Evaluation Set Three-Group Four 1

Transcription

1 Evaluation Set Three-Group Four 1 Running Head. Evaluation Set Three-Group Four Evaluation Set Three ILS50470 Spring Group Four Sharon Foster, Nicole Knott, and Beth-Ann Martinez Southern Connecticut State University

2 Evaluation Set Three-Group Four 2 Introduction Three (originally four) members of our ILS 504-S70 Reference and Information Resources and Services class at Southern Connecticut State University, Spring 2007, have collaborated to review the 28 almanacs, yearbooks, and handbooks reference sources identified in the assignment Evaluation Set Three. We have prepared detailed reviews for each resource based upon the criteria cited in Katz (2002, chap.1), Bopp & Smith (2001, chap. 13), and other readings for this unit. These criteria include purpose, authority, scope, format, arrangement, entries, special features, use, and overall evaluation. Following our evaluation the group chose the reference resources they found most valuable. Group Members Sharon Foster, fostersm1@gmail.com, sources 1-7 Nicole Knott, jettagirl814@aol.com or nknott1@gmail.com, sources 8-14 Beth-Ann Martinez, martinezb1@southernct.edu, sources Sources 15 through 21 were divided up among the three of us.

3 Evaluation Set Three-Group Four 3 Sources Bowker Annual Library and Book Trade Almanac a. Citation: Bowker annual library and book trade almanac: Facts, figures, and reports. (45th ed.). (2006). Medford, NJ: Information Today, Inc. b. Purpose: "A compilation of informed analysis and practical information of intrest to the library, information, and book trade communities." c. Authority: The editor is Dave Bogart; Julia C. Blixrud is the consultant editor, and Catherine Barr is the contributing editor. Telephone, fax, , and website ( are provided. Comments and suggestions for future editions are invited. d. Scope: The Bowker Annual is a yearbook, focussed on the events of the past year in publishing and librarianship. e. Format: The format is a series of articles and directories arranged in six parts. f. Arrangement: i. Part 1, Reports From the Field, includes articles on the year's news and trends in public libraries, school libraries, and publishing; federal agency and federal library reports; national association and organization reports; international reports; and special reports. ii. iii. iv. Part 2, Legislation, Funding, and Grants, details legislation and regulations affecting libraries and publishing, along with the activities of grant-making agencies and funding programs. Part 3 is comprised of information for library and information science professionals, including placement sources, salaries, and scholarship resources and recipients. Part 4 is comprised of research and statistics on libraries and the book trade, including library expenditures and state rankings, book sales statistics, number of book outlets in the U.S. and Canada, and review media statistics. v. Part 5 contains reference information: lists of bestsellers, recommended books and other media, major literary prize winners of the past year, and information on obtaining an ISBN, ISSN, and SAN.

4 Evaluation Set Three-Group Four 4 vi. Part 6 is a directory of library and publishing organizations at the state, national, and international levels, plus a calendar of major upcoming events. g. Entries: Entries are in several forms: articles, reports, tables, and directories. h. Special Features: The 2006 edition includes "Special Reports" on: developments in copyright law as it adapts to today's increasingly electronic environment; efforts to strike a balance between public access to government information and the proper protection of government information for security purposes; the trend toward more openness regarding access to information in the People's Republic of China; and virtual reference and how it has come of age as a mainstream library service. Also included are a directory of NISO (National Information Standards Organization) Standards, a table of acronyms, an index of organizations, and a subject index. i. Uses: The Bowker Annual provides a snapshot of the world of librarianship and publishing, both in a ready reference format of directories, tables, and statistics, and in short articles and reports that summarize the current state of various issues of professional interest. It can be used to answer a wide range of questions, such as "What did the Association of research Libraries do last year?" to "Where can I apply for a library scholarship?" to "Which books published last year are the best books for reluctant young adult readers?" j. Overall Evaluation: A very useful resource at many levels of detail. Britannica Book of the Year a. Citation: Britannica book of the year. (1994). Chicago: Encyclopaedia Britannica. b. Purpose: A review of the year's events. c. Authority: Several dozen people comprising the editorial staff and the yearbook contributors are identified by name. d. Scope: Published annually since e. Format: A single hardcover volume. Available on the Web at f. Arrangement: The events of 1993 are arranged by topic, such as Agriculture and Food Supplies, Astronomy, Chemistry, Education,

5 Evaluation Set Three-Group Four 5 Energy, Law, Libraries, Music, Physics, Publishing, Sports, Theatre, Transportation, and World Affairs. g. Entries: Entries vary in length from half a column to several pages. h. Special Features: Many color and b&w photos and illustrations. A section titled World Data contains extensive statistics on the nations of the world, and is equal in size to the Year in Review section. There is a bibliography of the year's most important books in a variety of fields: Human Society, Art, Technology, Reliogion, and History, to name a few. The Year in Review section is introduced by a special commentary written by journalist Daniel Schorr. i. Uses: Answers virtually any question having to do with a particular event in a particular year. One limitation is that it is first necessary to establish what year a particular event occurred in order to find it in the yearbook. j. Overall Evaluation: A comprehensive picture of the state of the world in any given year, this is a highly useful volume for any library, whether it already owns the Encyclopaedia Britannica or not. The Cambridge Factfinder a. Citation: Crystal, D. The Penguin factfinder.(2005). (2nd ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. b. Purpose: A general-purpose factbook, "covering topics from the evolution of man to musical notes, star constellations to sign language, Norse gods to the structure of DNA." (quote from the back cover) c. Authority: David Crystal is honorary professor of linguistics at the University of Wales, Bangor, and the editor of The Penguin Encyclopedia. There were over 250 contributors to this edition. This was previously published under the name The Cambridge Factfinder, by the same author and publisher. d. Scope: Topics range from the Universe; the Earth; Climate; Natural History; Human Beings; History; World Chronology; Military Wars; and a listing of the nations of the world and some basic facts about each, such as timezones, languages, statistics, date of independence, climate, currency, economy, and heads of state; Religion and Mythology; Language; Science and Technology; Arts and Culture; and Sports and Games. e. Format: Paperback, 960 pages. f. Arrangement: Arranged by thematic areas of knowledge, as noted above. g. Entries: Format varies according to the topic.

6 Evaluation Set Three-Group Four 6 h. Special Features: Maps, diagrams, charts, and a full index. i. Uses: A general-purpose ready-reference. j. Overall Evaluation: Both useful and affordable for any library, and even for the home library. Chase s Calendar of Annual Events a. Citation: Chase s annual events (1993). Chicago: Contemporary Books. b. Purpose: Chase's is a directory of local, state, and national events across the United States. c. Authority: The names of the editorial staff are given, as well as several acknowledgments to others who assisted in the preparation of the current volume. For each type of event, an explanation is given as to how the information for that type of event is obtained and verified. Directions for submitting a new entry are included. d. Scope: Published annually since 1958, from 1958 to 1983 it was published under the name Chase's Calendar of Annual Events. This 36th edition includes more than 10,250 events for 1993, including many new and interesting local events. e. Format: A day-by-day listing of events. f. Arrangement: Events are listed chronologically, then by alphabetical order according to the name of the event. g. Entries: Each entry may contain different information as appropriate for the type of event: presidential proclamations include the legal authority for the recognition; religious holidays and observances include the corresponding dates in non-gregorian calendars; important dates to remember include the exact inclusive dates of observance and helpful hints for remembering information (for example, "Spring forward, fall back"); sponsored events include the purpose of the event and the sponsor's name and contact information; ethnic and international observances include a formula for determining the Gregorian (Western) calendar date for the event; sports events include the place of observance and background facts about the event; historical anniversaries include historical data in capsule form; important birth anniversaries include interesting biographical information; and astronomical phenomena include detailed information for the date and time of the observance.

7 Evaluation Set Three-Group Four 7 h. Special Features: A "spotlight" section of major events and anniversaries that are described in greater detail. A lengthy section describing the major events of a particular year; in this edition the year 1968 is detailed. In addition to teh chronological calendar which makes up the body of the reference, there are also ready-reference pages on the naming of hurricanes, a world map of time zones, some facts about Canada, U.S. Supreme Court Justices, major awards for the year, and an alphabetical index. i. Uses: This reference answers questions such as "When is the Indian festival of Diwali this year?", "When is National Salad Month?", "Who sponsors National Barbecue Month?", and "Is anything happening in South Carolina in May?" j. Overall Evaluation: This is one of those reference sources that's fun to read at random, but the uses to which it might be put have been largely supplanted by the Internet. The additional sections following the calendar tend to detract from the original focus on being a national events calendar. The Chicago Manual of Style a. Citation: The Chicago manual of style: The essential guide for writers, editors, and publishers. (15th ed.). (2003). Chicago: University of Chicago Press. b. Purpose: The Chicago Manual is the official style guide for the University of Chicago Press, and is used by writers and editors to answer any and all questions about the format, content, and production of scholarly books and journals, whether in print or in electronic form. c. Authority: The Chicago Manual originated in the 1890s as a single sheet of typographic fundamentals drawn up by a University of Chicago Press proofreader. It was first published in book form in Ideas are drawn not only from within the Press, but also from authors, editors, responses to questionnaires, a listserv for university press managing editors, and letters, telephone calls, and s from readers. The University of Chicago Press maintains a Q&A page on their Web site on which they periodically respond to reader's questions. See d. Scope: At 956 pages, the Chicago Manual of Style is one of the most comprehensive of all the style guides in use today. More than just citation styles, it covers manuscript preparation, punctuation, names, mathematical terms, and much more.

8 Evaluation Set Three-Group Four 8 e. Format: To aid navigation, every numbered paragraph opens with a runin subheading identifying the subject matter of the paragraph. Each chapter opens with a full list of its contents. f. Arrangement: The contents are organized into chapters titled: The 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 Languages; Quotations and Dialogue; Illustrations and Captions; Tables; Mathematics in Type; Abbreviations; Documentation I: Basic Patterns; Documentation II: Specific Content; and Indexes. Additional material includes: Appendix A: Design and Production--Basic Procedures and Key Terms; Appendix and B: The Publishing Process for Books and Journals; Bibliography; Index. g. Entries: N/A h. Special Features: The production of several types of indexes is covered, including Proper Names and Variants, Titles of Publications and Other Works, the Mechanics of Indexing, Typographical Considerations, and Examples. There are examples of editing a manuscript on screen, increased attention to Canadian terms and usage, a section on the typographical presentation of American Sign Language, and a chapter on mathematics. i. Uses: The Chicago Guide is used to answer questions about style and format of scholarly books and journals, but also serves as a reference for any type of formal writing where correct use of names, punctuation, and formatting is important. j. Overall Evaluation: This is an essential volume in any public, academic, or special library, and in high school libraries. The Columbia Guide to Online Style a. Citation: Walker, J. R., & Taylor, T. (Eds.) (1998). The Columbia guide to online style. New York: Columbia University Press. b. Purpose: A style manual covering all aspects of the citation of electronic information resources. c. Authority: Janice R. Walker is an associate professor in the Writing and Linguistics Department at Georgia Southern University and an associate editor of Readerly/Writerly Texts. Todd Taylor is associate professor of English at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and the coeditor of Literacy Theory in the Age of the Internet. In 1994 Walker developed a simple style sheet for citing online resources, which was later expanded

9 Evaluation Set Three-Group Four 9 into this book. The authors invite feedback from their readers, particularly about special problems that people encounter that are not covered by the Guide, and provide an address for so doing. d. Scope: The Guide is not just an expanded style sheet; it also offers explanations to justify the authors' choices, given all the various style guides in use in the academic world. e. Format: Now in its second edition, the basics of the text and several examples are available online at f. Arrangement: Part 1 is divided into two chapters. Chapter 1 examines, in broad and theoretical terms, the logic of citation; it answers the questions, "Why cite?" "Why use a citation style?" Chapter 2 answers the question, "How should we cite online material?" It first provides a guide to citation for authors working with humanities-oriented texts and then discusses an author-date citation system typically used in the sciences. Part 2 includes four chapters. Chapter 3 discusses the logic--the why--of document style. Chapter 4 covers guidelines for using a word processor to create a paper or hard-copy final product, and establishes standards fro authors who want to furnish editors of publishers with an electronic version of a manuscript. Chapter 5 presents standards for documents published on computer networks for authors intending to place there work on the Web. Chapter 6 discusses some more advanced considerations related to online style. g. Entries: n/a h. Special Features: The Guide is not only about citation of electronic resources; it also includes information and advice for the producers of electronic information content, such as formatting a document for print publication, use of fonts, advice on publishing documents in hypertext, accessibility considerations, conventions for the visually impaired, and formats and protocols used in electronic publishing. Some of the advice, such as how to prepare a diskette to be mailed, is on the verge of becoming obsolete, but there is a second edition which probably takes into account all the changes that have taken place in the world of the Internet since i. Uses: Valuable advice for the producers of information in electronic form, and for filling in the gaps in citation style that are not covered by the standard style guides. j. Overall Evaluation: MLA, APA, Chicago, and other style manuals all cover the citation of information in electronic format, but they have gaps which Columbia Guide to Online Style covers. I would rate this a musthave, especially for a college or university library. The fact that Western

10 Evaluation Set Three-Group Four 10 had it available only as a one-hour Reserve seems to indicate that they agree with me. Europa World Year Book a. Citation: Europa world year book. (2000). London: Europa Publications Ltd. b. Purpose: Provides detailed information on the political, economic, and commercial institutions of the world. c. Authority: Information is reproduced from a variety of sources which are acknowledged in the front matter. The Foreword tells us that the information is extensively revised and updated annually by a variety of methods, including direct mailings to all the institutions listed. Many other sources are also used, such as national statistical offices, government departments, and diplomatic missions. d. Scope: First published in The 2000 edition lists more than 1,650 countries and international organizations. e. Format: Two volumes: Volume I, Part 1, lists international organizations, particularly the United Nations and specialized agencies within the UN, and also organizations as varied as the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the European Space Agency (ESA), the Organization of American States (OAS), and the International Olympic Committee. Part 2 covers Afghanistan to Jordan. Volume II covers Kazakhstan to Zimbabwe. f. Entries: Each country is covered by an individual chapter containing: and introductory survey including recent history, economic affairs, government, defense, social welfare, education, and public holidays; an economic and demographic survey using the latest available statistics on area and population, agriculture, forestry, fishing, industry, finance, trade, transportation, tourism, the media, and education; and a directory section containing names, addresses, and other useful facts about government, political parties, diplomatic representation, judiciary, religious groups, the media, telecommunications, banks, insurance, trade and industry, development organizations, chambers of commerce, industrial and trade associations, utilities, trade unions, transportation, and tourism. g. Special Features: Any important government changes that occur during the final stages of production of the book can be found in a forward section called Late Information. Eight regional surveys provide additional information on the geography, history, and economy of those areas. Includes a table of abbreviations used, and a directory of international

11 Evaluation Set Three-Group Four 11 country and city telephone codes. An index of Territories is found at the end of Volume II. h. Uses: This source would be useful for answering both general and specific questions about any country or international organization. It would also be a useful reference for companies doing business internationally. i. Overall Evaluation: A must-have Facts on File World News Digest with Index a. Citation: Facts on file world news digest with index. New York: Facts on File, Weekly. (see more on the subject here - b. Purpose: Provides archival coverage of news stories back to October of 1940 to the present day. c. Authority: Library Journal has ranked The Facts On File World News Digest among its top dozen reference "sources for the millennium." Since 1940, it has been the standard library resource for information on national and world events. d. Scope: Includes news articles on such topics as politics, foreign affairs, business/economy, finance, government, crime, environment, science/medicine, art/entertainment, personalities, and sports, as well as editorial cartoons, maps, obituaries, and essays. Weekly coverage from 70 major newspapers from the U.S., Britain, Canada, Australia, and other countries. e. Format: A hardcover binder with loose-leaf inserts. f. Arrangement: The white pages consist of weekly inserts that cover newsworthy stories in brief. The blue and yellow pages are a cumulative index of articles from the white pages. The index can be searched by personal name, company, organization, country, or topic, all of which are intermixed alphabetically. g. Entries: Organized chronologically, written in article/paragraph format. Each weekly insert contains a box that lists the Major Stories in this Issue and utilizes centered italicized headings for better organization. h. Special Features: The Rand McNally World Atlas is included at the back of the text. Also, weekly bestseller lists and obituaries of well-known persons are included. i. Uses: Anyone seeking to find factual new information for a certain week.

12 Evaluation Set Three-Group Four 12 j. Overall Evaluation: A useful, well-organized means of finding concise and fact news information. A must-have for all academic libraries as well as larger public libraries. The Guinness Book of Records a. Citation: The Guinness book of records. New York: Bantam Books, (online b. Purpose: Provides coverage of various records broken worldwide. c. Authority: Since 1951, Guinness World Records has become a household name and a global leader in world records. No other enterprise collects, confirms, accredits and presents world record data with the same investment in comprehensiveness and authenticity. d. Scope: Published yearly, covers newly broken records worldwide as well as other oddities, curiosities, and wonders. e. Format: Published annually as a hardcover, single volume text of about 300 pages with a table of contents. f. Arrangement: Organized into twelve sections: Fame, People, The Body, The Natural World, The Material World, Hi-Tech, Arts/Media, Music/Fashion, Sporting Heroes, War/Disaster, Money/Business, and Lives. Subdivisions are utilized within these sections. g. Entries: Written in paragraph format, headings are bolded and capitalized for quick reference. h. Special Features: Colorful background layout makes the text appealing. Bright and colorful pictures and illustrations often depict what is written. i. Uses: Useful for finding factual information on world records. j. Overall Evaluation: An interesting and entertaining resource. A musthave for all libraries, if anything, for its value as a novelty. Information Please Almanac a. Citation: Information please almanac. New York: Houghton Mifflin, Annual. b. Purpose: Provides useful and current statistical information on a wide variety of topics.

13 Evaluation Set Three-Group Four 13 c. Authority: Information Please has been providing authoritative answers to all kinds of factual questions since 1938 first as a popular radio quiz show, then starting in 1947 as an annual almanac, and since 1998 on the Internet at d. Scope: Coverage of a variety of ready-reference facts, ranging from zip codes to time zones to first aid basics. e. Format: Soft cover, single volume text of over 1,000 pages published annually. f. Arrangement: Organized into sections: U.S. History/Government, Business/Economy, Headline History, Countries, Travel, Sports, Current Events, Family Trends, Calendar/Holidays, Geography, Astronomy, Nutrition/Health, Awards, Education, People, U.S. Cities, Science, and Crossword Puzzle Guide. Also includes quick contents, special articles on a variety of topics, sports contents, and a comprehensive index for easier navigation. g. Entries: Headings are bolded and capitalized, entries are written in 2- column paragraph format and, when logical, are organized alphabetically by subtopic within sections. h. Special Features: Useful tables, charts, and graphics supplement what is written in entries. Also, toll-free numbers list are provided for further information on some topics. i. Uses: Useful for anyone seeking brief answers to common questions on a variety of topic. j. Overall Evaluation: A handy resource to have in any library. Internet Movie Database a. Citation: Internet movie database. (n.d.) Retrieved March 24, 2007, from b. Purpose: A catalog of pertinent information about movies. c. Authority: Information is often provided directly by professionals in the film industry and then processed by the website s staff. d. Scope: Information on over 900,000 film titles and 2.3 million individuals in the film industry as well as reviews on movies currently playing or soon-to-be playing in theaters and statistical information on films.

14 Evaluation Set Three-Group Four 14 e. Format: Searchable by title, episode, name, company, keyword, character, quote, biography, or plot. An index of searches provides link to common searches, such as the Academy Awards. f. Arrangement: Homepage has a left-hand column featuring Tops at the Box Office, Opening this Week, Coming Soon, New DVDs this Week, Upcoming DVDs, and User Favorites. Hyperlinks horizontally across the top of the page include Now Playing, Movie/TV News, My Movies, DVD/Video, Message Boards, and Showtimes and Tickets. A search box is below. The center of the homepage features an interactive poll question and local television schedules for the day. g. Entries: Film entries include cast, genre, and plot information as well as technical information about the film and fun facts. Individual entries include the person s date of birth, a biography, trivia, awards, a photo gallery, and film credits. h. Special Features: Much of the information listed in entries is hyperlinked, providing a fast means of finding more information on an item of interest. Users can also look up local showtimes directly through the website. i. Uses: Useful to anyone seeking information on a film, television show, or person in the film industry. j. Overall Evaluation: The organization of the site could be improved. The homepage seems a bit overwhelming and crowded. Search results could also be more structured. Famous First Facts a. Citation: Kane, J. N., Anzovin, S., & Podell, J. Famous first facts. (1997). (5th ed.). New York: H. W. Wilson. b. Purpose: Provides information on thousands of inventions, discoveries, and first happenings in American history from the date of the earliest human artifacts found in America, in 10,000 B.C., through c. Authority: Published by H.W. Wilson, a reputable publisher with over 100 years of experience in the field. d. Scope: Coverage begins from the date of the earliest human artifacts found in America in 10,000 B.C. e. Format: A hardcover, single volume text of over 1,000 pages with a table of contents, a subject index, index by years, index by days, index by

15 Evaluation Set Three-Group Four 15 personal name, and a geographical index. Also available on the Web at (free trial is available). f. Arrangement: Organized alphabetically by subject. Within each subject entries are arranged chronologically with four-digit indexing numbers. g. Entries: Entries are listed in chronological order based on their four digit indexing number. Entry headings are bolded and entries are written in paragraph format. h. Special Features: Four-digit indexing numbers allow users to get a sense of how a subject evolved. i. Uses: Useful to anyone seeking factual information within the fields of history and social science. j. Overall Evaluation: A text filled with curiosities, such as the name of the first stowaway and the date of the occurrence. A must-have for any larger public library as well as all academic libraries. McGraw-Hill Yearbook of Science and Technology a. Citation: McGraw-Hill yearbook of science and technology. New York: McGraw-Hill, Annual. b. Purpose: Aims to provide reliable, comprehensive, up-to-date information in all areas of science and technology. c. Authority: The McGraw-Hill Company is driving the financial services, education and business information markets through leading brands such as Standard & Poor's, BusinessWeek and McGraw-Hill Education. d. Scope: 7,100 articles on any topic in the field of science and engineering from theoretical physics to microbiology. e. Format: A hardcover multi-volume set with an index. Available on the Web at (free trial available). f. Arrangement: Organized alphabetically by subject. g. Entries: Entries are written in paragraph format and are structured into two columns. Topics are bolded and left-aligned, subtopics are bolded and indented. h. Special Features: The index includes quick-reference conversion charts as well as basic information on scientific notation, symbols, abbreviations, and nomenclature.

16 Evaluation Set Three-Group Four 16 i. Uses: Useful to students in scientific fields. j. Overall Evaluation: A useful resource for academic libraries, particularly those with reputable science and engineering programs. Merck Manual of Medical Information a. Citation: Merck manual of medical information. Whitehouse Station, N.J.: Merck Research Laboratories, (see more on the subject here - b. Purpose: Provides current, concise, quality information on medical topics in one convenient resource. c. Authority: Since 1899, Merck has been publishing books to aid physicians and pharmacists. d. Scope: Explains disorders, who is likely to get a disorder, disorder symptoms, diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and prognosis. e. Format: A hardcover, single volume text of almost 2,000 pages. f. Arrangement: Organized into twenty-five sections, including The Fundamentals, Drugs, and various disorders. g. Entries: Each section is divided into categories and then subcategories. Entry headings are centered and bolded and entries are written in paragraph format. h. Special Features: Useful diagrams, illustrations, and charts explain what is written in entries. i. Uses: Useful to students in the medical field or anyone seeking information on a specific medical condition. j. Overall Evaluation: A must-have for all academic libraries as well as larger public libraries. MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers a. Citation: Gibaldi, J. MLA handbook for writers of research papers. (6th ed.). (2003). New York: Modern Language Association of America. b. Purpose: A style guide for academic research papers, particularly those in the arts and humanities.

17 Evaluation Set Three-Group Four 17 c. Authority: Although only one author is given, the MLA Handbook is the work of many contributors and was first published over fifty years ago. d. Scope: More than just a style guide, the MLA Covers all aspects of producing a research paper, including choosing and researching a topic and formatting the paper. It has advice on spelling and punctuation as well as rules for identifying references and citations. e. Format: Paperback, 361 pages, including the index. f. Arrangement: Arranged by major topic, the chapters include Research and Writing, Plagiarism, The Mechanics of Writing, The Format of the Research Paper, Documentation: Preparing the List of Works Cited, Documentation: Citing Sources in the Text, and Abbreviations. g. Entries: Paragraphs are numbered with a heading, and each heading is printed in red for easy identification. h. Special Features: Appendix A lists Selected reference Works by Field, and Appendix B describes Other Systems of Documentation. An index and sample pages of a research paper in MLA style are included. i. Uses: MLA is one of top three or four style guides that are mandated for research papers at the high school and college level. j. Overall Evaluation: A must-have for any public, high school, and academic library. The New York Public Library Desk Reference a. Citation: The New York public library desk reference. (2nd ed.). (1993). New York: Prentice Hall General Reference. b. Purpose: As stated in the Preface, the NYPL Desk reference has three goals: "to provide a wide-ranging source of information to the most frequently asked reference questions; to provide a great deal of information that would be of perennial interest to the general public; and to organize the information so that one could find answers easily and efficiently." c. Authority: Project sponsors and editors are identified by name. An address is given and readers are invited to report errors and omissions. d. Scope: Major topics (chapters) include Time and Dtaes, Weights and Measures, Symbols and Signs, The Animal World, Math and Science Basics, Inventions ans Scientific Discoveries, The Arts, Literature, Religions, Philosophy, Libraries and Museums, Words, Grammar and Punctuation, Etiquette, Forms of Address, Legal Information, Personal

18 Evaluation Set Three-Group Four 18 Finances, Useful Addresses, Travel, Household Tips, The Outdoors, Sports and Games, Health, First Aid, The United States, and The World. e. Format: Paperback, 930 pages including index. f. Arrangement: Arranged by major topic. The topics are in no particular order. Each topic, or chapter, is further subdivided, and the list of subtopics is repeated on the title page of each chapter. g. Entries: The format of each entry varies according to the topic covered. h. Special Features: Full color maps. i. Uses: Ready reference. j. Overall Evaluation: A must-have for any library. New York Times Almanac a. Citation: Wright, J. W. (Ed.). The New York Times 2001 almanac. (2000). New York: Penguin Reference Books. b. Purpose: A comprehensive fact finder covering the United States and the world. c. Authority: Just as the New York Times is the "paper of record," the New York Times Almanac is the "almanac of record." (from the back cover). d. Scope: Special reports cover the key issues and events of the year. Detailed facts and statistics cover not only the current year, but frequently offer a timeline of event leading up to the current year. e. Format: Paperback, 998 pages with index. f. Arrangement: Major sections are: Almanac of the Year; The United States; The World; Science and Technology; Awards and Prizes; Sports; Index. g. Entries: Format and content varies according to the topic. h. Special Features: A full color map section. Several topics, such as the subsection on Computers, include a glossary and a chronology of the milestones in that topic. i. Uses: General purpose fact finder for a given year. (Also useful for settling bar bets.) j. Overall Evaluation: A must-have for any library. (And no bartender should be without it, either.)

19 Evaluation Set Three-Group Four 19 PDR.Net a. Citation: PDR.Net. (n.d.) Retrieved March 28, 2007, from b. Purpose: A medical professional information web portal which contains specialty focused clinical resources including full drug and disease monographs, patient education, plus specialty news and conference information. c. Authority: The Thomson Corporation is a leading global provider of integrated information-based solutions to business and professional customers. d. Scope: Daily news updates, ICD-9 CM codes, clinical slide sets, clinical guidelines, journal reprints, FDA-approved product labeling, multi-drug interaction checker, patient education information as well as a wide spectrum of information on drugs and diseases. e. Format: A clutter-free and organized homepage with the following buttons: home, handheld, drugs, diseases, resource centers, patient education, tool, and CME. A search box at the top of screen allows users to enter in a drug name to easily find information about the product. A member login box in on the right-hand side of the screen. f. Arrangement: Information is divided into the eight aforementioned categories, each of which has its own hyperlinked button on the homepage. By positioning the mouse over each button, a drop-down menu displaying the subcategories of information listed under each tab is listed. g. Entries: Are organized alphabetically by topic/drug name. Each disease entry provides the basics, causes, symptoms, risk factors, diagnosis, prevention/screening, prognosis and treatment. Drug entries include the reason for prescribing the drug, important facts about the drug, how it should be taken, side effects, special warnings, possible food and drug interactions, dosage recommendations, and signs of an overdose. h. Special Features: useful mobile application allows registered users to receive up-to-the-minute information and news alerts from the site directly through their PDA devices. i. Uses: The site can only be accessed by registered members and in order to be register the user must prove their affiliation to the medical profession. The only free information that can be accessed by the public is information on common diseases and prescription drugs.

20 Evaluation Set Three-Group Four 20 j. Overall Evaluation: A useful site, but its restricted access to nonmembers is unfortunate. Physicians Desk Reference a. Citation: Physicians desk reference. (2006). Montvale, N.J.: Medical Economics. b. Purpose: Provides current information on FDA-approved prescription drugs. c. Authority: An established source with nearly sixty years of trusted reliability. Considered the standard prescription drug reference text within the medical field. d. Scope: Current information on over 4,000 FDA-approved prescription drugs. e. Format: A hardcover text of over 3,000 pages published annually. f. Arrangement: Searchable by drug name, both brand and generic names are intermixed in the same index, as well as by manufacturer, and product category. g. Entries: Contain the drug name, phonetic spelling for most listings, a key to controlled substances, FDA use-in-pregnancy ratings, contraindications, all other FDA-required information, clinical pharmacology, adverse reactions, pediatric use, and dosages. h. Special Features: ree PDR electronic library on CD-ROM included with the purchase of the 2005 edition. i. Uses: Useful to anyone in the medical profession or anyone seeking information on a prescribed drug. j. Overall Evaluation: A must-have for both public and academic libraries. Emily Post Etiquette a. Citation: Post, P. Emily Post etiquette. (16th ed.). (1997). New York: HarperCollins. b. Purpose: Provides answers to the most commonly asked questions about etiquette at home and on the job

21 Evaluation Set Three-Group Four 21 c. Authority: Written by Peggy Post, the great granddaughter-in-law of Emily Post. For over a decade, Ms. Post has written a well-respected monthly etiquette column for Good Housekeeping magazine. d. Scope: Answers etiquette questions falling under the categories of either home or work, including questions about religions and communication. e. Format: A paperback text of over 200 pages. f. Arrangement: Organized into twelve chapters: relationships, getting along with others, meeting and greeting, communications, on the job, table manners, in houses of worship, at times of loss and grieving, invitations and replies, celebrations, gifts and thank-yous, and tipping. Also includes an introduction and an index, which is alphabetical by topic. g. Entries: Organized into question and answer format. h. Special Features: n/a i. Uses: Useful to anyone with common etiquette questions. j. Overall Evaluation: A concise and resourceful book, which covers a number of sensitive topics. A must-have for all libraries. Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association a. Citation: Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. (5th ed.). (2001). Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association. b. Purpose: Originally a style guide for APA authors, it soon became more widely used among editors, publishers, and academics, in psychology and other fields in which statistical results are used extensively. Whereas the MLA tends to be favored for papers, books, and journals in the arts and humanities, the APA tends to be favored in the sciences. c. Authority: Originally a seven-page article in the February 1929 issue of the Psychological Bulletin, a journal of the American Psychological Association, the Manual has been in publication under its current name for over 50 years. d. Scope: Covers all aspects of manuscript preparation and style. e. Format: Paperback, 439 pages including index. f. Arrangement: Arranged in chapters by topic, in approximately the order that would be needed when writing a paper. The topics are: Content and Organization of a Manuscript; Expressing Ideas and Reducing Bias in Language; APA Editorial Style; Reference List; Manuscript Preparation

22 Evaluation Set Three-Group Four 22 and Sample Papers to be Submitted for Publication; Material Other Than Journal Articles; Manuscript Acceptance and Production; Jpurnals Program of the American Psychological Association; and Bibliography. g. Entries: Varies. h. Special Features: Appendices include checklists for submitting manuscripts for publication; an extract from the APA Ethical Principles; more examples; and a sample cover letter to be used when submitting a manuscript for an editor's consideration. i. Uses: An essential reference for anyone writing for the APA and its journals; an essential reference for many college students. j. Overall Evaluation: Essential for any academic library, and possibly for some high school libraries where there is a strong program in the sciences. Science and Technology Desk Reference a. Citation: Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. (1993). Science and technology desk reference: 1,500 answers to frequently-asked or difficult-to-answer questions. Washington, D.C.: Gale Research. b. Purpose: Provides 1500 answers to science related questions. c. Authority: Published by The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Science and Technology department. d. Scope: Provides 1,500 answers to frequently asked or difficult to answer science related questions. e. Format: Print f. Arrangement: Arranged alphabetically by topic. Each topic contains subtopics for information included in the section. g. Entries: Entries arranged in question and answer format. Categories range from everyday science questions (e.g. food, health, transportation) to general science topics (e.g. biology, earth, chemistry, physics). h. Special Features: i. Uses: Can be used by the layman to find answers to general science questions. j. Overall Evaluation: Book appears to be more of a novelty than a reference text. Many topics included in this book are general trivia questions and do not contain in depth explanations of science topics.

23 Evaluation Set Three-Group Four 23 The Statesmans Year-Book a. Citation: Martin, F., Keltie, J. S., Renwick, I. P. A., Epstein, M., Steinberg, S. H., & Paxton, J. (1864-). The Statesman's year-book. London [etc.]: Palgrave [etc.]. b. Purpose: Provides information on the politics, cultures, and economies of the world. Resource for International Agencies and countries of the world. c. Authority: Published by Palgrave MacMillian, a publisher of international textbooks, academic and professional books, journals, reference and general non-fiction. d. Scope: Includes information related to international agencies and countries of the world. e. Format: Print; electronic version also available. f. Arrangement: Part I contains information on International Agencies. It begins with discussion of the U.N. and finishes with discussion of agencies by continent. Part II, Countries of the World, A-Z, contains an alphabetical listing by country. g. Entries: Agency entries include: origin, members, functions, operations, and organization. Country information such as maps, historical events, territory and population, social statistics, climate, constitution and government, current administration and leaders, defense, international relations, economy, energy and natural resources, industry, international trade, communications, social institutions, religion, culture, diplomatic representatives, and further readings. h. Special Features: Also contains useful facts related to time zones, key world facts (population, literacy rates, etc.) and ISO country codes. i. Uses: Provides general information about countries of the world. It can be used for personal knowledge or academic pursuits. j. Overall Evaluation: Good reference tool for all types of libraries as it provides general and easily understood information about global agencies and countries. A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses and Dissertations a. Citation: Turabian, K. L. (1976). A manual for writers of term papers, theses, and dissertations.

24 Evaluation Set Three-Group Four 24 b. Purpose: Provides format guidance for formal papers including: research papers, term papers, theses, and dissertations. c. Authority: Kate Turabian was a dissertation secretary at the University of Chicago for 28 years ( ). With over 68 editions this book has become the standard for formal papers. d. Scope: Provides detailed information to writers of research papers. e. Format: Print f. Arrangement: Arranged by topics. The content includes: Parts of the Paper, Abbreviations and Numbers, Spelling and Punctuation, Capitalization, Italics, and Quotation Marks, Quotations, Tables, Illustrations, Notes, Bibliographies, Parenthetical Reference and Reference Lists, Comparison of Documentation Systems, Public Documents, Preparing Manuscripts, Formats and Sample Layouts. Also contains bibliography and index. g. Entries: Entries are arranged by topic and contain text descriptions and examples. h. Special Features: i. Uses: ssists writers of research papers with format and style questions. j. Overall Evaluation: Valuable tool for writers and students. This should be included in the collections of all school and academic libraries. Wall Street Journal Almanac a. Citation: Wall Street Journal (Firm). (1998). The Wall Street journal almanac. New York: Ballantine Books. b. Purpose: Provides a compilation of information from the Wall Street Journal for a given year. c. Authority: Information compiled from items prepared by the staff of The Wall Street Journal. d. Scope: Provides information on various topics from the Wall Street Journal. e. Format: Print f. Arrangement: Arranged by topic. Topics include: Almanac year in review, politics and policy, business and the economy, money and

25 Evaluation Set Three-Group Four 25 investing, technology and science, the world, media and entertainment, sports, and living in America. g. Entries: Entries contain an overview of the topic followed by short, related articles. Also includes charts and graphs of supporting data. h. Special Features: CD Rom available. i. Uses: Can be used to locate information on various current events from the given year. j. Overall Evaluation: I was unable to locate a post-1998 edition of this book so I am not sure how useful it would be for current information from the Wall Street Journal. It seems that there would be more useful databases that provide similar information. Whitaker s Almanack 2000 a. Citation: Whitaker's almanack (2007). London: Stationery Office. b. Purpose: Single reference tool produced in the United Kingdom providing general reference information related to a variety of social, political, and economic events. c. Authority: Published by J. Whitaker, a trusted source for library reference materials. d. Scope: Published annually since 1868 and contains nearly 10,000 facts, figures, overviews, and statistics related to the United Kingdom and other countries. e. Format: Print f. Arrangement: Contains 6 sections: The Year 2007, United Kingdom, The World, The Year , Time and Space, General Reference. Each section is divided into topics that are (not?) in any particular order. g. Entries: Entries may contain text descriptions/facts, charts, and?? h. Special Features: Color map section provides territorial and political maps of the world. i. Uses: Can be used as a reference book for facts/information related to the United Kingdom. j. Overall Evaluation: Since all information is related to the United Kingdom, this book is probably not the best source of data for American

26 Evaluation Set Three-Group Four 26 public libraries. Academic or some corporate libraries may find the detailed information related to the UK useful. The World Almanac and Book of Facts a. Citation: The World almanac and book of facts. (2006). New York: Press Pub. Co. (The New York World). b. Purpose: General almanac that provides facts and reference information related to global changes, tragedies, sports, news, etc. c. Authority: Published by World Almanac Books, the world almanac has been a trusted general reference work for more than 130 years. d. Scope: Provides synopsis of world events, charts of useful information, and photos on a wide variety of topics. e. Format: Print f. Arrangement: Arranged alphabetically by topic. Each topic contains subtopics delineated by heading. g. Entries: Depending on topic, entries consist of any combination of text descriptions, charts, graphs, illustration, or photo. h. Special Features: Contains listing of the top ten news stories from the covered period. i. Uses: Can be used as a general fact source for a wide variety of topics. j. Overall Evaluation: This is a great reference source for all types of libraries. The low price of this book combined with the wide variety of topics would also make a great addition to home/personal libraries. World Fact Book a. Citation: National Foreign Assessment Center (U.S.). (1981). The world factbook. Washington, D.C.: Central Intelligence Agency. b. Purpose: Fact book providing information on U.S. recognized countries of the world. c. Authority: Provided the United States Central Intelligence Agency, the American intelligence agency. d. Scope: Provides information collected by the CIA on all countries recognized by the United States.