impressive. Good Graphics. Couldn’t find cost information.
Title: Play Index, 1949- . New York: H. W. Wilson, 1953-. Irregular with multiyear volumes. (more on the e-version of the source see here - );
Scope: 1949-2002 in several volumes. About $85 per volume. Most recent $285. Content: Play Index’s Cast Analysis Index helps you locate plays specifically by type of cast (male, female, mixed, etc.) number of players and extras (e.g. 6 characters and extras: 5 men, 1 woman, and extras). Use this feature to find a play with just the right number of parts to match your group and resources. Complete bibliographic information is provided. For plays published separately, entries list the publisher, date, pagination, ISBN, and LC number. For plays in collections, entries in the List of Collections note the collection in which the play appears and provide full publication information.
Entries: the entry for each play provides:
▪ Descriptive annotation that summarizes the plot or dramatic action.
▪ Number of acts and scenes
▪ Size of cast
▪ Gender of cast members
▪ Number of sets
▪ Dancing or music requirements.
▪ Symbols identify plays suitable for children and young people.
Overall evaluation: Print takes up shelf space. If affordable, online would be the way to go.
Citation: Readers’ Guide to Periodical Literature, 1900- . New York: H. W. Wilson, 1905- . Monthly with quarterly and annual cumulations. (Online on Ovid as Readers Guide Abstracts)
Scope: Cumulative, compiled monthly and bound annually. Author-subject index to English language periodical of general interest. Retrospective guide goes back to 1890 covering various literature and media. Online from 1983 to present.
Content: Citations to over 3 million articles. Subject headings will list articles pertaining to that subject. If looking for recent articles, use monthly paperbound, then quarterly, then yearly hardbound cumulations for more articles.
Arrangement: Authors are arranged in one alphabet. Under authors and subjects titles are arranged in alphabetical order by first word. Geographical subdivisions follow other subdivisions in a separate alphabet. Articles are indexed by last name of author. Subjects may contain topographical, chronological or geographic subdivisions.
Entries: Contains citation, explanation of article or review. Entries may have enhancement if the title doesn’t clearly tell what an article is about. Cross-references and See Also references to help find more articles.
Usefulness & Overall Evaluation: Stands on its own record. It is being replaced by online version.
Citation: Short Story Index, 1900- . New York: H. W. Wilson, 1953- . Annual with five-year cumulations. (See Short Story Index for on-line free trial - )
Scope: Issued annually with cumulations every five years. Over 21,000 stories indexed from collections and periodicals.
Content: Index only – not full-text.
Arrangement: Three Parts. Part I: Author, title, and subject index arranged in dictionary form with all entries in one alphabet. Part II: List of Collections indexed. Part III: Directory of periodicals.
Entries: A work can be referenced in more than one part with additional information pertaining to the part referenced. An author entry lists where the work appears. The subject entry may reveal more info, as well as the title entry, and periodical or collection entry.
Usefulness & Overall evaluation: Short stories are often hard to find. This tool makes it easy to find a specific story, or a story on a topic. The online version would save space. If a library already owns the print, it would probably save money to stick with it.
Citation: Social Sciences Citation Index, 1956- . Philadelphia: Institute for Scientific Information, 1973.
Scope: Three times per year with annual and five-year cumulations. (Online as part of Web of Science) Covers topics such as, agriculture, anthropology, astronomy, biology, chemistry, computer information, earth science, engineering, environmental science, food science, general science & technology, mathematics, medicine, military science, navigation, paleontology, physics, psychiatry & psychology, veterinary medicine. Access to 110,000 definitions from McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific terms and biographies of scientists. Updated to contain latest science and technology news. Authors are top in their fields and include Nobel Prize winners.
Arrangement: The Web site home page lists resources, student center, image gallery, related Web sites, search encyclopedia option, choose a topic option, information about Access Science, and other informational tools. Articles are fully searchable, fully illustrated from McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science & Technology and McGraw-Hill Yearbooks, and Science News®.
Entries: I looked up bipolar disorder and a result list of over 7,000 entries came up. They can be sorted by various choices, date, etc. The results can be ranked by author, journal, country/territory, document type, institution, etc. I sorted them by subject category within bipolar disorder which included Psychiatry, Clinical Neurology, Neurosciences, Clinical Psychology, Genetics, Pediatrics, and more. Each subject showed a record count in each area, and the percentage of the total. A bar chart also showed the percentage of the total results. The analysis data can be saved to a file. I sorted by Bibliographic fields can be emailed printed, or saved or you can choose citations and mark them to a list.
Usefulness & overall evaluation: The wealth of information, graphics and ease of use make this a good tool for researchers in the science area. Easy enough for young people as well.
Citation: Social Sciences Index. New York: H. W. Wilson, 1974- .
Scope: Quarterly with annual cumulations. (Online on Ovid as Social Sciences Abstracts) English language index to periodicals. Cumulations are bound annually. Entries are based on permanent reference value, usefulness to students & researchers, scholarship and international scope. The goal is to build a selective list of important journals that ensure well-balanced coverage of all subject areas included in the index,
Arrangement: Author, subject index arranged in one alphabet. No title entries are made. Includes title of entry, citation and explanation. Subjects include anthropology, Community & Health & Medicine, Economics, Geography, International Relations, Law, Criminology & Criminal Justice, Political Science, Psychology & Psychiatry, Public Administration, Sociology & Social Work and related subject.
Entries: Under author and subject headings, titles are arranged in alphabetical order by first word, initial articles being disregarded. Articles are indexed under the surname of the author. Foreign names are Romanized. Author entries are not made when a staff writer, but included as part of the citation. Subject entries uses its own authority file derived from the Wilson indexes, LC, the literature itself and reference works. Biographical articles, articles about persons, and interviews are under personal name. Subject entries are made for tribes and other ethnic groups. An extensive cross-reference structure is provided linking subject headings that relate.
Usefulness & Overall evaluation: Online resources would probably be better for recent works. For older works, this would be very useful to locate information.
Dictionaries Reviews
Group: Valerie Buck, Mary Coyle, Lisa Sedita, Susan Tidd, and Jennifer Turner. My contribution to the group consisted of reviewing #13, 15, 16, 17.
1. Citation: Acronyms, Initialisms and Abbreviations Dictionary. (The only edition I had in print was the 1996 edition). Detroit, MI: Gale Research, Inc.
Purpose: Explains “new” language terms and translates acronyms.
Authority: Citations are listed next to the term being described from with other information is gathered.
Scope: 22,400 new terms are listed.
Format: Term is listed, then is parsed out by 1) acronym, initialism, or abbreviation; 2) meaning; 3) English translation; 4) language; 5) source; 6) origin; 7)sponsoring organization; and 8) subject
Arrangement: Alphabetically in letter by letter sequence.
Entries: This dictionary runs the gamut of every subject because it is covering terms first.
Special Features: Great source code up front which allows the user to note where the term originated.
Uses: Research, reports, and everyday use in both the home and the classroom.
Evaluation: This was easy to use and fun to read.
2. Citation: I was able to get the 1982 version only in print. Houghton Mifflin, Boston Ma. (2nd College Edition).
Purpose: This is a straightforward dictionary.
Authority: Usage panel and consultant panel.
Scope: Covers some 1,565 pages of not only English language but usage, pronunciation and origin.
Format: Simply alpha format with indented tabs in the pages to more easily get to the right word.
Arrangement: The guide to the dictionary runs 22 pages and includes grammar and punctuation notations as well.
Entries: Words in everyday use in the English language.
Special Features: There are several commentaries written prior to the guide which provide an anecdotal nature to the dictionary.
Uses: Standard dictionary for junior high and higher.
Evaluation: This is easy to use and the black and white pictures are a nice touch.
3. Citation: Andrews, Robert. The Columbia Directory of Quotations. New York: Columbia University Press, 1993.
Authority: The Columbia University Press was founded in 1893. It is currently the fourth oldest university press in the country, publishing over 150 titles each year in a variety of fields. **This book claims to introduce 11,000 new quotations.
Scope: Over 18,000 quotations from approximately 1500 topics. A variety of speakers are included, ranging from Emily Dickinson to Malcolm X.
Format: Entries are arranged alphabetically by the subject. Over 1,000 pages.
Entries: In addition to the quotation and speaker, entries also contain a “see also” cross reference section.
Overall Evaluation: The selling point of this book is that it covers such a wide variety of topics. Many of the quotations are lighthearted. In addition to being a valuable reference source, it is also a good “coffee table” book. The quotations are informative and amusing.
4. Citation: Bartlett, John. Familiar Quotations. 17th ed. New York, NY: Little, Brown and Company, 2002.
Purpose: To quote Bartlett, “to show to some extent, the obligations our language owes
to various authors for numerous phrases and familiar quotations which have b become ‘household words.’”
Authority: Full citations of title and source plus nominations from readers and authors.
Scope: No number is given on the entries but the book runs 1,431 pages.
Format: Each quotation is indexed in the back by alpha keyword – use this first!
Arrangement: By keywords, not topics. Compound words are indexed as one word.
Authors are cross-referenced if they use a pen name. Authors are indexed up front so they located in the text chronologically by birth.
Entries: The entries cover as timely a basis as possible. Everything from the Bible to political figures to writers and singers is covered.
Special Features: The best feature is the index – it helps in navigating this more complicated dictionary.
Uses: For writing reports and settling questions about who said what.
Evaluation: I think this would be a good addition for home or school but I would put it in
the junior high and above category.
5. Citation: Dictionary of American Slang. New York City, NY: Harper and Row, 1986.
Purpose: To clarify terms used in everyday life.
Authority: The Wentworth and Flexner Dictionary of American Slang were “recycled” and its material retained, altered or discarded. This dictionary also uses a group of
collectors of slang.
Scope: Any material deemed “slang” is appropriate here.
Format: Material is cross-referenced.
Arrangement: Set up as a regular dictionary.
Entries: All sorts of slang that are in everyday use.
Special Features: The guide is 4 pages long and very helpful – it needs to be read first.
Uses: Classrooms, reports, home.
Evaluation: Amazing information in this book – it would be a fun book to page through.
6. Citation: Fowler, Henry Watson. The New Fowler Modern English Usage. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press, 1996.
Purpose: To explain in a dictionary-type setting how words are to be used and spoken in the English language.
Authority: The original author died in 1933 but other authors have modernized the later editions. Fowler relied on the OED to back up his work. This covers from A-Z the most common language usage.
Format: Simple Alpha arrangement.
Arrangement: There are 3 keys up front which are very helpful – pronunciation,
abbreviations, symbols, and bibliographical abbreviations.
Entries: This covers the standard English language information in alpha order.
Special Features: This book focuses on how the English language should be spoken and used.
Uses: This would work well for junior high and above for good pronunciation of a word and its use. I would keep it in the reference area of a classroom and a workplace as well.
I had never seen this particular book before but found it interesting and I think it would
make a good resource.
7. Citation: Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of the English Language, International ed. New York: Funk and Wagnalls, 1958.
Purpose: To provide an educational tool used by everyone in a manner more in keeping with a merging of traditional British and new American patterns.
Authority: Comprises successive additions and updates of previous editions from Funk & Wagnalls editorial team.
Scope: Two volumes, with entries including words from six other languages.
Format: Standard lexicographic format, with pages divided into three columns.
Arrangement: Divided into three parts, with each part divided into subsections. The dictionary section is arranged alphabetically, with headings in bold type.
Entries: Each entry includes pronunciations, definitions, and etymologies. Some entries include illustrations.
Special Features: Includes definitions of basic foreign language words, in English to foreign language and foreign language to English lists.
Uses: For families, students, and anyone who wishes to use a dictionary that has been modernized from older traditional formats.
Overall Evaluation: This dictionary (as well as the 1965 edition) is outdated, though useful. For example, it provides definitions that are not widely used anymore but appear in older literature.
8. Citation: Garner, Bryan A. A Dictionary of Modern American Usage. New York: Oxford University Press, 1998
Authority: Oxford University Press is a well respected publisher of reference materials.
Vocabulary: offers entries that discuss either a particular word, or phrase, or larger issues of usage and style.
Up to Date: published in 1998, it is sufficient for a dictionary.
Format: hard cover formatted in two columns with subheadings in bold face. Type ad fonts are easy to read.
Spelling: provides more than one spelling of the word when more than one is acceptable, also adds different variants of words.
Etymologies: Provides etymologies with in the definition.
Definitions: Offers the modern usage of the word in question.
Pronunciation: Pronunciation clearly marked, also a key in the back of the book.
Usage: This dictionary is all about usage. It provides the correct modern American English usage.
9. Citation: Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary. 10th ed. Springfield, MA: Merriam- Webster, 1993.
Authority: Merriam-Webster has been publishing dictionaries and reference materials since 1831.
Vocabulary: Includes more than 215,000 clear and precise definitions, 700 illustrations.
Up to Date: Published in 1993 it is not the newest dictionary available.
Format: Hardcover, Main entries are in boldface letters, including punctuation marks and diacritics where needed, that is set flush with the left hand margin of each of the two columns of type.
Spelling: provides Latin spelling preceded by L.
Etymologies: is provided in boldface square brackets preceding the definition.
Pronunciation: is indicated between a pair of reversed virgules \\. This dictionary is very through in offer variant pronunciations.
Usage: Three type of status labels are used in this dictionary, temporal, regional, and stylistic. Providing information on words no longer in the venacular, words that are slang and words that are from a particular dialect.
10. Citation: Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Thesaurus. Springfield, Mass.: Merriam- Webster, 1993.
Authority: Merriam-Webster has been publishing dictionaries and reference materials since 1831.
Vocabulary: Includes more than 340,000 synonyms, antonyms, related and contrasted words and idioms.
Up to Date: Published in 1993
Format: Alphabetical lists of words. Dictionary like in format, even had the cut outs for the letters to have easy access to each group of words with in each letter.
Spelling: does not offer alternate spellings.
Etymologies: n/a
Definitions: It does offer definitions to pinpoint the exact relationship between the main entry and its synonyms. It also provides part of speech, vb for verb or adj for adjective, etc.
Pronunciation: It does not offer pronunciations.
Usage: This book is concerned with the general vocabulary of the English language, it provides a more appropriate term than the user has in mind.
11. Citation: Merriam-Webster Online. http.//
Authority: This online dictionary is based on the print version on Merriam-Webster’s collegiate Dictionary.
Vocabulary: It provides the main a-z listing of the Collegiate Dictionary, as well as the abbreviations, Foreign words and phrases, biographical names, and geographical names. It also has 1000 illustrations
Up to Date: I could not locate how often it is updated.
Format: It is clear to read once you get to the word your are looking for. The home page of the site is busy, offering puzzles, advertisements, and word of the day, etc.
Spelling: This online dictionary provides corrected spelling of the word in question.
Etymologies: Offers the etymology of words plus the root of where it originated.
Definitions: Gives the modern meaning of words.
Pronunciation: Contains sound to hear the word pronounced
Usage: This is a free dictionary online. It is a little busy when you first visit the site. It provides a good definition, pronunciation, and etymology. For a quick look up this is more than sufficient.
12. Citation: Oxford Dictionary of Quotations. Rev. 4th ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 1999.
Authority: Oxford University Press is a well respected publisher of reference materials.
Vocabulary: over 20,000 quotations with over 3000 authors.
Up to Date: published 1999.
Format: hard cover, sequence is by alphabetical order of author in bold face. Includes cross references where necessary.
Spelling: n/a/
Etymologies: n/a
Definitions: n/a
Pronunciation: n/a
Usage: This is a very good dictionary of quotations, you can search by author, title, subject. It also has a themeatic index and a keyword index and special categories.
13. Citation: Oxford English Dictionary. 2d ed. 20 vols. (1989) New York : Clarendon Press/ Oxford University Press.
Scope: To present the words that have formed the English language since the written word began. The aim is to include all the relevant facts concerning their form, sense-history, pronunciation, and etymology. Includes some dialectic and slang. This edition covers not just language, but things. Contains over 2,400,000 quotations and about 290,500 main entries. The purpose of this edition is to exhibit the history and signification of the English words now in use or known to have been in use since the middle of the twelfth century.
Authority: The mother of all dictionaries. Used for research and scholarly needs.
Arrangement: Contains all versions of previous editions in a seamless text. Revisions, corrections, and additions have been made. Entries are arranged in alphabetical order of their headwords using the English alphabet. The Contents contain a preface, introduction, general explanations, the history of the dictionary, several keys to using the dictionary, list of abbreviations, signs, etc., a note on proprietary names and then the dictionary itself. The whole dictionary has been made machine-readable for future updating.
Entries: Main entry in boldface type. Pronunciation follows the International Phonetic Alphabet and is enclosed in round brackets after the main entry. Homographs are identified by part of speech following word. Definitions follow. Cross-references to other main words or derivatives are in small roman capitals unless word is a noun, then first letter is larger capital. Derivatives may be a main word or listed at the end of the entry. Division into senses by large Roman capital letters. Senses are explained in General Explanations. Labels are used to indicate the status or usage of a word or sense. Words and phrases are classed as main words, subordinate words, combinations, or derivatives. The main word comprises: identification, etymology, signification, illustrative quotation. Etymology is included in square brackets. If variant forms, etymology follows.
Overall Evaluation: $895 for a set. Cost prohibitive---for larger libraries. The definitive dictionary that covers everything. Space is an issue too. For scholarly and adult patrons.
14. Citation: Partridge, E. (1984). Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English. 8th ed. New York: Macmillan.
Purpose: To provide definitions of terms that might not appear or that get little coverage in a standard dictionary.
Authority: Partridge was well-known as a philologist, etymologist, and lexicographer, educated in the humanities at Oxford. Paul Beale, the editor, is an expert in the field.
Scope: One volume, 1400 pages (roughly 50,000 definitions), includes historical slang as well as current slang.
Format: Standard lexicographic format with entries in columns.
Arrangement: Arranged alphabetically in two columns per page, with each heading in bold type.
Entries: Each entry includes part of speech, definition, register (colloquial, slang, jocular or etc.), and dates of usage.
Special Features: Includes a list of bibliographic abbreviations, standard abbreviations and signs, as well as a biographical essay about Eric Partridge.
Uses: For use by anyone looking for definitions of slang words.
Overall Evaluation: This resource is not only valuable in providing what standard dictionaries often leave out, but it is also interesting and amusing to browse through.
15. Citation: Random House Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary. 2nd ed. New York : Random House.
Scope: expanded from the first edition by 50,000 new entries and 75,000 new definitions. Covers English language globally and is unabridged. Over 2,000 pages and covers all aspects of language and American regional dialects. Dates of entry into the vocabulary and which words are American in origin have been added. Contains charts, tables and key illustrations. Also contains French, Spanish, Italian, German dictionaries, a basic manual of style, dictionary of colleges and universities, the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States.
Authority: One of the most respected dictionaries.
Currency & Accuracy: Old entries have been updated, such as biographical information and geographical. When a word origin is unknown, the former use of “from a native word” has been discontinued.
Arrangement: Contains several chapters of prefatory information, keys, table of contents. A user’s guide is comprehensive and includes a sound-spelling guide when the spelling is not known, but the definition is. Keys to pronunciation, foreign sounds, etymology, and languages are included. An atlas of the world with an index and other useful charts are included. The table of contents outlines the preface, history, how to use guide, abbreviations, several keys, then the dictionary of over 2,000 pages, followed by over forty charts, tables, and key illustrations listed. Other useful information follows
Format: Pages are over-sized with 3 columns of entries per page. Main entry in boldface type, in about 6-pt type. Heading of each letter shows the history and evolution of the letter. Guide words at the top of each page specify the first and last word on each respective page.
Entries: Contain not just words, but specialized terms from sports, telecommunications, history and business, medicine and science. Main entry in boldface, some in italics, most in roman typeface. Italicized entries pertain to book and play titles, titles of long poems, musical compositions, names of works of art, ships, aircraft, foreign words or phrases not used in English. Homographs are numbered by superscript, such as rose. Stress marks aid in pronunciation. Pronunciation in parentheses. Part of speech follows. Cross-reference or comparisons are included. Illustrations when helpful. Usage labels clarify such things as place, time, whether word or term is obsolete, archaic, rare, older usage. Style labels denote settings in which word or term may be used. Variants are listed, Roots, prefixes, run-on entries are listed at the bottom of the page that contains the entry for each prefix.
Definitions within an entry are numbered and listed with more common first. Entries are dated as to when usage began or includes a spread of years. Diacritical marks are used in pronunciation. End-of-entry notes include synonym lists, antonym lists, usage notes, pronunciation notes, and regional variation notes.
Syllabication: Uses a raised centered dot. Hyphens are used when necessary instead of dots. Acronyms are not divided. Division conforms to American pronunciation. Primary and secondary stress marks are used.
Grammatical: Included with some nouns indicated use with singular or plural. Sense of use is shown.
Idioms: Shown in boldface type under the main entry for one of the content words in the idiom. Listed in alphabetical order after all the other definitions for the part of speech under which they appear. Pronunciation and stress are not shown.
Etymologies: Appear in square brackets. Symbols explained in the How to Use section and also at the bottom of every left-hand page. For foreign languages some special symbols are explained in the how to use section. The International Phonetic Alphabet is used with a chart.
Inflected forms: Plurals are shown only for nouns that can be counted, nouns ending in a final -y or –ey, nouns that are not native English, nouns that change spelling to form plural, nouns ending in –o –ful, or –us. Irregular plurals, are shown, and when plural can have more than one form.
Overall Evaluation: Complete and worth the $80 it averages in cost. For adult patrons especially.
16. Citation: Random House Webster’s College Dictionary, 2nd ed. (2001) New York: Random House.
Scope: Directed to all English speaking cultures. Over 1500 pages- comprehensive. Also includes other language alphabets, calendars, some scientific tables, state information, proofreaders’ marks, weights and measures, world maps, and a writer’s guide among other features not listed due to space. . New words have been added each decade and many are listed in the introduction. A Ready Reference Supplement includes an Index to Useful Features that provides information on a wide variety of subjects, scientific, geographic, and pertaining to general knowledge.
Currency: Includes words that have been used for centuries and new words.
Authority: Started publishing in 1947. On its own merit Widely used.
Arrangement: entries are alphabetical in two columns in what appears to be 6-pt type. Main entry in boldface type with entry in hanging indent style. Includes illustrations for some entries. A detailed usage guide is provided. Contains an abbreviation and pronunciation key and index to useful features.
Entries: Spelling includes alternate forms.
Syllabication: Syllables are divided by dots. Pronunciation, part of speech, and where to include a hyphen if necessary. Most common meanings are first. Variants are included. Idioms are listed as such. Phrasal verbs are explained and included. Derived entries, descriptive labels, subject labels and labels of place are used to clarify. Labels of time, style or status to aid in making judgments about the setting in which a term is appropriate are included. Language labels are used if the word is not English. Acronyms are noted.
Grammar: is notated with italicized abbreviated labels. Inflections are noted.
Etymology: Word history follows definitions in square brackets. Symbols and abbreviations within etymologies are used and listed for the user.
Overall Evaluation: Affordable at around $28—comes with CD-ROM that I couldn’t look at. Recommended. A good adult resource.
17. Citation: Stein, Jess. Flexner, Stuart Berg. Revised and updated by Sutherland, Fraser. (1997) Random House Webster’s College Thesaurus. New York : Randon House.
Scope: Directed at college level – 792 pages – print version is ten years old. Should be updated.
Authority: Based on the Reader’s Digest Family Word Finder of 1975 and a revised edition of the 1984 edition of the Random House Thesaurus.
Vocabulary: Includes informal, slang, contextual references.
Format & Arrangement: Arranged in alphabetical order. Two columns per page, about 9-pt type with entries in bold type. Hanging indentation per entry. Clear and easy to read.
Entries: Spelling is American. Main entry is followed by the part of speech. Usage follows – the word is used in a sentence. When used in more than one part of speech each is identified in a numbered sentence corresponding to the part of speech if it differs. Context is defined. Synonyms are arranged by closest one first separated by semicolons. A list of antonyms follows, which will correspond to the list of synonyms if matched. Whether a synonym is slang is indicated as well or an informal usage.
Etymology: Not listed. Differences between autumn and fall usage is noted as being British and American.
Pronunciation: not listed
Syllabication: not listed
Grammatical Information: Used in a sentence but not grammatical information listed.
Overall evaluation: Affordable at about $25. Good resource in conjunction with a good dictionary. Recommended for young adults and middle school.
18. Citation: Roget’s II: The New Thesaurus. 3rd edition. (1995). Boston: Houghton Mifflin.
Scope: Over 1200 pages of entries with 35,000 synonyms. Comprehensive.
Authority: Edited by the editors of the American Heritage Dictionary. Roget’s has been the definitive name for Thesauruses.
Accuracy : . Follows the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language definitions.
Vocabulary: Combines a Thesaurus format with a dictionary definition. Contains cross-references.
Format: Entries are listed alphabetically with subentries if necessary. Hanging indented, with main entry in bold type. Arranged in two columns per page. Easy to read.
Arrangement: Alphabetical with a category index at the back. An introduction explains how to use the thesaurus and the category index is prefaced with an introduction as to how to use it. Category index is included to provide al alternative method of searching for a synonym. Divided by parts of speech.
Spelling: Variants are given following the main entry word.
Entries: Three kinds of entries with main entry in boldface. Indented subentries consist of either a word spelled the same as the headword, but a different part of speech, or a two-word verb derived from a single-word verb. Cross-reference entries are listed from variant spellings to main entries. Part of speech follows main entry. Homographs are included signaled by superscript numerals following the words to which they refer. A synonym list, slang and informal usages are included. Idioms, when appropriate are listed at the end of the synonyms. Cross-references lead to subentries of main entries and variant spellings. Labels are used in temporal fashion,such as Archaic and Obsolete; for usage, such as Informal and Slang. Dialect labels and language labels differentiate those terms as well.
Etymology: Not given.
Syllabication: Not given
Usage: Meaning and connotation are considered. Synonyms are grouped according to their meaning, not just strict synonymity. Not used in a sentence. Dates are listed as to when a word was used as such and coinages are listed along with some dates.
Overall Evaluation: Very inexpensive—for the money it is a good purchase. Would be good for younger patrons.
19. Citation: Roget’s International Thesaurus. 5th ed. New York: Harper Collins, 1992.
Authority: Best selling thesaurus for over fifty years. According to the inside cover, entries are based on “extensive word association research into how words are actually used.”
Scope: This edition has 1073 categories. Publication includes 325,000 words and phrases.
Format: Two columns per page. Entries are written in bold, capital letters. Beginning of the work contains a biography of the original author, Peter Roget. Biography is then followed by a “how to use” section, which instructs users to look up a word in the index, find the appropriate sub-entry, follow its number into the text to find the paragraphs on comparable adjectives. Synopsis of categories section preludes actual entries. Note: entries are not in alphabetical order; they are organized by related categories (as explained in the synopsis of categories section.
Entries: Each entry word is written in bold, capital letters. A brief definition is given, as denoted italic text surrounded by < >. Parts of speech are listed in the following order: nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, and interjections. The most common synonyms are in bold text. Entries are methodically arranged (not alphabetically). For example, each entry has a number: the first part of the number represents the category; the second part of the number (following the decimal point) represents the paragraph within that category.
Overall evaluation: It is clear that the authority is the selling point of this dictionary. Extensive researching/evaluating went into this publication. It is not difficult to use, once on understands how to find the entries (since they are not listed alphabetically).
20. Citation: Webster’s Dictionary of English Usage. Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, 1989.
Authority: Famous American publisher of language related sources. Other publications include Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (America's best-selling desk dictionary). Company was found in the 1830’s by brothers Charles and George Mirriam.
Scope: Entries were examined from two perspectives: historical and present day usage. Topics were selected from existing books on usage as well as idiomatic English usage. Publication contains over 500 entries.
Format: Preface, followed by explanatory notes, history of English usage section, pronunciation symbols, entries, bibliography. There are two columns per page. Entry words are written in bold text, and there are spaces between entries. Entire book is just under 1,000 pages.
Entries: Entries are very detailed and contain a lot written text. Examples are provided as well as quotations and historical information on the usage.
Overall Evaluation: This dictionary has unique qualities that make it a valuable source. It is much more than a book of definitions; it explains how to use properly use words. I would not recommend it for a quick reference source, as the explanations can be a bit wordy; however, it would be very useful for someone wishing to take the time to understand/learn how to use the language.
21. Citation: Webster’s New Dictionary of Synonyms. Springfield, MA: Mirriam-Webster, 1968.
Authority: Famous American publisher of language related sources. Other publications include Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (America's best-selling desk dictionary). Company was found in the 1830’s by brothers Charles and George Mirriam.
Writing was done by Dr. Philip H. Geopp and Dr. Maire Weir Kay. Assistants helped specifically with cross-referencing and proofreading.
Scope: Under 1000 pages of entries. Over 17,000 examples.
Format: Very long introduction on the survey of the history of English synonymy. In this introduction, a definition of synonyms is provided. The introduction is followed by an explanatory notes section. There are two columns on each page separated by a vertical line. Footers are used to give keys (for example, ant = antonym, con = contrasted words). Entries are listed in alphabetical order.
Entries: The vocabulary entry is in bold. Also included is the part of speech, the definition of the word, synonyms, “finding lists” (two kinds: analogous and contrasted), and antonyms.
Overall evaluation: I did not find this resource to be especially valuable. It may be a useful aid for a quick reference, but is not that extensive. Similar results could stem from using the thesaurus in Microsoft Word. Of course, it is important to note that the print edition I was evaluating was from 1968
22. Citation: Webster’s New World College Dictionary. 4th ed. New York: Macmillan, 1999.
Purpose: Provides updated definitions for a college comprehension level.
Authority: Ten years of lexicographic research from renowned Webster’ team, completely revised and updated. It is the official dictionary of the Associated Press.
Scope: More than 160,000 entries; over 800 illustrations, biographical photographs, and maps. Includes 5,000 new entries, including new Americanisms.
Format: Standard lexicographic format.
Arrangement: Alphabetical, in columns. Each page and text is redesigned for greater readability. Entry word is in bold.
Entries: Entries include word, pronunciation, definitions, and etymology, as well as special notes, examples, and synonyms.
Special Features: Detailed illustrations, drawings, photographs and maps. Also includes extensive reference information, a guide to pronunciation, and a full-color atlas of the world.
Uses: Used by well-known newspapers (Wall Street Journal, New York Times, etc.) and so for use by anyone wishing to have the accepted standard definitions, as well as for college students.
Overall Evaluation: Extremely useful as the dictionary of choice for standard English definitions, to go hand-in-hand with the Chicago Manual of Style.
23. Citation: Webster’s Third New International Dictionary of the English Language.
Springfield, MA: Mirriam-Webster, 1993.
Authority: Famous American publisher of language related sources. Other publications include Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (America's best-selling desk dictionary). Company was found in the 1830’s by brothers Charles and George Mirriam.
This publication cost over $3.5 million to publish. The editorial staff consisted of people from a variety of fields (the credentials are listed in the publication). Over 200 scholars and consultants joined the editorial staff on this project. Extra care was taken in order to produce accurate definitions.
Scope: Largest American dictionary. Contains over 476,000 entries. 2,662 pages.
Format: The inside cover has a list of pronunciation symbols. The book itself is quite large in size and has nearly 3,000 pages. The contents section informs readers that there are multiple sections, including tables, illustrations, editorial staff, outside consultants, explanatory notes, etc. Tabs make it easy to find a specific section. The preface attempts to sell the book by stating its credibility, scope, and the effort that went into its publication. Three columns are on each page. Entries are listed alphabetically. Pages have few black and white images. Special color chart section.
Entries: Entry titles are in bold text. In addition to the actual definition(s), entries contain the word’s pronunciation, part of speech, and origin. The definitions are succinct, not too wordy, and easy to understand.
Overall Evaluation: The authority sells this publication. It is clear that extreme care went into finding the most accurate definitions. The preface is a good indication of the resource’s credibility. However, the book itself is so large that it is actually cumbersome to use.
24. Citation: World Book Dictionary. 2 vols. Chicago, IL: World Book, 1997.
Purpose: A dictionary for students.
Authority: Developed by expert editors at well-known World Book Encyclopedia.
Scope: 2 volumes; more than 225,000 entries; 3000 illustrations
Format: Standard lexicographic format, with easy-to-read pages.
Arrangement: Arranged alphabetically, in three columns, with each word bolded.
Sections include a Guide to Communication, notes on how to use prefixes, suffixes,
Capitalization, punctuation, etc.
Entries: Each entry includes a pronunciation, simple definitions, as well as sample
sentences. Several entries include illustrations.
Special Features: Includes a 128-page “Guide to Communication.”
Uses: For students not yet ready for the “boring” adult dictionaries.
Overall Evaluation: This is an attractive and easy-to-use dictionary for students as well
as for adults who prefer something a little less dry.
25. Citation: WEBSITE: (headquartered in Paoli, PA)
Purpose: Online dictionary
Authority: Advisory Council of Experts (ACE) and two dozen linguists from around the
world.
Scope: Covers language, multilingual, antonyms, synonyms, translations and a thesaurus.
Format: Browse words by typing in the search box.
Arrangement: Tabs across the top indicate where the information can be located.
Entries: Alpha entries
Special Features: Interesting notations about the origins of language and many types of
language are used throughout the world.
Uses: Ready reference area and a quick lookup if a real dictionary is not handy.
Overall Evaluation: There was so much spam on this site that it was hard to work with –
I would not recommend it.
26. Citation: WEBSITE: (based in Englewood, CO).
Purpose: Online regular and reverse dictionary.
Authority: Wordnet, US Census Bureau, Wikipedia, and hundreds of dictionary
providers on the web.
Scope: 5 million words in 900 online dictionaries are indexed.
Format: Use the home page type in your information.
Arrangement: Reverse dictionary if you can’t remember the word. Use a ‘wildcard’ to
start a word you don’t know.
Entries: Millions of words found in the English language and other languages around the
world.
Special Features: Format makes this website easy to navigate.
Uses: This is another great ready reference tool. It would be great also if you did not have
access to a good dictionary or were in a big hurry.
Overall Evaluation: This is a much better site than ‘yourdictionary’ because it has a
a cleaner front page (very little spam) and is much easier to use. I would recommend this
online site for just about anyone.
Encyclopedias Evaluation
Group Project
Participants: Valerie Buck, Mary Coyle, Lisa Sedita, Susan Tidd, Jennifer Turner. I researched # 13, 14, and 18, but the review was written up by another group member.
1. A. Citation: Academic American Encyclopedia. Danbury, CT: Grolier, 1998.
B. Purpose: To provide general encyclopedic information and ready reference in the broadest possible range of subjects.
C. Authority: Expert editorial staff assisted by a list of contributors that is 29 pages in
length (2,250 authorities from all over the world). This encyclopedia has been published
since 1980.
D. Scope: Twenty-one volumes, 32,000 entries, 16,000 illustrations. Contains a broad
coverage of contemporary events, popular culture, international affairs, and current
technology.
E. Format: Hard bound on quality paper, lexicographic format in two columns.
F. Arrangement: Alphabetical entries in two columns, with bolded headings in larger
print and bolded subheadings in smaller print. Illustrations include captions.
G. Entries: Each entry includes pronunciation help where applicable, a brief definition of
the subject and an explanation of key points and basic information. Each entry ends with
a bibliography and many include the contributor’s name. Several entries include
photographs or drawings.
H. Special Features: Each letter of the alphabet is accompanied by its counterpart in ten
early alphabetic symbols from Phoenician through German-Gothic. Also, volume 21 is a
detailed index.
I. Uses: For students at the upper elementary level and junior high and high school levels
as well as for adults who need basic information and outlines of issues, controversies,ubjects, etc.\\
J. Overall Evaluation: Useful for ready-reference information and for its concentration on currency of events in its broad coverage.
2. A. Citation:
3. A. Citation: The Cambridge Encyclopedia. 3rd ed. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1997. (The only Cambridge encyclopedias in our library system are broken down into subject headings. The one that I was able to locate was a life sciences edition)
B. Purpose: This particular edition focused specifically on the life sciences.
C. Authority: There is an advisory board listed along with contributing editors.
D. Scope: Covers only life sciences.
E. Format: Uses large pictures and photos – some in color – to describe the science of life. The index shows titles from the beginning of life to evolution and paleontology.
F. Arrangement: Starts with cells and goes to flora and fauna.
G. Entries: 3 main parts: processes and organizations, environments, and evolution and fossil records.
H. Special features: A very good classification listing of living organisms.
I. Uses: Designed more for specific school reports or to get an explanation of any type of life science.
J. Evaluation: I wish we had more of these books – they are not only informative but the drawings and pictures really help with the description process.
4. A. Citation: Collier’s Encyclopedia. New York: Colliers, 1997.
B. Purpose: To provide a scholarly, systematic summary of knowledge that is significant
to humans in general.
C. Authority: The editorial team includes 5,000 editors, advisers, and contributors, including authorities from universities, learned societies, government, and industry.
D. Scope: Twenty-four volumes, edited to contain essential current content in the major
areas of physical sciences, life sciences, earth sciences, social sciences, and the
humanities.
E. Format: Hard-cover binding, quality paper, in encyclopedic entries.
F. Arrangement: Arranged alphabetically, with general entries and a 400,000 word index.
Each heading is bolded.
G. Entries: Entries include a basic definition, an explanation of the subject, and includes basic facts. They also include key issues involved (where applicable). The contributor’s name appears at the end of the article.
H. Special Features: Includes a 400,000 term index.
I. Uses: For use by anyone who needs a basic overview of information on topics
significant to our world.
J. Overall Evaluation: A good resource for ready reference needs and general patron consultation.
5. A. Citation: The Columbia Encyclopedia. 5th ed. New York: Houghton, Mifflin Columbia University Press, 1993
B. Purpose: To answer basic questions and provide for fact finding.
C. Authority: 100 advisors from Columbia University, other consultants plus 6 principal consultants and an editorial board.
D. Covers the general range of basic knowledge questions – this particular publication I is over 3000 pages.
E. Format: Information is cross-referenced but not indexed (duplication of effort)
F. Arrangement: Arranged in an alpha mode with each article heading in boldface type.
Related materials are in smaller boldface and font.
G. Entries: This is a broad range encyclopedia covering all parts of basic knowledge.
H. Special Features: There are very good keys to pronunciation and also for bbreviations.
I. Uses: General classroom use or in the home for book reports and basic questions.
J. Evaluation: Interesting but the overall size of the book makes it very unwieldy to use.
The weight of the book shifts the spine over and it does not hold up well. I would have
made this unit into two volumes.
6. A. Citation: Chicago, IL: High Beam Research.
B. Purpose: This brings together many different types of information and puts it in one
very good online source.
C. Authority: For reference alone, 500,000 entries from over 100 Oxford University Press titles, 57,000 encyclopedia articles from Columbia Press and 200 + dictionary,
enyclopedia, almanac and thesaurus books.
D. Scope: This covers library, reference and web material.
E. Format: This is set up by typing in a question at the top. You can choose from library, reference or web to get a specific answer.
F. Arrangement: When you pose the question, the answer will give you a notation as to
where the information is located, and if a picture is available, you will get that also. You
have the chance to link to other information areas.
G. Entries: Entries come from all types of information posed. This is a very broad
ranging website.
H. Special Features: I do like the break down of Library, Reference and Web. It is a time
saver and makes the site easier to navigate.
I. Uses: Ready reference for starters would love this site. This is a user friendly site for
teens doing reports or anyone who does not have access to a good encyclopedia.
J. Evaluation: I liked this site a lot. I would use it as a favorite at work and would be
willing to put it in along side our databases at work as well.
7. A. Citation: Compton’s Encyclopedia and Fact-Index. 26 vols. Chicago, IL: Success Publishing Group, 2000.
B. Purpose: This set is in the children’s section where I work – it is geared for the middle to junior high reader.
C. Authority: The text uses advisers and contributors.
D. Scope: This set carries many varied types of information which is used very often by our middle and junior high students.
E. Format: Check the index first to find what you are looking for – it might be a more efficient way to work.
F. Arrangement: Alpha by subject.
G. Entries: Encyclopedic information on terms, various subject matters such as geography, states, etc.
H. Special Features: The introduction to each volume is very helpful.
I. Uses: In libraries to help with homework and for older volumes, when the books can be checked out and taken home for book reports.
J. Evaluation: I like this particular set for the kids. They feel comfortable using them and the books are very helpful with color pictures and good descriptions.
8. A. Citation:
9. A. Citation: Encyclopedia Americana. International ed. 30 vol. Danbury, Conn.: Grolier, 1999.
B. General Information: general reference resource for schools, colleges and public libraries.
C. Scope: More than 45,000 articles from more than 6500 contributors, 9000 bibliographies, maps, and flags.
D. Emphasis: This is not a specialized encyclopedia, it is a general encyclopedia. It is geared to the nonspecialist reader.
E. Authority: was first published in 1829, this is its 177th year in publication and its 71st revision. The longevity if the Americana is surely a good indicator of the respect that is has earned in the libraries of the US, Canada and elsewhere.
F. Writing Style: It is clear and concise written for the layperson in mind.
G. Recency: Published 2006 entries are from 2004 though.
H. View Point and Objectivity: It is written for the American patron. It provides an overview of the subject matter studied.
I. Arrangement and Entry: In the main text of the encyclopedia the articles are arranged alphabetically word by word rather than letter by letter.
J. Index: Is Volume 30, arranged in four columns subject is in bold print followed by indented volume and page number information. Provides a guide to use of the index and abbreviations used with in.
K. Format: Hardcover 30 volumes. The last volume is the index. Pages are two columns wide with the subject in bold face capital letters. Subheadings are in bold lower case.
10. A. Citation:
11. A. Citation: International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences. 19 vols. New York: Free Press/Macmillan, 1968-1991.
B. General Information: This encyclopedia is a work of social scientists. It is a reference work in and of it self, it did not replace or is a revision of any work. It is designed to complement its predecessor the Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences that was published in 1930 and 1935.
C. Scope: Majority of thee articles are devoted to the following disciplines: Anthropology, Economics, Geography, history, Law, Political science, Psychiatry, Psychology, Sociology, and Statistics.
D. Emphasis: Encyclopedia of the social sciences, it aims to reflect and encourage the rapid development of the social sciences through out the world.
E. Authority: I do not have any access to reviews of the work itself or the editors.
F. Writing Style: Written by and for social scientists. It is written on a graduate level and therefore not for the layperson.
G. Recency: articles written in the 1960 are the most recent making this outdated but relevant for its time. A newer reference choice might be International encyclopedia of the social & behavioral sciences, published in 2001.
H. View Point and Objectivity: It is objective in its effort to explain circumstances that are happening as they are being written about.
I. Arrangement and Entry: Arranged in alphabetical order with two column per page.
J. Index: Has a list of contributors, followed by an alphabetical list of articles. It also classifies articles and then the index follows giving volume and page number for subject needed.
K. Format: Hardcover 18 Volume set. Volume 17 is the index and volume 18 is a biographical supplement.
12. A. Citation: Kister, K. F. Kister’s Best Encyclopedias: A Comparative Guide to General and Specialized Encyclopedias. 2nd ed. Phoeniz, AZ: Oryx Press, 1994.
B. Purpose: To provide a guide to general and specialized encyclopedias.
C. Authority: Kister is a well-known reviewer of reference and information materials. He has published widely in the library field. He holds a master’s degree in library science from the Simmons College Graduate School of Library and Information Science.
D. Scope: Provides descriptions for over 1,000 encyclopedias and encyclopedic works.
E. Format: One volume in an annotated review format.
F. Arrangement: Arranged in three parts: About Encyclopedias, General Encyclopedias, and Subject and Foreign Encyclopedias. Each part is divided into subgroups such as “Small Encyclopedias.”
G. Entries: Each entry includes bibliographic facts and price information, detailed evaluations, a “report card” rating, a summary, and a list of other opinions and reviews.
H. Special Features: Entries include a “report card” that rates each encyclopedia’s coverage, accuracy, recency, and clarity on ten randomly chosen subjects.
I. Uses: For use by collection development librarians and reference selectors to build library collections. It is also for patrons who have ready reference needs for special or specific encyclopedias.
J. Overall Evaluation: This is a very usable and quick reference for specific information on encyclopedia titles. It is an excellent collection development tool as well as ready reference index.
13. A. Citation: McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science and Technology. 9th ed. 20 vols. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1997.
B. Scope: Geared to non-specialists, but is a work of science, not about science and technology. About 7,100 articles from 5,000 authors. More than 12,000 illustrations. More than 20,000 bibliographic entries. Approximately 62,000 cross-references to related articles.
C. Purpose: Targeted to the needs of students, professionals, and librarians.
D. Authority: McGraw-Hill has been publishing for decades. Articles written by authors from universities, industries, government agencies, as well as Nobel Prize winners. Many articles are signed.
E .Format: Hard-bound in 20 volumes. First volume introduces the collection. The last volume has the Topical and Analytical Index, as well as a homework helper feature.
F. Arrangement: Alphabetical arranged with indication on spine of what is in the volume. Articles are in two columns per page in about 9-pt type.
G. Entries: Broad survey articles for each discipline covering the basics of a subject. Cross- referencing will lead the reader to more specialized articles. Cross-references in small capitalized text. Articles begin with a definition and go from the general to the specific.
H. Special Features: The Analytical Index is 500 pages and can be consulted for each important term, concept and person in 170,000 entries that are mentioned throughout the 19 volumes. Volume and page numbers guide the reader through all the information on a subject. A broader survey can be made through the Topical Index which are listed in 87 general headings and enables the reader to find all articles quickly in a particular subject area. The Study Guides provide highly structured outlines of 15 major scientific disciplines and refer to groups of articles. The reader can read in sequence the pertinent information regarding the subject. Scientific Notation is listed in volume 20 to aid the reader. Conversion factors, The U.S. Customary System for units of measurement is used. Colorplates enhance articles and an index is provided. Over 1400 tables provide data and chemical structures.
I. Uses: For students of all ages doing research or special projects. Useful for general knowledge in the area of science and technology.
J. Overall evaluation: The cost is prohibitive to small libraries at $2500. Worth the money. Very well-organized, well-documented and well-written.
14. A. Citation: Microsoft Encarta Online.
B. Scope: Covers K-12, College, and Adult learners. 40,000 articles, over 1 million maps, 26,000 photos and illustrations, 25,000 sound music clips, video animations.
C. Authority: Produced and sponsored by Microsoft.
D. Arrangement: Main page contains links to articles; sidebars of historic documents, speeches, literary excerpts; literature guides, archives going back to 1938; and homework starters. Links also provide to new and updated articles, K-12 level information regarding homework help, college preparation, and adult learning.
E. Entries: Searches bring up links to a list of articles, a dictionary definition, links to maps and other information available. Results can be printed, emailed or blogged. Citation information is provided for research papers. Text is Courier and paragraphs are clearly separated and easy to read.
F. Special Features: Interactive atlas, many tools for children and continuing education. Without a subscription I couldn’t look at all these. I read some reviews about this resource though. Updated articles are featured on main page.
G. Uses: While there is commercial advertising on the site, the resources are numerous related to all types of information. : I did a search in the literary guides and chose “Chekhov.” The work chosen to provide a guide to was “Gooseberries” which I haven’t heard of, and I’ve read a lot of Chekhov. Two works by Orson Scott Card were included, however. The literary bent seems to be more contemporary.
H. Overall evaluation: The price is very affordable at about $50 and many of the features are useful. I would use it in conjunction with other reputable print resources.
15. A. Citation: Mirwis, A. Subject Encyclopedias: User Guide, Review Citations, and Keyword Index. Phoenix, AZ: Oryx Press, 1999.
B. Purpose: To provide a guide to specific encyclopedias, including general and specialized, as well as reviews of these materials.
C. Authority: Mirwis is Readers’ Services Librarian at Kingsborough Community College in Brooklyn, NY, who has published often in the library field. He holds an Ed.D. from Indiana University and an M.L.S. from Columbia University.
D. Scope: Two volumes. Includes information on almost 100 titles.
E. Format: Alphabetical within sections, each page divided into columns
F. Arrangement: Divided into parts, with each part divided into sections.
G. Entries: Each entry includes Library of Congress classification number, Dewey classification number, title, bibliographic information, notes, a review average, OCLC holdings, rating, review citations, and award citations, with references to different sections of the book when applicable.
H. Special Features: Includes a detailed user’s guide with examples and illustrations.
I. Uses: For use especially by collection development librarians and reference selectors to help build library collections. It is also for ready reference use by librarians to help locate useful sources for patrons.
J. Overall Evaluation: This is considered by some reviewers as a must-have. It is an excellent collection development tool as well as ready reference index.
16. A. Citation: New Encyclopedia Britannica. (Academic edition)
*The Wheaton College library does not house a print version: patrons can utilize this resource via online access.
B. Authority: Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc. was originally established in Scotland in the 1700’s before reaching Chicago, IL. Printed products of Britannica sets were owned by leading historical figures such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Alexander Hamilton. Today, its products range in diversity, in order to accommodate for technological needs. ** Codie Award Finalist for “Best Education Reference or Search Service” and Codie Award Winner for “Best Online Consumer Information Service.”
C. Scope: Over 75,000 articles, including 23,000 biographies. Full text articles from over 700 magazines and periodicals. Links to over 166,000 websites. Over 27,000 images and maps.
D. Format: Main page can be divided into three sections. Left side has “Research tools”: the index, A-Z browse, subject browse, world atlas, compare countries, timelines, the year in review browse, world data, video browse, and notable quotations. The middle portion gives users the option to review highlights, the biography of the day, or the day in history. Left side column has features news links from the New York Times, the BBC News, and SBS News. Finally, across the top pf the main screen in a search box, followed by a link to conduct and advanced search. The guided tour section explains the format of the website and provides explanations of each section. The workspace feature allows user to create personal webpages to house articles for research projects.
E. Entries: Entries are in the format of an article. Users can switch to printable version or email themselves the article. Each entry gives users the option to submit comments or questions. Links to related topics within the article are underlined and written in blue text.
F. Special Feature: Users are instructed on how to cite each article site they visit in both MLA and APA style format.
G. Overall Evaluation: I was disappointed when I first looked for this set at the library, only to find that we only had an online version. It seems like libraries, as a whole, are straying away from print material in favor of the comparable online version. However, in this instance, I can understand why the online version of New Encyclopedia Britannica would be a worthwhile investment. The online version features daily updates that would not be possible in a print version. In addition to a “highlights” section, the website also contains a “biography of the day” feature and a “this day in history” section.” Similarly, links to the New York Times, BBC News, and SBS World News are provided. Invaluable reference, as the online version goes beyond the realm of print articles by providing users with websites, magazine and periodical articles, news, and more.
17. A. Citation:
18. A. Citation:
B. Authority: Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc. was originally established in Scotland in the 1700’s before reaching Chicago, IL. Printed products of Britannica sets were owned by leading historical figures such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Alexander Hamilton. Today, its products range in diversity, in order to accommodate for technological needs.
C. Scope: Over 122,264 articles, world atlas, dictionary and thesaurus. Articles from over 403 magazines and journals. The scope does not appear to be as large as the online academic version, which was evaluated earlier.
D. Format: Two search engines: Britannica online and dictionary/thesaurus. There are similarities between this website and the online academic version of The New Encyclopedia Britannica. For example: highlights pages, this day in history section, biography of the day. This page is busier. There are more advertisements and images. Box on main screen flashes images of different articles continuously. Link to a free trial (subscriptions necessary). In addition to a link to the home screen, there are links to blog, advocacy, board, newsletters, international, and store.
E. Entries: The entries vary depending on whether or not users are members. For nonusers, there are concise versions of limited resulting articles. Members have access to the full text. In order to promote membership, a pictorial graph compares what members using the free trial have access to versus the materials accessible to members. The style of entries is the same as that found in the online academic version on New Encyclopedia Britannica.
F. Special Feature: Student center targeted for children nine years and older. Sections include: student encyclopedia, world atlas and timelines, research tools (how to write a science report, book review, research paper, and prepare for an oral presentation), video and multimedia, dictionary and thesaurus, and magazines and web guide.
G. Overall Evaluation: Subscriptions cost $69.95. This subscription appears to be a more worthwhile investment than the printed version of the set. Users have access to more articles, websites, and news – related features than in the print version. A worthy investment for libraries; however, it is not as comprehensive as the online academic version.
19. A. Citation: Random House Encyclopedia. Rev. 3d. ed. New York: Random House, 1990.
B. Authority: Based in New York City, Random House was founded in 1927 by Bennett Cerf and Donald Klopfer. The company first began reference publishing in 1947, when it published American College Dictionary, followed by its first unabridged dictionary in 1966.
C. Scope: 13,500 illustrations in the special “Colorpedia” section (pictures, paintings, photographs, diagrams, illustrations, drawings, maps and charts).
D. Format: Over 2,000 pages. Color images. 132 page world atlas. “Alphapedia,” “Colorpedia,” “Time Chart” and atlas/gazetteer sections.
E. Entries: Double pages; connection section for each entry. Limited information.
F. Overall Evaluation: Given the fact that the most recent edition was published in 1990, this is not a book necessary for a library. Similarly, since all of the information is in a single volume set, it cannot possibly be as thorough as other brands of encyclopedias. Used copies can be purchased on for as little as $5.00. Depending on one’s resources, it would not hurt to invest in a nicer edition of a used copy (to simply have on hand at home); however, with the amount of information that is now available online (most offering free trials), it is certainly not a necessity.
20. A. Citation: World Book Encyclopedia.
* I was surprised that I could not locate a print nor online version of this set. Therefore, my evaluation is the result of reviewing the website.
B. Authority: World Book was founded in 1917. Its headquarters are located in Chicago, Illinois. It is a leading provider of reference materials for both adults and children. World Book Encyclopedia is the number one selling print encyclopedia in the world. The company produces over 90 reference materials, including World Book Student Discovery Encyclopedia, Animals of the World, World Book's Science & Nature Guides, Student Discovery Science Encyclopedia, Encyclopedia of Flags, Solar System & Space Exploration Library, Human Body Works, and Biographical Connections
C. Scope: An online subscription gives users access to all of the articles found in the print edition and thousands more (25,000 articles). Similarly, the online version contains over 9,500 pictures and maps, 115 videos and animations, 9,300 sounds, and over 100 simulated historic websites. Subscriptions also entitle users access World Book Kids.
D. Format: Main screen has lots of link to choose from: a school and libraries site, link to World Book Kids, a trivia question of the day, most popular encyclopedia articles, media showcase, today in history, typical course of study (for parents), content spotlight section, world climates, a “did you know?” section, a section to browse, the World Book dictionary, World Book Atlas, a section for international users, and the World Book newsletter. The store link allows user to peruse and purchase all World Book products.
E. Entries: Non subscribers have limited access to articles. The articles that I was able to view appeared to be lengthy and thorough. Some included pictures. The language is easy to understand. At the end of each article is a colored box with text that prompts users to subscribe to World Book, in order to learn more. A comparison in the form of a pie chart compares how information subscribers have access to versus non subscribers.
F. Overall Evaluation: Interested subscribers can choose from three plan options: 1 year for $49.95, 1 month for $9.95, $3.95. Given the scope of coverage, the online version is a much more worthwhile investment than the print set. Free trials do not appear to be an option, most likely because a three day trial is so inexpensive. Although the website was user friendly and informative, The New Encyclopedia Britannica appears to be a better investment. It has over 122,000 articles, while the World Book boasts having 25,000. Similarly, a subscription to the New Encyclopedia Britannica entitles users to more news-related links, while the World Book only advertises access to World Book Kids.
Almanacs, Yearbooks, and Handbooks
Citation: Bogart, D. (Ed.). (2006). The Bowker annual library and book trade almanac. Medford, NJ: Information Today, Inc.
Authority: R.R. Bowker is a leading publisher of bibliographic information
Purpose: To provide facts, figures and reports relevant to the field of library science.
Scope: Pertinent to the field of library science, includes research and statistics, reference information, and a directory of information. Annually updated.
Format: Contents section contains italicized subheadings. Information includes title, author (in italics), followed by the page number. Single column per page. Lots of text (no charts, graphs, illustrations).
Entries: Range from reports from the field; legislation, funding and grants; library/information science education, placement, and salaries.
Overall Evaluation: Necessary for all libraries, whether public or academic, not necessarily in circulation for the patrons, but rather as a reference tool for the workers. The information found in this book is relevant to their field of service. As a part time librarian and current library graduate student, I found this book very interesting, especially the section on job placement percentages and average salaries.
Citation: Calhoun, D. (Ed.). (1999). Britannica book of the year. Chicago, IL: Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc.
Authority: Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc. was originally established in Scotland in the 1700’s before reaching Chicago, IL. Printed products of Britannica sets were owned by leading historical figures such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Alexander Hamilton. Today, its products range in diversity, in order to accommodate for technological needs.
Purpose: To index facts of the previous year as a supplemental guide to Encyclopedia Britannica. Includes a chronology of events, obituaries, articles.
Scope: Contents section lists the information covered in the edition: commentary, the year in review, people of that year, events of that year, world data (statistics, graphs, charts, and maps), and an index.
Format: Multiple columns per page. Color photographs. Contributor section includes each contributor’s credentials. Day by day calendar.
Entries: Quotations boxed (in color) in the middle of entries catch the reader’s attention. Entries are very detailed and easy to read.
Online version: Offers 72 hours of free trial access. Users have access to three encyclopedias: Encyclopedia Britannica, Britannica Student Encyclopedia, and Britannica Concise Encyclopedia, in addition to research tools such as Webster’s dictionary and thesaurus.
Overall Evaluation: I was not impressed with the forward of this book, as it only talked about the specifics of this edition as opposed to providing background information the source. That being said, the actual material was extensive. Since the materials covers such a broad range of topics, and since regular users must pay for a subscription to have online access, the set would be a useful reference resource to have access to in a library.
Citation: The Cambridge factfinder. Couldn’t find. Answered questions at end to make up for absence of this evaluation.
Authority:
Purpose:
Scope:
Format:
Entries:
Overall Evaluation:
Citation: Chase’s calendar of events. (2007). New York: McGraw-Hill.
Authority: Founded by William and Harrison Chase in 1957. Quoted in this edition: “most respected and comprehensive reference available on holidays, events, and special days, weeks, and months.” Contributors include event sponsors, CVB’s, chambers of commerce, tourism agencies, non profit organizations, sporting organizations, publicists, and many more.
Purpose: To provide a single reference source for calendar dates.
Scope: (2007 edition): 752 pages with over 12,000 entries. Published annually.
Format: Inside cover contains a “how to use this book” section on bright yellow pages. Two columns per page. Black and white illustrations. Other sections include “Spotlight on the past,” “Spotlight on world anniversaries,” and “Spotlight on people” (denoted by yellow pages).
Entries: Listed in chronological order. Topic if each entry written in bold capital text. In addition to describing the event of the day, the name of the person to contact for more information is also included. In addition to event entries, the book contains information on United States abbreviations and city capitals, each state’s governor and senator, members of the Supreme Court, and an awards section.
Overall Evaluation: Print edition also contains the added bonus of a CD Rom. Very useful resource. User friendly. Information the most obscure events. Multiple methods of searching (by event, by date, by keyword, etc). In addition, useful ready-reference information on individual states in the U.S.
Citation: The Chicago style manual. (2003). Chicago, IL: The University of Chicago Press.
Authority: This edition includes a wider range of advisors in order to accommodate for “new needs” (technological and literary). These advisors include scholars, publishing professionals, writers familiar with book and journal publishing, journalism, and electronic publishing.
Purpose: To serve as a reference tool for technically accurate and acceptable writing.
Scope: Focuses on the specific needs of users (who are writers and editors of scholarly books and journals). Topics include: parts of a published work; manuscript preparation and manuscript editing; proofs; rights and permissions; grammar and usage; punctuation; spelling, distinctive treatment of words, and compounds; names and terms; numbers; foreign language; quotations and dialogue; illustrations and captions; tables; mathematics in type; abbreviations; documentation I: basic patterns; documentation II: specific content; and indexes.
Format: Eighteen sections (see scope) which are further broken down into sections by numbers. The section number is the top heading of each page, page numbers are at the bottom of each page. Chapter title is on the left side of the top heading; Subdivision/section is the on the right side of the top heading.
Entries: The topic of each entry is italicized. A lot if text, some sample pages which are on a light blue page. Examples are distinguished by blue/gray text.
Online: Free trial available ($25 for the first year). Question and answer section where users can submit a specific question. Quick guide is divided into two parts: humanities style and author dates system. Limited use of color (the majority of the text is light grey, which is difficult to read). Similarly, others colors used are light and do not contrast enough with the white background to make it pleasing to the eye.
Overall Evaluation: Very old fashioned in appearance. Lots of text. Not very user friendly. Searching by section numbers is somewhat difficult. However, the preface, which clearly identifies what is “new” in the edition, is useful.
Citation: Walker, J. and Taylor, T. (1998). The Columbia guide to online style. New York: Columbia University Press.
Authority: The Columbia University Press was founded in 1893. It is currently the fourth oldest university press in the country, publishing over 150 titles each year in a variety of fields.
Purpose: Direct quote from the text: “to provide an authoritative guide to the world of online writing and publishing.”
Scope: Covers a wide range of citations for electronic sources: Web logs and pod casts, online and print documents, styles for humanities and scientific projects, full-text and full-image articles from online library databases, graphics and multimedia files.
Format: Two parts: citation and production (six chapters). Pages have boxes to break up the text. The use of various shades of black and grey behind the text make it more aesthetically pleasing. Sections are numbered.
Entries: Include samples. Text is mixed in with the samples. The language is easy to understand. The contents section is a useful reference to find quick results without having to read through all of the text.
Online: . Image of the print version is on the top left side of the main page. Lots of text; does provide a few examples. Special notes sections is designated in bold. Might be useful for a quick reference, but does not appear to be as detailed as the actual book.
Overall Evaluation: The preface was very wordy. Graphics help make the text easier to read. The samples are a nice feature.
Citation: Maher, J. (Ed.). (2004). The Europa world year book 2004. New York: Europa Publications. (Two volume set)
Authority: Revised and updated by a variety of methods: mailings to institutions, national statistics offices, and government departments.
Purpose:
Scope: Volume 1 has information on over 1,650 international organizations, as well as information on the countries Afghan thru Jordan (alphabetically). The second volume continues with countries Kazakhstan thru Zimbabwe.
Format: Inside front and back cover has a colored map of the world. The first section of volume 1 (the international organizations section) includes detailed articles. Each country is in the form of a chapter. Information includes introduction survey (recent history, economic affairs, government, defense, education, public holidays); economic and demographic survey (statistics); and a directory section (names, addresses, etc. of government, religious groups, media, etc.). Multiple columns on thin newspaper like pages.
Entries: Contain an abundant amount of information; surveys are detailed and have lots of text. Charts make it easier to read, as does the use of bold, capital letters and varying font size.
Online: Subscription required; free trial available. Nice use of vibrant color and text in boxes to make it aesthetically pleasing. Special newsflash and product news section on main page. Also on the main page are recent elections and recent events.
Overall Evaluation: A lot of information on foreign countries makes it a nice resource to have available, though much of the content of information is probably readily available online. Wheaton keeps its copies of the set in the stacks as opposed to the reference room, which leads one to wonder how often it gets used.
Citation: Facts on file world news digest.
* Available online at Wheaton through LexisNexis.
Authority: Ranked one of the top ten reference “sources of the millennium” by Library Journal. 65+ years.
Purpose: To index world news articles. Online version updated on a weekly basis.
Scope: Over 200,000 full text news articles from 1940 through the present. Over 500,000 hyperlinks.
Format: Categories include general news, today’s news, U.S. news, world news. Live Reuters news feed, which is updated hourly. Four sources of news: North/South America news, European news, Asia/Pacific news, and Middle East/Africa news.
Entries: Full text of articles available. Complete bibliographic information.
Online: Subscription required (free trial available). FactsforLearning is designated for children in grades two through eight. Limited access to those without subscriptions.
Overall Evaluation:
Citation: The Guinness book of world records. New York: Bantam Books.
Online: (online version was the only edition available for the purpose of this evaluation).
Authority: Sir Hugh Beaver originally came up with the idea for this reference book in 1951. The first edition was published in 1955. Today, it is the global leader in world records, selling over 100 million copies in 100 different countries and 37 languages. The 2002 edition was on the New Times Bestseller list for a record breaking twenty weeks. A “Records Management Team” is responsible for guaranteeing accuracy and relevance. A fact is not a record until it has been “tested, verified, and elevated above all suspicion.”
Purpose: A resource of world records.
Scope: Users can view the website in a variety of languages: Spanish, French, Italian, German, Brazilian Portuguese, Chinese, and Japanese. Topics include: human body; amazing feats; natural world; science and technology; arts and media; modern society; travel and transportation; sports and games.
Format: Animated main page (blue figures move around the screen). Subheadings include “records,” “the book,” “news,” “events,” “GWR TV,” and “media zone.” User can create a user name and log in to learn how to become a world record holder.
Entries: Each entry is given inside a box, which is the color of the corresponding to the subject (human body = purple; amazing feats = orange; natural world = green; science and technology = grey; arts and media = red; modern society = teal; travel and transportation = light blue; sports and games = dark blue). They resemble a deck of Trivial Pursuit cards. Information inside the box is set up in the following format: who, what, where, when. These headings are in capital letters and are bold. Below this list are a picture of the entry and a brief paragraph of description.
Overall Evaluation: Clearly a lot of time and effort went in to setting up this website. The best word to describe it is fun. The use of animation and color makes it exciting and user friendly. There is an abundant amount of information and it is fun browsing through the records. In fact, the information contained on the website goes beyond that of just the actual records, as there sections devoted to actually learning how to become a record holder as well as current news and events and related media. No subscription is necessary to use the website, making it inviting to anyone of any age, whose purpose is academic or simply to have fun searching through the records.
Citation: Johnson, O. (ed.). (1992). The 1992 information please almanac. New York: Houghton Mifflin.
Authority: Houghton Mifflin is a world renown publisher of educational materials. The Information Please almanac began in 1938 as a radio show; the first almanac was published in 1947. Online version began in 1988.
Purpose: To index factual information on a multitude of topics.
Scope: Facts on sports, entertainment, business and economy, taxes, first aid, nutrition and health, headline history, world statistics and nations of the world, astronomy, space and aviation travel, drugs and abuse, geography and atlases, and an index.
Format: Comprehensive index in the front; no preface or introduction. Usually two columns per page. Pages are black and white. Use of bold lettering to make text stand out. Top of page contains the page number and subject.
Entries: Vary between charts, lists, and text. Very detailed. Contain statistics. Included is a sixteen page color atlas, as well as a special “year in pictures” section (black and white).
Online: No subscription necessary. Much more interesting than the print version. More user friendly. Use of color, images. Subjects are broken down on the left hand column. Up to the minute relevant articles are listed on the main page.
Overall Evaluation: Referring to the contents section is a necessity simply because this book covers so much information. A preface would have been a useful tool for providing background information about the book, the publisher, the scope, reliability, etc. Scope of information covered is overwhelming, making it a useful source to have available to patrons in any type of library.
Citation: Internet movie database.
Authority: Largest internet movie database worldwide. Visited by over 42 million users per month.
Purpose: To index movies – both in the theaters and on DVD.
Scope: Translated sites include Italian and Dutch. The information comes from multiple sources: some is gathered by IMDb, the rest is submitted by people in the industry and website users. Over 470,000 titles are indexed. Statistics page let users now information such as the number of titles, the number of links, the number of awards, and the number of people (actors, directors, writers, etc.).
Format: Variety of color (a lot of blue). Many subtopics; for example, the top row of tabs includes “now playing,” “movie/TV reviews,” “DVD/video,” “IMDb TV,” “message boards,” “show times and tickets,” and “games.” Below that are more subtopics: home, top movies, photos, independent films, browse, and help. Search boxes are also present. An upcoming section allows users to see new DVD’s (released this week) as well as upcoming releases.
Entries: Contain the following information for each movie: director, writing credits, link to watch the trailer, photo gallery, show times and tickets, genre, tagline, plot outline, user comments, cast (and characters), rating, run time, country, language, color (or not), sound mix, and certification.
Overall Evaluation: This website is a lot of fun. It allows viewers to see other viewer’s comments on each particular film in addition to contributing one’s own comments. Similarly, if a viewer does not wish to be influenced by the opinion of others, non biased, factual information is in abundance (such as the plot summary). Since this website is free, anyone can benefit from it. Highly recommended for those looking to go out to the movies (theaters and show times are also included on the site) or rent a movie at home.
Citation: Famous First Facts, electronic edition
Authority: H W Wilson: Founded by Halsey William Wilson, this publishing company has been in existence for over one hundred years. Other popular indexes include Readers’ Guide to Periodical Literature, The Reference Shelf, Bibliographic Index, and Library Literature. Offers sixty four reference databases. Joseph Nathan Kane: founder, author of the print edition of Famous First Facts. Known as a “fact collector extraordinaire.”
Purpose: To provide information on inventions, discoveries, and first happenings in American history.
Scope: Thousands of entries that date from the time the first human artifacts are said to have been found in America (10,000 B.C.) through 1997.
Format: Multiple ways to search: subject category, keyword, personal names, city, state, date, and year.
Entries: Include the following information: accession number, copyright, city, date, descriptor, record type, fact, geographic place, state or country, personal name, publication year, main heading, article heading, source, text indicator, and year of event.
Overall Evaluation: Useful for historians, teachers, students and librarians. Accessible collection of historical facts.
Citation: McGraw-Hill yearbook of science and technology. (2006). New York: McGraw-Hill.
Authority: A board of consulting editors and editorial staff review the contributions, which are articles by an authority in that subject field.
Purpose: To index articles published in the field of science and technology on an annual basis.
Scope: Provides a broad overview of recent developments in science, technology, and engineering. Target audience is the non-specialist, in addition to the specialist.
Format: Organized alphabetically by subject. Two columns per page. Black and white photos mixed with purple text. Contains graphs, images, diagrams, etc. The beginning of the book contains a list of articles by title. The author is listed underneath the title; however, the page number is not.
Entries: Separated by a purple bar. Denoted by a bold title. The content varies depending on the author of the article. A bibliography is provided at the end of each entry.
Online: Free trial subscription available. Use of color, images. The site tour is not only a virtual exploration, but also a verbal explanation. User friendly. Ability to print or email full text articles. The website is much more exciting than the print version.
Overall Evaluation: A useful resource for librarians, students, teachers, the scientific community, journalists and writers. However, not a necessity. Subscription to the website would be a more worthwhile investment.
Citation: Information Please Almanac. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1947- . Annual.
Authority: Imprints include: Pearson Prentice Hall, Pearson Longman, Pearson Scott Foresman, Pearson Learning Group, Pearson Digital Learning, Pearson Educational Measurement, Pearson AGS Globe, Pearson Achievement Solutions, and Pearson Addison-Wesley. In addition to Pearson Education, Pearson's primary operations include the Financial Times Group and the Penguin Group.
Scope: Started as a radio quiz show and has expanded to include a yearly almanac for adults and kids with free online access. Published annually from 1947 to the present. Some of the publishers who contribute are: Viking, Simon and Shuster, Houghton Mifflin, and McGraw-Hill. Since 1997, Information Please has partnered with TIME in publishing the almanac as The TIME Almanac with Information Please. Different almanacs cover different topics such as: The Information Please Business Almanac and Desk Reference The Information Please Environmental Almanac, The ESPN Sports Almanac with Information Please, The Information Please Baseball Almanac , The A&E Entertainment Almanac with Information Please, The Information Please Women's Almanac and Sourcebook ,The Information Please Kids' Almanac, The Information Please Almanac for Girls.
Arrangement: Easily navigated web site, with topics and tools on side bars and tabbed tools across the top. Trivia can be accessed, quizzes, other information from the home page. A homework center is available with information on subjects and writing skills. Election information and what is called “Editor’s Favorites.”
Entries: Search results can be emailed, cited, printed. A tool called “hotwords” can further your search by entering a new word. A search will identify the subject that the search belongs to across the top. I searched “rivers” and came up with people and major world rivers amongst other results and could choose what type of rivers I wanted. Can also search the dictionary, thesaurus, encyclopedia, atlas online.
Uses: For trivia buffs, researchers, kids, and adults. Entertainment and scholarly use.
Overall Evaluation: Very useful tool for no money or cost to library.
Citation: McGraw-Hill Yearbook of Science and Technology. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1962- . Annual. (online version at (Take a site tour )
Authority: McGraw-Hill is a well-known publisher. History goes back to 1894. Publish in the areas of education, business, finance. Articles are written by authorities in the field and some Nobel Prize winners.
Scope: Topics cover all areas of science and technology. Includes graphics and illustrations, videos, not available in print. Includes biographies, Nobel prize winners. Over 8,500 articles are fully searchable online with thousands of literature citations. Frequently updated as news is available on a topic.
Arrangement & Searching: Topics appear on the home page with side bars of other tools available. is easily navigable, many searching and browsing options. Boolean operators can be used with the ability to limit to specific content categories such as dictionary entries, biographies, encyclopedia articles), or to topical categories such as medicine, paleontology, mathematics). Easy to read on-screen, with internal navigation links. High quality graphics. Search results are tabbed by type of article, with the number of entries and documents listed.
Entries: Articles are well-written, some with paragraph headings, how to cite the article and suggestions for further study. Can be printed, emailed or cited.
Overall evaluation: A wonderful version of the old encyclopedia enhanced and easy to use for students of all ages. The frequent updates, use of animations, and cross-linking and cross-searching make it a useful tool.
Citation: Merck Manual of Medical Information: Second Home Edition. Whitehouse Station, N.J.: Merck Research Laboratories, 2003. (see more on the subject here - )
Authority: Merck has been around since 1981. They are a marketing company, so they will promote their own products.
Scope: The Web site models the book very well and is user-friendly. The 23 sections are in a side-bar that can be clicked on to view the chapters. The index and tables and drawings are all accessible from the home page. The difference between the online and print is that the online is not by topic, but alphabetically arranged. Also contains some audio and video not in the print version. 1907 pages and 23 sections covering general topics, accidents & injuries, surgery, alternative medicine, travel, health, and medical disorders. Based on the Merck Manual of Medical Information. The Web site models the book very well and is user-friendly. The 23 sections are in a side-bar that can be clicked on to view the chapters. The index and tables and drawings are all accessible from the home page. The difference between the online and print is that the online is not by topic, but alphabetically arranged. Also contains some audio and video not in the print version.
Arrangement: Contains Table of Contents and Index. Twenty-three sections divided into chapters, including cross-references that are marked with a symbol along with a page number showing where information can be found, including illustrations. A list of medical terms is provided.
Entries: Heading of the chapter within a section is numbered with text that may contain insets and cross-reference symbols pointing to other pages. Chapter may be further subdivided by other subjects within the topic. For diseases, entries include symptoms and diagnosis, prognosis and treatment. Diagrams, charts, etc. may be provided.
Overall evaluation: Very easy to read and follow. Cost is around $40.
Citation: MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. 6th ed. New York: Modern Language Association of America, 2003. (more on the subject is here - )
Authority: Been publishing since 1951. The fourth edition is based on the "MLA Style Sheet," which started 40 years ago.
Scope: Information about using and citing electronic sources is included. Provides a "comprehensive picture of how research papers are created.
Arrangement: From a review in Booklist: “Examples within each section are printed in a font different from the explanatory text, a feature that allows the user to easily find the appropriate format. Chapters are divided by subtopics with numeric denotation; an index makes topics easy to find.” (.)
Uses: Also from Booklist: “It will be used by researchers from high school and up. It is aimed at students; The MLA Style Manual (1985) is aimed at scholars. The handbook takes readers through the research paper process step by step, and includes information on narrowing the topic, outlining, note taking, etc. Before dealing with such mechanics of writing as spelling, punctuation, and format, the manual covers the use of catalogs (online and paper), indexes, and databases in the library and offers a list of some standard print and electronic reference works. The sections on documentation in text and citations seem to include every type of source and possible variable. The work concludes with abbreviations for terms used in research, reference sources by subject, and some examples of other styles of documentation.”
Overall evaluation: For all Public and academic libraries. This edition should be purchased for the electronic sources information.
Citation: The New York Public Library Desk Reference. 3d ed. New York: Macmillan USA, 1998. Online Version (
I couldn’t look at this book, so I looked up reviews.
Authority: Twelve year history – recommendations from New York Magazine.
Scope: Contains answers to the most frequently asked questions according to the writers of the book. Subjects covered include. The physical world, communication, daily life, recreation & sports, politics and more.
Arrangement: charts, graphs, and tables, , full-color maps, and illustrations. Also includes insightful sidebars, plus cross-references and web addresses for more in-depth research.
Overall evaluation: On the web site users rated NYPL Desk Reference 3.8 stars out of 5. Most recent 4th edition is 2002, which seems outdated. Other reviews I read mentioned overlap with other almanacs. Not an essential purchase.
Citation: New York Times Almanac. New York: Penguin Group, 2003 I couldn’t find this book, but read reviews.
Authority: Published for at least the last 10 years. Declares itself to be the almanac of record.
Scope: Comprehensive coverage of every nation in the world as well as environmental and economic issues. Also includes sports, global terrorism, the Internet, epidemics, world population. 1008 pages.
Arrangement: It's organized into six main parts: Almanac of the Year; The United States; The World; Science and Technology; Awards and Prizes; and Sports.
Overall evaluation: Booklist v. 94 no14 (Mar. 15 '98) p. 1268 “The basic information contained in the almanac is comparable to others. . . . There are no photographs, and the only color in the almanac is 16 pages of maps. . . . As for comparisons to the venerable World Almanac, NYT sometimes provides more depth and World seems to offer more breadth. . . . NYT has much more extensive coverage of some branches of science. . . . In general, The World Almanac, has more lists and statistics. . . . The NYT 1998 Almanac is certainly a competitor, but, for the most information in one source, The World Almanac still remains the champion.
Citation: Physicians’ desk reference. (2006) Montvale, NJ : Thomson. .
Authority: Been publishing for over 40 years.
Scope: Published annually with the cooperation of the FDA and manufacturers to provide approved labeling for drugs and prescription information for grandfathered drugs and other drugs marketed that do not have FDA approval. Over 3500 pages. To be used in conjunction with the PDR guide to drug interactions. Online version news updated daily.
Arrangement: Six sections that are color-coded : Manufacturer’s Index, Brand and Generic name Index, Product Category Index, Product ID guide, Product Information, Diagnostic Product Information, and Diagnostic Product Information that includes Drug information centers, DEA telephone directory, Patient Assistance programs, Drugs that shouldn’t be crushed, Spanish dosage information, drugs excreted in breast milk.
Entries: Include name, address, URL, products, for products, description, warnings, Usage, precautions, contraindictions, dosages, adverse reactions. Includes illustrations, charts & tables.
Uses: Comprehensive and essential for physicians. Patrons can look up information for their own use
Overall evaluation: The print version is very user-friendly. The database requires a subscription and knowledge of how to use a database, perhaps not as good for elderly. The print version is very hard to handle. Perhaps publishing in volumes would enable patrons to use it better.
Citation: Post, Peggy. Emily Post Etiquette. 16th ed. New York: HarperCollins, 1997.
Authority: 17 editions in print, Emily Post’s reputation is well-known.
Scope: Mainly for Americans, but concerns global etiquette as well. Covers nine topics: Everyday etiquette, relationships, children and teens, communicatin and protocol, dining and entertaining, celebrations and ceremonies, weddings, you and your job, travel and leisure.
Arrangement: The above topics are the nine parts with chapters pertaining to aspects of each topic.
Entries: Contain illustrations and in some cases bulleted lists. Examples and sub-headings, with topic listed at the top of each page make it easy to use.
Usefulness & evaluation: A good reference to consult when needed. Practical and useful.
Citation: Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. 4th ed. Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association, 1994. Print & at )
Authority: American Psychological Association supplies the standard for journal articles and the format and citations used. Provides a standardization to provide continuity in understanding scholarly articles, especially in the behavior sciences.
Scope: Covers all the necessary information to write a book or article to be published in a field where uniformity of writing is needed in order to understand the information presented. Emphasizes the importance of organizing one’s thinking and writing in an unbiased and clear manner. Covers editorial style.
Arrangement: The Table of Contents lists:
• Content and Organization of a Manuscript
• Expressing Ideas and Reducing Bias in Language
• APA Editorial Style
• Reference List
• Manuscript Preparation and Sample Paper
• Material Other Than Journal Articles
• Manuscript Acceptance and Production
• Journals Program of the American Psychological Association
• Bibliography
• Checklist for Manuscript Submission
• Checklist for Transmitting Accepted Manuscripts for Electronic Production
• Ethical Standards for the Reporting and Publishing of Scientific Information
• References to Legal Materials
• Sample Cover Letter
Uses: Students, scholars, professors, anyone writing within specialized fields.
Overall Evaluation: Essential for libraries to provide to those who write papers or books requiring that style. The online sites contain much of what is needed, but the print has all the information.
Citation: Science and Technology Desk Reference. Compiled by the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Science and Technology Department. Detroit: Gale, 1996.
Authority: Produced by the Gale Research. All figures and dates have been verified.
Scope: Answers to 1,500 questions selected from the Science and Technology Department’s ready-reference file and other questions that were asked of the reference staff at the Carnegie Library. These are questions that the average person would ask. Coverage is not equal in all areas, but answers the most popular questions asked or have achieved noteworthy status. Designed for quick reference, compact and manageable.
Arrangement: Chapters are arranged by subject. The Animal World, Around the House and Garage, Biology, Bridges, Buildings, etc., Cars, Boats, Planes and Trains, Weather and Climate, Weights, Measures, and Time. Includes a bibliography and index.
Entries: Sequential entry number arranged under a topic within a broad subject chapter. The question is the next sequential number. The answer is the next sequential number. The last number in the sequence lists the source citation(s) which may lead the user to other data and resources. Full bibliography is at the end of the book. Written in non-technical language with definitions of terminology given within the answer. Over 100 illustrations and many tables to add to the text when applicable.
Overall evaluation: Handy to have, but it is 10 years old now. Needs updating.
Citation: The Statesmans Year-Book. London: Macmillan, 1864- . Annual.
Authority: Has been publishing for over 100 years. Rated by Library Journal as one of the top 20 sources of the millennium. Highly rated by American Reference Books Annual.
Scope: Over 2,000 pages contains information about the population of various states and countries, officials, exports, constitutions, governments, diplomatic representatives, religion, finance, and basic histories.
Arrangement: Divided into two parts with zone maps, preface, key world facts, country codes, chronology, addenda before the two parts. Part one consists of international organizations. Part two contains countries of the world A-Z.
Entries: Entries contain a map showing where the country is located, a list of vital facts, such as population and capital. Subject headings preface sections on history, territory and population, social statistics, climate, constitution and government, government chronology, recent elections, current administration and current leaders.
Overall evaluation: Detailed yearly accounting of a country. Countries where changes occur frequently may not be represented accurately, but the section on international organizations would make this a worthwhile purchase. The high ratings by Library Journal and others would compel one to acquire this yearbook.
Citation: Turabian, Kate L. A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses and Dissertations. 6th ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1996. (see more on the subject here - )
Authority: Most common form used in liberal arts and humanities papers. Published since 1937.
Scope: Covers all the necessary rules and forms for writing term papers, theses, dissertations, in the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences. The most popular methods to use, according to the web site. In conformity with the Chicago Manual of style.
Arrangement: Web site contains links to: The writing process, professional, technical and scientific writing, job search, general academic, research and citation, grammar and mechanics, English as a second language, literary and analysis criticism, writing in the social sciences, creative writing, teaching writing. Clicking on link opens up access to further information and examples. Guides to choosing a thesis and writing each section.
Sections: Contains formatting and style guide with examples for the general format of MLA research papers, in-text citations, endnotes/footnotes, and the Works Cited page.
Sample papers and instructions.
Usefulness: Essential for formatting a paper – print version is recommended for consultation as well. Not an optional purchase.
Citation: Wall Street Journal Almanac. New York: Ballantine Books, 1998- . Annual.
Authority: Hasn’t been updated since 1999
Scope: 896 pages. Covers the headlines of the year, major business stories, forecasts of major trends, Politics & Policy: election year results, the major actions of the president, Congress, and the Supreme Court. The state of the economy in 1998 and beyond, hottest products and brands, stocks with the best shareholder return, mutual funds, personal finance , taxes, real estate, technology & science, major currents in world politics and economies, fastest growing regions of the world, country-by-country demographic and economic data, media & entertainment. Nobel winners, Pulitzers, Oscars, and Grammys Sports: the top sports personalities, player salaries, fitness trends, Olympics, pro football, basketball, and baseball statistics, women in sports.
Arrangement: Couldn’t find one to look at.
Entries: Couldn’t look at: not many libraries own this anymore.
Overall evaluation: Highly rated when it was current. Only available used on .
Citation: Whitaker’s Almanack 2000. London: Stationery Office, 1999.
Scope: World almanac, with some special focus on Great Britain where it is published. Contains about 10,000 references pertaining to government, finances, population, commerce, religion, health, education, sports, information technology, the environment, transportation, the Royal Family, the environment. Extensive data on every world prehensive coverage of the UK’s social, political and economic infrastructure . Reviews of the last year in archaeology, architecture, art, broadcasting, business, dance, film, literature, classical and pop music, opera, science, theatre and politics . Directory listings of UK education bodies, societies and institutions, trade unions, clubs, media and sports organisations
Authority: Been published since 1868.
Arrangement: Organized by categories, 2 columns per page.
Entries: Mostly written in prose form with headings to divide subdivisions.
Overall evaluation: Good for details of European information. Other fact books may compare, but the cost isn’t prohibitive to have one on hand.
Citation: The World Almanac and Book of Facts. Mahwah, N. J.: World Almanac, 1868-76, 1886- . Annual. (Also available via Lexis-Nexis)
I looked at The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2005 : Special Library Edition. New York : World Almanac Education Group.
Scope: Year in review world-wide.
Authority: World Almanac Education Group, Inc. New York.
Content: Elections, sports, chronology of year covering most topics.
Arrangement: Table of Contents lists sections. General index and Quick reference index at the end.
Entries: Small type, headings in bold type. Tables, illustrations and pictures.
Overall usefulness: Covers many topics and facts. Extremely useful.
Citation: World Fact Book
Scope: Countries of the world with information regarding geography, people, government, economy, communications, transportation, military and transnational issues. Contains information regarding organizations of the world, agreements, weights and measures.
Authority: Sponsored by the CIA.
Content: Current information, updated regularly.
Arrangement: May search by country, or search by entering terms and searching the site. Cross reference list of geographic names.
Entries: List information for country regarding categories listed above. Can be printed out or saved to a file. Map of country, information includes statistical, economic, etc. very detailed. Health and literacy information.
Uses & Evaluation: Valuable synopsis of a country. Good overview of a country. Good source for looking up world facts.
For each of these questions determine which type of fact book is needed to answer the question. Identify the specific title from the list. If there is an electronic version give the title and the URL for the title. For the electronic formats you will need to search the ONLINE databases first, and the Internet if Consuls does not subscribe to the titles. Consuls provides access to Reference Sources on the internet
Questions:
1. What are the principal religions in Japan? The Philippines?
CIA – World Fact Book.
2. Which U.S. place has the most bridges?
World almanac and book of facts, or, Science and Technology Desk Reference.
3. When was daylight savings time introduced in the U.S.?
Science and Technology Desk Reference
4. How does the population density of India compare to China?
World Fact Book
5. Which team won the Ryder Cup in 2003?
New York Public Library Desk Reference.
6. Can you help me find some guidelines on amounts to tip people who help me when I travel?
Emily Post Etiquette.
7. Who won the Beta Phi Mu Award from the American Library Association in 2003?
Bowker Annual: Library and Book Trade Almanac.
8. Could you help me find how letters are represented in the Braille alphabet?
Information Please Almanac.
Also can be found in New York Public Library Desk Reference.
9. When is Freedom of Information Day?
Chase’s Calendar of Events.
10. I am trying to find a list of the standard 2-letter abbreviations for the states in the U.S.
Information Please Almanac.
11. Where can I find a description of the structure of the National Health Service in the U.K.?
Whitaker’s Almanack.
12. How do cataracts affect vision and what are common treatments?
Merck Manual of Medical Information.
13. Can you help me find voting statistics for Illinois in U.S. presidential elections from 1948-1996? Did a majority of Illinois voters always favor the winning candidate?
Statesmans Yearbook.
14. I am trying to find an explanation of the Richter scale.
McGraw-Hill Yearbook of Science and Technology –http://
15. What were the seven wonders of the ancient world? Are any still standing?
New York Public Library Desk Reference P. 803
Biographical Resources
Group: Buck, Coyle, Sedita, Tidwell, Turner
I researched #13, 15, 20, 22. I also did some research for #21.
1. Almanac of Famous People.
A. Citation: Almanac of Famous People. 6th ed. (1994). Detroit: Gale Research Inc.
B. Purpose: To provide a comprehensive reference guide to famous and infamous newsmakers from Biblical times to the present.
C. Authority: Prepared by Gale Research, a respected name in information science. Entries are continuously updated by an expert editorial team which solicits corrections and emendations to material.
D. Scope: Includes 27,000 names covering world history from Biblical times to the present.
E. Format: Print, two volumes, in lexicographic format, three columns per page.
F. Arrangement: Alphabetical entries, with headings in bold type. Each page includes a heading of the last entry on the page.
G. Entries: Each entry includes a person’s name as most popularly known; pseudonym, real name, married name, or group affiliation; nickname; nationality; occupation, career, or best-known activity; one-line descriptor; date and place of birth; date and place of death; codes for biographical reference sources.
H. Special features: Includes two special chronological indexes.
I. Uses: For students, librarians, general researchers, etc., who want a ready reference source for quick information on famous and historical people.
J. Overall evaluation: Very helpful as a ready reference for famous names.
2. American National Biography
A. Citation: 24 volumes. New York, Oxford University Press, 1999. Copyright of American Council of Learned Societies.
B. Purpose: This work is a successor to the Dictionary of American Biography (DAB) first published between 1926 and 1937. This is a way for patrons to look up a person of interest who might not have been covered in an individual biography.
C. Authority: Editors come from academia for the most part and are listed according to their authority in a specific area. There are Oxford fact checkers and there are 200 associate editors listed.
D. Scope: The one invariant rule is that the subject had to have died before 1996. Otherwise, the question was posed: would readers and researchers want to know something particular about this subject?
E. Format: The format is alpha by letter, then chronologically.
F. Arrangement: Alpha by headword which usually consists of a surname and given names. Spellings and division of names is done following the authority of the Library of Congress.
G. Entries: Entries are listed first in alpha order, and then are indexed in Volume 24 in the following order: alpha, contributor, place of birth in the U.S., and occupations.
H. Special features: The articles are long enough to get good descriptive information and brief enough to leave out unimportant details. The index is great because it gives the patrons several ways of finding their subject.
I. Uses: Great for general knowledge information tracking and for reports. I would recommend this set for high school and older.
J. Evaluation: Great way of finding somewhat obscure names who are not written up in a singular way. Also interesting information about the subjects.
3. Biographical Information – through Lexis-Nexis
A. Citation: Lexis Nexis is a division of Reed Elsevier, Inc., NY, London and Amsterdam.
B. Purpose: This is an online service to retrieve information on persons of interest.
C. Authority: Lexis Nexis is a fee-based search service which branches out to several specific subject matters. Our local libraries do not carry this service, but the University of Delaware does, so I was able to access this website by going on campus to gather the information. The headings for LN are: academic, congressional, government periodicals index, primary sources in US history, and state capitols. If you click on academic, you then look for the left side bar which lists “academic research.” Under that moniker is a listing for “reference” and that link will get you to biographical information. Not the easiest way to find something!
D. Scope: The range for this link is listed as “politicians, business executives and more.” There is no listing for the amount of information carried in this site.
E. Format: The first page carries an inquiry bar where you can list your subject’s name either by first name, last name or whatever information you have. You can also limit the search by date of interest and sort by relevance (the default is chronological).
F. Format: Once you have typed a name in, you will see a listing of articles where that name has appeared. The best bet is to sort by relevance so that you get the most information upfront. You can click on the link and get a full text reading of the article. You will also get source information.
G. Entries: Entries can go in either by first name or last name. The spelling is not critical since the site will try whatever name you have given it and suggest other spellings.
H. Special features: This site is very helpful for both current and relevant information. It is user friendly once you find the specific site! There is a great help site to assist in the navigation process. There are lots of ways to get more specific with the search of the name.
I. Uses: If you are not near a library, this is a good site. It gives good current information on a subject as well as dated but relevant information.
J. Evaluation. This is a good site but is hard to access. You probably have to get to a university setting to use this service. Also, the link to this was not obvious. The home page should be more specific about where things are on the site.
4. Biography and Genealogy Master Index. 2nd ed. 1980 Gale.
A. Citation: This is a Gale database. It is a division of ThomsonGale based in Farmington Hills, MI. This is not available in print and was only available to me through the University of Delaware library.
B. Purpose: This is a site which provides indexed information on a specific subject. When the name is called up, a listing of indexed articles appears. You cannot click on those articles – this is an index only.
C. Authority: 300,000 new compilations are added every time the database is reloaded (timeframe not listed). Other sources include biography dictionaries, subject encyclopedias, literary criticism and other indexes.
D. Scope: Total biographical sketches indexed to date: 16.9 million.
E. Format: Indexes only reference works containing multiple biographies. It does not index periodical articles or books about a single individual. When you type in the name in the search box, you can enter it either by “name contains” or by “start of last name” to start the process.
F. Arrangement: Information is listed in the following order: name, prefix, first and middle names, last name, year of birth, year of death, source citation, source title, portrait availability, number of citations, and free text.
G. Entries: Indexed information is based on the listing given so it helps to give as much information upfront as possible. For instance, I typed my own last name in and found that name used as a middle name. If you go to the more advanced search or just add more information to the first query area, you are likely to get more specific results.
H. Special features: This is a 30 year old program. It indexes current reference sources as well as the most important retrospective works that cover individuals both deceased and living. Some biography areas cover only deceased important people. This site carries both.
I. Uses: If you need a good list of articles, the best thing to do is to call up your subject matter and then make a list of the articles to be consulted. You will have a ready-made bibliography list of your subject.
J. Evaluation: Again, this site is worth perusing but be aware that you have to find the about button in order to find all this information. A better tutorial is in order here.
5.
is a website which is sponsored by A&E Television network which is a joint venture of the Hearst Corp., ABC and NBC networks. Their offices are in New York City and Stamford, CT.
The information cited on the website is compiled through the sister sites and channels listed here: A&E, the History Channel, History International, Biography Channel, Military History channel, History Channel en espanol, Crime and Investigation Network, AETN International, and AETN Consumer products.
There is a search bar at the top of the page for immediate look up questions. That will take you to a one page biography that often includes a black and white photo of the subject.
There are several special features of this website. The first is that when you pull up your subject matter, you are also given a cross reference of “related people” and that is very helpful. Also, the main page has 5 interesting links: ‘Did You Know?’ ‘Breaking the Color Barrier’ ‘Quizzes!’ ‘Trivia!’ and ‘Polls!’ There are a lot of ways to read about a particular subject. There is also a neat link for teachers to help them incorporate this website with their students.
The links at the top of the page are: home, shows, schedule, video, store, and discussions (a discussion board). This is a great site and very easy to navigate. There is a fair amount of advertising but it is not too intrusive and I did not feel overwhelmed by it. I enjoyed the trivia and ‘did you know’ information. It would be a great classroom addition to the computers. It appears to be very family friendly.
6. A. Citation: Biography Index. New York: H.W. Wilson, 1946-. Quarterly, with annual cumulations.
B. Purpose: A guide to biographical material appearing in periodicals indexed in other Wilson Company indexes.
C. Authority: H.W. Wilson
D. Scope: Articles that have been selected additional periodicals, current books of individual and collective biography
F. Entries: Gives the persons name, and what the person does. Then provides an explanation and information of what periodical it can be located in with page number.
E. Format: Hardcover, information is in two columns entries are in bold, subentries are centered with in the column.
F. Arrangement: In three sections, 1st Checklist of Composite Books Analyzed, 2nd main section of index, and 3rd index to professions and occupations.
G. Special Features: The index to professions and occupations is a helpful addition.
H. Evaluation: Index of biographical information from periodicals gives an interesting view of the person life. Provides information about that person as it is happening.
7. The Cambridge Biographical Encyclopedia. 2nd ed. New York: Citation: Crystal, D. Ed. (1998) Cambridge University Press.
B. Purpose: To provide a national reference work of the who’s-who type with concise treatments of specific subjects.
C. Authority: Published by a respected press (Cambridge) and produced by an expert editorial team of editors, compilers, designers and reference consultants.
D. Scope: Includes 16,000 entries, as well 22,000 cross-references, compiled from the family of Cambridge encyclopedias. Thus it has international coverage, with special thoroughness in the English-speaking countries.
E. Format: Print, one volume, in lexicogrpahic format, two columns per page.
F. Arrangement: Alphabetical entries with a heading in bold type. Sections include the Preface, How to use the Cambridge Biographical Encyclopedia, Abbreviations, A-Z Biographical Dictionary, and a Ready Reference section.
G. Entries: Each entry include the proper name, pronunciation ehlep, important dates, occupation, several sentences of description, and cross-references.
H. Special features: Includes a Ready Reference section that demonstrates ‘families’ and sequences of relationships in such domains as sports, history, politics, and the arts. Also includes how-to-use guides and abbreviations guides.
I. Uses: For students, librarians, general researchers, etc., who want a ready reference source for quick information on famous and historical people.
J. Overall evaluation: Because Cambridge is a trusted name in academic educational materials, this is a first choice among biographical lexicons.
8 A. Citation: Contemporary Authors. Detroit: Gale 1962-.
B. Purpose: Provides information on writers in a wide range of media.
C. Authority:
D. Scope: Approximately 115,000 writers, including current writers of fiction, nonfiction, poetry and drama; prominent print and broadcast journalists, editors and photojournalists, syndicated cartoonists, graphic novelists, screenwriters, televisions scriptwriters, notable international authors, and literary greats.
F. Entries: Provides entry heading, personal information, addresses, career summary, membership information, awards and honors, writings, adaptations, sidelights, interviews, autobiographical essay and photographs.
E. Format: Hardcover up to 131 volumes in the New Revision Series. Information in two columns.
F. Arrangement: Arranged in alphabetical order by author.
G. Special Features: n/a
H. Evaluation: Provides a through look at writers today. Has pictures and is very easy to read.
9 Current Biography
A. Citation: Dictionary of American Biography. 20 vols. and index. New York: Scribner’s, 1928- 1938
B. Purpose: To give biographical information on Americans for the purpose of the American Council of Learned Societies.
C. Authority:
D. Scope: Covers Americans.
F. Entries: Provide the name of the person followed by birth and death dates and information pertaining to that person.
E. Format: Hardcover, old so many bindings are torn and damaged. Formatted in two columns of information with entry in bold and capital letters.
F. Arrangement: In alphabetical order
G. Special Features: n/a
H. Evaluation: This is a very old resource. The set I found was missing volume 1 and 2 and the remainder of the volumes were in terrible shape. This would not be the source I would use to research biographical information.
10. Dictionary of American Biography
A. Dictionary of American Biography. 20 vols. and index. New York: Scribner's, 1928-1937. Supplements, 1944
B. Purpose: To provide biographical information on prominent Americans of the time.
C. Authority: Published from 1928 to 1936 under the auspices of the New York Times.
D. Scope: over 10,000 Americans of both sexes.
E. Format: 20 volumes. Supplements have been printed since then.
F. Arrangement:
G. Entries:
H. Evaluation:
11 Dictionary of American Negro Biography.
Citation: Logan, R. & Winston, M. (eds.) (1982) New York: W.W. Norton and Company.
Purpose: To provide a comprehensive biographical scholarly that is based on scholarly research.
Authority: Editors were assisted by scholars, librarians, archivists, and experts in a variety of fields.
Scope: Deceased (prior to 1970). Very general information is given as to how entrants were chosen; a clear set of criteria is not provided.
Format: Preface, dictionary. Very straightforward; no index or contents section. Entries are arranged alphabetically by last name. Names are in bold capital letters. Two columns per page, nearly 700 pages. No pictures.
Entries: Vary in length from multiple columns to multiple pages. Text is easy to read. Comprehensive information is provided. Information includes dates, accomplishments, legacy, and related publications.
Overall evaluation: Difficult to determine scope and no bibliographical information is provided. However, the book itself is easy to use and very comprehensive. Limited coverage (prior to 1970); however, those biographies included are very informative.
12. Dictionary of National Biography.
Citation: Smith, Elder. (1908-1909). Dictionary of National Biography. London : Oxford University Press.
A. A Purpose: To highlight the lives of persons of British notability who have died during the period of the last publication of the DNB and notable British persons from history.
B. B .Authority: Oxford University Press, written by veteran journalists and young scholars.
C. C. Scope: 1885 - 2004. Focuses on British personalities and those in British Colonies.
D. D .Format: 22 volumes hard-bound. An index is supplied at the end of each volume that is cumulative.
E. Arrangement: Early volumes contain biographies of the lives of notable deceased and those up to 1900. Throughout the 20th century volumes were published for those who had died on a decade by decade basis, starting in 1912 with a supplement for those who died between 1901 and 1911. Entries are alphabetical by last name arranged in two columns per page by decade.
F. Entries: Entries include the name, occupation and genealogical information as well as accomplishments.
G. Special Features: Focuses on U.K. persons and includes a 1993 volume on missing persons.
H. Uses: British royalty, or gentry research, some parliamentary figures, with brief historical information relating to persons mentioned. Mainly written from a Victorian point of view.
Evaluation: Less useful as a reference tool unless the allowance is made for the time period in which the biographies were written. Can fill in info, but shouldn’t be the only source for research
13..Encyclopedia of World Biography.
A. Citation: Encyclopedia of World Biography. (1998). Detroit: Gale.
B. Purpose: To provide information about world figures of importance or who have made remarkable achievements, human interest, heroic acts or important works. Primarily for students in the classroom, colleges, and libraries. To supplement general encyclopedias.
C. Authority: Produced by Gale. Authors of articles had free reign in writing how they chose.
D. Scope: Biographies of 7,000 notable individuals. The most important and representative people chosen on a topic that would best represent that topic. 9,000 pages.
|E. Format: 17 volumes with a volume for study guides, Index, and lists of contributors and consultants. Hardbound.
F. Arrangement: Alphabetical order on a word-by-word basis. Articles appear in two columns per page with illustrations inset. A list of color plates is given at the beginning of the volume, and a pronunciation key.
G. Entries: Subject’s name in bold, with a brief biographical summary at the beginning followed by the essay or article, with illustrations. A bibliography for further reading is given, with cross-references as well. Every article has at least one illustration. Over two hundred historical maps are included
H. Special Features: The authors followed no specific guidelines, so there is diversity in writing styles.
I. Uses: To supplement encyclopedia information.
J. Evaluation: Costs around $1000 whether in print or CD-ROM. For larger libraries, but a good purchase.
14. Citation: The International Who’s Who, 2004. (2003) 67th ed. London: Europa Publications, Ltd.
B. Purpose: To index all biographies (on an international level) since some countries do not have such reference sources.
C. Authority: New and existing “entrants” are sent questionnaires each year to supply biographical details. Therefore, the information in each entry should be reliable, as they come from primary sources. Additional research is provided by the editor and editorial staff.
D. Scope: 20,000 entries (this edition has 1,000 new entries). Entries are based on merit and their continuing interest and importance. Some entries are household names, while others are included for the contributions they have made to their field or their country. Entries can be from a variety of areas: architecture, art, business, cinema, diplomacy, engineering, fashion, journalism, law, literature, medicine, music, photography, politics, science, sport, technology, and theater.
E. Format: One volume divided into the following sections: list of abbreviations, international telephone codes, reigning families, obituaries, entries. There are two columns per page. Names are in bold and the last name is in capital letters.
F. Entries: There are no pictures, just text. Text is in the form of incomplete sentences. Abbreviations are used throughout. Dates are given where appropriate. Information includes the following: role/job title, education, birth date and location, publications, interests, contact information (subject headings are italicized).
G. Overall evaluation: This book is easy to understand if users take the time to learn the abbreviations. Otherwise, the information may seem daunting. It is useful for quick reference questions, but not the type of book someone would browse through. While it seemed to be reliable, I found a mistake in the first entry I examined. Quarterback Joe Montana’s entry contained inaccurate information. The book only lists three Superbowls for which he was the starting quarterback, when in fact he started in four. I am left wondering how the mistake happened, given the fact that the preface clearly states that entrants review their own biographies.
15.A. Citation: Marquis Who’s Who. New Providence: NJ. Retrieved 12/4/06 from Marquis Who’s Who LLC:
B. Purpose: To provide an online source of biographical information.
C. Authority: Has been publishing biographical information since 1899
D. Scope: Includes entries for over 1.2 million people from around the world.
E. Format: Online database in windows format, with web-based layout.
F. Arrangement: Elements include side bars with current features and articles, top buttons for searching, links to products and services, news and events, how to submit a biography, etc. The results page includes the main entry down the middle and right of the page, with a left side bar offering more features.
G. Entries: Each entry includes the full name and occupation, place and date of birth, education, certifications, a career summary, career related information, a list of creative works, a list of awards, a statement about military service, a list of memberships, political affiliation, religious affiliation, a list of family members, and an address if available.
H. Special features: A link provides an entry form for submitting new biographies. Also the side bar offers a list of editor’s picks of sample entries and a list of new releases.
I. Uses: Corporate executives, journalists, personnel recruiters, librarians, researchers, students, and many others consult our information databases for in-depth information.
J. Overall evaluation: Extremely useful as an online keyword searchable database, though prohibitive in the fact that it requires a subscription.
16. A. Citation: Merriam-Webster’s Biographical Dictionary. Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1995.
B. Purpose: Provides biographical information on persons in one easy to use book.
C. Authority: Merriam-Webster has been publishing reference resources since 1831 and has a reputation of quality and authority.
D. Scope: Contains more than 30,000 entries, from all parts of the world, all periods of history, and all fields of endeavor.
E. Format: Hardcover, information is in two columns with entry names in bold followed by pronunciations.
F. Arrangement: The names appear in alphabetical order, and the pronunciation and end of line division points for each name are indicated.
G. Special Features: Resource provides a guide to pronunciation and abbreviations key in the front of the book.
H. Evaluation: Note that living persons are not covered in this book. If you are looking for a historical person this book provides a start for information on what this person is famous for and important dates.
17 A. Citation: The New York Times Biographical Service. Ann Arbor, Mich.: UMI.
B. Purpose: To provide an ongoing update of biographical information as world events progress.
C. Authority: The New York Times is a respected newspaper read all over the world and attempts to cover world events. Information for this source is taken from the newspaper.
D. Scope: Coverage includes current biographical information of general interest gleaned from the daily newspaper.
E. Format: Monthly serial issued in soft cover journals with newspaper articles appearing as they appeared in the newspaper.
F. Arrangement: Entries are chronological in the given month, two columns per page. A table of contents alphabetizes names and provides page numbers.
G. Entries: Each entry includes the headlines and the article, as well as often including photographs. Each includes the date the article was in the newspaper.
H. Special features: Most entries are obituaries, but other articles about people are also included, with photographs that come with descriptive captions.
I. Uses: For students, librarians, professors, and general researchers who need current biographical information from today’s world.
J. Overall evaluation: This is invaluable for providing current information for current biographical research needs.
18. Citation: Who Was Who 1981-1990. (1991). New York: St. Martin’s Press.
B. Purpose: To index entrants of Who’s Who who are have died during the given time.
C. Authority: Entries are the same as those in Who’s Who, the only difference is that these people have died; therefore, see the same authority observations apply.
D. Scope: See same section in Who’s Who – the number of entries is subject to the number of people who have died.
E. Format: Volume is divided into the following sections: preface, abbreviations used in this book, addenda (for those whom the editors were not notified of death until after volume was sent to publisher), and biographies. There are two columns per page. Names are in bold, last name is also in capital letters.
F. Entries: Abbreviations are used whenever possible. Information includes: job title, jobs, accomplishments, recreations, clubs, and address. The date of death is given at the bottom of each entry, on the right side of the paragraph. There are no pictures.
G. Overall evaluation: There seemed to be an abundant amount of abbreviations. It was distracting in the text, as it became clear that users would have to constantly refer to the list of abbreviations in order to make meaning of the text. Similarly, the book should have been more explicit in explaining why entrants are originally chosen (aside from the fact that they died within the given decade). Perhaps the publishers assume that this can be determined from examining the original Who’s Who series?
19. Citation: Who Was Who in America with World Notables 2000-2002. (2002). New Providence, NJ: Marquis Who’s Who.
B. Authority: Biographies are prepared by the entrants themselves. Rough sketched written by the editorial staff are given back to the entrants for approval. If an entrant is deceased, a relative or legal representative is responsible for approving the entry. This method has led to the nickname “the autobiography of America.”
C. Scope: Fourteen volumes contain 137,800 entries. However, the preface did not provide users with information regarding admission standards.
D. Format: Each volume is divided in the following: table of abbreviations, alphabetical practices, and entries. There are three columns per page. Size is smaller than other Who’s Who books.
E. Entries: Names are bold, last name is in capital letters. Information covered includes job title, birth date and location, family information, education, jobs (dates are given where applicable), home, death information.
F. Overall evaluation: It was not until I scanned multiple entries that I realized all entrants died between the years 2000-2002. This form of admission criteria should have been clearly stated in the preface. Therefore, I am assuming this book’s value is limited to the user having to know that a particular person died within those given years.
20. Who’s Who 2000.
A. Citation: Black, A&C. (2000) Who’s Who 2000. New York : St. Martin’s Press.
B. Purpose: Biographical information on all types of people from all walks of life in the arts, business finance, church, civil service, education, entertainment, sports, government, law, local government, media, medicine, professional institutions, science and trade unions.
C. Authority: carefully updated supplied by biographees, and other independent resources. Has been published since 1849.
D. Scope: People from all over the world, 30,000 biographies, 1000 new to the 2000 edition. Deaths are noted and removed and a list included. An annual biographical dictionary. Now all the volumes are available on CD with a cumulated in accomplishments, address and email if available. Two columns per page small text.
E. Uses: To find out if someone is still alive and what their position or claim to fame might be and their association to other organizations. To verify someone’s position. You must know the name of the person to look it up.
F. Evaluation: Concise and comprehensive. Huge book is cumbersome. The CD would be a good addition to a library.
21. Who’s Who in America.
A. Citation: Who’s Who in America. (2003)New Providence, NJ : Marquis.
B. Purpose: General biography of notable American contemporaries..Authority: Noted as the most accurate, current biographical data available.
C. Scope: 126,000 biographies of those of significant value to society in United States, Canada and a few other countries. Started in 1899 to the 58th edition in 2003. Criteria for selection includes the position of responsibility held or the level of significant achievement attained in a career of noteworthy activity including, governmental positions, military, judicial, business, colleges & universities, foundations, scientific, and ecclesiastical. Also various award winners are included such as Nobel, Pulitzer, Academy, Tony and other prominent awards.
D. Format: Three hard-bound volumes and over 6,000 pages.
E. Arrangement: Volumes contain a preface, standards of admission, key to information, table of abbreviations, alphabetical practices and biographies in alphabetical order by last name. Volume 3 contains a Geographic index, professional index, retiree index, and necrology. Entries are arranged in three columns in about 5 pt type. Most bios are brief, not more than 25 lines in about a 3 inch column.
F. Entries: Contain name in bold type, profession, vital statistics, parents, marriage, children, education, professional certifications, career, writings and creative works, civic and political activities, military, awards and fellowships, professional associations and memberships, clubs and lodges, religion, avocations, home and office addresses, researcher.
G. Special Uses: Thirty-eight professional categories make this a good reference tool for locating notable people by occupation, or geographic area.
H. Evaluation: Good ready-reference tool. Not for serious research, but a stepping-stone for further research. No bibliographies for further reading.
22. Who’s Who in the World.
A. Citation: Who’s Who in the World. (2003). New Providence, NJ: Marquis.
B. Purpose: To provide biographical information on significant current international figures.
C. Authority: Member of the Lexix-Nexis group. Marquis publisher since 1899. Recognized as the foremost publisher of biographies. Biographees furnish their own data to ensure accuracy.
D. Scope: 57,500 noteworthy persons globally. Admissions based on position of responsibility held, or level of achievement attained. Based on reference value.
E. Format: One hardbound book of over 3,000 pages.
F. Arrangement: Key to information, table of abbreviations, alphabetical practices precedie the entries. Entries are followed by a professional index.
G. Entries: Alphabetical by surname in 3 columns of small print. Contains the same information as other Who’s Who. Name, title, or position, or occupation, vital statitistics, marriages, parents, achievements, associations, address, email.
H. Uses: The Professional Index makes this useful for looking up subjects and not just people.
I. Evaluation: Important work. Researchers, students and others would find it useful for finding persons in various fields, or to confirm or discover accomplishments and associations.
23. Citation: Who’s Who of American Women 2002-2003, 23rd ed. (2002). New Providence, NJ: Marquis Who’s Who.
B. Authority: Information is gathered from the following sources: newspapers, magazines, trade publications, professional association rosters, and nominations by current biographies. Members of the Board of Advisors also nominate individuals from their region/professional field. Entrees contribute their own formation and are then asked to review final drafts before publication. If an entry has an asterisk, it means the entrant did not submit her own information. Standards of submission include the position of responsibility held and the level of achievement attained by the individual.
C. Scope: 32,000 entries. Entries were originally volunteer workers involved in civic, religious, and club activities. This edition contains a broader range – women from the field of business, education, government, law, medicine, performing and visual arts, sciences, and more. The women are from both the United States and Canada.
D. Format: Edition includes key to information (sample entry), table of abbreviations, alphabetical practices, entries, geographical index, and professional index.
E. Entries: There are three columns per page. The name is in bold letters (last name is also capitalized). Information given includes job/field, birth date and location, family information, education, accomplishments, and contact information. Dates are given whenever possible. There are no pictures. It appears as though all entrants are still living.
F. Overall evaluation: Useful for a quick reference, though the criteria stated for being admitted is very broad; it does not give users a good sense of how/why a woman is given an entry. Small text also makes it difficult to read.
Susan Tidd
Geographical Sources
ILS 504-S70
Dec 8, 2006
Buck, Coyle, Sedita, Tidd, Turner
1. Atlas of the World
A. Citation: George Philip & Son. Atlas of the World. (1996). New York: Oxford University Press.
B. Purpose: To provide maps for the major continents, cities, and regions.
C. Authority: Atlas I saw was published by George Philip Ltd., Reed International Books. Scope: Covers the earth continent by continent starting with Europe. Format: Hard-bound book - oversized pages
D. Arrangement: Table of contents, World statistics, World geography, city maps, world maps, Index to city maps, and index to names of principal places, country or region, page and location on map. Abbreviations list.
E. Entries: Maps use representative fraction scale. Symbols denote landscape features. International borders are shown in red lines. Points and circles denote towns and cities. Scales and projections were chosen to give emphasis to densely populated regions. Hill shading and relief coloring . The maps start with Europe and go north to south clockwise from place to place. A variety of scales are used. Maps overlap with neighbors for continuity. Projections which are noted in the border use the least distortion of size and distance: conic, cylindrical, azimuthally. Also plotted on a grid of latitude and longitude. The English and local form of names are used. For China the Pin Yen system is used.
F. Special Uses: Reference resource for school projects. Ready reference tool for questions.
G. Evaluation: Comprehensive and informative. Index makes it useful for reference queries.
2. Chambers World Gazetteer.
A. Citation: *Note: The newer edition is titled Cambridge World Gazetteer. (1990). New York: Cambridge University Press.
B. Purpose: To provide users with a geographical dictionary of world places, listed alphabetically by city.
C. Authority: Compiled with computing facilities in the Department of Geography at the University of Edinburgh. Sources consulted include statistical yearbooks, chambers of commerce, university departments.
D. Scope: Worldwide information on cities, regions, countries, physical features, national parks, international economic and cultural regions. Since it is recognized that it is impossible to include all places, admission criteria is first order administrative divisions, capitals, secondary administrative divisions, and special interest locations (such as historic, religious, tourist places).
E. Format: Book is divided into the following sections: preface, guidance notes, specimen entry, abbreviations and contractions, key to pronunciation, abbreviation of international organizations, conversion guide, acknowledgements, gazetteer, and world atlas. Color. Two columns per page.
F. Entries: Places are in bold text. Information includes pronunciation, a brief description, and statistical information. Variety of pictures: charts, maps, tables, etc. Entries vary in length – they can range from 3-20 lines.
G. Overall evaluation: Easy to interpret. Abbreviations are not used in abundance. Recommended for library use.
3.: The Columbia Gazetteer of the World.
A. Citation. 3 vols. New York: Columbia University Press, 1998.
B. Purpose: Geographical index or dictionary.
C. Authority: Columbia University Press has been publishing since 1893 and is a respected publisher of reference resources. This resource was supervised by a board of 150 leading geographical scholars from all parts of the world.
D. Scope: Political world, physical world, special places. Contains over 40,000 entries for the US alone.
E. Format: Hardcover, information is in 3 columns on the page, entries are in bold with pronunciations in (). Cross references are shown in small capitals.
F. Entries: Include information on many of the following: demography; physical geography; political boundaries; industry; trade, and service activities; agriculture; cultural, historical, and archeological points of interest; transportation lines; pronunciations; official local government place names and changed of variant names and spellings. Their length varies from a brief notation on a small village to an essay on a country or region.
G. Arrangement: In alphabetical order relying on US department of Interiors Board of Geographic Names both for the places within the US and for foreign names as well.
H. Evaluation: Is very through in its coverage of geographical information.
I Arrangement: In alphabetical order relying on US department of Interiors Board of Geographic Names both for the places within the US and for foreign names as well.
J. Evaluation: Is very through in its coverage of geographical information.
4. Guide to Places of the World.
A. Citation. (1995). New York: Reader’s Digest Association Limited.
B. Purpose: To provide a guide to geographical locations of historical, political, and general interest.
C. Authority: Compiled by expert editors and consultants, as well as major contributors from universities and research institutions around the world.
D. Scope: Coverage includes geographical locations from around the world, including natural landmarks, buildings, cities, bridges and dams, geographical zones, ocean currents and regions, weather patterns, plate tectonics and geological timescale.
E. Format: In print, one volume, in alphabetical lexicographic format, three columns per page.
F. Arrangement: Sections include an A-Z gazetteer, Major Natural Features, World Records, Flags of the World, International Organizations. Entries are alphabetical.
G. Entries: Each entry includes a bolded heading, an encyclopedic description, with subheadings and photographs that include captions, as well as a “At a Glance” section giving quick facts such as area mileage and population for a country, its major exports, languages, currency, climate, and so on.
H. Special features: A list at the end includes international organizations and alliances in alphabetical order. Also, all photographs and maps are in color with helpful legends and captions.
I. Uses: For students, librarians, professors, and general researchers who need current geographical information about places, buildings, and countries of the world.
J. Overall evaluation: Useful as a ready reference guide for quick consultation for brief answers.
5. Hammond Atlas of the World. 2nd ed.
A. CitationMaplewood, N.J.: Hammond, 1998.
B. Atlas as a Whole: It has a nice look to it, colorful and clear.
C. Range and Quality of Individual maps: The maps concise and correct.
D. Index: Has a quality index arranged in strict alphabetical order.
E. Supplementary Material: Includes evolution of cartography and map projections
F. Format: Provides a section, using this atlas, which proved helpful. This atlas is easy and enjoyable to use.
6. Historical Atlas of the United States. (substituted this version for the National Geographic version which I could not locate easily)
A. Citation: Carnes, Mark C. (2003). Historical Atlas of the United States. New York: Routledge.
B. Purpose: To chronicle a people and culture through geographic movement and analysis. A visual history in maps for general readers and undergraduates as well as colleges and universities.
C. Authority: Routledge produces several atlases. Recommended by the Western Association of Map Libraries Information Bulletin.
D. Scope: Covers the United States from the formation of the North American Continent to September 11, 2001. More than 300 maps divided into 21 chronologically arranged parts. Begins with the geography, climate, and topography 200 million years ago, to 2001.
E. Format: Hardbound, one volume in over 300 pages. Slightly oversized book, but easy to manage.
F. Arrangement: Each part begins with an introduction to the section. A list of maps is included with each section. There are special sections for presidential elections and territorial growth. A bibliography and index are provided at the end of the atlas.
G. Entries: The maps are in color and are fairly easy to read. Some of the maps include territorial changes and military campaigns.
H. Special Features: Modern maps include Harlem during the period of the Harlem Renaissance and Hollywood movie studios in 1919. Also included is lower Manhattan on September 11, 2001. Abortion patterns, AIDS patterns, the rise of illegal drug trade, an other unusual topics are included.
I. Evaluation: Excellent resource for visual history, plotting historical events and understanding our culture, society and history.
7.
A. Citation: Mapquest is a wholly owned subsidiary of America Online (AOL) Inc. There are two headquarters; the main one is in Denver, CO and the other is in Mountville, PA.
B. Purpose: Mapquest has been in the cartography business since 1967 and has gone through many changes. It first made maps to hand out for free at gas stations and was owned by R.R. Donnelley & Sons. The purpose of Mapquest is to provide fast and correct directions, maps and other geographic services for free to anyone who requests the information.
C. Authority: There are 6 separate partners who supply the geographical information as well as the databases to incorporate ancillary information.
D. Scope: Directions and maps are available for the United States, Canada and Europe.
E. Format: Directions are provided when an address, or even part of one, is typed into the search bar on the front page.
F. Arrangement: Once the place has been located you have several options. The tool bar on the left hand side can be used via the mouse to zoom in or out of the map in order to get the best view of the location. There is also an option to see a true black and white aerial photo of the location – you can simply click out of that if you choose to.
G. Entries: Written directions are accessed by simply clicking on the link at the top of the map which says “directions to.” You are then directed to type in where you are and then the location where you are headed. You can retrieve both written directions and maps.
H. Special Features: This is a really easy and accessible format for almost anyone who needs directions. When you have the map up on your screen, if you put the mouse directly on the map itself you can manipulate the map and actually move it around until you get it where you want it. The colors help a lot. The typeface is large and easy to read. While Google, Yahoo also have map queries, Mapquest remains a very popular website.
I. Uses: This is where you go when you need a detailed map of a neighborhood and it’s dark out and you have never been there before. This is where you go when you have an important family gathering and there is no map in the house for where you are going. This is the go-to for many people. When I receive an invitation to go somewhere, I don’t ask the hosting family for directions – I simply go to Mapquest, get the directions and print them off to go with me.
J. Evaluation: I use this site several times a month. We also use the Google maps as well as Yahoo, but we are comfortable with the directions we have been given at Mapquest.
8. Merriam-Websters Geographical Dictionary 3rd edition, 1997
A. Citation: Published by Merriam-Webster, Springfield MA.
B. Purpose: A straightforward dictionary but specifically dealing with geographical terms. This dictionary provides text, maps, spelling, pronunciation, type of feature, location and other matters of importance.
C. Authority: A large editorial staff (no numbers given) with the help of the cartography department of the Encyclopedia Britannica.
D. Scope: This is a very technical dictionary but it also covers many topics of general interest.
E. Format: Alpha by letter, then cross-referenced.
F. Arrangement: Explanatory notes, pronunciation symbols, abbreviations and symbols, map projections are all very good and important up front reading materials. There is an indexed list of maps and a 2 page flat map of the world listed as well.
G. Entries: Bold heading with tabs on the outside of the pages to help the reader find subjects with more ease. There are black and white maps when necessary in the text.
H. Special Features: I liked the upfront information (explanatory notes, map projections, etc). They were most helpful in making sure I could have some points of reference as I was looking up specific subjects.
I. Uses: This particular book would be limited to at least high school and above and is more scholarly in nature. It is a good format for finding items and the maps are a big help.
J. Evaluation: This was only available at the University of Delaware library in their reference area – it has a limited audience. It is a well done book if you need very specific information.
9. Moore, Patrick, Atlas of the Universe. 1998
A. Citation: The University of Cambridge, UK and NY, 1998.
B. Purpose: To explain the universe through words and pictures to a large audience base.
C. Authority: 267 credits and acknowledgements are listed on the back page, as well as mapping and artwork credits.
D. Scope: Maps of the heavens, related detail and data and information sent by the space probes. This book does cover everything from quarks to home telescopes and everything in between.
E. Format: There are 6 sections: Exploring the Universe, The Solar System, The Sun, The Stars, The Universe and the Practical Astronomer.
F. Arrangement: Large headings within each subject heading make it much easier to locate information.
G. Entries: Each subject heading has huge color pictures and maps along with user friendly descriptions. This book is written with the layman in mind. A note from the author mentions that in order to make the book look better, some of the color in the pictures was enhanced.
H. Special features: The typeface and the pictures lend themselves to page through the book and get to know the material.
I. Uses: This is a good practical book for high school and above. It might be just a bit over the heads of junior high but the pictures are something that everyone would enjoy.
J. Evaluation: I had not heard of this book before but found it very interesting and would want to keep a copy in the public library system in the reference section.
10. The National Atlas of the United States of America.
A. Citation. (1970) Washington, D.C.: U.S. Geological Survey.
B. Purpose: To provide “practical use to decision makers in government and business, planners, research scholars, others needing to visualize country-wide distributional patterns and relationships between environmental phenomena and human activities.”
C. Authority: Prepared by the U.S. Geological Survey and over 80 Federal agencies. Contributions come from commercial firms, universities, and individuals. So much work went into its publication that it took nearly twenty years to complete.
D. Scope: Over 400 pages of 765 different maps of the United States.
E. Format: Atlas is divided into four sections: contents, general reference maps (41,000 place names); special subject (or thematic) maps, including distributional patterns and man-environment relationships; and an index to map subjects. Scales range from 1:500,000 to 1:34,000,000. Nice use of color. Keys/symbols are clearly stated and easy to understand. Text accompanies map, providing further explanation. Maps vary in style (roads, blocks, linear,) depending on the information being depicted.
F. Overall evaluation: Although somewhat outdated, it is clear that a lot of effort went into this publication. Reliable authority makes it a worthwhile atlas to have on hand, as not all of the material would be outdated. Maps are very comprehensive and depict a variety of information and statistics (i.e. maps are not limited to roads).
11. Rand McNally Commercial Atlas & Marketing Guide.
A. Citation. 133rd ed. (2002). Chicago: Rand McNally.
B. Purpose: To provide maps and charts that give the most current economic and geographic information of the United States.
C. Authority: Information and graphics are updated annually. Over one hundred thirty previous editions demonstrate the experience and acceptance of this publication.
D. Scope: Coverage includes the United States, its fifty states and the District of Columbia. It also includes coverage of counties and cities, using nearly 600 pages of maps, legends, keys, and descriptions.
E. Format: Print, atlas format, with maps of varying scales. It is twenty-four inches high and eighteen inches wide. Maps are in color on quality paper.
F. Arrangement: Six sections include 1) United States and Metropolitan Area Maps, 2) Transportation and Communications Data, 3) Economic Data, 4) Population Data, 5) State Maps, 6) Indexes of Places and Statistics by State.
G. Entries: Each map includes legends with Inhabited localities, Political capitals, Transportation routes, Political boundaries, Hydrographic features, Topographic features, and Miscellaneous cultural features.
H. Special features: Includes an Index of Places and Counties, with Transportation Lines, Facilities, and Post Offices.
I. Uses: For students, librarians, professors, and general researchers who need current geographical information with economic emphasis in the United States.
J. Overall evaluation: Useful for its economic emphasis, especially because of its large size and its detailed color maps. Useful for libraries, businesses, as well as private collections.
12. Rand McNally Road Atlas: United States, Canada, and Mexico.
A. Citation. (1998). Chicago, IL: Rand McNally.
B. Authority: Updated on an annual basis, it is the work of skilled editors and cartographers. Users are encouraged to give their feedback to the editors.
C. Scope: Over 100 pages of maps of the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
D. Format: Atlas contains two sections: travel planner and maps, in addition to an index. The maps vary in size and the number on each page. The majority of the states are given two pages for one map (left and right side of page). Entries in the index are arranged alphabetically by state, followed by alphabetic cities within the state. Information given in the index is the population and location on the grid. The index would have been more useful if a page number was also given. Maps are vibrantly colored. In addition to the map, background information on each state, such as the nickname, population, capital, and largest city, is provided.
E. Special feature: “America’s love affair with the road” section, which is actually a timeline of the development of America’s roadside culture. Also included is a complimentary copy of “All American Roads and National Scenic Byways.”
F. Overall evaluation: Although the maps are comprehensive, I was not impressed by the excessive advertisements in the atlas. This was distracting and unnecessary. The maps themselves were very useful. Keys and symbols were clearly defined. However, the index would have been more useful if a page number was given for each entry.
13. The Times Atlas of the World.
A. Citation. 10th Comprehensive ed. (1999). New York: Times Books Group Ltd.
B. Purpose: To provide a world atlas of quality color maps and detailed legends.
C. Authority: Produced by expert cartographers and geographers. First published in 1895, so this is an experienced producer of atlases.
D. Scope: Coverage includes one hundred twenty-four main maps of the world, with smaller inserted maps of important features.
E. Format: Print, atlas format, with maps of varying scales. It is eighteen inches tall and twelve inches wide, with color maps.
F. Arrangement: Sections include Images of Earth, Stars and Planets, The World in 2000, Mapping the World, Geographical Information, The World, Oceania, Asia, Europe, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Oceans, Glossary, and Index.
G. Entries: Map plates include a key to relief coloring; scale bars; measurements in both metric and imperial unites; symbols and place names; abbreviations; political lines; hydrographic features; important landmarks; and so on.
H. Special features: Includes an extremely detailed index of 220 pages each with five columns of place names.
I. Uses: For students, librarians, professors, and general researchers who need current geographical information and cartographic help.
J. Overall evaluation: Extremely useful as a reference atlas to the world, comprehensive in scope.
14. The New York Times Atlas of the World
A. Citation: The New York Times Atlas of the World. (1978). New York: New York Times Book Company.
B. Purpose: Provide comprehensive information on the origin and geology of the earth.
C. Authority: Rules developed by the U.S. Board on Geographical Names and the permanent Committee on Geographical names for the Official British Use. The Wade Giles System for China and Mongolia. Maps by John Bartholomew & son.
D. Scope: 90,000 entries. All towns are included except the smallest are indexed. Provides maps in a variety of projections (not explained) on physical nature, resources of climate vegetation and minerals. The major features of the geography of man, settlement population patterns, trade and industry, balance of natural environment, techniques of navigation described. Earth is placed in the context of the universe.
E. Arrangement: Sections for each area and subject. Begins with Man, the World and the Universe. Maps follow starting with Europe, then Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, Africa and so forth.
F. Entries: Maps are a variety of projections. Some topographical, color and shading. Some relief type maps included. Charts, diagrams, and other aids included. Spellings are according to the region administered. An index is in alphabetical order and includes the country or location, page and grid location.
G. Special Features: Section on geographic comparison. The countries of the world are listed with basic statistics, capital, area in square miles, population language and currency. A world political map is included but would need updating.
H. Uses: Basic reference tool for locating information about the earth.
Evaluation: Something like McGraw-Hill’s online Access Science would be better for color print-outs for a project. For reference queries for locating places this would be useful. There is some scientific information regarding the physical characteristics of the earth, population, history that might be useful. Most of this information could be found in other places.
14. Substitution: Citation: Historical Atlas of the World.
* A number of libraries where search, none containing this book. Therefore, the following comparable historical atlas was evaluated in its place:
Ferrell, R. & Natkiel, R. (1993). Atlas of American History. New York: Facts on File.
Authority: Robert Ferrell is a renowned historian and writer. At the time of publication, he was teaching at Indiana University. Richard Natkiel, who had retired by the time of publication, was the former head of the cartography department at The Economist.
Scope: This atlas contains 200 maps, supplemented by historical text.
Format: The atlas reads like a text book. Sections are divided by time period. The information is written in user-friendly language. Maps are complimented by an equal amount of textual information. Also included are photographs. This information ranges from acquisitions of territories, battles, demographic and election results, the Great Depression, Prohibition, intervention in the Caribbean and Latin America, railroads, slavery, and women’s suffrage.
Overall evaluation: This book enjoyable to browse. It reads like a text book and is therefore recommended for obtaining historical information (not limited to quick reference). Even though a lot has transpired since its publication in 1993, the actual information itself will not be outdated.
15.: The Weather Almanac.
A. Citation. 9th ed. Detroit: Gale, 1999.
B. Purpose: A reference guide to weather, climate, and related issues in the United States and its key cities.
C. Authority: Gale Group is a known publisher of reference resources and respectd in the publishing industry.
D. Scope: Covers the climate and weather for the United States. Also covers weather extremes.
F. Entries: many maps and charts provide the entries in this resource. When information is given it is usually two columns with entrie in bold, contain many photos and illustrations.
E. Format: Hardcover, one volume text. Has forward, table of contents, and a general index.
F. Arrangement: Chapters followed by contents, also local climatological data reports arranged by state.
G. Special Features: Separate sections in The Weather Almanac are devoted to tornadoes, hurricanes, thunderstorms, and lightning, flash floods, and winter storms.
H. Evaluation: Comprehensive complement to usual sources of day to day weather information in newspapers, radio, and television. It provides a wide range of maps, charts, and safety rules based upon past records.
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