Bibliography Evaluations

1. American Book Publishing Record. New Providence, N. J.: R. R. Bowker, 1960- .*
a. Purpose: to provide a record of books published in the United States.
b. Authority: The American Book Publishing Record (APBR) has been published every month since 1960. It is published by R.R. Bowker, an established company that provides various products and services to librarians, publishers, and retailers, including assigning ISBN numbers for books published in the United States.
c. Scope: ABPR can be purchased monthly or annually. It provides information about non-fiction books, adult fiction, and juvenile fiction. It does not provide information about “governmental publications, subscription books, dissertations, new printings as distinct from reprints, reissue and other periodicals, pamphlets under 49 pages, specialized publications of a transitory nature or intended as advertising, and most elementary and high school textbooks.”
d. Format: The format of ABPR is dense. Information is arranged in columns, and the print is small. Subject headings are in bold, larger type. Authors’ last names are in small, regular print, but capital letters are used.
e. Arrangement: The non-fiction section is arranged by Dewey Decimal numbers. The adult and juvenile fiction sections are arranged by subject headings. Also, there are three indexes: author, title, and subject guide. These are arranged alphabetically.
f. Entries: Entries are based on Machine Readable Cataloging (MARC) information; they also include the ISBN number and price of the book (if provided by the publisher). The entries are current, as APBR is published monthly. Some entries contain summaries provided by the publisher..
g. Special Features: APBR is distinguished because of its scope and currency.
h. Use: This source is designed to be used by librarians and publishers. It could be used to locate publishing information about a title, find books on a particular subject, or to find books published by an author in the year the edition covers.
i. Overall Evaluation: APBR is a comprehensive source for bibliographic information on books published in the United States.

2. Bibliographic Index: A Cumulative Bibliography of Bibliographies. New York: H. W. Wilson, 1937- .*
a. Purpose: To provide information on bibliographies.
b. Authority: The Bibliographic Index is published by H.W. Wilson, a highly reputed company that publishes many reference books.
c. Scope: This book contains information on bibliographies printed in the Roman alphabet, which includes sources in languages other than English. It is published three times each year and contains items printed in the past five years. Its citations include bibliographies that list at least fifty sources, including those that are “published separately” and those that “appear as parts of books, pamphlets, and periodicals.” It does not include “non-print items, reprints, catalogs of library holdings, or bibliographies in clinical medicine or case law.”
d. The format of Bibliographic Index is dense. Pages are arranged in two columns. The print is small. Bold type is used to set off headings. There is a page of sample entries at the beginning of the book, which is useful for navigating information.
e. Arrangement: “The subject headings used in this Index conform to Library of Congress Subject Headings. Citations are arranged alphabetically by main entry under each heading.”
f. Entries: Entries contain a citation and brief explanation of the source.
g. Special Features: This source includes citations for materials published in other countries and in languages other than English. This gives Bibliographic Index a larger scope than other resources, although not all users will be able to utilize this feature.
h. Use: This source is designed to be used by librarians and researchers to locate sources about topics. An example of a question it might answer is, “What resources can I find on the history of libraries?”
i. Overall: Bibliographic Index is a comprehensive source for citations on thousands of topics. The online version contains additional citations that are no longer included in the print version. This source could be used to find information on topics when a journal database search is inadequate or when print sources are needed.


3. Books in Print. New Providence, N. J.: R. R. Bowker, 1948- .*
a. Purpose: To list books currently in print. Books in Print (BIP) is different than the ABPR because it includes books currently in print, rather than books published in a specific year.
b. Authority: BIP is also published by R.R. Bowker. (See first entry.)
c. Scope: This source lists information for books published since the mid-1970s. The print version contains over 2.5 million titles.
d. Format: A sample page found online showed three columns of small, dense print. Bold type was used for headings.
e. Arrangement: This source is arranged by Bowker’s own system of subject headings, which is similar to the Library of Congress subject headings. Sources are listed alphabetically by author within those headings.
f. Entries: Entries list publication information.
g. Special Features: An online version is available by subscription (BooksInPrint.com). This version has features not found in the print version, such as the ability to search for out-of-print books, and audio and visual material. Furthermore, it offers links to descriptive annotations and book reviews.
h. Use: BIP can be used to find bibliographic information on books that are in print. One question it might answer is, “What books can I find on architecture?”
i. Overall: BIP is a comprehensive source for books published after the mid 1970s. If space is an issue, the online version of BIP is a reasonable alternative to the print version.


4. Guide to Reference Books. 11th ed. Robert Balay et al, editors. Chicago: American Library Association, 1996.
a. Purpose: To provide bibliographic information for sources on many subjects.
b. Authority: This source is published by the American Library Association (ALA). According to Booklist, the ALA’s review journal, this books is a “reference standard.” It is cited by many other publications.
c. Scope: This source contains entries for close to 16,000 resources chosen by a panel of fifty librarians. It contains references for resources published in various languages. It is current up to 1994. Most of these references are available in print as opposed to electronic formats; Booklist writes that, “Though there continues to be extensive coverage of national and international bibliographies, there is no listing for OCLC's WorldCat or RLG's RLIN, both of which now dwarf the National Union Catalog.” (1996)
d. Format: Pages are arranged in three columns of small type with bold headings.
e. Arrangement: Entries are arranged by principal subject, then listed by subtopics. Some sections are also sorted geographically where noted. Also, this resource contains an index that interfiles author, title, subjects, etc. (In other words, there are not separate indexes for authors and for subjects.)
f. Entries: Entries contain title, author, publication information, reprint information, number of pages, and an annotation.
g. Special Features: The 11th edition contains more subject areas than the previous editions. It also contains cross-references that were not listed in previous editions.
h. Use: One example of a use for this source is to find a bibliography of bibliographies, or bibliographies on various subjects. (Balay, 1996, p. 2)
i. Overall: While this is certainly a useful resource, more current reference guides are available.


5. National Union Catalog Pre-1956 Imprints: A Cumulative Author List Representing Library of Congress Printed Cards and Titles Reported by Other American Libraries. 754 vols. Andover, MA: ALS, Inc., 1987.
a. Purpose: To find citation information and locations of printed material published before 1956 in the United States and Canada.
b. Authority: The National Union Catalog of Pre-1956 Imprints is a widely recognized resource. 27% of its material is not listed in WorldCat.
c. Scope: This source contains bibliographic information on printed materials in American and Canadian libraries that were published before 1956, including books, pamphlets, atlases, maps, and sheet music. It does not contain entries from works published after 1956, or those published outside the United States and Canada.
d. Format: The type is small with bold headings. Libraries often have this resource on microfilm because the printed work is 754 volumes long.
e. Arrangement: Entries are arranged alphabetically by author or title.
f. Entries:In addition to author, title, and other publication information, each title has a location listed so the source can be found by researchers.
g. Special Features: Some entries contain cross-references. This source also has added entries for material not found in the Library of Congress.
h. Use: This source is used for historical research. For instance, it could be used to find the location of a pamphlet published in the 1800s, or to verify the existence of a historical document.
i. Overall: This resource is invaluable to researchers who need to find prmary or secondary sources that were published before 1956.

6. New Walford Guide to Reference Materials: Science, Medicine, and Technology. Ray Lester, ed. Vol 1. London: Facet, 2005.
a. Purpose: To provide citations for reference materials related to science, medicine, and technology.
b. Authority: This source is distributed in the United States by Neal-Schuman Publishers and published was printed by Facet Publishing in the United Kingdom. Both companies are established reference publishers. (Neal-Schuman, 2010)
c. Scope: This source covers reference materials about science, medicine, and technology through 2004. It includes both print and non-print resources from across the world (but mostly resources published in English). All web addresses were checked before publication in April 2005. There is a second volume that covers social sciences.
d. Format: The guide is divided into three subject parts: science, medicine, and technology. Within those parts, it is further divided into subject groupings, fields, and resource categories (e.g. handbooks and manuals). Entries are in a medium-sized font with larger bold type for headings.
e. Arrangement: This resource contains a preface with instructions for use. It also contains a topic index and an author/subject index.
f. Entries: Each entry contains title, author, publication information, ISBN number, number of pages, cost, and an annotation. A web address is provided for print resources that have affiliated websites. Additionally, cross-references between sources are listed where applicable.
g. Special Features: Each subject section has a brief introductory essay.
h. Use: This guide can be used to find citations for resources such as a dictionary of medical terms, an earth science textbook, or a website about computer security.
i. Overall: This resource is excellent for in-depth research in the fields of science, medicine, and technology. The web addresses and cross-references make it especially helpful. Also, the comparatively large print makes this guide easy to read. One potential issue is that some web resources may have changed or no longer exist, as the guide was published five years ago.


7. OCLC Online Union Catalog. Dublin, Ohio: OCLC. http://www.worldcat.org/.*
a. Purpose: To find citation information for items, and also to locate items in libraries around the world.
b. Authority: The Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) is a global cooperative of libraries. Bibliographic references to its holdings are available at OCLC’s online database, WorldCat. WorldCat is the largest bibliographic database in existence.
c. Scope: WorldCat contains 1.5 billion items, including books, CDs, DVDs, and articles. It does not contain citations for some material published before the 1950s.
d. Format: The home page has prominently placed search field. Ten search results are displayed per page and they can be sorted by relevance, author, title, and date. The print is medium-sized. The website is available in English, French, German, Dutch, and Japanese (?).
e. Arrangement: This source is very easy to use for people who are familiar with the internet.
f. Entries: Entries contain publication and format information, a summary, and an option to “view all editions and formats.” Then there is a list of libraries where the item is located. Some entries also have ratings and options to preview the item.
g. Special Features: The “Find a Library” feature allows a user to enter his/her zip code to find a library that holds a particular item. The search feature automatically finds items in various formats: the search “oliver twist” yielded results for books, large print books, Braille versions, audiobooks, film versions on DVD and videocassette, sound recordings on CD, cassette, and LP, and articles. The “Advanced Search” feature allows users to make more specific searches. For users who need more help, WorldCat has an “Ask a Librarian” feature for live assistance.
h. Use: WorldCat can be used to find location and publication information for books.
i. Overall: WorldCat is a comprehensive bibliographic database. Many of its features are free, easy to use, and available to the public. However, it may be necessary to consult the National Union Catalog Pre-1956 imprints to find citations and locations of older material.


8. Public Library Catalog: Guide to Reference Books and Adult Nonfiction. 9th ed. Paula B. Etin and Juliette Yaakov, editors. New York: H. W. Wilson, 1989.*
a. Purpose: According to its introduction, “The Catalog is intended to serve the needs of public and undergraduate libraries, and the general library user.” It contains new subjects that pertain to the “pressures and interests of contemporary life,” such as sexually transmitted diseases and aging.
b. Authority: H.W. Wilson is a reputed publisher of reference materials.
c. Scope: The 9th edition (the one on E-Reserve) contains entries on reference materials published through 1988.
d. Format: This source has comparatively large type with clear headings. It is easy to read. Later editions are available electronically. (Fisher, 2007)
e. Arrangement: According to its introduction, “The Catalog is organized into three parts: Classified Catalog; Author, Title, Subject, and Analytical Index; (and) Directory of Publishers and Distributors.”
f. Entries: Entries contain author/editor, title, publication information, IBSN number, cost, and an annotation.
g. Special Features: This source contains a section titled “Directions for Use of the Catalog.” It also has a Directory of Publishers and Distributors for all titles listed in the Classified Catalog.
h. Use: This source can be used by librarians and patrons to find resources on various topics.
i. Overall: The most current edition (12th) of this resource was published in 2005.

9. Publist. http://www.publist.com
a. Purpose: To locate bibliographic information on articles in “magazines, journals, newsletters, and other periodicals.” Articles can also be ordered from this site in print or electronic format.
b. Authority: Publist is maintained by the Infotrieve Company, which provides information services for business clients. Publist was established in 1998.
c. Scope: Publist has access to 150,000 periodicals. It does not provide free access to full text articles; they need to be purchased.
d. Format: The homepage has a “Quick Title Search” field in the center. However, users have to create a profile to see search results, which requires the website to install cookies on the user’s computer. There is a link on the bottom corner of the page to Infotrieve Article Finder that allows users to search a smaller database (35,000 publications) without creating a profile.
e. Arrangement: Search results from the Infotrieve Article Finder contain citation information. Results cannot be sorted, but an advanced search option allows results to be narrowed. Also, results can be sorted by whether or not they have an abstract, or if they are available electronically.
f. Entries: Entries contain “access to […] titles, formats, publisher addresses, editor contacts, circulation data, and ISSN numbers.”
g. Special Features: An “Advanced Search” option allows users to search by title, publisher, and ISSN number. This feature also can limit searches to publications from particular countries.
h. Use: One question that could be answered by using Publist is, “What publications contain articles about lung cancer?”
i. Overall: Publist’s services are overlapped by journal databases subscribed to by many university libraries, so this site is not recommended for college students. Many public libraries also subscribe to journal databases, so most people can probably access Publist’s information for free. Publist and other Infotrieve resources would be useful for business clients.


10. Reference Sources for Small and Medium–Sized Libraries. 7th ed. Chicago: American Library Association, 2008.
a. Purpose: As it states in its preface, this book attempts “to serve as an authoritative buying guide for the purchase of reference collections for newly established libraries and for improving and expanding existing collections.”
b. Authority: This source has been published by the American Library Association since 1969.
c. Scope: This source provides information on reference sources in a variety of formats: print, electronic database, and CD-ROM.
d. Format: Pages are arranged in two columns. The print size is easy to read. Headings are larger and in bold type.
e. Arrangement: This source has twenty volumes. Each volume is divided by subject. Within those subject divisions, entries are arranged by formats (e.g. dictionary, electronic database). It contains an index which interfiles authors and titles.
f. Entries: Entries include the title, edition, IBSN, Dewey Decimal number, Library of Congress Catalog number, price range, and a critical annotation.
g. Special Features: The beginning of each section has an introduction from a subject-area expert. (American Library Association, 2010)
h. Use: This resource is designed to be used by librarians to determine which reference sources to purchase. For example, a librarian might use this book to find a cost-effective reference book on world geography. (O’Gorman, 2008. p. 279) It could also be used by library patrons to find available resources on various topics.
i. Overall: This book is helpful for librarians because of its scope, currency, and ease of use.


Additional References
“Facet Publishing (UK).” Neal-Schuman.com. 2010. Neal-Schuman Publishers, Inc. 27 February 2010. http://www.neal-schuman.com/blist.php?stype=series&scrit= Facet&frec=0&ord=pubyear.

Fisher, Valerie. “Valerie Fisher Evaluations.” ILS 504 Summer 2007 Group B Final Project. 2007. 27 February 2010. http://karikarp.angelfire.com/GroupBVal2_ GroupFinalProject_ILS504_Summer07.htm.

“Guide to Reference Books.” Amazon.com. 2010. 27 February 2010. http://www.amazon.com/Guide-Reference-Books-Robert-Balay/dp/0838906699.
“New Walford Guide to Reference Resources: Science, Technology and Medicine, Volume 1.” Amazon.com. 2010. 27 February 2010. http://www.amazon.com/New-Walford-Guide-Reference-Resources/dp/1856044955.

“Reference Sources for Small and Medium-Sized Libraries.” ALA.org. 2010. American Library Association. 27 February 2010. http://www.alastore.ala.org/ detail.aspx?ID=388.

“Reference Sources for Small and Medium-Sized Libraries.” Amazon.com. 2010. 26 February 2010. http://www.amazon.com/Reference-Source-Medium-Sized-Libraries-Sources/dp/0838909434.