The Reference Collection: From the Shelf to the Web

In his introduction, the editor gives five reasons (he numbers four then adds a further one) why the Internet is “the preferred medium” for reference sources: access in- and outside the library, less work for library staff, updated more often, near universal use of the Internet, and links to full text. He points out that it has taken less than ten years for the Internet to become such a universal tool. The opening chapter on the history of reference works is a gem. The writing is engaging, the facts intriguing, and one should not miss the witty annotations in the references. Among many sources this reviewer would now like to read is Bill Katz's Reference Books from Cuneiform to Computer, which is cited in this chapter (and an “In Memoriam” to Katz is at the front of the book). The paragraph on the history of MEDLARS, and the description of how early searches were done, will particularly interest medical librarians. In 1973, MEDLARS training took three weeks; this reviewer spent one week in 1979; today, PubMed is taught in one day. Much of the later history of computerization in reference is related directly to Utah and the chapter author's own library, but it will still ring true to most other librarians. Two Australian librarians describe how English-speaking countries deal with access to Web-based reference sources. Australia, United Kingdom, United States, Canada, and South Africa have different funding and administrative systems. The next two chapters discuss the challenges in public and school libraries, respectively. Library staff have unique challenges in both contexts. The president of Merriam-Webster then discusses the issues facing publishers. Merriam-Webster was one of the first to put major reference works online free of charge when the Collegiate Dictionary and Collegiate Thesaurus were made available in 1996. The author quotes Richard Saul Wurman and calls this the “Age of Also.” He suggests that a “hybrid world” of print and electronic publishing will continue for perhaps the next ten to fifteen years. An interesting advantage of the Web-based dictionary is that the publisher can count hits to see which words are being looked up the most and how and why people use dictionaries. How library assignments given to students affect the use of Web-based reference sources is the next topic. Faculty, students, and librarians all have different views of how the Internet can or should be used, and one of the “challenges” for students is distinguishing between search engines and databases. The following chapter on “cyberplagiarism” continues the discussion of how librarians interact with students and suggests and describes several websites on plagiarism. Ready reference Websites are the next topic. The author surveys American libraries and asks twenty questions to evaluate features such as content, organization, and provision of tutorials, indexes, or help screens. An appendix shows the results of the survey. Four “federated” search tools are the topic of the next chapter: MetaLib by Ex Libris, ENCompass by Endeavor, AGent by Auto-Graphics, and WebFeat by WebFeat and Thomson ISI. These common interfaces to multiple sources are evaluated for features such as search functions, user customization, and administration and maintenance. The authors conclude that they are useful tools but have some caveats about precision and suitability in different library contexts. A concluding table compares their features. Subsequent chapters discuss Websites in the subject areas of the humanities, science, medicine, social sciences, business, and education. Medical librarians will already know most of the health-related sites described by the director of the library and archives at the American Psychiatric Association (and the list of mental health sites is thorough). However, all subject specialist librarians will find the areas outside their own expertise useful. Some of the chapters are lengthy annotated lists, while others provide more description and discussion. The list of 100 “top” Websites in the final chapter is, of course, a subjective selection. They are a wide-ranging mix, some very common, from Amazon.com, to the IRS, to How Stuff Works, Internet Broadway, Fact Monster (for children), and even How to Vote Smart—a treasure trove for the trivia buff. The major problem with this book, of course, is timeliness. While the opening chapter on the history of reference works stands alone as a timeless, interesting essay, most of the chapters will eventually, perhaps sooner rather than later, be out of date. This reviewer had a volunteer check all the 100 top sites (to the enjoyment of the volunteer) and spot-checked many others. A few had problems like Flash Player requirement or forbidden access. Lists of Websites can be found in many sources (including Websites), but this work is engaging and interesting. It would serve well in any library and probably for bibliophile consumers as well.

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