ILS 504 – 01 Reference and Information Resources and
Services
Exercise 5: Evaluation for Selection of Reference Resources
November 17, 2008
The following is
an analysis and evaluation of two print and two web-based resources typically
found in a public libraryÕs reference collection that serves a municipality
with a population of 12,000.
The New Encyclopedia
Britannica – Macropaedia Ready Reference 15th Edition. 1995.
Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc.: Chicago, IL.
1768 to the present. $1,272.94
32 volume set includes
tens of thousands of short articles on specific subjects.
Volumes 1-12.
Micropaedia. Vols. 13-29. Macropaedia. Vol. 30. Propaedia. Vols. 31-32. Index. Alphabetization
from A to Z, Entry Arrangement with substantive work first, i.e. Bengal, Bay
of. Cross-references to lead the reader to alternate names for the subject
matter, articles in greater length or depth or other relevant articles,
Abbreviation, and Territorial boundaries.
An unbiased information resource
can be used as a stand-alone source or in support of other research. The Index
supports Microcpaedia and the Propaedia lists suggested readings. Suitable for
advanced high-school students, college students, and educated adults.
2007
It is English Language only. The
Britannica Book of the Year is considered an integral part of the set and is
included for first-time purchasers. Britannica requires shelf space (Baker,
1995).
It can be found Online http://www.britannica.com/.
There are Student, Elementary and Concise versions as well as CD-ROM/DVD.
Text / between 35 and 40 percent of the
encyclopedia's material is revised every two years, so libraries may need to
weigh that against the high price tag (Baker, 1995). Online / every 20 minutes
(Cohen, 2008).
PhysiciansÕ Desk
Reference-PDR. 62nd Edition 2008. 2007. Thomson Health Care:
Montvale, NJ.
1975 to the present. $94.96
The entries are full-length
copies of the Food & Drug AdministrationÕs approved labeling for drugs and
prescriptions, information on drugs without FDA approval and some dietary
supplements.
The indexes in
the front of the publication of more than more than 4,000 drugs are:
Manufacturers Index, Brand & Generic Name Index, Product Category Index,
Product Identification Guide, Product Information, and Diagnostics about
Product Information. More than 2,000 full-size, full-color photos are
cross-referenced to the drugs.
Scholarly and Professional.
2007
As the written material for a
given drug is a compilation of data and recommendations that are identical to those
in the drug's package insert, the wording and directives that are included in
these package inserts (and thus in the PDR) represent information that the
pharmaceutical companies are permitted to present following discussion and
approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Rockville, Md. The PDR is
thus a negotiated effort of commercial enterprises and governmental regulators
(Cohen, 1996).
This version
also includes a free PDR electronic library on CD-ROM. Free on-line link at http://www.pdr.net.
Text / yearly with updates in
July and October. Free online at http://www.pdrhealthy.com / Daily news
updates and CD-ROM.
Facts on File World News
Digest is located at http://www.2facts.com/stories/digest-home-feature.asp
and is published by Facts On File News Service.
U.S. and World News 1940-present.
Internet Resource, Computer File, Continually Updated Resource.
Facts on File as three search
resources: encyclopedia, almanac, and curriculum tools. User can search each
resources by: Search Story and Title Text, Search Title Text Only, and/or Sort
Option For Results List: By Relevance Rank or By Story Date with advanced
criteria of an Optional Date Range by month, day, and year. The user can also
select advanced search, which will search all databases.
If the user would like to search
one database, each database has a unique search tool. For instance the user can
browse by Letter in the Encyclopedia database. The Almanac database offers the
same feature as well as a Find It Fast
feature to search by category like Sports and Games or Noted Personalities.
Lastly, the Curriculum database offers Tools for students (Research Tools,
Presenting Your Research, and Analyzing and Understanding) and Tools for
Educators (Classroom Activities and Assignments and Teaching Aids).
Facts On File has an unbiased permanent record of the essential
facts of more than 1,300 titles across many disciplines. It covers five reading
levels: elementary (grades 3-6), middle school (grades 6-8), high school
(grades 9-12), college/academic, and general adult.
2008
Subscripting fee access through
participating libraries via a non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable
license to access and use the Service solely for educational, research,
scholarly, and personal uses, on the terms recited in this Agreement. User must
enter library card and pin numbers to use the database via the web.
Print (loose leaf), CD-ROM,
Magnetic Tape, Microfiche
Updated twice weekly and includes
a searchable hourly newsfeed provided by Reuters (FactsonFile, 2002).
NoveList from
EBSCO Publishing: Ipswich, Massachusetts. Web site with text and
database at http://web.ebscohost.com/novelist/search?vid=1&hid=15&sid=a4cd6441-4aa5-4c7c-93d0-097d40598fec%40sessionmgr9.
1990 to present.
$500--system license (all libraries in a specific
system; includes single library systems), annual subscription. $750--individual
building license, annual subscription. Both licenses include CD-ROM access, if
needed
NoveList is a
readers' advisory service that provides access to 155,000 fiction titles as
well as offering a wide range of feature content to serve fiction readers of
all ages including author read-alikes, book discussion guides, reading lists
and more. In March 2008, NoveList Plus launched adding 50,000 readable nonfiction titles as well (EBSCO,
2008).
NoveList is a
very user-friendly site. Both the "Basic Search" and "Advanced
Search" options allow readers to search by author, title, subject,
keyword, plot, and award-winning fiction. There are other restrictions the
reader can select such as reading grade level, publication date, language, and
fiction/non-fiction and adult/juvenile content. The site links to the library
catalog so that the program can pull the next books to read based previous
items. There is a quick-start tutorial or the user can sign up for a NoveList training session on how to use the program to its
full potential. There are Reader Advisory links to Genres, Popular Fiction,
Librarian tools, and to author Web sites Felix, 2000).
Thirty-five staff members and fifty
contributors prepare the content that makes up NoveList. (In March 2008, NoveList Plus launched adding 50,000 readable nonfiction titles as
well (EBSCO, 2008).
Public and school librarians, K-12 teachers,
students, and parents.
2008
User must enter library card and pin numbers to use
the database via the web. It supports United States and Canada
curriculum-driven material only.
None
The site is updated quarterly.
The publisher is committed to adding approximately 10,000 new fiction records
to the database annually (Felix, 2000).
References
Baker, N. (2007,
September). The New Encyclopaedia Britannica. Library Journal, 132(14),
168-168. Retrieved November 11, 2008, from Library, Information Science &
Technology Abstracts database.
Barnes, T. (2004,
November 16). Facts On File. Library Journal, 129, 26-26. Retrieved
November 11, 2008, from Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts
database.
Cohen, J., & Insel, P.
(1996, July 8). The Physicians' Desk Reference. Problems and possible
improvements. Archives Of Internal Medicine, 156(13), 1375-1380. Retrieved
November 11, 2008, from MEDLINE database.
Cohen, N. Start Writing
the Eulogies for Print Encyclopedias Published:
March 16, 2008 The New York Times Online. Week in Review. Retrieved
November 11, 2008 from http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/16/weekinreview/16ncohen.html?pagewanted=2&sq=encyclopedia%20britannica%20review&st=cse&scp=1
EBSCO Publishing provider
of EBSCO Host http://www.ebscohost.com/novelist/default.php?id=10
Facts on File
world news digest U.S. and world news: 1940-present. New York, N.Y.: Facts On File. http://www.2facts.com/Stories/mainmenu.asp.
Felix, K. (2000,
November). NoveList. Multimedia Schools, 7(6), 74. Retrieved November 11, 2008,
from Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts database.