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Content

Volume 1 is divided into three parts. Part One (Chapters 1 and 2) constitutes an introduction to the reference process and automated reference services. Part Two, "Information: Control and Access," consists of Chapters 3 through 6 and covers an introduction to bibliographies, indexing, and abstracting services. Chapters 7 through 12 are in Part Three, "Sources of Information," which include encyclopedias, various ready reference sources, biographical sources, dictionaries, geographical sources, and government documents. It is as pointless for students to memorize details about specific reference sources, as it is necessary for them to grasp the essential areas of agreement and difference among the various forms. To this end, every effort is made to compare rather than to detail. Only basic or foundation reference works are discussed in this volume. But readers may not find all basic titles included or annotated because: (1) There is no consensus an what constitutes "basic". (2) The objective of this text is to discuss various forms, and the titles used for that purpose are those that best illustrate those forms. (3) The annotations for a specific title are duplicated over and over again in Guide to Reference Books and Guide to Reference Materials, which list the numerous subject bibliographies. In both volumes, suggested readings are found in the footnotes and at the end of each chapter. When a publication is cited in a footnote, the reference is rarely duplicated in the "Suggested Reading." For the most part, these readings are limited to publications issued since 1987. In addition to providing readers with current thinking, these more recent citations have the added bonus of making it easier for the student to locate the readings. A number of the suggested reading items will be found in Reference and Information Sources, A Reader, 4th ed., published by Scarecrow Press, in 1991. It is beyond argument, of course, that all readings need not necessarily be current and that many older articles and books are as valuable today as they were when first published. Thanks to many teachers' having retained earlier editions of this text and the aforementioned Scarecrow title, it is possible to have a bibliography of previous readings. As has been done in all previous editions, the sixth edition notes prices for most of the major basic titles. This practice seems particularly useful today, since librarians must more and more be aware of budgetary constraints when selecting reference titles. CD-ROMS are listed where available. Prices are based an information either from the publisher of the original reference source or from the publisher of the CD-ROM disc. If a particular work is available online, the gross hourly rate as charged by DIALOG is given for its use. Both this rate and the book prices are current as of late 1990 and are useful in determining relative costs. Bibliographic data are based an publisher's catalogs, Books in print, and examination of the titles. The information is applicable as of late 1990 and, like prices, is subject to change.
The ten chapters in Volume 11 are divided into 3 parts: Part One, "Information and the Community," contains two chapters to familiarize readers with various groups in the community, their information and reference needs, and how professionals attempt to serve those needs. Part Two, "Interview and Search," devotes Chapters 3 through 6 to the vital task of explaining how to isolate and understand the questions readers put to librarians as well as basic methods of finding the correct answer(s). The emphasis is an practical application of tried and true methods of interviewing and searching. Attention is given to both manual and computer searches. Chapter 6 is a guide to basic information about databases, including CD-ROMS. Part Three, "Library Instruction, Networks, Policies, and Evaluation," is comprised of the last four chapters and covers the activities of reference librarians when not responding to direct questions. This part includes hints an teaching people how to find information as well as the networks that help both librarian and user to discover what is needed. Chapter 10 discusses methods of deciding how well the individual has fulfilled the task of being a reference librarian. Only space and the fact that this text is for beginners limits what information it contains. First, many new developments and potentially important technological changes in the field of information are impossible to cover without turning to technical language and jargon quite beyond the average reader of an introductory textbook. However, basic developments are covered and explained, and there is a guide (via the footnotes and suggested readings) for those who wish to explore the future. Second, this volume is for students and working reference librarians and is intended first, foremost, and always as a pragmatic, practical approach. This is not to discount the importance of research and information science. Leaders and followers in those fields are responsible for much of what is revolutionary in references services today. There are other courses, other places where information science can be considered in depth; all that can be done here is to hint at the joy of the intellectual fields that open up to the information scientist and researcher. Students and teachers alike should be aware that much of the material covered in this book is updated, argued, and dutifully considered in several basic journals. RQ, the official voice of reference librarians of the American Library Association, excels in its coverage of the topics considered in this text. Library Journal, while more general, now offers excellent and timely articles an the new technology and its influence an librarians. The Reference Librarian, edited by the author of this text, offers specific discussions of single topics in each issue, and these have ranged from online reference services, to personnel, to problems of evaluation. And, not to be missed, is the nicely edited, always useful, and sometimes downright inspirational, References Services Review.