Terry Wasserman
Group 4
Prof. Okobi
2 Wasserman, T. Group 4’s Evaluation Sets Spring 2009 ILS 504 Okobi
Table of Contents
•Preface
pg. 3
pg. 4
Pgs. 5-55
Pgs. 55-103
Pgs. 276-306
3 Wasserman, T. Group 4’s Evaluation Sets Spring 2009 ILS 504 Okobi
Preface
This paper has been completed in fulfillment of the requirements for ILS 504
This paper consists of my individual work as well as the work done by the other
members of group 4, Christina Hill, Meghan Glasgow and Jessica Venturo, in fulfillment
of the requirements for the course. In total we evaluated 153 of sources; I personally
reviewed 38 of these sources. We reviewed and evaluated all of the following sources:
geographical sources. We reviewed but did not evaluate governmental sources. This
submitted.
4 Wasserman, T. Group 4’s Evaluation Sets Spring 2009 ILS 504 Okobi
Bibliography: Bibliographies are selective lists of works that are compiled according to
Index: Unlike the more typical index found at the back of a book or set of volumes, the
indicies studied here point users in the direction of subject matter found in journals or
periodicals. Like the more usual back-matter index, the book length index also often
Abstract: Abstracts are indicies that give summary content matter about entries.
Almanac: Almanacs are sources of factual information and are often used in ready-
reference queries. The information contained within them may be time or sensitive or
may be of an historical nature; almanacs can be found in print and digital versions.
Yearbook: Yearbooks are also sources of factual information and are used in ready-
reference but they contain only information pertinent to that particular year.
Handbook: Handbooks are also sources of factual information and are used in ready-
reference, but they contain very specific information to guide users through a specific
procedure.
order, that either cover all branches of knowledge or are subject specific. Encyclopedias
may either be single or multi-volume and can be in either print or digital versions.
5 Wasserman, T. Group 4’s Evaluation Sets Spring 2009 ILS 504 Okobi
Biographical Sources: Biographical sources are some of the oldest resources, the ancient
Greeks famously referred to βιοι, and contain either basic or lengthy descriptions of
Government Resources: These are documents that publish government information for
Evaluation Set #1
Group 4
Citation
R.R. Bowker Company. (2008). American book publishing record, Cumulative 2007.
Purpose
American Book Publishing Record records all books published or distributed in the
Scope
There are twelve monthly issues combined into the annual record released in March.
The 2007 edition contains approximately 55,300 entries. These entries include
7 Wasserman, T. Group 4’s Evaluation Sets Spring 2009 ILS 504 Okobi
Authority
The main source of information for the American Book Publishing Record is the
Format
compilation. The 2007 edition is two volumes. Volume one includes general
reference and technology, while volume two covers arts, geography, and fiction.
Arrangement
The record is arranged in three sections: Dewey 000-900; Adult fiction; and Juvenile.
The Dewey section is filled according to Dewey Decimal Numbers while the Adult
Fiction and Juvenile are arranged alphabetically. Author, title, and subject indexes
Each entry includes as many of the following as are available: title; added title;
date; copyright date; collation; series; general notes; content notes; bibliographical
8 Wasserman, T. Group 4’s Evaluation Sets Spring 2009 ILS 504 Okobi
Latest Edition
Cost
335 dollars per year for monthly editions of the publication downloaded to your
computer. The 2008 edition of American Book Publishing Record cost $525.00 for a
Frequency of Publication
This record would be useful for a variety of different reasons. If looking for a
specific book or author, the index quickly leads one to the correct page of text.
However if simply browsing a subject all possible subject titles need to thought of in
Bibliographic Index
Citation
9 Wasserman, T. Group 4’s Evaluation Sets Spring 2009 ILS 504 Okobi
Purpose
Wilson published texts, as well as several research libraries. The online version
Bibliographic Index Plus contains more than 530,000 bibliographies pulled from a
Scope
Bibliographic Index includes all bibliographies published within the last five years
written in either English or other Western European languages. Not included are
medicine or case law. All bibliographies published in this work have at least fifty
topical material.
Authority
Published by W.H. Wilson; the content is pulled from more than 2,800 periodicals
Format
10 Wasserman, T. Group 4’s Evaluation Sets Spring 2009 ILS 504 Okobi
Bibliographic Index can be found in both text and online. Print documents are issued
three times a year. Two issues are paper bound and one is a cloth bound edition with
and additional four month. Bibliographic Index Plus is the online version and is
updated daily.
Arrangement
Entries are ordered alphabetically under the main entry. Each main entry is input
Headings. For each entry entered under a subject heading there is a full
bibliographic citation including author, title, journal or text where the bibliography
For the electronic version, Bibliographic Index Plus has an easy to use interface with
basic and advanced search options. Search terms allowed for limits by year, peer-
reviewed material, page images, document type, and physical description. This
program also has a detailed search history, thesaurus, and a print/email/save option.
Special Features
Some special features available through Bibliographic Index Plus are: Retrospective
coverage back to 1982; Links to OPAC; Full text of more than 185,000
Limitations
11 Wasserman, T. Group 4’s Evaluation Sets Spring 2009 ILS 504 Okobi
to this rule are for bibliographies of works about a person or for a specialized or
topical material. Also many bibliographies that would have previously appeared in
Latest Edition
2004
Cost
Frequency of Publication
Bibliographic Index Plus is updated daily while the print version is updated three
times a year. Two issues are paper bound and contain four months of the year while
the final third is cloth bound and contain both of the paper printings as well as an
Books in Print
Citation
Purpose
12 Wasserman, T. Group 4’s Evaluation Sets Spring 2009 ILS 504 Okobi
The purpose of this source is to provide absolute coverage of every book within its
spectrum that is currently being published or distributed in the United States for
Scope
Provides entries for all books published after 2000 and active ISBNs. This edition
features 1,854,150 active titles published from 2000 on and 3,107,383 active ISBNs
representing 72,240 publishers. There are over 294,282 new titles and 328,762 new
ISBNs in this edition. The only books not included in this list are books not for sale
in the U.S., books not available to the general public, books without a title for sale, e-
books, unbound materials, on-demand books, periodicals, serials and music librettos.
(E-books and on-demand books can be found in the online version of Books in
Print). Books in Print is similar to Forthcoming Books in its scope and differs only
in that the latter includes only books about to be published, whereas the former
Authority
The publisher of Books in Print, Bowker, has been at this for over 60 years and has
nearly perfected the system of collecting and disseminating information about books
currently in print. Bowker gives publishers 24/7 online access to submit or update
fax and write in entries. Bowker relies on the book publishers to provide accurate
information, the book publishers in turn rely on Bowker to get their books out to
13 Wasserman, T. Group 4’s Evaluation Sets Spring 2009 ILS 504 Okobi
Format
Arrangement
Designed to be easily searchable by both author and title, Books in Print is a seven
volume work. The first through fourth volume are arranged alphabetically by title,
volume five concludes titles and begins the section alphabetically arranged by
authors. Volume six is dedicated solely to authors and volume seven contains the
conclusion of authors and the indexes for publisher and distributor. Each entry
number and information, publication year, pagination, audience code, binding type,
price in USD, asterisk identifies ISBN new to this edition of BIP, publisher’s abbrev.
Special Features
The most useful feature of this reference work is its online component. Having the
ability to search the print edition via both title and author is convenient; nothing is
easier than doing a keyword search online. In addition, the online version has a
forthcoming books room which lets the user see “yet-to-be-published” titles, a
“fiction connection” site that assists in choosing new reading based on old favorites,
14 Wasserman, T. Group 4’s Evaluation Sets Spring 2009 ILS 504 Okobi
on prior interests.
Limitations
The limits of the print edition are fairly evident: books get published more than once
a year. The online version, however, is updated continuously and so is more up-to-
date. In addition, not having a subject search in the print edition, though space-
saving, is a disadvantage. The online version, again, corrects this problem with the
Latest Edition
Cost
$980. If the purchaser enrolls in a standing order, s/he can save 10% on this edition
Frequency of Publication/Update
The print edition is updated annually; the online version is updated continuously.
Citation
15 Wasserman, T. Group 4’s Evaluation Sets Spring 2009 ILS 504 Okobi
Purpose
Scope
Whitaker’s contains titles that are available to the general public through the book
trade in the U.K. English language titles published in Continental Europe as well as
titles published else-where with English language text and available through a sole
stockholding agent in the UK are also included. Only the more important pamphlets
Authority
Whitaker’s has been compiling this list for over 120 years, since its founder, Joseph
Format
The print format published in five volumes is published regularly. There are also
microfiche editions that are updated every month or week (depending on service
online options including Whitaker’s Bookbank Global CD-Rom which includes all
16 Wasserman, T. Group 4’s Evaluation Sets Spring 2009 ILS 504 Okobi
quarterly, Book Data’s Bookwise CD-Rom, Book Data’s Premier CD, Book Data’s
Compact World CDE, Book Data’s TES CD-Rom, Online Whitaker LibWeb
(especially for libraries), Online Whitaker PubWeb (especially for publishers), Book
Arrangement
The books are listed in alphabetical sequence of authors, titles and subjects. All titles
can be found under both author and title; the main entry is the author entry and it is
indicated so by being in bold. The editions was printed in five volumes, the first
containing A-C, the second D-H, the third I-N, the fourth O-St and the fifth Su-Z. A
directory of publishers and their ISBN prefix listings is also included. Each entry
includes as much as can be obtained of the following: author, title, subtitle, volume,
Special Features
The myriad different websites and CD-Roms geared towards the variety of needs of
the modern librarian, bookseller and publisher are astonishing. The book itself
supplies all of the basic information about every book published in the UK that year;
though, as was mentioned about the print edition of Books in Print, the problem there
is self-evident, books are not published annually but rather continuously. However,
Limitations
Without a more recent edition, the print version is obsolete. The online versions,
however, are very useful. The time-saving of an online search and the ease of a
Latest Edition
Whitaker was bought and swallowed by Nielsen who retained many of the Whitaker
websites but did not continue publishing the British Books in Print, rather the
reference giant Bowker is now publishing their own version, Bowker’s Books in
Print, and the most recent edition was 2006. A supplement, Bowker’s Books in Print
Cost
$799 for the 2006 edition and $546 for the 2007-2008 supplement.
Frequency of Publication/Update
The online sources are updated continuously; however the print source seems to be
lagging behind. At the moment it appears the print is being updated bi-annually, but
Children’s Catalog
Citation
18 Wasserman, T. Group 4’s Evaluation Sets Spring 2009 ILS 504 Okobi
Price, A. & Yaakov, J. (Eds.). (2001). Children’s Catalog. (18th ed.). New York: The
Purpose
reading for children from pre-school to grade six. There are also professional aids
Scope
The list includes books, magazines and web resources for children aged 3-12. The
books range from modern favorites to beloved classics. The 18th edition includes
fictional works. The books included in the catalog are either written in or translated
into English-- only books published in the U.S., Canada and the U.K. and distributed
Authority
library service for children and then the list that the committee agrees upon is then
Format
Print and online versions available (the latter through WilsonWeb at an additional
cost).
Arrangement
The catalog is arranged into four parts: 1. The Classified Catalog which is listed
according to Dewey, followed by Fiction, Story Collections, Easy Books and Non-
Title, Subject & Analytical Indicies, which serve as comprehensive keys to the
classified list, and part 4. the Directory of Publishers and Distributors. For book or
story entries, the following are included whenever available: author, title,
series note, price binding and grade level. Availability of CD-Rom or Audio versions
are also indicated. For web resources the following are included: title, publisher’s
name, telephone, price for subscription services, grade level and URL.
Special Features
For the first time, a list of web resources is included in this version (replacing the
CD-Rom reference works list). Out-of-print books are also listed in the catalog,
giving it a broader depth than simply contemporary literature. The online version
offers additional content, allows for keyword searches and entries can contain links
to book reviews, from Wilson’s Book Review Digest Plus, either full text or in
20 Wasserman, T. Group 4’s Evaluation Sets Spring 2009 ILS 504 Okobi
abstract. In addition, the online version allows for simultaneous searching of other
WilsonWeb databases and allows the checking of a local library via OPAC.
Limitations
This is not an exhaustive list, rather it is a group of books selected by the editors and
the librarians who made up the consulting group that voted on the books to be
Latest Edition
2006
Cost
The print version is $195, including the cost of the annual supplements. With the
purchase of an online subscription, the print edition can be purchased at half price.
Frequency of Publication/Update
Print versions are published every five years and the online version is updated
continuously.
Citation
Purpose
A record of all English books published throughout the world from 1933 through
Scope
Excluded works include: government documents; maps; music scores; books with
fewer than 50 pages except fro poetry, play, bibliographies, juvenile literature, and
completely in a language other than English are not included with the exceptions of:
Authority
Format
Arrangement
22 Wasserman, T. Group 4’s Evaluation Sets Spring 2009 ILS 504 Okobi
Filing Rules. There are author, title, and subject entries. The subject heading follow
Each entry may contain full name, complete title, series, edition, illustration
International Standard Book Number and Library of Congress control number are
Limitations
published works, and other are not included in this work. Also publication was
Latest Edition
2000
Cost
Not in Print
Although this text is not longer in print it can be used as a retrospective look at what
Fiction Catalog
Citation
Greenfieldt, J. & Yaakov, J. (Eds.). (2006). Fiction Catalog. (15th ed.). New York:
Purpose
The Catalog is meant to assist both librarians and patrons in choosing interesting
fiction. It is similar to both the Public Library Catalog (its reference and non-fiction
Scope
The 1908 version makes the claim of presenting the best fiction of all time, so the
scope is a bit imprecise, but roughly from early English classics to modern adult
fiction. The Fiction Catalog is a selective list of contemporary and classical adult
fiction. The 15th edition includes 8,000 titles, nearly 3,000 more than the previous
edition. It also lists 800 analytical entries for novellas and novels contained within
24 Wasserman, T. Group 4’s Evaluation Sets Spring 2009 ILS 504 Okobi
other works. Three annual supplements will be produced covering 2000 additional
fictional works. The books included in the catalog are either written in or translated
into English-- only books published in the U.S., Canada and the U.K. and distributed
Authority
The Catalog was compiled by seasoned librarians from across the country who
collectively voted on titles creating a very learned and very broad-based consensus.
Format
Print and online versions are available (the online edition is available through
Arrangement
The main part of the catalog lists works alphabetically by author. The second part of
the catalog is a title and subject index. The catalog also includes a list of publishers.
Entries include all of the available bibliographic information: author, title, publisher,
Special Features
25 Wasserman, T. Group 4’s Evaluation Sets Spring 2009 ILS 504 Okobi
One of the most important features of the print edition is the access users gain to
materials based on subject, theme or genre via the Subject index. Out-of-print books
are also listed in the catalog, giving it a broader depth than simply contemporary
literature. There is also the companion publication, Public Library Catalog: Guide
literary history might want to examine. The online version offers additional content,
allows for keyword searches and entries can contain links to book reviews, from
Wilson’s Book Review Digest Plus, either full text or in abstract. In addition, the
online version allows for simultaneous searching of other WilsonWeb databases and
permits one to check his/her local library for the title via OPAC.
Limitations
This is not an exhaustive list; rather it is a group of books selected by the editors and
the librarians who made up the consulting group that voted on the books to be
Latest Edition
2006
Cost
The print version is $240, including the cost of the annual supplements. With the
purchase of an online subscription, the print edition can be purchased at half price.
26 Wasserman, T. Group 4’s Evaluation Sets Spring 2009 ILS 504 Okobi
Frequency of Publication/Update
15 editions have been published since 1908. However, the online version is updated
Forthcoming Books
Citation
Purpose
To provide librarians, booksellers and others with the most up-to-date bibliographic
Scope
34,143 titles from 1,982 publishing houses. The only books not included in this list
are books not for sale in the U.S., books not available to the general public, books
without a title for sale, e-books, unbound materials, on-demand books, periodicals,
serials and music librettos. (E-books and on-demand books can be found in another
Authority
27 Wasserman, T. Group 4’s Evaluation Sets Spring 2009 ILS 504 Okobi
Bowker’s is a highly respected publisher, having published Books in Print for over
60 years, and receives bibliographic information about the books from the publishing
24/7, making it quick and easy for publishers to submit or update bibliographic data
on forthcoming books.
Format
In print—an online version is also available via the forthcoming books room of
booksinprint.com.
Arrangement
Modeled after the Library of Congress catalogue but with more detailed subject
headings (eg., not just Accounting, but Cost Accounting). However, Forthcoming
Books includes four headings not found in the LOC: Fiction, Geographical, Drama
and Children’s Fiction. The headings are arranged alphabetically. One can look
under subject, author or title indicies to find a book. Each entry includes all or as
many of the following as possible: author, title, subtitle, edition number, edition
information, editors, LOC control number, series title and number, illustrations,
pagination, audience code, grade range, publication year, type of binding, price,
ISBN, publisher’s order number, additional binding ype, price information, foreign
Special Features
28 Wasserman, T. Group 4’s Evaluation Sets Spring 2009 ILS 504 Okobi
Bowker’s has been printing Forthcoming Books for over sixty years and has nearly
Via Bowker’s Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), which is available 24 hours a day
whenever it is convenient for them to do so. Bowker’s then updates its own online
Other useful features for librarians and booksellers alike are the audience code and
grade range that are included in most entries, making it easier to connect the right
Limitations
Forthcoming Books is a very thorough reference work and has few limitations—the
online version is easy to search, via booksinprint.com and has nearly up-to-the-
minute information. The print version does have small type and though the subject
headings are more detailed, a researcher may not be readily able to find the specific
Latest Edition
Spring 2009 is the most recent edition, however the online database, as previously
Cost
Frequency of Publication/Update
The print version is printed quarterly and the online version is update continuously.
Citation
Purpose
The purpose for this publication is to provide libraries and researchers with
Scope
aggregator products in full text. Contact information is provided for the aggregators
and vendors as well. The resource also lists 2,440 URLs that provide free web
archives.
Authority
who provide full text articles online, and compiled by the directory staff.
30 Wasserman, T. Group 4’s Evaluation Sets Spring 2009 ILS 504 Okobi
Format
Fulltext Sources Online is a print directory of publications available in full text from
major database vendors. An electronic version and a web-based version also exist.
Arrangement
bulleted tips for using the resource, and sample entry with a key. A list of all URLs
within the text appears ahead of the main section. Subject, geographic, and
languages indexes are also included, along with contact information for each of the
aggregators listed.
Special Features
The listing of URLs includes web pages that contain free archives.
Latest Edition
January 2009
Frequency of Publication
Cost
This directory would be useful to libraries who are looking to subscribe to a database
that included specific periodicals, or for researchers who are looking for a specific
Gale
Citation
Gale’s Directory of Publications and Broadcast Media. 2005. 140th edition. (New
Scope
Latest Edition of Gale was published this year in 2009 with another to be published
in September 2009. This material excludes newsletters and directories. There are
who responded to requests for updates of their information by the Gale publishers.
Listings of radio, cable, and television stations as well as companies. The addresses,
fax, telephone, webpage, email, date when founded, subscription rates, availability,
Authority
Format
Comes in print and is distributed in the United States, Canada, and other countries. It
website gale.com/bizdev.
Arrangement
the companies and stations are alphabetized by name. Within the station and
companies information the name of the company, enumerated on the left, there is the
address, Telephone number, fax number, Email address, Owner’s name, hours of
operation, Key personnel employee, their rates or subscription price, and URL.
Special Features
Cost
Jake
Citation
Purpose
Jake or the Jointly Administered Knowledge Environment is the first open source
URL link-server. It links to several databases which have a variety of articles and
journals.
Scope
The scope of Jake is hard to determine as no preface or “about Jake” section are
available on the website. A quick search however provides a large range of materials
Informe, Biology Digest, and many others. Based on this search it is evident that
many different disciplines are covered as well as more than one language is used.
Authority
Format
34 Wasserman, T. Group 4’s Evaluation Sets Spring 2009 ILS 504 Okobi
The format for Jake is an online search engine maintained by Open Source
technology.
Arrangement
Jake uses a search option in order to obtain results. If the title of the journal or
database or the ISSN is known the items can be found easily. Further search options
include “sounds like” and “don’t auto-truncate” buttons. There are locations for
Each entry contains the following information: the name of a database or journal; the
Jake ID number; type of publication; ISSN; the number of databases is it indexed in;
whether full-text documents exist; and the names of the databases in which it is
indexed.
Cost
Free
Frequency of Publication
Updated daily
This website is hard to understand and use. The interface is not user friendly and
there are very few search options. Although some interesting and beneficial results
35 Wasserman, T. Group 4’s Evaluation Sets Spring 2009 ILS 504 Okobi
can be obtained from a search most links do not work and any real links to
information is hard to find. Overall this site is disappointing and needs to be better
maintained.
Citation
Laguardia, C., & Katz, W. A. (2008). Magazines for libraries. New Providence, N.J.:
ProQuest.
Purpose
school libraries, and public libraries. The publication is distinguishes itself from
considered a recommendation. Its annotations are more detailed and critical than
Scope
that might be useful for public, academic, and school libraries. It aims to contain
only the highest quality publication within the given specifications. It gives a good
overview of general publications that might be available on a given topic, but those
36 Wasserman, T. Group 4’s Evaluation Sets Spring 2009 ILS 504 Okobi
looking for a periodical on a very specific topic may not find what they are looking
for.
Published in December of 2008, the work appears to be quite current. Web addresses
are provided for most publications. However, few, if any, exclusively online
Authority
Format
Magazines for Libraries is a print index that provides bibliographic data and
Arrangement
by title. The table of contents displays the order in which the subject headings occur.
There are cross references within the text. The indexes list entries by title, by ISSN,
and by topic. Each entry is formatted consistently, with a sample entry and
description of each part of the entry in the “How to Use this Book” section. There is
also a glossary for abbreviations used, and a list of suggested abstracts and indexes.
37 Wasserman, T. Group 4’s Evaluation Sets Spring 2009 ILS 504 Okobi
Each entry is followed by a short, critical annotation about the work. According to
the “How to Use this Book” section, the annotations describe “the scope, purpose,
and intent of each magazine, bias (if any), and target audience”. While the
Special Features
The most obvious special feature associated with this publication is the extended
annotations.
Libraries may also subscribe to an updating service for this publication through
Ulrichsweb.com.
Latest Edition
17th edition
Frequency of Publication
Yearly
Cost
Citation
Library of Congress, & American Library Association. (1968). The National union
Congress printed cards and titles reported by other American libraries. London:
Mansell.
Purpose
The purpose of the National Union Catalog was to create a list of holdings of major
research libraries in the United States and Canada. More than 1,000 libraries reported
Scope
There is entries for all motion pictures even the filmstrips and are not available in
Congress catalog cards. Each catalog entry includes the film’s producers and
distributing agencies. Since 1957 the cards that are included in the National Union
Catalog have been Catalog by the Library of Congress but were previously provided
by other sources. There is also a list of abbreviations, marks, and symbols used in the
entries.
The Nation Union Catalog covers all film and motion picture materials located in the
library of congress catalog. It also has a list of film distributor companies, production
Authority
The content is collected from 1,000 different libraries but began as the card catalogue
Format
The format is in print and comes in 754 volumes. It is the written out form of the
Division of the Library of Congress. They are listed as those to contact if further
Congress now has its catalog with all of its materials online at catalog.loc.gov.
Arrangement
The first portion lists different Film Libraries, Distributers, Production Companies,
companies and the films produced by them. The films produced include the length,
whether or not it is in color, the year distributed, if it was shot in more than one part
or sequence, subject words that can be associated with the film, and a brief summary.
Latest Edition
The latest available edition lists that it ranges in movies from 1968-1972 and is
Frequency of Publication/Update
archive sections.
Citation
Library of Congress, & R.R. Bowker Company. (1975). New serial titles, 1950-
Purpose
The purpose of this work was to provide bibliographic data on the serials received by
the Library of Congress and other participating libraries. This would be a useful list
Scope
According to the preface, “entries [were] included for all titles regardless of initial
data of publication or type of serial” with the exception of newspapers, which were
not included.
The directory began publication in 1950 when Union List of Serials ceased
Library of Congress chose to focus its efforts on expanding its online catalog, rather
than maintaining a print record. The new title is misleading in that it implies it is a
directory of newly published serials, rather than a continuation of the union list.
Authority
Information is compiled from the card catalogs of the Library of Congress and
participating libraries.
Format
New Serial Titles was both a print index and a union catalog, providing information
on new and reformatted periodicals as they were published from 1950 onward.
Arrangement
This work was compiled from the cataloging records of the Library of Congress and
other participating libraries. The entries in this directory are set up like a “card
catalog”. Because a group of libraries were responsible for compiling the entries for
The publication has two volumes. Periodicals in this index are arranged
alphabetically by title, with volume one covering A-K and volume 2 holding M-Z.
Cross reference are provided for journals with former titles. New additions to the
collection, title changes, periodicals experiencing a new start, and periodicals in pre-
Headings to describe the listed periodical. In some cases, a short description was
provided in addition.
Special features
A list of participating libraries is included, and each entry indicates which libraries
receive the periodical. The list indicates whether libraries lend periodicals, or
Latest Edition
Frequency of Publication
Cost
accumulations for a discounted price of $135 in North America, and $165 outside of
North America.
Citation
http://newfirstsearch.oclc.org/FSIP.
Purpose
The purpose of OCLC is to connect libraries and countries to work together in order
through the resources of OCLC that many digital problems are being dealt with and
Scope
The scope of OCLC includes: Every type of physical and electronic format such as
books, videos, serial publications, articles, recorded books and music, sheet music,
genealogical references and many more; popular and rare resources; and materials in
more than 470 languages ranging from 112 countries and territories.
Authority
OCLC creates its’ large databases with the help of libraries from around the world.
The Preseident and Chief executive officer is Robert L. Jordon. Other administrators
are Rick J. Schwieterman, Karen Calhoun, Rein van Charldorp, Bruce Crocco,
Format
44 Wasserman, T. Group 4’s Evaluation Sets Spring 2009 ILS 504 Okobi
FirstSearch works with WorldCat and other OCLC programs to bring the most
comprehensive search possible to users. Through FirstSearch there are more than 85
million records, several million of which are full-text. The web interface is easy to
Arrangement
Results in FirstSearch are returned according to the default ranking called “Number
of Libraries.” This means that records are ranked according to the amount of
libraries in possession of the item, with the records that are held the most being
Entries
Entries are input according to MARC formatting rules designed by the Library of
Congress.
Special Features
•Seven different choices for interface languages including English, French Spanish,
and Japanese
The Online Union Catalog is easy to use and has a more comprehensive list of
resources than any other catalog today. With billions of records and millions of full-
text articles OCLC is extremely effective in today’s digital age. OCLC can be used
to find out which titles a library holds, or to place an ILL request within FirstSearch.
Its quick responses, large collection and easy to use features make it one of the best
Cost
Frequency of Publication
Updated consistently
PubList
Citation
Scope
The information provided about publications is the title, formats available, publisher
contacts, ISSN numbers and circulation information. Infotriece allows for abstract
Authority
Format
Arrangement
The search quick search options provide a title search only, however, the advanced
search options a search can be conducted by title, publisher, subject, ISSN, and
country of publication.
Special Features
A feature called Infotrieve can give access to the full-text version of journal articles
Cost
Citation
The Reader’s Adviser. 1994. 14th edition. 6 volumes. New Providence, New Jersey:
Purpose
Materials are meant for use of librarians and patrons. Originally compiled by a
in the material, rare books, literature divided into time periods and origin, as well as
Scope
certain cultures i.e. Volume 1: The Best in Reference Works, British Literature and
American Literature, Volume 2: The best in World Literature, Volume 3: The best in
Social Sciences, History, and the Arts, Volume 4: The Best in Philosophy and
Authority
Format
Print form
Arrangement
It first shows the contents of the material, then the preface, which explains the
historical origins of the material, a list of abbreviations used in the material, the
chronology of the authors, the introduction, and then the titles of Reference Works,
Special Features
Includes tips for book collectors, tools for book selection, as well as tools for
Cost
$140 per volume but can receive the whole set for $500 as listed by their publishers
http://www.greenwood.com/catalog/BORA146V3.aspx.
Citation
49 Wasserman, T. Group 4’s Evaluation Sets Spring 2009 ILS 504 Okobi
Purpose
bibliography of periodicals in the United States and Canada. It does not limit entries
limitations. It would serve as a good alternative to the print version of Ulrich’s for
small libraries who have little need for access to foreign serials.
Scope
This index lists a total of 64,355 titles, which include magazines, journals,
publications are exclusively online, but most are in print with an online presence.
Authority
Information is provided by publishers and edited for clarity and brevity by directory
staff.
Format
Arrangement
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The periodicals in the directory are listed alphabetically by subject, and then by title.
The table of contents lists the page number for each subject heading. There is a title
index, as well as an index for periodicals that have changed their names.
The information within the directory is provided by publishers, but it is edited by the
directory’s staff for clarity and brevity. It is unclear whether the authors have viewed
clear statement of the scope and purpose of the title without criticism.
Latest Edition
Frequency of Publication
Yearly
Cost
Citation
Purpose
periodicals published worldwide. Both the print and online versions of Ulrich’s were
Scope
This publication was first published in 1932, and continues today. It aims to be a
online. The print version is published in four volumes. The current addition
contains over 218,290 serials classified under 898 subject headings. 62,061 of these
According to its “FAQ” section, the online version has a greater number of entries
and more detail to its entries than the print version. It also has more access points
Authority
52 Wasserman, T. Group 4’s Evaluation Sets Spring 2009 ILS 504 Okobi
Format
Arrangement
The print version is arranged alphabetically by subject heading, with the first three
volumes of the work containing classified listings of serials, and the fourth volume
organizations, and listings of U.S. newspapers, ceased serials, serials online and
formatting of each entry, along with a sample entry and key. It also explains the
meaning of symbols that appear next to the titles. A “Subject Guide to Abstracting
and Indexing” is included, along with a translation of the subject headings into
Special Features
Because of the scope and size of the print version of Ulrich’s it is limited in the
special features it can offer. The online resource is offered as an alternative to the
The online version contains a variety of special features. A desktop alert feature
keeps subscribers updated on serials that are added to the directory, have changed
names, or have ceased publication. Free technical support and product training are
Latest Edition
The 47th edition is the latest publication of the print version. The online version is
updated continuously.
Frequency of Publication
A new edition of the print version is published yearly. The online version is updated
on a daily basis.
Cost
The print version may be purchased through the publisher for $966. A subscription
to the online version depends on the type of library the product will serve and how
Citation
http://0-rqst-agent.autographics.com.csulib.ctstateu.edu/LoginModule
/Goto.aspx?cuid=rqst&dataid=52
Scope
It ranges from older publications as well as the latest titles and ranges in both fiction
and non-fiction. There are over 100,000 searchable titles include Adult, Children,
Authority
Format
Accessed online through agent or IConn.org in which literature both fiction and non-
fiction can be searched. New titles are added couple times a year.
Arrangement
The information is accessed through basic and advanced search tools with a keyword
search, exact title, series, genres, and award winners. Include characters or the
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locations in the book, description, date of publication, a list of books also written by
Special Features
Evaluation Set #2
Group 4
Article1st
Citation
OCLC. (1990s). ArticleFirst. Dublin, Ohio: OCLC Online Computer Library Center.
http://firstsearch.oclc.org/dbname=Article1st;done=referer;FSIP.
Purpose
Format
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Scope
There are over 16,000 sources with 23,000,000 records from journals dealing with
business, medicine, science, technology, social sciences, and the humanities. Dates
Authority
Arrangement
Each entry describes one article, new story, letter, or other item from a journal.
Search options include keyword, author, title, OCLC number, source, volume,
publisher, and more. Searches can be limited by year and full text.
Special Features
Search options include the ability to limit based on libraries held at local libraries.
Frequency of Publication
Updated daily.
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Citation
H.W. Wilson Company. (1906). Book review digest. [Bronx, N.Y.]: H.W. Wilson.
Purpose
The Book Review Digest includes both book citations as well as citations for reviews
written about each text included. More than 8,000 current texts are included in the
monthly printings. The Digest allows for patrons and librarians to obtain
information about newly published books both fictional and nonfiction for all ages.
It can be used for both patrons research and for collection development.
Format
It is available in print and CD-Rom versions. Also there has been a web based
Scope
Book Review Digest includes more than 8,000 different current texts with more than
112,000 books to date including juvenile and adult fiction, as well as nonfiction,
pulled from more than 109 periodicals published in the United States, Canada, and
textbooks, and technical books in both science and the law are excluded from
coverage. In order for books to be listed within the Digest they must contain the
books must have been review by at least two sources; fiction texts must have three
review; reviews must have been written within 18 months of publishing; any review
written in Reference Books Bulletin is automatically included; and at least one review
Book Review Digest Plus, the online version of Book Review Digest contains more
Authority
Published by The H.W.Wilson Company and is available online through the Wilson
Arrangement
The entries are arranged in alphabetical order, according to the Library of Congress
Filing Rules, by the author’s last name or if no name is included then the citations
are included under the title. Included in the books citations are title, authorship,
entries, and subject headings under the Sear’s list. Also given are the ISBN and
Library of Congress Control Number when they are available. Notes are included on
Excerpts and review citations are contained in separate sections, arranged by journal
in which they had appeared. Review citations are labeled as Review. They are
review citations are the reviewers name volume number, pages, date of the periodical
and the approximate number of words included in the review. The excerpt follows
Book Review Digest Plus contains an easy-to-use interface with content that contains
the same bibliographic data as the print version, review excerpts, review citations,
full-text reviews, and book summaries. In addition to basic search options there are
“Master” records available which connect to reviews from sources outside of the
website. The web version also contains up-to-date subject headings, descriptive
annotations, and a library holdings indicator which allows libraries to link their
Special Features
•There are separate subject and title indexes included at the end of the main body of
•There are separate sections listed under “Children’s Literature” and “Young Adult
Literature.”
•A list of periodical names is given in order to decipher the abbreviations listed with
•Contains added entries for co-authors, editors, illustrators, and variations of titles.
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•Online version allows libraries to connect citations with OPAC features to let users
Frequency of Publication
Book Review Digest is published monthly except for February and July. There is
also an annual bound cumulation. Book Review Digest Plus is updated daily.
Cost
The Book Review Digest is a great resource however it is limited in that in order to
be included fiction books need to have been reviewed by three journals and
nonfiction by at least two. It would be extremely helpful in reference work for those
books that are popular enough to be included. This text is useful to both the patron
completing research and the librarian looking for assistance when building a library
collection.
Citation
Gale Research Company, & Gale Group. (1965). Book review index. Detroit: Gale
Research.
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Purpose
The purpose of Book Review Index is extremely similar to Book Review Digest in
that it too provides access to reviews of thousands of books. More books and
reviews are indexed than in Book Review Digest, due to fewer criterions as to what
included which results in a user having to go to source to read the review, however
Format
The Book Review Index is available in text and an online format through two
different subscriptions, Book Review Index Online Plus or the index-only option.
While the index-only subscription offers more than 5 million citations the Book
Reivew Index Plus also offers 664,000 full text reviews through InfoTrac, OneFile,
Scope
Book Review Index contains more than 4,000,000 reviews on more than 2,000,000
different books ranging in subject from the social sciences, humanities, sciences,
business, fine arts, and other general areas of interest. Years from 1969 to the present
are covered. Book, audio books, and e-books are all included in the reviews. More
than 400 journal publications from the United States, Canada, Europe, and Australia
are included. Sources that reviews come from include: reviewing journals such as
Choice, Booklist, and School Library Journal; national publications; scholarly and
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literary journals, and electronic publications. Citations are included for any type of
published or soon to be published book including adult fiction and nonfiction books,
poetry and song books, children books, audio books and electronic editions, and e-
books for all ages. Each book must be at least 50 pages long with the exception of
Authority
Arrangement
This text is split into two major parts. The main section of the book contains review
citations arranged by the author’s name of the reviewed book. These citations
include: title; illustrations; name of the reviewing source; date of publication; length
of the review; and in some cases the age range that the book is appropriate for. In
addition to this main section there is a title index which gives cross reference points.
Special Features
Frequency of Publication
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It is published three times a year, cumulating annual. The online version also
Citation
H.W. Wilson Company. (1959). Business periodicals index. New York: H.W. Wilson.
Purpose
Format
Can be found both in print and online at Wilson Business Full Text. Other online
Periodicals Index Retrospective: 1913-1982, and Applied Science & Business Index
information for instance Wilson Business Abstracts contains the same citations at
Wilson Business Full Text but does not contain full text articles.
Scope
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Business Periodicals Index contains more than 1.6 million records pulled from 527
international English periodicals adding more than 96,000 entries each year. It
covers from 1982 through the present. Subjects included are: behavioral and social
reports of association, graphical data, and other items can also be found.
Authority
They are asked to rate periodicals under consideration and also to give particular
consideration to the balance of subjects being entered so as to not over look any one
subject. Final decisions for the periodicals to be index are ultimately determined by
Arrangement
The main body consists of subject entries arranged alphabetically, with numerals
appearing before the A terms. In addition to this main body of text there is a separate
listing of citations to book reviews. Within each entry the article title, subject
heading, author, document type, a physical description, any websites, whether it was
Special Features
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•Notes can be added by the indexer to help clarify the meaning of the title if
1913.
Frequency of Publication
The online version is updated daily while the text version is updated once a year.
Cost
The cost of the print index is 650 dollars for a one year period.
information that can be used to track competitors, monitor new products, and gather
Citation
Bowker.
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Purpose
used in public libraries, schools, and at home. Beyond magazine coverage they also
Format
Scope
Children’s Magazine Guide indexes more than 60 magazines that are used in Public
Libraries, Schools, and at home. Magazines indexed include but are not limited to
Boys’ Life, Children’s Digest, Cobblestone, Discovery Girls, Highlights for Children,
Humpty Dumpty’s Magazine, Your Big Backyard, Time for Kids, and many more.
Authority
worldwide and within the United States from such reviewing journals as Booklist.
Each magazine included in their index must reach all criteria including accuracy,
Arrangement
subject heading, article name, notes if clarification needed for the title along with
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illustration notes, author, magazine, issue, date of publication, and page numbers.
Cross-references are provided that help find more information on alternate terms or
Special Features
•Many entries contain suggested websites thought appropriate and topic related.
•Each entry contains explanatory notes which can add detail to the article title
•Each issue of Children’s Magazine Guide includes a “Whiz Quiz” that help
students us the Guide and to help build literary skills. Quizzes are also
available online.
Frequency of Publication
Children’s Magazine Guide is published 9 times a year, one each month except for
June, July, and a shared edition for the April and May months. The August issue is
Cost
The cost of a subscription is 79.95 for one year, 136.00 for two years, or 10.00 for
any single back issue. The online database is provided free with the print
subscription.
including: acting as a guide to the best magazines available for children; helps to
locate specific subject articles; Helps teachers and Parents find curriculum oriented
materials.
Citation
Purpose
The Columbia Granger’s Index of Poetry has been the definitive source in English
for locating poems within anthologies since first being published in 1904.
Format
Scope
The Columbia Granger’s Index of Poetry online contains more than 250,000 poems
in full text and 450,000 citations. The most recent print version of Granger’s
contains 85,000 poems by 12,000 poets. Languages included in the text are English,
Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Polish, Yiddish, Wels, Gaelic, and
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other Celtic languages. Both classical poets and current poems pulled from current
Authority
The 13th edition of Granger’s is edited by Tessa Kale and published by Columbia
University Press.
Arrangement
The volume is divided into three different sections. The first is title, first line, and
last line index, the second is an author index, and the final is a subject index,
consisting of more than 6,000 different subject headings. Each of these sections is
arranged alphabetically and each poem covered within the text is cited at least once
in each section. Each entry includes author, title, the name of anthology found in,
first line of the poem, and the last line of the poem.
Special Features
•The online search features include the ability to search within schools, ears, religion,
•Translations of poems
•The complete bibliographical citations for each anthology are included within the
Frequency of Publication
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Cost
The print version is available through the publisher for $295. For the online version,
Granger’s costs different amounts based on the type of institution using the product
and the amount of people who will be using it. The subscription length is for one
year. For Public libraries there are four different price ranges based on population
size. For locations under 10,000 people is cost $630, $735 for 10,001 to 50,000 and
$840 for 50,000 to 100,000. Elementary and High school age libraries would pay
$475 for the yearly subscription. Undergraduate and graduate level is based on a tier
There are many different uses possible for an Index such as Granger’s. Granger’s
allows for a variety of poems from different authors, on different subjects and from
different parts of the world. All of this dissimilarity allows for the experienced fan to
expand their knowledge or for the novice to begin their searches. There is also the
possibility to create a person’s own anthology by letting them locate all poems on a
certain topic or within a certain anthology. Finally, there are helpful tools to allow a
Citation
72 Wasserman, T. Group 4’s Evaluation Sets Spring 2009 ILS 504 Okobi
http://newfirstsearch.oclc.org/dbname=Dissertations.
Purpose
Dissertation Abstracts Online is a subject, title, and author guide to every American
dissertation written and accepted at any accredited institution since 1861. Since
1961 a select amount of Masters Theses have been included as well as citations for
Format
1861 through the present and are updated monthly. The print counterpart is
Scope
Any abstract dissertation written at for an accredited American institution since 1861
Authority
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International.
Arrangement
Each entry includes title, author, degree, year published, institution degree was
descriptors.
Special Features
•Can limit the search by publication year and the level of dissertation being looked
for.
Frequency of Publication
Updated Monthly
Cost
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Cost varies based on ways of purchasing. Cost per minute totals 62 cents while per
Citation
Greenfieldt, J. (Ed.) (2000). Essay and general literature index 1995-1999. New
Purpose
Format
Scope
Twenty selected annuals and series, as well as 300 single and multi-author
collections. The material covers humanities, social sciences, literary works, art
history, drama, and film. There are 300 volumes indexed annually. Covers works
from the United States, Canada, and Great Britain. Covers works dating back to
1985.
Authority
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Created by professionals.
Arrangement
any combination. There are citation links that list other works in the collection and
Frequency of Updates
Ethnic NewsWatch
Citation
Ethnic NewsWatch. (I entered this database through the Wheaton College Library’s
Purpose
A compilation of full-text articles and citations from racial and ethnic newspapers,
Format
Web based
Scope
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Indian, Asian American, and United States Latinos. Publishers directory, advertising
rates, history of the newspapers, and circulation statistics. It is also in Spanish and
Authority
Arrangement
There is both a basic and advanced search. The search applications allow for Boolean
Frequency of Updates
Updated monthly
Purpose
Indexing and abstracting of popular science magazines and journals. Provides access
to scientific disciplines.
Format
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Scope
The database indexes houses 190 popular and professional science journals
published in the United States and Great Britain, and the Science section of the New
York Times. The indexes cover both the United States and Great Britain. Subjects
genetics, nursing and health, physiology, and zoology. Broad subjects covered are
Authority
Gathered from Professional journal publications, science magazines and the New
Arrangement
Subject headings are meant for use by both non-specialist and students and cross-
Global NewsBank
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looked at the information on the Web site.Purpose- Current and archived news source for
both foreign and domestic issues. Users can research about worldwide developments.
Format
Web Based
Scope
\The cllection covers both foreign and domestic issues about politics, economics,
culture, business, science, technology, the environment, and etc. Full-text newspaper
articles are available as well as full-text periodicals. Wire services, magazines, radio
States, the Pacific Rim, Central and South America, the Middle East, and other
countries. Provides current and archived news dating back from 1996 to the present.
Authority
Global News Bank carefully selects articles based on its research value.
Arrangement
Special Features
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The database contains over 1,000 popular and hard to find sourceses world wide.
Maps and statistics are included. Both knowledgeable and beginning users have
Humanities Index
Citation
Purpose
Format
Scope
More than 600 periodicals are indexed dating back to 1984 with more than 400 being
video recordings, television and radio programs; and works of fiction, drama, and
other similar items. Subjects covered are archaeology, classical studies, area studies,
folklore, history, language, literature, performing arts, philosophy, religion, and other
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related subjects. The online version of the text has more than 250 in-depth articles
Authority
Arrangement
alphabetically. Subject headings are arranged beginning with the numerals and
historical period, form and topical, and geographical. Under the author entries
articles are indexed under the surname of the author. Each entry indexed contains as
much of the following information as can be supplied: title of article; author; type of
article; journal; volume; page number; publication year; language of the article;
Special Features
•Contains uniform name authority control while makes searching easy and reliable.
•Online text contains graphical content including PDF images, to accompany full text
articles.
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•Also available through willsonweb are Humanities Abstracts, and Humanities Index
Full Text.
Frequency of Publication
The web based version is updated daily while the print version is updated quarterly
Cost
Citation
Purpose
The purpose of the Media Review Digest is to make an annual list of the reviews,
Format
Media Review Digest was available in Print and web services but it was cancelled in
2007.
Scope
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Media Review Digest contains more than 40,000 citations, and cross-references to
globes, charts, media kits, games and other media forms ranging from 1989 to the
information.
Authority
Arrangement
The text is divided into several sections covering different media forms. The four
sections are film and video, filmstrips, audio, and miscellaneous. Each section is
alphabetically order by title or other main entry. Entries include: title or series title; a
origin; date released; total running time; sound (silent, dubbed, or subtitles); black-
Headings. Each entry also contains a level of appropriate audience rating from pre-
kindergarten to adult. Also each entry is given a rating from ++ meaning excellent to
– worst.
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Special Features
and more.
geographical.
•Contains a directory with the producers and distributors who’s media have been
included.
Frequency of Publication
This publication was cancelled and has not been available since June 30, 2007.
Cost
Citations
In print: New York Times Index. (2008). New York: New York Times Co.
Online: New York Times Articles Archive. (n.d.). Retrieved March 21, 2009, from
http://www.nytimes.com/ref/membercenter/nytarchive.html
Purpose
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The New York Times Index acts as an index and historical archive to the New York
Times. It provides access points to its contents by subject headings, so that they may
be searched by researchers.
Scope
The New York Times Index lists all articles published in the New York Times from
1851 to the present. Print volumes are still available, but the publication seems to be
Authority
Accuracy
As the staff is responsible for indexing only one periodical and are employed by the
company that publishes it, accuracy should be expected. Any corrects are printed in
Arrangement
that appear under those headings. Under each subject heading and subdivision,
entries appear in chronological order by the date they were printed. Geographical
headings for each news event that occurred in a specific country, state, or city would
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appear under it in the index. The listings include the title of the article, date it was
published, section in which it appears, page number, and column. Abstracts appear
for significant news stories, along with an indication of the length of the article (“L”
for long, “M” for medium, and “S” for short). Each entry also indicates if there are
Frequency of Publication
Special features
Bi-monthly issues contain pictures and a featured story. The abstracts of significant
Cost
Cost was not specified in the printed resource. It is virtually impossible to find any
information on the printed index online. Nytimes.com is offering free public access
to the New York Times Articles Archives, though the bibliographic data for is not as
complete as it is in the index. Articles in the public domain and some of the more
current articles can be viewed for free, while premium articles may be purchased for
$3.95 per article, or as part of a “10-pack” for $15.95. With a bit more emphasis on
resource.
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Citations
from http://www.newsbank.com/Libraries/product.cfm?product=33
http://www.nova.edu/library/dils/lessons/newsbank/
Purpose
This product provides online access to full text news articles. It is primarily
marketed to public and small academic libraries for use by their patrons and
librarians.
Scope
text articles from more than 500 American and international sources from 1992 to the
present. The product’s website lists the topics covered in the database, which
sports and much more. Additionally, NewsFile Collection provides news articles and
reviews on theater, film, art, music, literature and TV, as well as biographical articles
Authority
87 Wasserman, T. Group 4’s Evaluation Sets Spring 2009 ILS 504 Okobi
information provider for more than 35 years. They partner with publishers to
provide access to current and archived information to libraries that purchase their
products.
Accuracy
As the content of this database comes directly from the publishers of the material, it
should be accurate.
Arrangement
Articles are indexes by subject heading, and can be browsed by subject on the main
page. Searches can be limited by date of publication. Terms can be searched for in
the following fields: “in All Text”, “in Lead/First Paragraph”, or “in Headline/Title”.
Special Features
NewsFile Collection can also be purchased with Popular Periodical Premier, which
newswires. It also includes a section that helps patrons cite articles they find in
Frequency of Update
Cost
The cost was not provided on NewsBank’s website. Most likely, the cost is variable
Citations
http://www.csa.com/factsheets/pais-set-c.php
Purpose
policy materials of use to legislators, government officials, the business and financial
Scope
The latest print edition of PAIS International includes 14,400 total entries from 5,378
monographs and serials from 254 publishers and distributors. This includes 8,639
articles from 783 different journals, 4,297 internet documents, 383 websites, and
There are 6,757 subject headings. All subjects pertaining to contemporary public
issues and the making and evaluating of public policy, regardless of source, are
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society.
Publication of the print version ceased in 2006, a year prior to eh publisher’s merge
Authority
leading database vendor; its products are used by many of the country’s top
Accuracy
Arrangement
There are two volumes to the printed resource: the subject index and the author
abstract of the article is published along with the bibliographic information. A web
address where the article can be retrieved is also included where applicable. Entries
for monographs include their price. Entries are cross-references with “see” and “see
also” headings.
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The author index is arranged alphabetically by the last name of the author. Each
article written by the same author is listed separately, and arranged alphabetically by
title. The entries in the author index are abbreviated in comparison to the subject
index, and they contain no abstracts. Both volumes include a guide to using the
entry. They also include a “Key to Periodicals Referenced in this Issue” section,
which includes the name and contact information for the subscription department of
section.
The online database can be browsed according to 24 “Broad Topic” subject headings,
and 569 subtopics. It can be searched through 21 indexed fields. The publisher’s
website includes a link to a database guide that describes the database’s features and
provides instructions for searching the database and a key to field abbreviations.
Special Features
The online database can link to other CSA Illumina databases. It also provides a
Frequency of Publication/Updates
The print version was published annually. The online version is updated monthly.
Cost
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The cost of the PAIS International database varies depending on the institution.
Citation
Information Site – Periodicals Index Online. (2009). Retrieved March 21, 2009,
from http://pio.chadwyck.co.uk/marketing/index.jsp
Purpose
Periodicals Index Online provides bibliographic data for articles published before
1995. Their aim is to highlight content that has not been digitized or indexed
previously.
Scope
The database indexes nearly 16 million articles from over 4,700 journals. The dates
of coverage range from 1665 to 1995. 37 subject areas are indexed from the across
Authority
databases.
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Accuracy
As I did not have direct access to the database’s interface, I was not able to
Arrangement
using a “Quick Search” tool, or a detailed search screen. Fields that can be searched
include Article Title Keyword(s), Author, Journal Title, Language, Journal Subject,
Special Features
Users who have access to PIO’s sister database, Periodical Archives Online, or
JSTOR can link directly to a full text version of articles they retrieve. They can also
save article citations and searches via the “My Archive” feature.
Frequency of Updates
Cost
The cost is not specified on vendor’s website. Most likely, it varies based on the
Play Index
93 Wasserman, T. Group 4’s Evaluation Sets Spring 2009 ILS 504 Okobi
Citations
Yaakov, J. & Greenfieldt, J. (Eds.). Play Index. (1998). New York: H.W. Wilson Co.
Purpose
details, allowing theatre groups, drama coaches, students and performers to quickly
Format
Scope
The cited volume includes 4617 plays that were published between 1993-1997 and
written in or translated into English. The scope of the publication is broad enough
to include everything from classical drams to puppet plays making it useful for every
dramatic need. The online version includes 31,000 plays published between 1949
Authority
H. W. Wilson
Accuracy
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likely to be very accurate. The online version, which contains materials from 1900
Part 1 is the Author, Title and Subject Index; part 2 is the Cast Analysis, part 3 is the
List of Collections indexed and part 4 is the Directory of Publisher and Distributors.
Part 1 is organized under author title or subject in a single alphabetic list. The author
entry is the most inclusive and lists the author, title, descriptive note, number of acts
Special Features
The online version includes all sorts of special features: keyword search, links to full
text plays, 600+ monologues, the ability to search for roles by gender and the ability
Frequency of Publication
The print version is updated every 4-7 years; the online version is updated weekly.
Cost
The print version is $285 and the online cost can be obtained by contacting H.W.
Wilson.
Citation
H.W. Wilson.
Purpose
Readers’ Guide to Periodical Literature serves a wide variety of users through their
print and easy to use database. It provides indexing and accurate bibliographic data
for schools, colleges, and public libraries. It is meant not for one specific subject
area or age group but for all people to be able to use and understand.
Format
Readers’ Guide to Periodical Literature is available in both print and online formats.
Scope
Readers’ Guide to Periodical Literature indexes more than 400 periodicals dating
back to 1983. Full-text articles from 215 journals from 1994 through the present are
Authority
Arrangement
Entries are arranged in an author and subject index organized alphabetically. Some
basic organizational rules within the Readers’ Guide include that subjects beginning
with numerals are placed before the alphabet; subdivisions are possible within
author precede titles about an author. Types of entries include books, reviews of
sound recordings, videos, television programs, operas, plays, and others. Within
each entry information is given on the author, title, any clarify notes, name of the
magazine, volume and issue number, page numbers, publication date, notes about
Special Features
•Contains cross references to guide users from one subject heading to another. Types
Frequency of Publication
The guide is published 12 times a year. A quarterly issue appears four times in three
month segments and hardbound compilation is created annually while the online
Cost
United States.
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The Readers’ Guide to Periodical Literature enables the user to find information
spread out between 300 popular magazines. An easy to use subject and author index
helps users to find these periodical titles quickly and easily. In addition cross-
references, abbreviations lists, and an easy to use online database assist even further.
Citations
Greenfieldt, J. & Yaakov, J. (Eds.). Short Story Index. (1999). New York: H. W.
Wilson Company.
Purpose
The Short Story Index indexes short stories that are written in or translated into
Format
Scope
The cumulative volume cited above included short stories published in collections
and selected periodicals between 1994-1998. This index contained 23,397 stories: of
Short Story Index printed volumes go back to 1900; the online version covers 1984
to the present.
Authority
H. W. Wilson publishes the volume—the publisher is probably the best known in the
Accuracy
likely to be very accurate. The online version, which contains materials from 1984
author, title and subject entries. Part 2 is a List of Collections Indexed. Part 3 is a
Special Features
Short stories are also indexed in two of Wilson’s other publications, Reader’s Guide
to Periodical Literature and Humanities Index. The online website includes links to
full text stories, a library holdings indicator and up-to-date subject headings to keep
Frequency of Publication
The print version is indexed annually and a cumulation is published ever 5 years.
Cost
The price for the print version is $260 per annum and WilsonWeb should be
Citation
Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI). Accessed via Web of Science. Retrieved 19
March 2009.
Purpose
The SSCI is a multi-disciplinary index to the journal literature of the social sciences
—it provides full reference citation for each article. SSCI is a research tool to be
Format
Scope
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SSCI covers all of the social sciences from anthropology to library science to social
work to women’s studies—the index ranges from 1956 to the present. It indexes
relevant items from 3300 of the world’s leading science and technology journals.
Authority
Accuracy
Thomson Reuters is a business service, created and maintained for both researchers
information.
The index is arranged by subject and citations can be found via a keyword, title or
author search. Each entry contains title, author, source, pagination, publication date,
times cited on index, references, abstracts, document type, language, reprint address,
Special features
conferences, etc… However, when searching a term, there is no way to know which
index database it was found on. The Related Records and Additional Information
sections on the right of the screen for each citation are very useful as is the “times
cited” part of the entry that tells the researcher when/where the article was cited
elsewhere in Web of Science. It is also interesting to note that the SSCI was one of
Frequency of Publication
The online database is updated weekly. The print version is published three times
Cost
No cost was listed, but cost can be obtained by contacting Thomson Reuters.
Citations
Social Sciences Index. (2008). New York: The H.W. Wilson Company.
Purpose
This is an English language index for articles written on topics within the social
Format
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Scope
periodicals and spans all of social science. Beginning in 1974, the index indexes all
biographies.
Authority
The publisher, H.W. Wilson is responsible for all editorial decisions; however the
conducts in-depth studies of the content of SSI and attempts to build a selective and
well-balanced list that allows coverage of all subject areas in the index.
Accuracy
H.W. Wilson is a highly respected publisher in the world of indexes and with a ALA
over-sight, it’s hard to envision too many inaccuracies making their way into SSI.
Wilson’s own categorization, which itself is based on LOC, other reference works
and the literature itself. Each entry includes basic citation information.
Special features
Though the online version of SSI is available and updated daily, Wilson also puts out
an online Social Sciences Full Text database that would be additionally useful to
Frequency of Publication
The print edition is published quarterly with additional annual cumulations. The
Cost
Though the cost depends on a variety of factors, the print version is minimally $650
and H.W. Wilson should be contacted for price quotes for the online version.
Evaluation Set #3
Group 4
Spring 2009
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4, 6, and 7
Christina Hill evaluated encyclopedia numbers 9, 10, 11, 12 and dictionary numbers 14,
Terry Wasserman evaluated encyclopedia numbers 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and dictionary
Citation
The Academic American Encyclopedia is meant to serve as a reference for the mid-level
student. With a multitude of entries, it can serve as a well-illustrated ready reference tool
as well. This is the only encyclopedia I examined that contained exclusively full-color
Scope
This encyclopedia is comprehensive, but seems to strive for a breadth of entries rather
than depth. Compared to other general encyclopedias, the entries are mid-length.
Format
Audience
The preface identifies the main users of the encyclopedia as students in the upper
elementary grades, junior high, high school, college, and “the inquisitive adult”. It
outlines how the editors of the encyclopedia attempted to meet the expectations of these
Authority
encyclopedias. The preface describes the editing process, which is carried out by
Writing Style
Entries are short and succinct. They are very easy for the lay person to follow.
Currency
While the print volume I evaluated was published in 1986, the information it contained
seemed quite current for the time. The preface indicates that a yearbook was published
annually. According to the Books in Print database, the most recent edition was
published in 1998 by Scholastic Library Publishing. Most likely, it was replaced by the
The objectivity of the text is scholars and experts in each field. The preface also states
that the book attempts to not offend readers, and is “free of sexist addressed in the
preface, which states that the editors seek to incorporate multiple perspectives from
language”.
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Like most encyclopedias, this volume is arranged alphabetically by subject and contains
Index
The index appears in the final volume of the encyclopedia. It provides additional cross-
Cost
Books in Print lists the 1998 edition for $725. It classifies the availability of the work as
“hard to find”.
Cambridge Encyclopedia
Citation
Cambridge Encyclopedia. (1997). (3rd ed.) New York: Columbia University Press
1990. Despite receiving positive reviews, it has since been overshadowed by the older
Scope
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Format
Audience
Although the entries are short, the vocabulary in this work is very advanced. It is most
Authority
Cambridge University Press is a leading publisher of academic texts and journals around
Writing Style
Because a number of entries are condensed into a single volume, this encyclopedia reads
more like a dictionary. The writing style seems to assume that the reader has a fairly
advanced vocabulary.
Currency
Based on the reviews in the Books in Print database, it appears that this encyclopedia was
quite current when it was published. The most recent edition was published in 2000.
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each entry in this encyclopedia. As such, controversial issues are presented and defined,
but the controversy surrounding them is given little more than a mention. There does not
Entries are short and succinct. Some of them have full-color or black and white
Index
Because this is a one volume work, it does not have an index to accompany it.
Cost
Collier’s Encyclopedia
Citation
Collier’s Encyclopedia is a general encyclopedia for more advanced students and readers.
Scope
The preface states that the major areas covered in the text are physical science, life
science, earth science, social sciences, and humanities. The encyclopedia seems to focus
Format
Collier’s is separated into 24 volumes, with a list of contributors and preface in the first
volume and the index and bibliography appearing in the final volume.
Audience
The preface states that the encyclopedia is meant to support the curricula of colleges,
Authority
contributors, which hale from prestigious universities, are listed in volume 1 along with
Writing Style
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Compared to other general encyclopedias, the writing appears to be aimed at this more
Currency
Because the latest volume of Collier’s was published in 1997, it cannot be expected to
excel in currency.
The preface states that “articles are submitted to authorities representing all major points
This work is arranged in a similar fashion to other encyclopedias, but contains more in-
depth, general articles than short, specific articles. As such, use of the index is essential
for research on specific topics, as it includes more cross-references for specific subjects
than the encyclopedia itself. Additionally, the bibliography is provided in the final
volume rather than at the end of each article. The bibliography contains a subject guide
and is divided by subject headings, with sub headings for more specific categories and
types of publications. Articles are supplemented with illustrations and photographs, both
Index
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The bibliography and the index appear in the final volume. As mentioned above, the
Cost
Columbia Encyclopedia
Citation
Scope
Like Cambridge, this encyclopedia focuses more on breadth than depth, but to a much
greater degree. Its entries are shorter and more numerous than those in Cambridge.
Format
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Audience
The audience is not specified in the preface, but the writing style appears appropriate for
Authority
Columbia University Press publishes some of the most respected reference texts.
Columbia Encyclopedia has been published since the late 1800s and today is unrivaled as
Writing Style
Columbia Encyclopedia is written so that it reads like a dictionary, more so than the
Currency
The edition I evaluated was published in 2000, and therefore does not contain any of the
events that have occurred over the last decade. However, the most recent edition was
published in 2007, and contains over 1,300 new entries according to Books in Print.
The length of the entries warrants only a brief definition of controversial issues. I did not
The beginning of the encyclopedia contains a short user’s guide, an extensive list of
abbreviations, and a pronunciation key. The entries are arranged alphabetically with
cross references, and are supplemented by small illustrations. The illustrations are
smaller and less colorful than those that appear in the Cambridge Encyclopedia.
Index
Cost
$80.50
Bartleby.com
Citation
The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed. New York: Columbia University Press, 2001–07.
www.bartleby.com/65/
Bartleby.com provides free access to books of all kinds. Included on this site are
reference, verse, fiction, and nonfiction books. A few reference texts include Columbia
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Factbook, Anatomy of the Human Body, Robert’s Rules of Order, and many more.
Scope
Bartleby has a strong literature focus with sections on verse, fiction, and nonfiction.
Despite this a wide variety of subject are covered within this area including anatomy,
geography, etiquette, and more. Encyclopedia reference is pulled from the Columbia
Encyclopedia, 6th edition. This text is a general encyclopedia and contains information
on most topics.
Format
Bartleby is an internet resource. They do however have a store from which print versions
Audience
Authority
Bartleby receives information directly from well known and established publishing
companies.
Writing Style
Currency
December 2007.
Bartleby.com allows for keyword searches within any one text on the website or through
the entire website. Bartleby Daily provides a biography, definition, quotation, and poem
of the day. Through Columbia Encyclopedia entries are listed in an alphabetic index of
more than 51,000 entries. Search options for this section also include keyword full text
search and entry word search. Other information included within the encyclopedia page
Index
Searches can be completed on the website through the subject, title, and author indexes.
Within the Columbia Encyclopedia page there is an alphabetic index of entries as well as
Cost
All features are free of charge however Bartleby.com reserves the right to charge fees at
any time.
Citation
multimedia encyclopedia covers many different topics with access to more than 50,000
topic summaries, pictures, and videos. This website provides credible entries from
Scope
subjects including art, science, sports, medicine, accounting, and management. A few
well known encyclopedias that are available through this source are The Columbia
The Dictionary collection contains items that are both general and very specific such as
Format
This is an online reference resource with keyword search options. It contains information
from more than 49 encyclopedias from a wide array of reliable print and online sources.
Audience
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The audience that these entries are written for are all ages. According to the website
Authority
A few reliable encyclopedias that are available through this online “research library”
Writing Style
Entries are taken directly from other encyclopedia sources. The writing style for each
Due to the fact that this website only provides information from other sources no personal
webpage are links to articles of a factual nature, and opinions pieces from both sides of
an issue.
Entries are returned through keyword searches. Searches return results from several
different sources such as The Columbia Encyclopedia, or The Oxford Dictionary and an
option to compare entries side by side. There is also a section of related topics with links
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to other entries. Also provided are links to “essential readings” These readings can
include other encyclopedia entries, newspaper and magazine articles, and facts or
Cost
Citation
Encyclopaedia Britannica.
The 2007 Edition of Compton’s Encyclopedia and Fact-Index contains more than 50,000
articles, maps, charts, tables, and other images in 26 volumes for students ages 10 to 17.
They work to give the basic facts while providing students with the desire to dig deeper
Scope
Compton’s Encyclopedia and Fact-Index includes 37,000 articles and 23,000 maps,
charts, table, and other images over 26 volumes of text. The information is meant for use
for students ages 10 to 17 however college students and adults might also find some
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include biographies, glossary of terms included in articles, times lines, previews or table
of contents for longer articles, and 23,000 images to make the text visually appealing.
Format
formats. The Print version is contained in 26 volumes that weight about 56 pounds. The
Audience
Authority
Writing Style
The writing in Compton’s Encyclopedia is straightforward and easy for elementary and
high school student to understand. Information is consistent with the content for National
Currency
More than 50 percent of the content has been revised or is entirely new since 2004.
warming, Hamas, Iraq, New Orleans, Pope Benedict XVI, astronomy, and more. The
This encyclopedia is objective in its articles with equal representation of both sides of
Entries are organized in alphabetical order. Some important features contained in each
volume include lists of question that introduce each volume, and a guide that organizes
the information contained in the volume into subject, articles and page numbers. Most
entries include bibliographies with related sources that are written in language that
children from 10 to 17 would find easy to understand. Also included are numerous
pictures. Compton’s Interactive Encyclopedia 1999 Edition, the CD-ROM version of the
text, has an easy to use user-friendly interface. Searches are completed through a
Boolean search engine. Video clips, sound clips, pictures, and web links are also
Index
encyclopedia that has more than 29,000 short article entries. It also contains a traditional
index.
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Cost
Compton’s Encyclopedia can be purchased in print format for 599.00 dollars. The CD-
ROM version, Compton’s Interactive Encyclopedia 99 costs only 40 dollars and the
Encyclopedia Americana
Citation
Encyclopedia American was the first encyclopedia ever published within the United
States. It is an encyclopedia written for a mature audience, grades 8 and up, with 30
volumes of information. The 2006 edition contains more than 45,000 articles written by
Scope
articles, 23,000 illustrations, and 353,000 index entries. Its focus is on U.S. history,
geography, bibliography, science and technology. Other countries and topics are covered
as well and they make a point of noting that these topics are not sacrificed for the others.
123 Wasserman, T. Group 4’s Evaluation Sets Spring 2009 ILS 504 Okobi
Depth and coverage is extremely good. The 2006 edition includes major revisions on
articles having to do with science, technology, society and politics, visual and performing
Format
The print edition is available in 30 volumes. It is also available on CD-ROM, exactly the
same as the print edition. The online version is available through a subscription with
Grolier.
Audience
Encyclopedia Americana is advertised as being a resource for “grades 8 and up” yet
many entries in the text prove that it can be used as a general reference source for most
adults.
Authority
Encyclopedia Americana was the first encyclopedia printed in the United States and has
been published for more than 175 years. Articles are written by experts in their
respective fields. It is also published by Scholastic with the online version being
Writing Style
Articles are written by experts in their fields. Some articles can be technical in language
Currency
The print version is updated annually. The 2006 edition included 9,500 pages that were
revised or added from the 2005 edition as well as 450 new photographs, illustrations and
maps. The American Annual is also published annually which compiles all of the year’s
main events. The online version is updated quarterly and monthly updates to links.
in length from a couple hundred words to more than 100 pages. Several articles even
include their own table of contents and bibliographic materials. Cross-references can be
found throughout the text. Illustrations are used sparingly with only 23,000 appearing in
the entire text and only 20 percent of those being in color. The online version allows for
keyword and Boolean based searches. Other features of the online version include access
to The Americana Journal, 6,000 bibliographies, 155,000 website links, and access to
Index
Cost
Citation:
Press/Macmillan, 1968-1991.
Scope
Text written for researches inside and outside academia, the audience is high school and
college students. Includes cross-referencing and indexes. Some topics include the
routinization of the use of applied statistics and mathematically modeling as well as the
rise of cultural studies. Social developments that have transformed Orientalism, causality,
Authority
Edited my expert William A. Darity Jr. Professor of Economics and adjunct faculty in
Encyclopedias
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Citation
Purpose
Provides authoritative answers to such questions about general topics. The encyclopedia
Scope
Authority
Accuracy
Arrangement
The front of the book provides notes concerning all the important aspects of an
Cost
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$145.00
Citation
McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science and Technology. 8th ed. 20 vols. New York:
McGraw-Hill, 1997.
Scope
Twenty volume set with topics ranging from 1994-1997 with 7100 entries and 1750 of
Authority
Around 5,000 authors from universities, industry, and government agencies including
Accuracy
Cost
Citation
Purpose
Encourages Learning and respect by ensuring their content follows the Internet Content
Scope
Covers various topics and includes articles as well as cross-references of searched topic.
Format
Online
Authority
Accuracy
Arrangement
Articles will have the outline, media items, web links, related items, and further reading
Special Features
Premium subscription allows full access to up-to-date content, more multi-media and
Cost
Citation
Mirwis, Allan. Subject Encyclopedias: User Guide, Review Citations, and Keyword
The Subject Encyclopedias is really a list of good subject encyclopedias written between
1990-1997 for older students or adults. It was published by Oryx Press, an independent
well-respected publisher that has since been purchased by Greenwood Publishing Group,
Scope
It is an index to assist students and/or library patrons in finding and using the appropriate
subject encyclopedias for their research. Over 1100 subject encyclopedias are included.
130 Wasserman, T. Group 4’s Evaluation Sets Spring 2009 ILS 504 Okobi
Format
Subject Encyclopedias was published in print form only. The 2nd volume has a keyword
index to articles from nearly 100 of the subject encyclopedias—these articles were
Audience
The audience for these volumes is older high school or college students and adults.
Authority
Aside from the authority of the publisher, the editor chose only subject encyclopedias that
Writing Style
Currency
information and without comprehensive articles there is little room for bias.
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Articles are arranged by partial LOC classification number. Each entry includes a
bibliographic citation, citations to reviews and awards from library journals, approximate
number of OCLC holdings, a title index, LC subject headings index, Dewey classification
index, publisher index, and rating index are also provided. Part II of Subject
selected from the entries in Part I because they were deemed to be useful to library
Index
Cost
Citation
First published in 1768, the Encyclopaedia Britannica has been a mainstay at most
libraries since the turn of the last century. The publishing house moved from the United
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Kingdom to the United States in 1901, but retained its British orthography while
Scope
Originally written at some length, articles are now concise and straight to the point while
Format
The New Britannica is available in print and cd-rom, as well as an online edition of the
Britannica.
Audience
The New Britannica is written with college students and educated adults in mind. It is a
general encyclopedia, useful to someone looking to get a first grasp on a new topic.
Authority
Articles are not signed, but the editorial board is made up of academics from some of the
most prestigious universities in the world. There are over 4000 contributors as well as a
Writing Style
The sophistication of the writing fits well with the editors’ intended readership—it is
written in an academic style for use by those familiar with scholarly writings.
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Currency
The New Britannica is a fairly traditional and conservative encyclopedia. With the vast
number of scholars a wide-array of viewpoints are given, but the encyclopedia does tend
Entries are arranged in continuous alphabetical order, regardless of the spaces between
the words. The encyclopedia is arranged into three basic sections: a micropaedia
(consisting of short articles, usually fewer than 750 words, vol. 1-12), a macropaedia
(consisting of long articles, 2+ pages, vol. 13-29) and a propaedia (a summary of all
Index
Cost
Britannica
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Citation
knowledge in a clear and easy to read form. Whereas, the website is a watered down
version of the old warhorse, The Encyclopaedia Britannica, now in its third century of
publication. There is also a premium version of the website that contains the entire
contents of the 32 print volumes as well as an online school edition for youths.
Scope
In 1994 the Britannica became the world’s first online encyclopedia and remains a
standard by which other compare. As of 1933 the encyclopedia was continually revised
Format
While still available in a print version as the New Encyclopedia Britannica the many
also available of the encyclopedia and has been since 1989. Britannica also offers
Audience
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The Britannica is written for a general audience of educated adults. It is considered more
Authority
The writers and editorial board of Britannica consist of leaders in their fields, from Nobel
Writing Style
Articles in the Britannica are clear and easy to read (despite still being written using the
English spellings instead of the American ones). The interface is also very user-friendly.
Currency
The encyclopedia is updated frequently and the editorial board meets regularly to discuss
concerned. It is certainly objective and gives broad coverage to a wide array of topics,
but if there is a viewpoint to lean towards, the Britannica will lean towards the more
conservative one.
Keyword searches are easily performed and the interface is user-friendly, however, I
repeatedly ran into the problem of not being a premium subscriber and so only being
Index
N/A.
Cost
The cost can be obtained from the corporate office and depends on the features desired.
Citation
The Random House Encyclopedia. Rev 3rd ed. New York: Random House, 1990.
Random House is the largest American publishing house—known for its dictionaries and
Scope
The encyclopedia is geared towards older children and as a basic reference for adults. It
would be easy for a teacher to create a curriculum based on the large subject areas
Format
the colorpedia, time chart, alphapedia and atlas. The colorpedia has over 11,000 color
Audience
Too sophisticated for elementary school children, the encyclopedia was likely intended
for middle school and high schoolers. The articles can be long, but are exceedingly well
Authority
Articles are not attributed and so there is no way to decide who contributed to what—
Writing Style
The writing is more complicated than one would instinctually assume, given the
wonderful illustrations. A younger child would love the pictures, but would be unable to
read the text. However, the encyclopedia is really too simplistic for college students or
educated adults, so it is best used by 12-18 year olds and adults looking for fairly simple
explanations.
Currency
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It is outdated, no doubt—it was published in 1990, before the World Wide Web.
Controversial topics are glossed over—there are fewer than 100 words on AIDS.
It’s arrangement is unusual and although the “colorpedia” has excellent illustrations, the
encyclopedia is not in an overly user-friendly form. The time chart and atlas are helpful,
but it would have been easier to have one encyclopedia instead of two separate parts
Index
Cost
Citation
World Book is probably one of the most used and best known encyclopedias in the library.
It is a general knowledge encyclopedia and has been in publication for nearly a century.
Scope
World Book is intended for a general audience and as such has an easy to use format and
clear presentation of materials that elementary school children are able to follow. Articles
begin with the basic information and progress to more advanced information within the
article. Articles are not too long for a child’s attention span while still being informative.
There are over 27,000 illustrations and 3800 contributors to the articles.
Format
The World Book is available in many forms, from the print edition to the online edition to
the dvd edition (that has over 10,000 pictures and illustrations and more than 1500 maps
as well as a search engine). The print edition even comes in different spinal bindings: the
Audience
The World Book is written with students in mind and so the articles’ depth and length are
Authority
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The World Book has nearly 4000 contributors, many of whom are specialists in their
Writing Style
The writing style of the encyclopedia is student-friendly, the English is clear and easy to
follow. Each entry begins fairly simply and the longer ones progress to a more advanced
level, but even younger children can usually understand the first paragraph of entries.
Currency
The World Book has updated or revised nearly a third of its content over the past half
As it is written with children in mind, most topics are treated fairly and with a more
The encyclopedia is arranged alphabetically, letter by letter. Each entry is well-layed out
and easy to follow, the more complicated entries including outlines, chronologies and a
list of related topics. There are also guides to writing and speech making included in the
encyclopedia.
Index
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Cost
The print edition for this year is $1009. The dvd is selling for $40 and the online
subscription is $50.
Dictionaries
Citation
Thomson Gale.
Purpose
This dictionary lists and defines acronyms, intialisms, abbreviations, and similar
contractions.
Scope
Format
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The print edition has four volumes, which are arranged alphabetically. Capitalization,
spacing, and punctuation are not taken into account. An e-book version also exists.
Authority
Understandability
Looking up an abbreviation that has several different meaning attached to it can be a bit
dubious. Subject headings might lend this work a bit more clarity, but it is still an
excellent resource.
Comprehensiveness
There were over 800,000 entries in the 2003 edition, and the 2006 has since added to this
number.
Currency
The work was published in 2006 and contains new terms in areas such as associations,
Value-added features
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Cost
Print: $685
E-book: $984
Citations
Print: American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language. (1980). Boston: Houghton
Mifflin.
Purpose
Scope
The scope of the American Heritage Dictionary is midway between a college dictionary
Format
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The American Heritage Dictionary is available in printed format and as a free online
Authority
In addition to being one of the most recognizable names in standard desk dictionaries,
American Heritage provides a list of editors, contributors, and their usage panel consulted
Understandability
word.
Comprehensiveness
Currency
10,000 new entries were added to the 2000 edition. The latest edition was printed in June
of 2001.
Value-added features
Katz states that “American Heritage is the best singe desk dictionary for etymology and
details on the linguistic sources of most words” (2002, pp. 393). The online version
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contains 900 full-page, color illustrations, language notes, and root word appendixes.
Cost
The price of the most recent print version ranges from $5.99 to $19.60, depending on the
Citation
Purpose
browsing.
Scope
The book contains 18,000 quotations under 1,500 topics which were selected to represent
Format
The print version contains entries arranged alphabetically by subject with an index of
Authority
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books.
Understandability
Comprehensiveness
With 18,000 quotations, book is not quite as comprehensive as Fowler’s, but contains
11,000 quotations that have never appeared in any other quotation book.
Currency
The most recent edition was published in 1993. Each entry contains a sprinkling of
Value-added Features
Cost
$64.50
Familiar Quotations
Citation
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Passages, Phrases, and Proverbs Traced to Their Sources in Ancient and Modern
Passages, Phrases, and Proverbs Traced to Their Sources in Ancient and Modern
Purpose
ancient Egypt and biblical times to the present day. It is a useful resource for writers and
public speakers.
Scope
The editors attempt to encompass all quotations that have influenced speech throughout
the ages.
Format
Familiar Quotations is available in print and online. Entries are arranged alphabetically
by the source of the quotation. The index is searchable by author, subject, and keyword
in both versions.
Authority
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Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations has been in print for over a hundred years and is regarded
as a trusted source.
Understandability
This resource is well organized and easy to navigate. Any incomprehensibility in the
Comprehensiveness
The most recent addition contains 25,000 quotations from 2,500 authors.
Currency
The electronic version focuses mostly on historical quotations, but the print version
contains quotations from modern personalities such as Maya Angelou, Bill Clinton, and
Jerry Seinfeld.
Value-added features
Cost
The price of the print version ranges from $5.95 to $79.99 depending on the distributor.
Citation
Chapman, R. L., Wentworth, H., & Kipfer, B. A. (1995). Dictionary of American slang.
Scope
The third edition of the Dictionary of American Slang contains more than 19,000 terms of
American slang. Words included range from the common and acceptable to the most
unmentionable. All periods of American history are covered from railroad workers, to
Format
Authority
Entries are arranged in alphabetical order. For each entry the term is given in bold print
with variations of the term given in parentheses and the definition following. Use
examples are given in italicized text following the definition. Cross-references are used
considerably.
Accuracy
Understandability
Comprehensiveness
This dictionary accomplishes its goal of creating a dictionary of American slang from
Currency
The third addition contains over 2,000 new terms including terms that have come into
Value-added features
Included in the text are pronunciation guides, word origins, and examples of appropriate
usage. A highlighting system has also been integrated to help user know which terms
Cost
The fourth edition can be purchased through any bookstore for about forty dollars.
Citation
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Burchfield, R.W. (1996). New Fowler’s Modern English Usage. New York: Oxford
University Press.
Purpose
Fowler’s is a guide to properly using words when writing and speaking the English
language.
Scope
Entries describe the proper usage of thousands of English words, including proper
grammar, syntax, style, and appropriateness. Word usage is covered for all major English
speaking countries.
Format
Authority
The most recent edition was edited and updated by Robert Burchfield, who was the Chief
Editor of the Oxford English Dictionary from 1971 to 1984. The Chicago Tribune called
Understandability
The entries in this book are quite readable, and often entertaining.
152 Wasserman, T. Group 4’s Evaluation Sets Spring 2009 ILS 504 Okobi
Comprehensiveness
Usage for thousands of English words are included in this text. Emphasis is placed on
British and American usage, but Australian usages are presented as well.
Currency
Burchfield added 24 new entries in a special supplement. Entries themselves have been
Cost
$29.95
Citation
Funk and Wagnalls New Standard Dictionary of the English Language. (1963). New
Purpose
Scope
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The Standard Dictionary of the English Language was first published by Funk and
Wagnalls in 1894. The New Standard Dictionary of the English Language is a result of
several decades of changes and additions to that original text. The editors have attempted
Format
Authority
The dictionary was prepared by 380 scholars and specialists under the direction of the
editing staff.
Understandability
Comprehensiveness
Certainly one of the largest standard dictionaries available, but with very few modern
Currency
I was unable to find any evidence that Funk and Wagnalls continues to publish
dictionaries with this exact scope and title. The 1963 appears to be very outdated in both
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Value-added features
Cost
Unavailable
Citation
University Press.
Scope
A Dictionary of Modern American Usage is the authoritative reference work on the way
American’s use the English language. Topics covered include: basic grammar; word
prides itself on being the essential work for teachers, scholars and students, professional
Format
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This printed text is available through Oxford University Press. It contains more than 700
pages in a single volume and weights approximately 2.8 pounds. This text can be found
online through a subscription with Oxford University Press for their Oxford Reference
Authority
Accuracy
Library Journal refers the A Dictionary of Modern American Usage as “the best of its
Understandability
Entries are clear and concise. Each entry is printed in bold text. Definitions of usage,
examples, and a short history of origin and usage are given for many texts. Several
entries also contain written examples to display how to use the rule. Cross-references are
Comprehensiveness
This dictionary contains a vast amount of information on the English language as used by
Currency
A Dictionary of Modern American Usage reports the newest usages of the “American”
language. Since 1998 a second edition has been produced under the name Gardner’s
Modern American Usage. This text contains more than 1,300 new entries as well as
Cost
Through Oxford Press this text is available for $21.95. Oxford Reference Online which
provides access to the dictionary can be purchased for $19.95 a month or for $159.00 for
an annual subscription.
Citation
Mass: Merriam-Webster.
Scope
students, yet the definitions and information found within would be helpful for all adults.
This dictionary is based on the unabridged Webster’s Third New International Dictionary.
However from this text definitions were simplified and shortened as well as terms that
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were too technical, archaic, and esoteric were deleted. In addition to Webster’s Third, as
with all previous editions of this text the words were taken from the collection of
citations, which total more than 15,700,000, housed in the offices of the company.
5,700,000 of these citations were not available to the producers of Webster’s Third.
Format
through the internet. The CD-ROM and internet editions contain all of the text from the
print version as well as some multimedia features such as sound and graphics.
Authority
Accuracy
Understandability
Definitions are precise and clear with an emphasis placed on the contemporary use and
pronunciation of the words. Entries are begun by the term in bold type. Following this
term each entry includes the part of speech, pronunciation, inflections, etymology,
definitions, notes of usage, and any synonyms. If possible the date of the first known
Comprehensiveness
This dictionary is one of the most comprehensive of its kind. It draws its words from
unabridged dictionaries available. With more than 15,700,000 available citations for use
this dictionary includes words that are used both commonly and uncommonly throughout
Currency
update many entries an emphasis is place upon having definitions that are consistent with
Value-added features
biographical names; geographical names; signs and symbols are all included.
•Explanatory chart at the beginning of the text details each part included in the
entries.
Cost
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This dictionary is available through Merriam-Webster for $26.95. This print version
Citation
Scope
specifically the average college student. Similar to the Collegiate Dictionary the words
included in this text are developed from word lists created based on Webster’s Third New
Format
Authority
Accuracy
Understandability
Entries are organized in alphabetical order. Each entry contains a definition of the term, a
list of synonyms, antonyms, and other terms that are related or contrast. The key term is
separated from the rest of the text by bold font. A useful addition to the text is the guide
words that can be found in the top corners of every page. This text also used thousands
Comprehensiveness
The list of words included in this thesaurus is generated based on the citation bank
developed for the Webster’s Third New International Dictionary. It is therefore very
comprehensive.
Currency
There is a focus in this text similar to that of the Collegiate Dictionary to keep terms up
Cost
This text cost $18.95 but can be accessed on the internet through http://www.merriam-
Merriam-Webster Online
Citation
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary
Scope
Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (The 11th edition). Included from this text are the A-Z
Geographical Names sections. It also includes illustrations and tables, with the exception
of the Signs and Symbols section. In addition to the basic dictionary features there are
Format
This is an online product that draws its information from several printed texts including
Authority
Accuracy
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All text is taken from print publications. The text seems to be very accurate.
Understandability
Entries are easy to understand. Entry titles are given in bold at the top of the page with
different possible uses given directly under. Pronunciation, function, etymology, and a
definition are all given as well. There is also and interactive feature that reads the word
aloud.
Comprehensiveness
This site encompasses not only a good general dictionary but a thesaurus,
Spanish/English Dictionary and a medical dictionary. In addition to these texts they also
have daily updates and games to learn spelling. Entries can be found through keyword
Currency
Due to the online format words are able to update much more quickly that the printed
text. This being said almost all text is taken directly from the print versions.
Value-added features
•Word Games
•Spelling Bee Hive – Has coverage from the national Spelling Bee as well as the
•Links to other sites such as Britannica Online, Learner’s Dictionary, and their online
store.
Cost
Features on this site are free however many of the link require a subscription to use.
Citation
Press.
Scope
The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations compiles more than 20,000 quotations from more
than 3,000 authors. The text chronologically spans centuries of literature and documents
from 16th-century merchants to currant royalty. Quotations in this text can come from
many different locations such as literature, technological and cultural change, or even
royal figures. Texts that quotation can come from include: novels; plays; poems; diaries;
letters; speeches; and biographies. This dictionary also contains many special sections
including: Advertising slogans; Film lines; Newspaper headlines and leaders; and Last
Format
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through Oxford Reference Online as one of many resources available in their reference
package.
Authority
It is published by Oxford University Press and written and edited by Elizabeth Knowles
Accuracy
The quotations seem to be accurate. Each is taken directly from specific sources and the
Understandability
Entries are arranged according to alphabetical rules by the author’s surname. Author’s
names are followed by the dates of birth and death as well as a brief description as to who
they are. Within each author’s entry text are separate by the location the quote was found
and within each of these divisions they are arranged alphabetically according to title.
Cross references are used throughout the text. Each quotation includes the actual
quotation, the year it was published or said, and if possible the location that it was
Two indexes, a thematic index and a keyword index are included to assist in find entries.
The thematic index contains a selection of quotations on a specific subject. Each subject
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heading is followed by a short line from each of the selected quotations as well as a
reference to author’s name, page number, and quotation number. The Keyword index
organizes words by the most significant in each quotation and allows them to be traced in
this way. These key words are kept in strict alphabetical order.
Comprehensiveness
This dictionary accomplishes exactly what it set out to do, create a complied list of many
Currency
For the 1999 edition of this text more than 2,000 brand new quotes were added. While
this text does provide current quotations from people and authors of today it is also an
Value-added features
•Contains a selective thematic index which allows the best quotation on given topics
•Special section including: Advertising slogans; Film lines; Newspaper headlines and
Cost
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The print version of this dictionary can be purchased through Oxford University Press for
$50.00. Oxford Reference Online which provides access to the dictionary can be
Citation
To provide alphabetical series words that have formed in the English language from the
first known definition to its most present use along with all relevant facts, pronunciation
and etymology.
Scope
The dictionary lists all definitions associated with the word, the proper spelling,
Format
Audience
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Authority
Amassed by the editorial staff with help of organizations and many different
individuals.
entries, ordering of senses, pronunciation, the history of the oxford English dictionary,
key to the conventions of the dictionary, key to the pronunciation, List of abbreviations,
Cost
Citation
Partridge, Eric. Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English. 8th ed. New York:
Macmillan, 1984.
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slang English words from a variety of English speaking countries and cultures.
Scope
Over 60,000 entries and 2,000 pages. Coverage of English slang worldwide such as;
America, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, India, South Africa, Ireland,
Format
Audience
Authority
Edited by Tom Slzell American Slang expert, Terry Victor a slang-collector and the
Cost
$57.95
Citation
The Random House Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary. 2d rev. ed. New York: Random
House, 1998.
English language.
Scope
Over 315,000 entries and over 2,400 maps and illustrations as well as 1,000 entries of
new words.
Format
Audience
Authority
Consultants to the editors who expertise in linguistics and the English language.
Currency
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Contents, preface, new words section article, new words listed A-Z, vocabulary entries A-
Z. Can be browsed by main entry, definition, or anagram. Each word has the definition,
etymology, written pronunciation, date of when word or phrase entered into the English
Cost
49.95
Citation
Random House Webster’s College Dictionary. 2d ed. New York: Random House,
1999.
To be a source of information about the English language for not only college students
Scope
The correct spelling, hot it should be hyphenated, pronunciation, variety of forms, the
Format
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Audience
Authority
Currency
Preface, Staff list, consulting staff list, historical timeline of English language, etymology
key, Language key, pronunciation key, foreign sounds key, an article of the Pronunciation
Cost
$36.25
Citation
Random House Webster’s College Thesaurus. New York: Random House, 1997.
To give accurate and up-to-date definitions to old and recent vocabulary in the
English language.
Scope
More than 12,000 main entries with synonym and antonym lists, over 400,000
Format
Audience
Authority
Currency
Cost
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$22.95
Citation
Roget’s II: The New Thesaurus. 3d ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1995.
Scope
Definitions, full list of synonyms, and appropriate usage, cross-referenced words, and an
Authority
Accuracy
Arrangement
Cost
$36.99
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Citation
Scope
More than 330,000 words and phrases organized into 1,075 categories, thousands
Authority
Barbara Ann Kipfer, Ph.D; Dr. Robert L. Chapman, Editor: Greg Chaput and
Arrangement
Biography of Peter Mark Roget, How to Use this Book, Peter Roget’s Preface to the First
used in this book, thesaurus of English words and phrases, index, and finally a how tot
Cost
$79.81
Citation
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1989.
Purpose
Scope
There are approximately 500 entries including both idiomatic phrases and commonly
misused words.
Format
It is available in print format and the words are listed in alphabetical order, letter
by letter.
Authority
The authors and editors of the volume are on staff with Merriam-Webster and are listed
by name in the preface. Merriam-Webster itself is over 150 years old and one of the most
Encyclopedia Britannica.
Accuracy
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Given the authority and the fact that there were five copy editors/proof-readers
going over the text, this dictionary is probably as close to accurate as is possible.
Understandability
Written for a scholarly audience, the language is sophisticated without being convoluted.
There are explanatory notes, a guide to pronunciation symbols and a history of English
usage in the preliminary pages to assist the reader further. There is also a bibliography at
Comprehensiveness
The editors looked through a number of sources with similar concerns to find the subjects
of this book and did a thorough job discussing most of the chosen terms/idioms.
However, this is only 500 English words; many more are misused or misunderstood
everyday and this is only a sampling of what the editors understood to be the most
grievous issues.
Currency
This volume was written in 1989 and the English language, due mainly to the
introduction of the World Wide Web, has undergone an enormous overhaul. Another
volume was published in 1994 and in 2002 a concise version came out as well.
Value-added features
Cost
Citation
1984.
Purpose
Scope
applications amongst synonyms to assist the reader in choosing the exact right word. It
Format
dictionary, the volume offers a survey of the history of English synonymy, an analysis
and definition of both synonym and antonym as well as an introduction to analogous and
contrasted words. There are also explanatory notes and a list of the authors quoted in the
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definitions.
Authority
dictionary were all from the editorial staff of Merriam-Webster and are acknowledged in
the preface.
Accuracy
Understandability
This is a fairly easy to use dictionary, including definitions of the words and,
unlike Roget’s Thesaurus, lists of antonyms and analogous words are included with each
entry as well. The definitions also use quotations to better explain word distinctions.
Comprehensiveness
Currency
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Value-added features
The way the synonyms are distinguished is very useful—especially the way the
synonyms themselves are not only listed but defined so that the distinction can be made
exceedingly clear. Some of the quotes really bring the dissimilarities to life.
Cost
Citation
Webster’s New World College Dictionary. 4th ed. New York: MacMillan, 1999.
Purpose
This dictionary is one of Merriam-Webster’s many that are on the market today.
Scope
esoteric words or unusual meanings of familiar words that they are likely to encounter in
Format
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This dictionary is in print form—In addition to the dictionary itself there are
Authority
There are a vast array of editors, writers and contributors; most of whom have
academic credentials and the least of whom is still a scholar in his or her own right. The
Accuracy
The dictionary is stored electronically and thus has the double assurance of having
been checked over when being digitized. In addition, it took four years to compile this
Understandability
The entries are nicely presented and easily followed. The word-breaks are
particularly useful and comprehensible. The cross-references, idioms and usage labels
Comprehensiveness
The editorial staff keeps track of the way language is used via the collection of
thousands of expressions and citations each month. These then form the backbone of the
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Currency
This edition is ten years old and could probably stand to be updated as the
technical jargon of the last decade has been woven into our daily English usage.
Value-added features
The Reference Supplement is by far the most value-adding feature including all
manner of useful facts. To name but a few, the supplement contains world, Canadian and
US city populations, monetary units, books of the Bible, American Sign Language,
commonly used weights and measures, periodic table of elements, the Constitution and
the Amendments.
Cost
Citation
Unabridged.
Purpose
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word in the English language. It is also the dictionary of choice at the New York Public
Scope
This dictionary includes over 450,000 words—there are over 6 million citations
Format
Authority
behemoth. In addition, the editorial staff consisted of scholars in almost every major
Accuracy
magazines, newspapers, journals, catalogues and books to discover word usage to include
of word usage.
Understandability
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Enormous tome, tiny print and easily torn pages—every student on earth has dealt
with one of these and although it is unwieldy, the definitions it provides are valuable.
Comprehensiveness
The aim of the dictionary is the entire English language as it is currently being
Currency
This dictionary is now sixteen years old. It does not include most of the new
terms derived from internet usage and could stand an update. But if it cost $3.5m to
produce this volume in 1993, the cost alone may well be prohibitive.
Value-added features
also more than 50 tables on everything from Easter dates to Morse code to Uralic
languages included in the dictionary. In addition, there are eight full page illustrations.
Cost
Citation
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Purpose
Scope
With a clear and concise writing style, the over 225,000 entries are made easily
accessible to student readers (age 10+). And the 3000 illustrations not only assist in
Format
Authority
lexicographers, etymologists and linguists—it does not have the built-in authority of the
source.
Accuracy
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Having created 3 million word usage quotations over the better 3rd of a century,
the focus of the dictionary is on terms in common usage and not, say, the more esoteric
Understandability
Though 2 volumes might be a bit cumbersome, the articles are easy to read and
begin with the most common form of the word (ie, the one children are most likely to
Comprehensiveness
children or adults.
Currency
It is over a decade old at this point, but it is still useful for the words it contains, it
Value-added features
The online version is the best feature—it allows for keyword searches and for
Cost
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Your Dictionary
Citation
www.yourdictionary.com
Purpose
Scope
Intended for students or those beginning in a new field, YourDictionary has a full
range of sources from Webster’s New World Dictionary to community forum discussion
Format
Authority
Accuracy
The definitions from Webster’s New World Dictionary are highly accurate—as a
Understandability
The layout of the webpage is fairly easy to follow, though the Google sponsored
ads get in the way. A box including language and translation tools as well as a
separate area on how to create an effective search are both useful and on the homepage.
Comprehensiveness
Currency
The website is updated daily, however the important updates are those made by
Value-added features
The myriad dictionaries and articles that are available via the Language Articles
tab are impressive and potentially handy. The community forums are very interesting for
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“word nerds” and the world games present a fun way to broaden one’s vocabulary.
Cost
Free.
OneLook Dictionaries
Citation
www.onelook.com
Purpose
Scope
OneLook has access to over 5 million words on 900 different online dictionaries.
Users can find definitions of words, sites that translate that word into different languages
and find words that fit a certain pattern (eg., b*?d: bard, bead, bird, etc…).
Format
Authority
websites supplied by OneLook. The site indexes around a thousand different online
189 Wasserman, T. Group 4’s Evaluation Sets Spring 2009 ILS 504 Okobi
Webster’s New World, American Heritage and InfoPlease. However, it also contains
many, many unknown quantities and so the user must be cognizant of the site s/he is
sent to.
Accuracy
Again, the accuracy the user is interested in is not that of the search aggregator,
Understandability
The site is easy to use and has such novel features as wildcard searches
Comprehensiveness
Currency
The sites are all updated regularly and OneLook is updated daily.
Value-added features
The ability to look up phrases is a bonus as is the translation search. But the best
feature is the wildcard search that allows partial words to be queried. Though the reverse
dictionary search that allows for meanings to be looked up is also a wonderful tool.
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Evaluation Set 5
Group 4
Spring 2009
numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6
Terry Wasserman evaluated directory numbers 2, 3, 6, 12, 13, 14, 15 and biographical
Meghan Glasgow evaluated directory numbers 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 26, 27 and
Jessica Venturo evaluated directory numbers 22, 23, 24, 25, 28, 29 and biographical
Directories
Scope
The details are of links to information resources about collection development and
acquisitions internationally.
Audience
Format
Comprehensiveness
There are verifications if an item is still in print, pricings, listings, if it is present in web
collections or online catalogs as well as web pages for library vendors and publishers,
search engines.
Currency
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References
Cost
Free
Citation
American Book Trade Directory 2008-2009. 54th ed. New Providence, N.J.: R.R.
Bowker, 1999.
Scope
This directory includes 21,214 retailers and wholesalers—over 600 of which are new to
this edition. It also includes almost 10,000 e-mail addresses, about 15,000 fax numbers
Audience
This directory was intended for booksellers, publishers and others in the book trade.
Format
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Authority
This is the 54th edition published since 1915—it was published by Information Today,
Inc., the publisher of Information Today, American Library Directory and Literary
Selection
This directory is meant to be complete and thus include all relevant retailers and
Comprehensiveness
Entries are listed alphabetically—there are six sections. The first is Retailers and
Antiquarians, the second is Wholesalers, the third is Book Trade Information, the fourth
is Dealers of Foreign Language Books, the fifth is an Index to the Types of Stores and the
sixth is a general index. The information provided in each entry is chosen in order to
allow the reader the best access to the right person/office for queries. Entries are concise
Currency
The most recent publication, the 55th edition, was put out this year—this directory is
updated annually.
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Cost
$309
Citation
American Library Directory. 61st ed. 2 vols. New Providence, N.J.: R.R. Bowker, 2008.
Scope
The directory is a listing of academic, government, public and special libraries in the U.S.
and Canada.
Audience
This directory can be used by the general public, students, librarians and information
professionals.
Format
Authority
This is the 61st edition published—it was published by Information Today, Inc., the
publisher of Information Today, American Book Trade Directory and Literary Market
Selection
This is meant as a comprehensive directory, thus it attempts to include every library in the
state/province and then by city and then by library name. Entries provide the name of the
library, its address, names of key personnel and the information on the library’s holdings.
Entries may also include information on income, e-mail, subject interests, special
collections, automation and publications. There are also organizational and personnel
indicies.
Currency
Updated biennially until 1978, it has been updated annually since then.
References
additional references.
Cost
Scope
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Over 105,000 schools ranging from Kindergarten to twelfth grade in the United States are
listed. The entries contain, public, private and catholic schools, fax numbers, addresses,
telephone numbers.
Comprehensiveness
Each entry contains at least school name, address, office telephone, principal’s name,
grade levels and type of school. It is searchable by school name, city, country, or zip code
Currency
There are weekly updates during the school’s academic calendar year.
Cost
Scope
Audience
For those seeking funding in the fields of business, civic improvement, and social welfare
that benefit hospitals, organizations, community service groups, research facilities, and
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other institutions.
Format
Selection
Grants were chosen that fund construction, facilities, or project costs for education,
medical research, health care, civic improvement, programs donating consulting services
Comprehensiveness
The details of each funding resource consists of type, purpose and duration of the grant;
amount of money the foundation is willing to grant, the eligibility for grant applicants,
most recent year of statistics available, application instructions and deadline; the
foundations address, telephone number, fax number, email address, and website. Types of
applicants from the United States or Canada, directed towards those earning their
Currency
Updated annually by the foundations. Changes in the entry are added and research is
References
An opportunity to update the entry data is offered to the foundations and funding sources.
Any information not updated by the sources is then researched by the staff and is second
hand information.
Citation
http://wwwsun.ipl.org.ar/ref/AON/ or http://www.ipl.org/div/aon/
Scope
This site is a collection of over 2000 Internet sites providing information about
organizations including academic societies, advocacy groups, art and cultural, labour
Audience
This is a resource of the Internet Public Library (IPL) and as such is intended for public
library users who use the internet. IPL includes a “kispace” and “teenspace,” but this
Format
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The online format has ten different main subject categories and then each is further
broken down into additional sub-categories. The ten main categories are business &
economics; computers & internet; education; entertainment & leisure; health & medical;
arts & humanities; law, government & political science; regional & country information;
Authority
1995. For ten years U. Mich. ran the site for the benefit of the public and the site
broadened to what it is today and incorporated new technology as it came into existence.
In 2006, Drexel University began hosting the site, though U. Mich. stayed on as an active
Selection
The AON attempts to include all recognized associations and organizations within their
ten categories. Associations either write in with their own information or users identify a
Comprehensiveness
Each category is summarized in a sentence beneath the heading. Each entry includes the
name and site of the association as well as a blurb describing it. The subject category and
Currency
Most of the association information was put online before 2002, but newer associations
have been included since then (and are only on the 2nd website noted above).
References
The sources of information that IPL uses are the homepages of the associations and
organizations themselves.
Cost
Scope
Format
Authority
Arrangement/Entries
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Arranged by specific companies and specific industries, each entry detailing key decision
makers of the company and company prospect. The total employees, legal status, and
annual US sales.
Currency
Scope
Commercial database source for information about businesses. More than 140 million
business records, covering topics of risk management, sales and marketing, supply
Audience
Format
Web based.
Comprehensiveness
Entries may contain lawsuits, lien or judgments filed against the company, telephone
Currency
Use data collection tools that allow for updates over 1.5 million times per day.
Scope
programs.
Audience
Format
Selection
Comprehensiveness
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Entries contain the description of the foundation, what the requirements are for funding,
the amount of money being granted the previous year’s amount of grant, the contact
information with full address, telephone number, email and website, along with the
deadline.
Currency
Updated annually.
Directory of Special Libraries and Information Centers. Retrieved from Gale’s Ready
Directory of Special Libraries and Information Centers. 24th ed. 3 vols. Detroit: Gale,
1999.
Scope
information on more than 34,000 special libraries and information centers internationally.
Special libraries, unlike public or academic ones, are restricted in their content by subject
matter and would include such libraries as museum or historical society libraries, law
libraries, medical libraries, corporate libraries and special collections (if maintained
separately) of public or academic libraries. The directory covers topics from anatomy to
Audience
The audience for DSLIC would be students, researchers or even the general public—
anyone who is looking for subject-specific resources (particularly someone looking for
Format
The DSLIC is available both in print as well as online. The online format is available
through Gale Ready Reference which is a subscriber service. The libraries and
search.
Authority
Thomson Gale is a highly respected reference publisher and the authority for this source.
Selection
This is intended as a comprehensive source and as such attempts to include all special
Comprehensiveness
Currency
The most current print edition is from 2004 and the online source is also copyrighted to
References
The information is cross-referenced, but acquired from the original source and so there
Cost
Citation
Scope
The material has over 25,000 organizations, some of which are as follows; public
Format
Authority
Arrangement/Entries
Eighteen subject sections have entries that detail the contact information of the
organization’s name, founding date, head of the organization, staff, budget, languages,
abbreviations.
Currency
Indexes
The six indexes include a geographic index, keyword and name index, a description of
Cost
$660.00
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Citation
Jacobs, D. G. (2008). The Foundation directory, 2008. New York: Foundation Center.
Scope
A listing of private foundations affording grants to the community projects in the United
States.
Format
Authority
Arrangement/Entries
The material’s entries contain in alphabetical order the address, name, funding
description, data for previous funding years, officer and trustee list, as well as the IRS
Employer Identification Number. The material provides a list of the top ten foundations
Currency
Yearly.
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Indexes
Index contains, Donors, trustees and officers, support, subject, newly added foundations,
Cost
Foundation Center
Scope
This online source provides a virtual ocean of information on foundations that provide
Audience
The audience for this website includes individuals seeking grants, grant fundraisers, grant
Format
This online format is user-friendly and efficient. There are five main drop-down menus
(Get Started, Find Funders, Gain Knowledge, View Events and Shop) as well as ten
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buttons across the top of the screen. There is a Welcome box and a What’s
Authority
The website is run by the Foundation Center, a non-profit founded in 1956. The
Selection
They seek to publish all useful information about U.S. grants and philanthropies.
Comprehensiveness
makers, including a “foundation finder” service. The finder provides the contact
information, the types of grants made, the IRS exemption status, the tax data and the EIN
of the foundation. The “trend tracker” provides charts on philanthropies financial activity
and the “990 finder” provides the total assets, type of form, number of pages and EIN for
Currency
References
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The website refers to their Foundations Online subscription service, their daily news
service Philanthropy News Digest and their annual Foundations Today Series.
Cost
Foundations Online
Citation
Scope
This is a subscription service that allows users to search the Foundation Center databases.
These databases include information on over 95,000 foundations, corporate donors and
grant-making public charities in the U.S. and 1.3 million of their recent grants.
Audience
The site is intended for grant-seekers, grant-makers, policy makers and the media.
Format
The online format requires a certain amount of work on the user’s part—there are many
boxes to be filled in and it takes a certain amount of time. However, nothing compared to
writing an actual grant application, so in that sense it’s a gentle foreboding of what’s to
come. The homepage includes four main categories: Search Grantmakers, Search
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Companies, Search Grants and Search 990s. There are tutorials and tours of the site, free
Authority
The authority of the site is based on that of the Foundation Center, a non-profit founded
other grant makers. Their mission is to broaden public knowledge about U.S.
philanthropies.
Selection
searcher may limit the organizations to those that have given out grants recently. The
searcher will also limit the search by state, type of grant making organization, type of
grant, etc.
Comprehensiveness
The FDO provides all of the necessary information for a grant-seeker to assess a
philanthropy: a profile, basic information about the philanthropy, the donor, the
background of the philanthropy, their limitations, their purpose and activities, their
data, additional location information and selected grants (each entry, in its entirety
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Currency
The site is worked on daily and the information is updated regularly, as needed.
References
Cost
The cost of a subscription begins at $19.95 a month; however, the site can be accessed for
Hoover’s Online
Citation
Scope
Hoovers offers business information and analysis on its website through a database of
over 25 million corporations and organizations. It offers free and paid-subscription only
information.
Audience
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Hoovers main source of revenue comes from selling its paid-subscription services to
Format
Hoovers is online as well as published in a print form. The online form includes tabs for
Companies, People, Industries and Expert Advice as well as newsletters and two blogs
Authority
Hoovers has been a subsidiary of Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) since 2003. D&B is one of
the best recognized and regarded names in business information and research in the field.
Selection
Comprehensiveness
Each entry offers a brief overview of the subject and then, for the companies it states the
headquarters, the news about the company, the financials and the jobs (all the data
together is about 1500 words). In the case of industry overviews, there are 11 subject
headings (under which are over a hundred sub-categories): Construction and Real Estate;
Finance and Insurance; Food and Agriculture; Healthcare; Manufacturing; Public Service,
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References
Though most of the articles were written for Hoover, often the author’s name and home
institution are listed (as proof of authority). Hoovers also includes information from
TheLadders.com, Going Public LLC, Comcast Business, Franchise Gator, Kolbe Corp.
and features sponsors (e.g., The Ladders) as well as partners (e.g., Franchise Gator).
Cost
The student rate subscription begins at $50/month, the executive at $75/month or $845
Citation
Information Today, Inc. (2008). Literary market place: LMP 2009 : the directory of the
American book publishing industry with industry yellow pages. Medford, NJ:
Information Today.
Scope
Literary Market Place is a complete business directory for the American book publishing
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industry. It attempts to include all United States and Canadian publishers who produce
more than three books annually. This does not apply to publishers to dictionaries,
encyclopedias, atlases, Braille books, or University Presses. Literary agents are only
included Literary Market Place has received three letters of recommendations from
Format
Authority
If any type of mistake is found within the text corrections can be submitted to the editors
Arrangement/Entries
Entries are arranged in two easy to use volumes and 54 sections meant to organize
everyone and everything having to do with the publishing industry. Volume one contains
publishing industry information such as book publishers in the United States, Canada,
and internationally if they have a U.S. office, book clubs, distributors, agents,
organizations, events and literary awards. Each entry contains the name of the
organization, address, telephone number, key personnel, branch offices, annotations and
some descriptive information about the company. The second volume contains “yellow
pages” of the industry and a directory of publishers and their toll free numbers. The
Currency
Literary market Place gets published annually with additions and revisions to old entries.
Indexes
This text contains four indexes: Company Index; Personnel index; directory of
publishers’ toll free numbers; and a general index to all of the sections.
Cost
The 2009 print version of this text can be purchased for $309.00.
Citation
Information Today, (2009). Literary Market Place Online. Retrieved April 19, 2009, from
Scope
This text has a similar scope to that of Literary Market Place however in addition to that
printed text International Literary Market Place is also included. International Literary
Format
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Online, it is the electronic version of Literary Market Place and International Literary
Market Place.
Authority
If any type of mistake is found within the text corrections can be submitted to the editors
Arrangement / Entries
The online version of Literary Market Place has joined with International Literary
Market Place to bring subscribers listings on more than 30,000 companies, books,
periodicals, awards, organizations, agents, and more. Search options on the website
include quick search and advanced search. In advanced search there are four options to
limit results and obtain the desired results quickly including: Publishers; Agents; Trade
Services; and Trade Resources. Other search options include subject search, location,
and name. In addition to the search options it is possible to view alphabetical listings of
publishers, agents, and several industry services. Similar to the print text entries contain
name, address, telephone number, key personnel, annotations, and some more descriptive
company information.
Currency
Cost
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Citation
Gale Group, & MSGi Direct. (2001). National faculty directory. Detroit: Gale Group.
Scope
National Faculty Directory is a list of more 900,000 members of teaching faculties in the
United States and some Canadian institutions. Community colleges, four-year colleges,
and universities are included. The text covers more than 4,600 American colleges, and
240 Canadian institutions that use English instructional materials. Faculty members
included in this text are obtained from class schedules and academic catalogs.
Format
This directory is available in print format and through Gale Directory Library.
Authority
Arrangement/Entries
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Each entry includes the name of the faculty member in bold print, their job title, address,
institution name, department, and phone number. Entries are arranged in alphabetical
Currency
This text is updated annually, each October, with supplements being published annually
in April. Each supplement contains the names of faculty members not included in the
Cost
The most recent edition, edition 40, of the 2008 National Faculty Directory is available
Peterson’s
Citation
Scope
schools, career schools, online and continuing education, summer opportunities, study
abroad, and K-12 schools and programs. In addition to basic information on each of
these types of programs there is also financial aid such as scholarship information, and
payment planning; college planning; test preparation; chats with experts; and career
exploration.
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Format
Authority
Arrangement/Entries
enrolled, SAT scores, ACT scores, tuition, and entrance difficulty. Some entries also have
an extend listing with virtual tours, pictures, and live chats. Entries can be located
through school searches. Search criteria on the site includes: location; size; male-female
ratios; GPA; Selectivity; majors; clubs; housing; and more. Searches can also be done by
subject or name.
Currency
Cost
PhoneDisc
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Scope
Through PhoneDisc several options such as PhoneDisc Business which offers 9.5 million
listings are available. Items are collected from phone books, and from mailing lists.
Format
Authority
Currency
Publishers Directory
Citation
Scope
publisher, distributor, and wholesalers. Companies included range from small presses to
groups promoting special interests from ethnic heritage to alternative medical treatments.
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Format
Authority
Arrangement/Entries
Entries include full contact information; basic information about the publisher including
sales, numbers of employees, date founded, affiliates, mergers, number of new titles, total
titles, description of activities, ISNBs, and other useful data; subjects of concentration;
listings of key officers and personnel; special services; subdivision and branch offices;
and more. Entries are organized alphabetically by the name of the publisher.
Currency
The next edition to be available will be in November of 2009. This text is updated twice
a year.
Indexes
Indexes give access point through name, imprints, areas of specialization and
geographically.
Cost
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The print edition of the text cost $641.00 while for information on the online version a
Citation
Research Centers and Services Directory. Retrieved April 20, 2009 from
http://www.gale.cengage.com/pdf/facts/rcsd.pdf
Scope
Format
Authority
Arrangement/Entries
name(s), Acronym, contact information, Head of organization, E-mail and home page,
Currency
Updated constantly
Indexes
N/A
Cost
Citation
Research Centers Directory. (2004). (31st ed.) Farmington Hills, MI: Thomson Gale.
Scope
This directory lists nearly 13,700 university-related and other nonprofit research
and space sciences, behavioral and social sciences, biological sciences and ecology,
technology, government and public affairs, humanities and religion, labor and industrial
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relations, law, medical sciences, physical and earth sciences, and regional and area
studies.
Format
format on CD-ROM.
Authority
Arrangement/Entries
Listings are arranged into 17 sections by subject, which are grouped into five broad
categories. Entries are arranged alphabetically within each section. The first volume
contains an introduction, a user's guide, a list of abbreviations and the descriptive listings.
Currency
This volume was published in 2004. A supplement titled New Research Centers is
Indexes
The second volume contains four indexes. The Master Index is a arranged alphabetically
and contains former names. The Personal Name Index lists alphabetically the names of
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all research staff listed in the directory. The Geographic Index lists centers by the city
and state or province in which they are based and includes complete contact information.
The Subject Index provides terms and cross-references for classifying research centers
Citation
Scope
The Register provides descriptive listings of over 75,000 corporations, the names and
titles of over 390,000 executives, and 77,000 biographical sketches of top-level managers
Format
Authority
Information in the directory originates from Standard & Poor’s databases, and is revised
with the assistance of daily news services, press announcements, trade publications, and
Arrangement/Entries
the company’s contact information, officer descriptions, the names of company service
providers, stock information, a description of the company’s products and services, North
division names and functions, subsidiaries, and affiliates. Volume 2 has two sections.
The first contains individual listings of directors and executives, along with their business
affiliations, contact information, year and place of birth, college and year of graduation,
Currency
The 2009 Register contains over 600 new corporate listings and over 11,500 new
Indexes
The second section of Volume 2 contains the indices, which are divided into seven
sections. These include: a guide to the use of NAICS code numbers, a cross-reference to
obituary section, a list of new individual additions, and a list of new company additions.
Subject Collections
Citation
Subject Collections. (1993). (7th ed.). New Providence, NJ: R.R. Bowker
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Scope
This directory provides a listing of special book collections and subject emphases as
reported by university, college, public, and special libraries and museums in the United
Format
Authority
To compile the directory, editors sent questionnaires to listed institutions. Entries that
were compiled through research by the editors have been marked with a dagger.
Arrangement/Entries
Entries are arranged geographically under Library of Congress Subject Headings, then
alphabetically by the name of the library. The first volume contains subject headings
Currency
Indexes
No index
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Cost
Unavailable
Citation
Scope
Format
Authority
Arrangement/Entries
The 20 volumes of this text are divided into three sections: Products and Services;
Catalog File; and Company Profiles. Volumes 1 through 17 contain the products and
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services, offering a subject approach to the text. These entries are arranged alphabetically
by the service or product. Within each product or service entry manufacturers or sources
are listed by state and organized within states alphabetically. Each of these entries
includes company name and contact information. Volumes 18 and 19 contain the
information such as company name, phone numbers, addresses, and type of product
divisions of the company; and a complete product line. The Catalog File section contains
the complete, current catalogs for more than 2,000 companies. These catalogs are cross-
Currency
This text is updated annually. Online versions are updated more often, for example
Indexes
Volume 17 contains the index of products and services. It can be found directly
following that section of the text. Volume 17 also contains the trademarks and brand
names index.
Cost
Citation
Scope
includes more than 30,000 profiles of academic institutions and more than 200,000 staff.
Each type of place of higher learning is included in the text including 6,200 entries in
Universities and colleges, 6,600 research institutions, 3,000 museums and art galleries,
5,300 learned societies, 2,500 libraries and archives, and 26,000 publications.
Format
Authority
Arrangement/Entries
The minimum entry within this text contains the name of the institution, address, and
telephone number. Other features which can be contained in each entry include: number
with it; names of faculty members; e-mail addresses; and collection details. Entries are
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organized by country. Within each country section there are further subdivisions into
museums or art galleries, learned societies, libraries, universities and colleges, and others.
Currency
Indexes
Cost
The 2009 print edition can be purchased from amazon.com for $633.93.
Citation
Associations.
Scope
Format
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The book was published as a single print volume. The current edition is published in six
Authority
Inclusion in the directory was determined by the aims of the organization, its
membership, structure, finance, relations with other organizations, activities, and other
Arrangement/Entries
The Yearbook is divided into two sections. Section A provides descriptive listings of
entries arranged by a number assigned by the publisher. Each entry includes the
Currency
The only edition I had access to was published in 1975. The most recent volume was
Indexes
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The book contains seven indexes, which provide cross-references to listings by subject,
region, English name, other-language names, geographic location, initials and acronyms,
Cost
The most recent edition may be purchased from the publisher for $2894.
Biographical Resources
AnyWho Directories
Citation
Scope
AnyWho Directory is an online directory that contains White Pages which a reverse
lookup, Yellow Pages, Maps and driving directions, and an area code lookup.
Format
Authority
White Page information is provided by Intelius Inc. and is derived from public records.
Arrangement/Entries
Entries contain the name of the person, the address, and phone number. White page
searches can be completed if the last name of the person is known along with the state,
city, zip code, or first name. Background and e-mail searches are also available though
this option. A reverse lookup can be completed if the phone number is known. Yellow
Currency
Cost
Biographies:
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Scope
Guide to more than 36,000 famous and infamous newsmaker from biblical times to
present day. Entries detail the best known name of the individual, the complete name of
the individual, the nickname, name of a group he or she was/is associated with; dates and
places of birth and when appropriate death; as well as the nationality and occupation.
Those considered newsworthy are those who earned popular recognition, caused
Audience
Format
Selection
Comprehensiveness
Cost
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$195.00
Scope
Over 400 biographies of people who died between 1996-early 2001. Some persons
mentioned include slaves, composers, assassins, and first ladies. The focus is on people of
Audience
Format
Selection
Comprehensiveness
Cost
$1,995
Biographical Information
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http://www.library.uiuc.edu/rex/erefs/biography.htm
Scope
General reference sources well detail prominent historical figures with a brief overview
of biographical information.
Audience
Format
Web based
Selection
Comprehensiveness
National and International searches for bibliographic sources, people, obituaries and other
people in the news, Genealogy Master Index, Biography Resource Center which contains
over 325,000 people through history around the world spanning many disciplines and
subject areas. There are over 427,000biographies from over 960 volumes and more than
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135 Gale sources with full-text articles from over 270 magazines.
Currency
Updated frequently.
References
Cost
http://www.library.uiuc.edu/rex/erefs/biography.htm
Citation
http://www.library.uiuc.edu/rex/erefs/biography.html
Scope
which are open and accessible to the general public and 15 of which are subscription
services.
Audience
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The audience for this website would undoubtedly be college and university students and
staff.
Format
Authority
The reference staff at the University Library at the University of Illinois at Urbana-
Champaign (the main U. of Illinois campus) is the authority for the source.
Selection
Comprehensiveness
Each entry gives a comprehensive explanation of the site, its uses and the types of entries
Currency
References
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Within the short explanations of the site there is no room for additional references.
However, many of the websites that are linked to include references in their entries.
Cost
Scope/Purpose
Shows multiple listings for the same person, more than 12 million biographical sketches,
Format
Selection
Comprehensiveness
Currency
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References
Cost
$325
Biography.com
Scope
Biography videos, audio, people database, top ten searched biographies, Bio channel
television shows, top ten searched videos, and other related sites on AETN networks.
Audience
Format
Comprehensiveness
Very lengthy biographies that include picture of the individual, videos and images related
to the individual, a photo gallery, related projects of the person, people related to the
Cost
Free
Biography Index
Citation
http://www.hwwilson.com/databases/bioind.htm
Scope
The indicies are published quarterly with annual cumulations beginning in 1946 to the
present. The information from the 1984 and onwards cumulations can be found in the
database. Each year the Index covers the over 3000 publications indexed by Wilson, plus
other selected journals and 2000 biographies or collective biographies or books that
Audience
Format
In addition to the print format, there is an online format Biography Index 1984-present
and a retrospective (which includes the new materials as well) Biography Index Past and
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Present.
Authority
H.W. Wilson is one of the most well-regarded publishers in the industry; it is an authority
in and of itself.
Selection
The Index includes such biographical items as interviews, poetry, obituaries, collections
Comprehensiveness
letter, by last name—they are very short, approximately 50 words and the list of
Currency
Originally published quarterly with annual cumulations, the online version is now revised
References
The print version includes a Checklist of Composite Books Analyzed for the reader to
refer to.
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Cost
Print editions (retrospective available only) are $395 and an online subscription is also
$395.
Citation
Cambridge Biographical Encyclopedia. 2nd ed. New York: Cambridge University Press,
1998.
Scope
biographies ranging from a sentence or two to full length treatments. More attention is
paid to 20th c. personalities and special attention has been put to redressing the imbalance
Audience
Format
Authority
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Cambridge University Press is the oldest printer and publisher in the world and one of the
Selection
Aborigines and Maori, the CBE makes a point of including an international variety of
1600 full length entries. In addition there is a 150 page Ready Reference section of short
entries on over 10,000 people. Most entries are around 70 words, but there are a few
cases of whole page biographical essays. Each entry includes birth time/place
information, family, career and any other pertinent information about the person.
Currency
The 2nd edition has 500 additional people and has coverage through the year 1998.
References
The print version includes cross-references—the online version does as well and also
Cost
Contemporary Authors
Citation
Contemporary Authors. Retrieved on 19 April 2009 via the New York Public Library’s
Access to Galenet.
Scope
The electronic version has 135,298 contemporary authors. This source lists biographical
Audience
This source is geared towards students, book club members, journalists and legal
departments.
Format
This source is available in print editions as well as electronically. The print editions are
Authority
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the authority is fairly well-informed. The publisher, Gale, is widely recognized for their
Selection
Authors listed are generally those who have been published in commercial print or by
Comprehensiveness
Each entry contains a full length profile of the author ranging anywhere from 5500 words
to 12,000 or more. Most entries include the authors name, personal information
addresses, career summary, memberships, awards and honors, biographical and critical
sources.
Currency
Data updates are continuous online. The print version is updated periodically.
References
Cost
The print version can be purchased on Amazon.com for $255 and for the online
Current Biography
Citation
Current Biography Yearbook 2004. Thompson, C. (ed.). NY: H.W. Wilson, 2004.
http://www.ovid.com/site/catalog/DataBase/174.jsp
Scope
Each yearbook contains new and updated biographical profiles and thus supersedes the
previous edition. The electronic version contains more than 15,580 biographies and more
Audience
The Current Biography series is geared towards students, researchers and reference
librarians.
Format
250 Wasserman, T. Group 4’s Evaluation Sets Spring 2009 ILS 504 Okobi
print edition. All biographies from 1940 onwards are available electronically.
Authority
This source is published by Wilson, one of the best-regarded publishers in the industry.
Selection
include all living leaders in all fields of accomplishment. Obituaries are provided for
Comprehensiveness
In the print edition there are different sections for biographical sketches, obituaries and
then classifications by profession and an index. All are ordered alphabetically. Each
birth, education, race/ethnicity and much more. Entries tend to be fairly long, 2500
words.
Currency
Eleven publications come out a year and then an annual cumulation. 200-450 additional
References
Each entry includes a bibliography. Also, the preface refers to the many magazines,
newspapers, etc. that were used as reference in order to create the biographies and
obituaries.
Cost
An annual subscription is $175 and a single copy can be purchased for $50.
Citation
Dictionary of American Biography. Vol. 22, supp. 2. New York: Scribner’s, 1958.
Scope
well known American who died between 1936-1940. The DAB itself covers biographies
from the beginning of our national entity until the early part of the 1930s. The first
supplement picks up there and covers biographies of well-known Americans until 1935.
Audience
Format
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The DAB is in a print version; 20 volumes of the original with 10 supplements extending
Authority
DAB is published by Scribner’s, one of the oldest and most venerable publishing houses
in the U.S. (it was purchased by Gale a decade ago). Entries are signed by the authors.
Selection
Biographies of the best known Americans (as understood by Scribner’s) are included in
well-known individuals who have died within the four year period the supplement covers.
Comprehensiveness
Signed entries contain approximately 600-6000 words; there are also mini-biographies
that have fewer words. Entries are fair and objective and the preface claims that every
effort was made to secure new information and not to simply rehash old standards.
However, there are fewer minorities represented here than there should be.
Currency
who died before 1980. Each supplement also includes corrections to the most recent
edition.
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References
Each entry includes a list of references at the end that will help the scholar or student find
Cost
Citation
Logan, R. W., & Winston, M. R. (1982). Dictionary of American Negro biography. New
York: Norton.
Scope
Dictionary of American Negro Biography includes more than 700 entries of African
Americans who have contributed to the history of America over more than three decades.
People included range from athletes, artists, and scientists to cowboys, and explorers.
Audience
This work is geared toward reference work and being used in a library.
Format
Authority
This text took more than ten years to compile and includes many facts that previously
unknown to anyone but experts. It is published by W.W. Norton. Each essay included is
Selection
People included must be African Americans who contributed significantly to the history
of America.
Comprehensiveness
Entries are arranged in alphabetical order based on the surname. Each entry ranges from
a few paragraphs to several pages. They each include the name in bold font, birth and
death dates, and an essay which includes a short biography and important events in the
Currency
The text was first published in 1982. It has not but updated or edited since.
References
References are included at the end of each entry. The type of reference is explained by
the author such as “Basic Facts can be found at…” or “… has many useful references.”
255 Wasserman, T. Group 4’s Evaluation Sets Spring 2009 ILS 504 Okobi
Cost
This text can be purchased through Amazon.com of only $9.00; the original cost was $50.
Citation
Stephen, L., & Lee, S. (1909). The Dictionary of national biography. New York:
Macmillan.
Scope
The 1996 version of Dictionary of National Biography included essay entries about
37,986 deceased people from Great Britain, Ireland and the British Colonies. Since the
Format
subscription formats. Some information is available through the online version free of
charge.
Authority
This text is published by Oxford, since 1917, and each essay included in the collection is
written by scholars.
256 Wasserman, T. Group 4’s Evaluation Sets Spring 2009 ILS 504 Okobi
Selection
Any deceased person who lived in Great Britain, Ireland, or one of its colonies and
Comprehensiveness
Each entry contains and essay ranging from a few paragraphs to more than 100 pages.
On average the length of the essay is approximately one page. Each essay includes
information such as birth and death dates, facts and dates from the subject’s personal life
as well as the public life, and important events. These essays are easy to understand.
Other helpful features include an index also known as Concise Dictionary of National
Biography that serves the original printing and all supplements. This text also gives a
The online text contains more than 56,862 biographies and 10,400 illustrations. Through
Currency
Some essay date back to the original publication of the text, however new entries are
References
References on the sources used to write each biographical essay are provided a the end of
the essay.
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Cost
The online version is available for either $295 for one year or $29.95 a month. For the
Citation
Gale Research Inc. (1998). Encyclopedia of world biography. Detroit: Gale Research.
The International Who's Who, 2000. 63rd ed. London: Europa, 1999.
Scope
Encyclopedia of World Biography contains 17 volumes with more than 7,000 entries of
notable people from all over the world, although an effort was made to include Asian and
African historical figures. Entries include both the living and dead from all professions.
Audience
This text is geared toward school age children but is very useful to all age groups through
adulthood.
Format
This text is available in print, ebook, and online through a subscription with Gale’s
Biographical Resource Center which also provides access to Who’s Who and others.
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Authority
Each article is written by a scholar who is extremely well versed on the subject. The
articles were signed in the 1973 edition but not in this edition. The text is also published
Selection
The selection of people was done to include individuals who were useful to school age
children through college. A special effort was made to include people of Asian and
African cultures.
Comprehensiveness
This text contains 17 volumes with more than 7,000 entries. The seventeenth volume of
the text is an index. Entries are arranged alphabetically by surname with portraits
included where available. The length of each entry differs between person but most
include birth and death dates and locations, a short description of why there are included,
and a detailed biography with information such as childhood, school years and college,
inspirations, events leading to their major achievements, their major achievements, and
life afterwards.
Currency
information than the 1973. This update was the first in more than 25 years. Supplements
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are printed every year to provide new entries as well as revisions to ones already
included.
References
Each entry includes a “further reading” section and some have an “Additional Sources’
sections which provide articles, books, and even websites that contain more information.
Cost
Citation
Scope
20,000 individuals from all over the world. Professions included range from business,
politics, international affairs, diplomacy, and law to art, music, fashion, and sports. There
is also a separate section that gives information on royal families based on country of
origin.
Audience
This text is specifically geared toward reference work and use within a library.
260 Wasserman, T. Group 4’s Evaluation Sets Spring 2009 ILS 504 Okobi
Format
This text is available in print, CD-ROM, and online through a subscription with
http://www.worldwhoswho.com.
Authority
It is published by Routledge.
Selection
The editors attempted to include all individuals who have risen to the top of their
respective fields. There are no limits based on profession or location however, people
Comprehensiveness
Covering more than 20,000 individuals from all of the world and from all different
occupations. Entries are arranged alphabetically by surname. Entries are fairly short
with the person names, birth date, nationality, field, and degrees all listed quickly.
Additional sections under each person include education, career information, any
The online format include more than 60,000 detailed biographies with entries including
information such as nationality, date and place of birth, education, family details, career
Currency
This text is updated annually. People who have died during the course of the previous
year are removed from the text, and are included in an obituary page within the text along
References
Cost
Scope
The Marquis Who’s Who database provides access to biographies published in the
Marquis Who’s Who print series. The text is international in scope with no limits based
on occupation. Some texts included in this online database include Who’s Who in
America, Who’s Who in Entertainment, Who’s Who in Religion, Who’s Who in Science
Audience
Format
This format of Marquis Who’s Who is the online database available by Reed Reference
Publishing.
Authority
Published by Reed Reference. All information included in the text is provided to the
Selection
The selection of information is determined by the text versions. The 2000 edition of the
text states that it is the goal to “list people who, through their careers, affect the political,
economic, scientific, and artistic life of the country.” There are no limited based on
locations or occupation. Some print texts included allow only persons who are still alive
to be included while others such as Who Was Who only include those that have died,
Comprehensiveness
The database has an easy to use interface and allows for searching for more than a million
biographies. Entries are able to be searched through 15 different criteria. The search can
incorporate the entire body of printed text or can be limited. Most entries include the
vital statistics of the person, education, family background, religious and political
affiliations, contact information, career history, public works, club and professional
memberships.
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Currency
Cost
A subscription to Marquis Who’s Who on the web cost 1,595 per year with discounts
Citation
Mass: Merriam-Webster.
Scope
from all fields of work including sports, politics, business, the arts, popular culture, and
science. Its emphasis is on historical figures from all eras and from all parts of the world.
More than 30,000 individuals are included from around the world including Africa, Latin
Audience
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According to the publishers this text is useful for everyone who has ever had to write a
research paper, or had a question about a person in history. It is practical for home,
Format
Authority
Published by Merriam-Webster. It has been published since 1943, the 1995 edition is the
most recent, and is considered essential for ready reference. Entries are collected and
Selection
This dictionary attempts to include as many noteworthy names from across time periods,
Comprehensiveness
This dictionary provides short, usually one paragraph, entries. The entries are organized
definition of who the person was, the proper pronunciation of the surname, dates of birth
and death, significant events in the individuals; career, nicknames, and pseudonyms.
There are numerous cross-references included throughout. Other useful features are keys
Currency
The 1995 edition is the most recent and contains 287 new entries as well as revisions to
References
There are not further suggestions for readings included in the entries.
Cost
Citation
New York Times Biographical Service (2001). New York: New York Times.
Scope
Times.
Audience
All audiences
Format
Entries are arranged by the date of their publication, and are printed as they appeared in
Selection
Only individuals who were written about in the New York Times in the year covered by
Comprehensiveness
N/A
Currency
The latest edition I was able to find of this resource was published in 2001.
References
Cost
Unknown
Citation
Who was Who. (1916-1980). (Vols. 1-7). Medford, NJ: Marquis’ Who’s Who.
Scope
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Audience
Format
Authority
Selection
The biographees included in this volume are previous Who’s Who biographees who have
died.
Comprehensiveness
Each volume provides an alphabetical listing of each biographee who died during the
indicated decade, along with their date of birth and death, and an indication of where
Currency
References
The information in these volumes were compiled from previous editions of Who’s Who,
along with reports from the estate of the biographees and research by the Marquis’ Who’s
Who staff.
Cost
Unavailable
Citation
Scope
This biographical dictionary includes profiles of prominent Americans who have died
Audience
Format
A new volume of this source is published every year. There are currently 21 print
volumes.
Authority
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Selection
Biographees have appeared in previous editions Who’s Who in America, but have died
Comprehensiveness
Each volume provides an alphabetical listing of each biographee who died during the
indicated year, along with their date of birth and death, and an indication of where their
Currency
References
The information in these volumes were compiled from previous editions of Who’s Who,
along with reports from the estate of the biographees and research by the Marquis’ Who’s
Who staff.
Citation
Scope
Who’s Who in America is a biographical dictionary focusing on the lives of over 110,000
prominent Americans. The current edition celebrates the publication’s 110th anniversary
Format
Authority
Selection
The preface states that individuals are chosen to appear in Who’s Who in America based
on their personal achievements, not by their desire to be listed. It goes on to say that
independently by the research and editorial staff. An asterisk indicates information that
Comprehensiveness
limiting medium. Each entry lists the biographee’s full name, occupations, date and place
of birth, family background, education summary, career summary, writings and creative
271 Wasserman, T. Group 4’s Evaluation Sets Spring 2009 ILS 504 Okobi
works, civic and political activities, military service, awards, membership, political
Currency
This source is published annually. The 2009 edition was published in October of 2008.
References
Biographees are invited to submit their own biographical details, but in many cases the
staff compiles the information from unspecified sources. The preface assures that a
“wide assortment of tools to gather the most complete, accurate, and up-to-date
information available.”
Cost
$789.00
Citation
Who’s Who in the World. (2009). Medford, NJ: Marquis’s Who’s Who.
Scope
individuals from around the world, representing virtually every major field of endeavor.
272 Wasserman, T. Group 4’s Evaluation Sets Spring 2009 ILS 504 Okobi
Audience
All audiences
Format
This source is published in a single print volume. Entries are arranged alphabetically by
the last name of the biographee. A professional index is included, which lists and cross-
Authority
Selection
The preface states that “individuals profiled in Who’s Who in the World are selected on
accomplishments, visibility, and prominence, in a field are all taken into account. An
individual’s desire to be listed is not sufficient reason for inclusion. Similarly, wealth and
social position are not relevant criteria.” It goes on to say that information is sometimes
provided by the biographees, but more often it is collected independently by the research
and editorial staff. An asterisk indicates information that was researched by Marquis’
Who’s Who.
Comprehensiveness
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broad spectrum of individuals, and provides a good amount of information about those
certifications, career, career-related information, writings and creative works, civic and
home address, and office address. Few, if any entries will contain all of these headings.
Currency
This source is published annually. The 2009 edition was published in 2008.
References
No listing of references is provided outside of the assurance in the preface that the staff
uses a “wide assortment of tools to gather the most complete, accurate, and up-to-date
information available.”
Cost
$590
Citation
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Scope
prominent American women. The current issue includes a Then and Now, 1958-2008
feature.
Format
The source is published as a single print volume. Entries are arranged alphabetically by
the last name of the biographee. A geographic and professional index are also included.
Authority
Selection
and prominence in a field are all taken into account in making selections for the book.
Comprehensiveness
broad spectrum of individuals, and provides a good amount of information about those
275 Wasserman, T. Group 4’s Evaluation Sets Spring 2009 ILS 504 Okobi
certifications, career, career-related information, writings and creative works, civic and
home address, and office address. Few, if any entries will contain all of these headings.
Currency
The source is published biennially. The 2008-2009 edition was published in 2008.
References
Biographees are invited to submit their own biographical details, but in many cases the
staff compiles the information from unspecified sources. The preface assures that a
“wide assortment of tools to gather the most complete, accurate, and up-to-date
information available.”
Cost
$305
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Evaluation Set 6
Group 4
Geographical Resources
Citation
Oxford Atlas of the World. (2008). New York: Oxford University Press.
Scope
Authority
This edition was published in 2008 and contains up-to-date information on each country.
Balanced Coverage
Every country has been included in this reference book. There is no apparent bias.
Legibility
Map scales vary based on type. Political, topographical, and city maps are all included.
Maps are in full-color and not cluttered. Symbols are clearly defined.
Index
There are 84,000 names listed in the index. Entries include geographic features as well
as towns and cities. Each entry lists latitude and longitude and letter/figure grid
references.
Price
$80.00
Citation
Munro, D. (ed.). (1988). Chambers World Gazetteer. New York, NY: Cambridge
University Press
Scope
Authority
The most recent volume was published in 1988, when it was renamed from the
Chambers World Gazetteer. This volume contains entries for the USSR and East and
West Berlin.
Balanced Coverage
Because of its size, this gazetteer excludes some towns and villages below a certain
Legibility
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Guidance notes are provided in the prefatory pages to help the reader navigate the
gazetteer. There is also a “specimen entry” that diagrams a sample entry on a country.
In the text, the maps are outlines with no physical features that indicate the legislative
districts of each county. Full-color topographic maps are provided in the back.
Full-color maps are provided in the back of the text. The maps are no cluttered. Symbols
Index
No index
Price
$44.95
Price
$29.95
Citation
280 Wasserman, T. Group 4’s Evaluation Sets Spring 2009 ILS 504 Okobi
Cohen, S.B. (ed.) (2008) Columbia Gazeteer of the World. New York: Columbia
University Press
Scope
This is a print gazetteer published in four volumes. It contains more than 170,000 entries.
Authority
The Columbia Gazetteer is published by Columbia University Press and is edited by Saul
The second edition was published in 2008 and was edited to reflect changes that occurred
Balanced Coverage
Entries range from brief mentions of small villages to longer entries on larger, developed
countries.
Legibility
The guide is well organized. Each entry is easy to read and understand.
N/A
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N/A
Index
No index
Price
$595
Citation
Scope
The Guide to Places of the World is a print gazetteer published in a single volume. It
Authority
The edition that I evaluated, published in 1987, still lists the USSR and Czechoslovakia
as countries.
Balanced Coverage
Most entries are about 4 to 5 sentences in length. Large cities and countries receive
Legibility
Entries are written in natural language. The book is well-organized and easy to follow.
Maps are small in scale. They are easy to read, but do not offer the depth of an atlas.
This book contains a variety of full-color images and clearly illustrated maps.
Index
No index
Citation
Hammond Atlas of the World. 2nd ed. New York: Reader’s Digest Association, 1999.
283 Wasserman, T. Group 4’s Evaluation Sets Spring 2009 ILS 504 Okobi
Scope
This is a world atlas—it begins with a section on interpreting maps and a quick reference
guide to the world’s continents, countries, states, provinces, populations and capitals, all
with page numbers. Then there is a section on global relationships, including maps,
charts and graphs on world population, languages, religions, standards of living, energy,
a section on the physical world with three-dimensional maps of the world and its
continents/large sections; followed by the maps of the world broken into continents.
Authority
The authority of this volume is both based on the many editors and cartographers that
were employed in its creation as well as the publisher itself. Hammond Incorporated was
started in 1900 by Caleb Stillson Hammond when he published his first map in that year
The maps are beautiful and continually useful, but in our constantly changing political
world, a map that is over a decade old is not entirely accurate. For instance, Kosovo, a
country that declared independence last year, is not an independent nation in the atlas.
However, newer editions of this atlas have since been printed, the most recent, the fifth
Balanced Coverage
The coverage of this atlas is fairly balanced, in that the rest of the planet is reported—
however, North America receives 36 pages of coverage whereas Africa receives only 20.
So, again here, coverage is based more on the anticipated audience of the atlas than on
Legibility
Based on the beautiful computer-generated maps created for this atlas, it is highly legible.
This edition of the atlas includes satellite imaging as well as a comprehensive collection
of digital mapping.
The computerized geographic database used for this atlas also included Mitchell
Additionally, the digital maps include shaded hypsometric tints for land elevations and
bathymetric tints to depict ocean depths. In this atlas, the most densely populated areas
are shown at a scale of 1:1,000,000 or 1:500,000 and the least populated areas are shown
at a scale of 1:9,000,000
The colors and symbols are both readily understandable and standard in most atlases—for
Index
There is an index located at the back of the book in the ‘Statistics, Tables & Index’
Price
The fifth edition of this atlas can now be purchased for $59.95.
Citation
Historical Atlas of the United States. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic Society,
1993.
Scope
The focus of this atlas is to cover the spectrum of U.S. geographical history from the first
geographical changes. This atlas takes a two pronged approach at this objective by
utilizing both chronological sections (trends, events, ideas, etc.) and a thematic section
sections, I. The Land (geology and climate change), II. People (first Americans,
immigration and 20th c.), III. Economy (agriculture and industry), IV. Networks
Authority
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There are few better authorities for an atlas than the National Geographic Society—the
society, started by 33 explorers over 120 years ago. It is famous internationally for its
photos and geography education. In addition, the editors of this atlas are all listed in the
preliminary pages and include contributions by scholars, notably Pulitzer Prize winner,
This edition is an updated version of the centennial edition, put out in 1988. Though
there are a number of modern events that aren’t covered (the presidency of George W.
Bush, for instance) the historical sections are certainly accurate. The newer edition,
published in 2004, contains more recent events, though is still lacking in the most recent
Balanced Coverage
As a U.S. atlas, coverage beyond the nation’s borders would be unexpected. This atlas
actually does a fair job of trying to give a broader version of both geography and history
than one might expect. Minorities, women and other potentially disenfranchised groups
are included—for example, the names of rivers are given in both their English and
Legibility
This is an enormous book, almost too big to hold, and the visibility and legibility of the
Society for their small polar insets. Scales are different for each map.
The National Geographic Society probably could have done more with colors as most of
the ones they chose are fairly washed-out pastels and not always immediately
distinguishable from one another. The symbols are familiar and easily understood.
Index
The final section of this atlas includes sections on bibliography, acknowledgements and a
broad index.
Price
MapQuest
Citation
Scope
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Mapquest is a digital mapping service that allows users to obtain maps and directions to
their chosen destination/s. MapQuest began as a navigational software and has expanded
into a more multi-dimensional service, even allowing users to search for the lowest gas
prices in an area. MapQuest has broadened their reach enough that they are even
partnered with On-Star, the in-car navigational guidance system, and so MapQuest turn-
by-turn directions can be accessible aloud in a car with On-Star. Users without On-Star
can either send directions to their e-mails or use wireless MapQuest, at an additional cost,
Authority
MapQuest is one of the leading providers of directions and maps on the internet. They
are trusted and recognized by millions of users globally. MapQuest uses the following
software: And Products B.V., Centrus, DMTI Spatial, Inc., Tele Atlas and Navteq—all of
which are known as authorities, especially Navteq which is the most widely recognized
The MapQuest maps and information are up-to-the-minute and updated constantly.
Having said that, MapQuest directions are not always accurate, as anyone who has ever
used them can explain. MapQuest directions navigate one generally to the right location,
while either under-explaining turns (as in, “Left onto X Ave.” without the explanation
that it is a five-way stop and there are two lefts) or describing roads by their route number
Balanced Coverage
MapQuest does not provide universal coverage—directions within the U.S. and Canada
are easy to find and MapQuest also provides directions within France, Germany, Italy,
Spain, the U.K. as well as other nations of western Europe, but that’s it. After that, they
provide maps and atlases of the rest of the world, but no directions.
Legibility
The directions from MapQuest are easy to follow and the maps are generally easy to read,
though when street names change, the maps do not always indicate where that occurs.
MapQuest gives users the choice of scale with its zoom-in/zoom-out feature. It is
incredibly useful and much better than a traditional map in this way. The maps are flat
The colors are easily discernable and symbols are generally simple to recognize—
however, if a symbol is not recognized, it is not always easy to figure out what it
represents.
Index
Price
Free
Citation
Webster 1997.
Scope
This is a single volume geographical dictionary. It covers the world as a whole and
provides text, maps, spelling and pronunciation information, feature, location and
population size, economy, history and other matters of importance. The entries defined
here were chosen because of their interest to the general reader, for whom this work is
intended. There are entries on city-states, independent and dependent states, historical
Authority
The authority of this source is both its publisher, one of the best regarded names in the
dictionary publishing industry, Merriam-Webster, as well as its editors. The editors are
listed in the preface as well as the cartographers—the maps were provided by the
At the time of its first printing, the 3rd edition was nearly perfectly accurate. However,
this geographical dictionary is over a decade old at this point—many, even most, of the
entries are still accurate. But, as would be expected, some of the information has
changed; for instance, the population of Appleton, WI, here recorded as 65,695 is now
70,087.
Balanced Coverage
The editor points out in the preface that the coverage is not even, but is biased towards
the United States and Canada, the public of whom is expected to be the readership of this
dictionary. Cities in the U.S. with more than 2500 people and in Canada with more than
4500 people are recorded here, whereas Brazilian cities of fewer than 50,000 or
Legibility
The dictionary uses a small font, but puts entries in bold face as well as maps in colour
The scale of the maps were easy to figure out and understand—they were not as large as
maps in other sources, but were constrained by the size of the book. The projections
appeared accurate and were different (conical, round, etc.) based on need.
292 Wasserman, T. Group 4’s Evaluation Sets Spring 2009 ILS 504 Okobi
The colors chosen by the cartographers were easily distinguishable and simple to follow.
Index
Though there is no index here, there are explanatory notes, abbreviations and symbols,
map projections, map symbols, a list of maps and a world map in the preliminary pages.
At the end of the book are the glossary and geographical terms in other languages—all of
these tools are very useful to the novice and amateur cartographer alike.
Price
$34.95
Citation
Moore, P. (1998). Atlas of the universe. Cambridge, U.K.: Cambridge University Press.
Scope
The Atlas of the Universe includes information on the stars, planets, and the universe.
Hundreds of photographs from both ground-based and Hubble Space telescopes, as well
photographs this atlas provides star maps, a complete map of the moon, and topographic
maps of the planets. This text is divided into seven section including: Exploring the
293 Wasserman, T. Group 4’s Evaluation Sets Spring 2009 ILS 504 Okobi
Universe; The Solar System; The Sun; The Stars; The Universe; Star Maps; and The
Practical Astronomer. The section on star maps is a complete atlas of the constellations.
Both the northern and southern hemispheres are covered in 22 maps. Tables, magnitudes,
and other technical data are included. There are more than 70 maps, 400 photographs,
and 90 artworks.
Authority
This text is written by Patrick Moore. He has written more than 60 books and is the
presenter of The Sky at Night. He was knighted in 2001 for his service to astronomy.
This text was originally written in 1970 and completely revised in 1988. The new edition
includes events such as new mappings of mars, possible after mars landing, missions to
Halley’s Comet and others. Since 1998 several editions of the text has been published
including 2007. The maps are the most accurate of the field. Photographs are taken from
the most reliable telescopes and from more than 40 years for robotic exploration on the
planets. New editions have incorporated new information into the text.
Balanced Coverage
All constellations, planets, and star areas are covered with the exception of earth.
294 Wasserman, T. Group 4’s Evaluation Sets Spring 2009 ILS 504 Okobi
Legibility
Maps and information are easy to read and understand. Philips writing is done in a way
that is easy for the beginner to understand and yet not simplistic. Photographs are clearly
The colors used in this text make the maps and diagrams easy to read. Symbols used in
Index
An alphabetical index is contained at the end of the text. For each entry in the index page
Subdivision can also be found for many topics, page numbers are also provided for each
subdivision.
Price
Citation
Geological Survey (U.S.). (2001). The national atlas of the United States of America.
Scope
The National Atlas of the United States of America is produced by from information
gathered through the census and organized by the United States Geological Survey. The
newest version of the National Atlas of the United States of America is available online.
This website contains maps of all types of the United States. This version of the text
geology, history, map reference, people, transportation, and water. Each of these sections
provides articles for information, sections for map makers, sample maps, wall maps,
dynamic maps, and printable maps. Not only does this site provide many different maps
of all areas but it allows users to create their own maps with the information that they
Authority
This atlas is produced by the United States Geological Survey. It collects information
Maps are extremely accurate taking their information from census information. The
Balanced Coverage
Legibility
These maps are easy to read. In addition to the maps there is a significant amount of
supplemental written material provided with each map. This information contributes to
The scale on maps is 1:1,000,000. It translates to one inch on the map equaling 16 miles
of land. This is a new scale allowing maps to become more detailed than any time in the
past. Additional levels of maps are being created at different scales which will be released
The color of these maps differs based on the type of map being looked at. Each map is
clear and easy to read with many colors displaying the different areas. Symbols are
explained.
Price
Citation
Rand McNally and Company. (2000). Rand McNally commercial atlas & marketing
Scope
The Rand McNally Commercial Atlas & Marketing Guide contains maps, tables, and
charts on current economic and geographic information. This atlas covers all areas of the
United States and has a focus in business data. The text is divided into six different
sections: United States and metropolitan area maps; transportation and communications
data; economic data; population data from the 1900 census with projections through the
Authority
This text was last published in 2000 and has been updated again in 2009. The
information contained within is accurate and despite no being update annually remains
current.
Balanced Coverage
Legibility
298 Wasserman, T. Group 4’s Evaluation Sets Spring 2009 ILS 504 Okobi
Each map in this atlas is extremely easy to read with information contained both in
prefatory sections and within the map as to how the map is to be read, scale, and symbols.
Scales for each map differ based on the area covered in the map. Maps of larger area
usually have a scale of approximately 1 inch to 50 miles while the small area maps cover
1 inch for 4.7 miles. Each map contains its own scale information in the bottom left hand
The colors used in the atlas differ between maps however each uses colors that allow for
easy reading and sectional differences. At symbols are explained at the beginning of the
text in the Legend as well as before each section in the introductory materials. In
addition to these two places each maps also contains an explanation on specific
Index
An index is the sixth section of the book directly following the state maps. This index is
organized by alphabetically by state and then alphabetically by place. There are more
Price
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The 2009 edition of the text is available through Rand McNally for 395.00.
Citation
Rand McNally and Company. (2009). Road atlas: United States, Canada, Mexico.
Scope
The Rand McNally Road Atlas provides maps of the driving roads, including major
highways, byways, and back roads to the United States, Canada, and Mexico. This text is
divided into the three major categories of the United States, Canada, and Mexico. From
here each of these sections is divided into states or province organized alphabetically.
Maps are provided for each state or province and in some cases major cities are covered.
Each map also contains sights to see and local facts for the area being covered.
Authority
The Road Atlas is updated annually with the newest edition being the 2010. Rand
McNally works extremely hard to keep the information contained as accurate as possible.
Balanced Coverage
300 Wasserman, T. Group 4’s Evaluation Sets Spring 2009 ILS 504 Okobi
While the areas of all places included in the text are covered extremely well there is
definitely a U.S. bias to this text. Although the United States does take up the most area
while only one page of the text is dedicated to Mexico and only four are given to Canada.
Legibility
The map of the United States uses a scale of 1 inch to 146 miles. Each state map in the
text differs based on its size. States such as Connecticut and California use very different
scales.
All symbols are explained in a legend located in the beginning of the text. In addition to
this legend prefatory material also includes a quick reference guide for areas that are used
the most. All colors are easy to see to and vary enough to display differences in the land
and roads.
Index
There is an index divided into the three sections of the atlas, the U.S, Canada, and
Mexico. Within each of these section states or province are arranged alphabetically and
then broken down again into cities or towns. For each entry the map and the page
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Price
Citation
Times Books (New York, N.Y.), & Bartholomew (Firm). (1999). The Times atlas of the
Scope
New map of the world’s physical features and enhanced areas of importance. Geopolitical
changes are represented in the eleventh edition such as Yugoslavia is now Serbia and
continent, thematic maps, photographs, graphics and contributions from experts about the
Authority
Actual images taken from space and other aircrafts as well as cutting edge technology
Balanced Coverage
It is not balanced from the perspective it takes on the world. It takes the perspective of a
northern hemisphere bias, printing the northern hemisphere at the top and the southern
hemisphere at the bottom of the page or the country facing north-to-south rather than
south-to-north.
Legibility
Land without major highways, routes, or roads are symbolized with the color green.
Counties in states within the United States are labeled and outlined in purple, major
highways are white with a red outline, state borders are black dashed lines highlighted in
light purple, and major urban areas are highlighted in yellow. Non-man made areas such
as rivers are blue, lakes are a darker blue with an even darker border, and major bodies of
Index
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The Index is located towards the back of the book names are referenced by plate number,
the first element of each entry, and by grid reference. Entries of the names have a small
order, the rest of the index is divided into alphabetical sections then organized by number.
Price
$250
Citation
Scope
It contains over 600 maps, 300,000 words of text, and 128 double-page spreads on major
Authority
Legibility
Drawings of maps and other illustrations have been replaced with photographs.
International depictions
Index
Place-name Index
Price
$95
Citation
Scope
Compliment to everyday sources that give information about the daily weather such as
the internet, newspaper, radio, and television. Advises on precautions to take during
violent storms, gives information on areas where most natural disasters frequent such as
tornadoes or floods. Basic facts are given about hurricanes, blizzards, heat waves,
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averages, maps, temperature highs and lows, sunshine statistics, and growth season data.
Authority
Quoted directly from reports and records prepared by different United States Government
Section most frequently updated is the “Weather of 109 Selected U.S. Cities”, its web-
Balanced Coverage
It only covers the United States but does not specify in the introduction or the title.
Legibility
Clear, concise, and well educated descriptions of the climates of a particular area. Nation
Mostly on a national scale, however, the information and maps are specified by region if
a particular natural disaster is being focused upon and frequents that area.
Index
Price
$125