IT WAS AN OLYMPIC YEAR for reference publishers. As if to prove that printed reference sources can more than hold their own in a sea of CD-ROM, the 1993 list of Best Reference books is the most significant in more than a decade. From that sea of CD, however, LJ's CD-ROM reviewer Cheryl LaGuardia has selected the best of the year. Her picks appear on p. 42. (For more on the relationship between print and electronic reference, see "The Reference Medium of Choice: Print or Electronic," P. 40.)
Drawing the most attention was U.S. history, which was updated, revised, and beautifully chronicled in three magnificent sets. Scribner's Encyclopedia of American Social History successfully captures the essence of the American experience. Just as monumental is Simon & Schuster's Encyclopedia of the Confederacy, in four volumes: it explores every aspect of life in the 11 states that seceded from the Union in 1860-61. Our knowledge of the Colonial North American experience takes on a global perspective in Scribner's three-volume Encyclopedia of the North American Colonies.
Carlson Publishing's Black Women in America provides a comprehensive portrait of the life, history, and culture of America's black women. Though less comprehensive, Gale's Notable Hispanic American Women explores the life and times of Hispanic American women in its 300 articles. Also on the women's front is ABC-CLIO's Goddesses in World Mythology, which describes 9500 goddesses, nymphs, demons, and deified women from hundreds of cultures over the last 30,000 years.
On the international scene there were not one but two outstanding new encyclopedias of Japan: The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Japan is an excellent two-volume set that illustrates the Japanese experience from a largely British/American point of view; and Japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, by the Japanese publisher Kodansha, provides a condensed and updated version of its earlier nine-volume work and covers everything from advertising to Zen.
To help you prune back those trees damaged in this year's severe winter storms and lay out this spring's garden, Dorling Kindersley's The American Horticultural Society Encyclopedia of Gardening is the authority. Also from this publisher, The Complete Medicinal Herbal gives an illustrated practical guide to the healing properties of more than 120 medicinal herbs. Two magnificent works from Oxford concentrate on the global preservation of the environment: Deserts: The Encroaching Wilderness and Wetlands: A World Conservation Atlas. The outstanding bibliography of the year is Beacham's Guide to Environmental Issues and Sources, which includes a staggering number of sources on every environmental issue.
Hoover's Handbook of Emerging Companies is a high-quality reference at an affordable price, profiling 250 of America's growth companies along with useful lists, e.g., of America's top women business owners. Another small reference publisher, Toucan Valley Publications, ranks 1770 suburbs in 50 metropolitan areas for anyone contemplating relocation in American Suburbs Rating Guide and Fact Book. To help make sense of the real story behind American's incomes and discretionary spending, check out New Strategist's The Official Guide to American Incomes.
Perhaps the most beautiful reference book of the year is the Kovels' American Art Pottery: The Collector's Guide to Makers, Marks and Factory Histories. Two uniquely valuable reference publications, true labors of love, are former circus performer Tom Ogden's Two Hundred Years of the American Circus, the first encyclopedia on the American circus; and elementary school administrator Dorothy Winbush Riley's My Soul Looks Back, 'Less I Forget, the first book of quotations from people of color.
All in all it was a gold medal year in reference publishing. As in past years we reviewed reference sources in our own collections, scanned publishers' catalogs, viewed publishers' exhibits at conventions, and read countless reference reviews here and elsewhere. The cost of the 30 books on this year's list adds up to $3,537, down substantially from the $5,969 in 1992 (which included the costly Oxford English Dictionary on Compact Disc), for an average of $118 per title.
The American Horticultural Society Encyclopedia of Gardening. Dorling Kindersley, dist. by Houghton. ed. by Christopher Brickell. 648p. photogs. index. ISBN 1-56458-291-4. $59.95.
Much more than decorative fare, this stunningly illustrated coffee-table book is a comprehensive, authoritative, and up-to-date guide for amateurs and professionals and covers information both on creating the garden and maintaining it. An excellent glossary and index enhance the usefulness of this essential purchase for all public libraries. (LJ 11/15/93)
The American Revolution, 1775-1783: An Encyclopedia. 2 vols. Garland. (Reference Library of the Humanities, Vol. 933). 1857p. permanent paper. ed. by Richard L. Blanco. maps. bibliog. index. ISBN 0-8240-5623-X. $175.
In 800 alphabetically arranged entries, 125 scholars masterfully chronicle the American Revolution from Lexington and Concord, April 19, 1775, through the Battle of Blue Licks, August 19, 1782. Biographical sketches are provided for most of the major military and civilian participants as well as long essays on battles, raids, and massacres. Excellent maps are provided on all major battles. (LJ 7/93)
Ann, Martha & Dorothy Myers Imel. Goddesses in World Mythology. ABC-CLIO. (Religion & Myth). 658p. bibliog. index. ISBN 0-87436-715-8. $65.
This comprehensive guide is the first of its kind and covers 30,000 years of goddess worship. The authors present more than 9500 goddesses, nymphs, demons, and deified women from cultures around the world. Divided alphabetically into 15 geographical regions, entries identify goddesses by their various historical incarnations. For academic and large public libraries.
Beacham's Guide to Environmental Issues and Sources. 5 vols. Beacham. 3335p. ed. by Walton Beacham. index. ISBN 0-933833-31-8. $240.
The goals of this remarkable reference set are to locate and compile a comprehensive database of sources (from books to technical reports to videos) related to environmental issues worldwide. The set begins by discussing the Council on Environmental Quality's 1992 environmental assessment and then moves on to examine virtually every conceivable topic related to the environment. With more than 40,000 citations, this easy-to-use source will be an indispensable asset in any library. (LJ 12/93)
Black Women in America: An Historical Encyclopedia. 2 vols. Carlson Pub. 1530p. ed. by Darlene C. Hine. photogs. bibliog. index. ISBN 0-926019-61-9. $195.
A major encyclopedia on African American women, this set is more comprehensive than Notable Black American Women (LJ 3/1/92). Mostly biographical, the encyclopedia contains 804 historical and contemporary entries of which 163 deal with organizations and general topics such as movements and issues. An essential purchase for most public and academic libraries. (LJ 2/15/93)
The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Japan. Cambridge Univ. Pr. 400p. ed. by Richard Bowring & Peter Kornicki. photogs. bibliog. index. ISBN 0-521-40352-9. $49.95.
An up-to-date introduction to Japan past and present, this work is arranged by eight thematic sections, exploring the geography, history, language and literature, thought and religion, arts and crafts, society, politics, and economy of Japan into the modern world. Beautiful illustrations and comprehensive subject indexes render this volume a useful reference tool. Highly recommended for public and academic libraries. (LJ 11/1/93)
Congressional Quarterly's Congressional Districts in the 1990s: A Portrait of America. Congressional Quarterly. 1016p. ed. by Jon Preimesberger & David Tarr. maps. index. ISBN 0-87187-722-8. $150.
The third volume produced by CQ over the past 30 years, this excellent reference chronicles the distribution of political power in the U.S. House of Representatives following the redrawing of Congressional districts after each decennial census. Organized topically by state it includes a state profile and general description followed by profiles of each district in numerical sequence. This volume will be frequently consulted and deserves a place in ready-reference collections in public and academic libraries.
Deserts: The Encroaching Wilderness; A World Conservation Atlas. 176p. ed. by Tony Allan & Andrew Warren. ISBN 0-19-520941-9. (LJ 6/15/93)
Wetlands in Danger: A World Conservation Atlas. 192p. ed. by Patrick Dugan. ISBN 0-19-520942-7. (LJ 11/15/93). ea. vol: Oxford Univ. Pr. illus. maps. index. $35.
Deserts is an extraordinary publication that provides researchers and browsers alike with information on every aspect of the world's major deserts and the impact of human intervention on the fragile ecological systems. It is planned and lavishly illustrated as a popular treatment of the subject. Wetlands follows the same format and is an equally important work on identifying and charting a course for conservation. It explores areas ranging from the mangroves of Central America to the wetlands of New Zealand. Both volumes are highly recommended for school, public, and undergraduate libraries.
Dictionary of the Literature of the Iberian Peninsula. 2 vols. Greenwood. 1806p. ed. by German Bleiberg & others. bibliog. index. ISBN 0-313-21302-X. $195.
It is difficult to understand why this is the first English-language dictionary to focus on Iberian literature, a tradition that has produced five Nobel prizes for literature. The dictionary includes literature from the tenth century to the mid-1980s. It is limited to writers born in the Iberian peninsula and includes all major traditions: Catalan, Galician, Portuguese, and Spanish. Some 140 contributors describe the major literary figures with biographical information, literary criticism, and bibliographies. An excellent addition for all libraries.
Encyclopedia of Adult Development. Oryx. 574p. ed. by Robert Kastenbaum. bibliog. index. ISBN 0-89774-669-4. $95.
Intended by its editor to be a "look-it-upper," this one-volume encyclopedia explores "the patterns, meanings, and potentials of development from infancy through old age." Although some time is devoted to early development, the primary focus is on the adult years. Arranged alphabetically by subject, the 106 signed articles explore such diverse issues as body senses, chronic pain, and loving and losing. This volume belongs in most academic and large public libraries.
Encyclopedia of American Social History. 3 vols. Scribner. (American Civilization). ed. by Mary Cayton & others. 2653p. maps. bibliog. index. ISBN 0-684-192462. $350.
This monumental work in social history will become the standard by which other such works are measured. The encyclopedia is divided into a number of thematic sections with clusters of lengthy signed essays exploring such issues as the interaction between diverse groups; it concludes with essays about how groups lead their lives and how work and social problems affect the fabric of American society. An essential purchase for university and large public libraries. (LJ 6/1/93)
Encyclopedia of the Confederacy. 4 vols. S. & S. Academic Reference. 1916p. permanent paper. ed. by Richard N. Current & Paul D. Escort. photogs. maps. bibliog. index. ISBN 0-13-275991-8. $295.
Over 300 scholars contributed to this monumental encyclopedia, which is the first comprehensive reference work that attempts to provide reliable information on all aspects of the Confederacy. It includes biographical sketches, accounts of campaigns and battles, the origins of the Confederacy, the roles of African and Native Americans and women, and the place of religion and the arts in Confederate life. An essential purchase for all large academic and public libraries. (LJ 1/94)
Encyclopedia of the North American Colonies. 3 vols. Scribner. 865p. ed. by Jacob Cooke & W.J. Eccles. maps. index. ISBN 0-684-19269-1. $300.
Traditional reference works on American Colonial history focused almost exclusively on the British tradition and thus largely ignored the history of most of the continent. This marvelous new reference work corrects that perspective. It includes 270 essays from 193 distinguished experts who break new ground by covering the French, Dutch, Spanish, Russian, and Native American experiences in the Colonial era. Unlike earlier "drum-and-trumpet" encyclopedias, it explores virtually every aspect of Colonial life. For all libraries. (LJ 1/94)
The Encyclopedia of the Peoples of the World. Holt. 703p. permanent paper. ed. by Amiram Gonen. photogs. maps. bibliog. index. ISBN 0-8050-2256-2. $125.
How to keep up with the flux of ethnic nationalism throughout the world? With more than 2000 entries, 48 pages of color illustrations, and 250 original maps, this is the ideal source to enlighten you. The editors portray an ethnic group in terms of common history, distinct language, shared traditions, common identity, and territorial concentration. The entries for Bosnian Muslims, Croats, Serbs, and Slovenes lend some explanation to the current struggle by explaining the historical traditions of each group. For all libraries. (LJ 4/1/94)
Hoover's Handbook of Emerging Companies. Reference Pr. 431p. ed. by Patrick J. Spain & others. index. ISBN 1-878753-185. $32.95.
In 1990, the first Hoover's Handbook was published; it has since split into Hoover's Handbook of American Business and Hoover's Handbook of World Business. This work features 250 company profiles of well-known, high-profile leaders in their fields plus smaller, lesser-known companies with potential for growth. Both public companies and private companies are included, from Cracker Barrel Old Country Store founded in 1969 to Snapple Beverage Corp. At the suggestion of librarians, this new volume is issued in hardback. A bargain for any library.
International Dictionary of Architects and Architecture. Vol. 1: Architects. Vol. 2: Architecture. St. James Pr. 2161p. permanent paper. ed. by Randall J. Van Vynckt. photogs. ISBN 1-55862-089-3. $250.
In this impressive work on Western architectural history, data on 523 architects and 467 buildings are highlighted with 964 black-and-white photos and 169 floor plans. Volume I is arranged alphabetically by architect and contains concise biographical data and a chronology of major works; Volume 2 is arranged geographically with specifics on individual buildings and sites. One might quibble with some choices; however, the set is indispensable for all architect" and for most large academic and public libraries. (LJ 9/15/93)
Japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia. 2 vols. Kodansha, dist. by Farrar. 1924p. ed. by Alan Campbell & David Noble. illus. maps. bibliog. index. ISBN 4-06-931098-3. $250.
In 1983, Kodansha published the Kodansha Encyclopedia of Japan, in nine volumes. This new work, at two million words, is about half the size of its predecessor. Most entries have been rewritten or revised, and hundreds of new entries on contemporary subjects have been added. The 11,000 maintext entries cover every aspect of Japanese culture; a new feature offers 100 pictorial essays on topics like Japanese cooking, kabuki, sake, sumo, sushi, and tea ceremony. An outstanding encyclopedia. For all libraries. (LJ 10/1/93)
Jeans, Peter D. (text) & Ross H. Shardlow (illus.). Ship to Shore: A Dictionary of Everyday Words and Phrases Derived from the Sea. ABC-CLIO. 425p. illus. bibliog. ISBN 0-87436-7174. $49.50.
Jeans, an Australian, is an experienced world traveler who writes a column on the origins of words. Shardlow, also an Australian, is a marine artist of international reputation. They have combined talents here to produce one of the best dictionaries of sea terms ever, and the first since Origins of Sea Terms (1985). This work demonstrates how nautical language has evolved into common usage. For public and academic libraries.
Kovel, Ralph & Terry Kovel. Kovels' American Art Pottery: The Collector's Guide to Makers, Marks, and Factory Histories. Crown. 326p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 0-517-58012-8. $60.
American art pottery-hand-thrown, hand-decorated artistic products--was first made in Cincinnati in the 1870s. The movement ended in the 1930s. The Kovels have written more than 60 books on antiques and collectibles and write a monthly column for House Beautiful. The present volume lists 215 potteries from A to Z, along with 700 color and black-and-white photographs and 1000 illustrations of artist and factory marks. A stunning book for public and academic libraries.
Kurian, George Thomas. World Encyclopedia of Cities: North America. 2 vols. ABC-CLIO. 1169p. permanent paper. illus. Vol. 1: ISBN 0-87436-650-X; Vol. 2: ISBN 0-87436-651-8. ea. vol: $75; set $120.
Profiles of 136 cities in the United States and Canada are provided in this unique set. Arranged alphabetically, entries include historical, geographical, economic, and demographic data in both narrative and statistical forms. Future editions would benefit from more up-to-date statistical data in several categories and by the separation of public libraries from the general education subcategory. Moreover, numerous large metropolitan areas were omitted in an attempt to provide geographical balance. Volumes 3-6, which will cover the rest of the world, are in progress. A great quick reference for librarians, the set is best considered a work-in-progress and should become even better with future editions. (LJ 4/1/94)
My Soul Looks Back, 'Less I Forget: A Collection of Quotations by People of Color. HarperCollins. 498p. ed. by Dorothy W. Riley. bibliog. index. ISBN 0-06-270086-3. $27.50.
When Riley assigned her middle-school students a paper for Black History Month using the words of their ancestors, she discovered that there was not a single book of quotations available drawing on the African American tradition. This project, eight years in the making, is a compilation of notable quotations from people of color. A privately printed edition with 5000 quotations was originally published; this commercial edition was expanded to include 7000 quotations. A gem, for all libraries. (LJ 8/93)
Notable Hispanic American Women. Gale. 448p. ed. by Diane Telgen & Jim Kamp. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 0-8103-7578-8. $59.95.
Gale follows its highly successful Notable Black American Women (LJ 3/1/92) with a biographical volume on nearly 300 notable Hispanic American women. Alphabetically arranged by surname, the volume features both historical and contemporary women representing a broad range of professions. Signed entries include noteworthy data that helped to shape and define the life and career of each subject. One hopes that more photographs will accompany the next edition. (LJ 8/93)
Odey, Penelope. The Complete Medicinal Herbal. Dorling Kindersley, dist. by Houghton. 192p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 1-56458-187-X. $29.95.
A photographic survey of 120 medicinal herbs, this practical guide is divided into herbs past and present; all manner of medicinal herbs; and herbal remedies. A special how-to section on home remedies provides individual charts with explanations on the preparation and use of herbal remedies for common ailments. This is an essential purchase for public libraries, both for the reference shelf and the circulating collection. (LJ 5/15/93).
Ogden, Tom. Two Hundred Years of the American Circus: From Aba-Daba to the Zoppe-Zavatta Troupe. Facts on File. 402p. permanent paper. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 0-8160-2611-4. $45.
At age 18, Ogden joined the circus, spending four seasons traveling with two circuses before going on to become a professional entertainer. In this work he presents the first encyclopedia of the American circus over a period spanning more than 200 years. Entries range from Buffalo Bill Cody to the Ringling Bros. Numerous black-and-white illustrations and a lengthy bibliography complement this delightful book. For school, public, and academic libraries. (LJ 8/93)
The Oxford Companion to the Bible. Oxford Univ. Pr. 910p. ed. by Bruce M. Metzger & Michael D. Coogan. maps. bibliog. index. ISBN 0-19-504645-5. $49.95.
Written by over 250 international scholars, this excellent one-volume Oxford companion is a first-search Bible reference work. Interpretive essays on topics as diverse as anti-Semitism, homosexuality, slavery, and the influence of the Bible on literature, law, and music provide users with a conceptual framework in which to measure the Bible's influence on Western culture and on the lives of generations of believers and nonbelievers alike. A ready-reference source for most libraries. (LJ 9/15/93)
Pronouncing Dictionary of Proper Names. Omnigraphics. 894p. permanent paper. ed. by John K. Bollard & others. ISBN 1-55888-311-8. $68.
Is the planet Uranus pronounced "yuh-RA-nuhs," like we learned in school years ago, or "YUR-uh-nuhs," as frequently heard on network television today? At last there is an up-to-date, reliable guide to the pronunciation of more than 23,000 names. Included are countries, cities, landmarks, states, capitals, common given names and surnames, religions, languages, ethnic groups, and thousands of other difficult-to-pronounce words. This remarkable volume deserves a place on every library's shelf. The publisher should consider a paperback for home use as well. (LJ 11/1/93)
Russell, Cheryl & Margaret Ambry. The Official Guide to American Incomes. New Strategist. 343p. index. ISBN 0-9628092-2-5. $69.95.
In this work, two editors of the New Strategist provide a comprehensive look at how much Americans have to spend and how they spend it. Hundreds of tables break down income trends, household income, personal income, discretionary income, household income projections, spending and wealth, and trends in poverty, income, and geography. These easy-to-use tables are certain to be in heavy demand in all public and academic libraries. (LJ 9/15/93)
Smithsonian Timelines of the Ancient World: A Visual Chronology from the Origins of Life to AD 1500. Dorling Kindersley, dist. by Houghton. 256p. ed. by Chris Scarre. illus. maps. bibliog. index. ISBN 1-56458-305-8. $49.95.
Beginning with the origins of life on Earth and ending at AD 1500, this chronology is illustrated with more than 1800 color photographs and maps. The chapters are built around time charts that highlight societal changes and continuity. Five major world regions are examined in terms of food and environment, shelter and architecture, technology and innovation, and art and ritual. This is an excellent reference that shows the full range of natural and human diversity. Highly recommended for school, public, and academic libraries. (LJ 11/15/93)
Willis, Alan & Bennett Jacobstein. American Suburbs Rating Guide and Fact Book. Toucan Valley Pub. 846p. index. ISBN 0-9634017-5-0. pap. $74.
With more Americans living in the suburbs than either the city or the country, according to the 1990 census, this book can serve as a guide to those planning relocation, as well as to urban studies professionals and students needing data on the nation's suburbs. It provides data for 1770 suburbs in the 50 largest metropolitan areas, analyzing and ranking them from best to worst in categories ranging from affordable housing to crime. Recommended for public, school, and academic libraries. (LJ 9/15/93)
PHOTOS: Some of the works reviewed
By Brian E. Coutts with John B. Richard
Brian E. Coutts is Head, Department of Library Public Services, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, and the author of several recent reference books, John B. Richard is Director, East Baton Rouge Parish Library, Louisiana. Special thanks to Donna Phillips, Facilities Specialist, Western Kentucky University Libraries, and to the East Baton Rouge Parish Library Reference and Acquisitions staffs
WITH THE RAPID proliferation of CD-ROM and online databases as standard reference tools for many libraries, electronic is rivaling print as the reference medium of choice. However, if a recent Forbes magazine article auguring the demise of the Encyclopaedia Britannica is to be taken at its word, the emergence of electronic products is actually threatening the existence of some print reference tools.
We contacted several public and academic librarians via listservs over the Internet and in telephone interviews in an effort to find out whether the composition of libraries' reference sources was changing. Is electronic replacing print? If so, to what degree? As is the case with so many technologies on the verge of becoming trends, whether they gain widespread acceptance depends not only on ease of use but on bottom-line cost.
LJ's informal roundup of librarians illustrates that they are spending money on electronic products giving them capabilities to access information better. However, we found no consensus that the rapidly expanding universe of electronic sources would render its print counterparts obsolete.
On the academic front, there are those librarians who are confident of a secure future for print products. "I don't feel electronic reference sources will replace print tools any more than Cuisinarts have replaced paring knives," said Judy Matthews of the Physics-Astronomy Library at Michigan State University. "There will always be a niche for print, and print will always have some unique advantages over [the] electronic interface."
However, Lou Malcomb, at the Undergraduate Library, Indiana University, Bloomington, said there was "no doubt" that electronic resources have replaced print tools for indexes and abstracts in his library. "We still rely on print for ready-reference tools like encyclopedias, almanacs, directories, etc., although gopher resources are increasing in use for directory-type information retrieval."
Some libraries have gone further in their use of electronic reference. Sharon West of Elmer E. Rasmuson Library, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, noted, "Our electronic reference sources are used heavily by reference staff...about 80 percent of all questions are answered this way. Access to the electronic is replacing print."
As Tom Zogg of the University of Minnesota-Duluth Library pointed out, cost and availability are the primary reasons why his library has retained print products. "Electronic reference sources are heavily used by staff but are not replacing print counterparts. A limited number of terminals and frequent computer breakdowns are two reasons why print counterparts are still needed," said Zogg. "Another reason is that many of our approximately 200 print indexes have no online form (e.g., esoteric humanities/social sciences titles) or are [unaffordable] in CD-ROM as well as in paper."
The most popular electronic resources in academic libraries, as reported by responding librarians, were ERIC and PsycLIT, ABI/Inform and MLA Bibliography, and Periodical Abstracts and Medline.
The electronic wave has made fewer inroads on public library reference than academic reference. In reporting the most-used electronic sources in their libraries, public librarians named InfoTrac (presumably the public library version, although they were not specific) most often, then their online public access catalog (OPAC), then Books in Print Plus.
Public librarians often aspire to the ideal that Beverly Choltco-Devlin of Morrisville Public Library, NY, holds: "Although we are a very small rural library, I feel it is especially important that my patrons have access to electronic resources (especially network resources)....[It] helps to level the playing field in a world that is increasingly being divided into one of haves and have nots with regard to information access."
However, public library budgets are not yet up to the challenge of completely crossing the electronic threshold. "We are looking at each source and seeing which format fits our usage needs," said Carolyn Bossard, Steele Memorial Library, Elmira, NY "Some CD-ROMs are cost effective for the increased ways of searching, and others are priced so much higher than the print version that they are not worth it to us."
A telling trend in replacement of print with electronic formats would be pervasive cancellation: Is it happening?
Were cancellations the order of the day for the academic librarians surveyed on the Internet? When asked, "Have you decided to cancel any print materials based on electronic availability?" the answer was overwhelmingly yes. The most canceled items were various H.W. Wilson indexes. Other libraries had canceled RIE and/or CIJE (parts of the database ERIC), while still more canceled MLA Bibliography and Biological Abstracts in print.
What was the situation for public library cancellations? Two-thirds of the survey respondents from public libraries reported that they had not replaced any print sources with the electronic format of the same or similar titles. Of those that had canceled titles, the largest number of cancellations involved Wilson indexes and Books in Print.
Indications are that print cancellations are beginning to happen, as libraries find they cannot afford to pay for two versions of the same material.
We asked some prominent reference publishers to comment on the print/electronic dynamic. Dennis Auld of the American Psychological Association (APA) pointed out that in the early 1970s, universities began loading PsycINFO tapes locally and used online searching. By 1987, 70 percent of APA's publishing revenue was from print, 30 percent from electronic formats. He estimated that by 1992 the split was 50/50. By 1996, he projects a reversal of 1987's figures.
As Auld notes, this "throws up all economic models in this industry now and makes them completely different." Some customers order Psychological Abstracts in print, on tape, and on CD-ROM, and many keep CD-ROM and print. But if all the duplicate forms of the data were dropped from subscription right now, APA publishing would have a 28 percent revenue drop.
Deborah Loeding from the H.W. Wilson Company noted that "the Wilson indexes and reference works in print account for the majority of our sales to libraries." She predicted, "The number of WILSONDISC CD-ROM subscribers will continue to increase, as it has for the past five years." While not anticipating a "substantial drop" in print index subscribers, Wilson is offering more nonprint products and services and may introduce new indexes in electronic formats only.
Gale Research's Beth Dempsey confirmed the trend of expanding electronic product lines. "The search capabilities--and the speed of conducting searches--of electronic media can truly enhance the value of reference works," she said. Gale has been able to combine databases to create comprehensive products "that would be too cumbersome in print format." R.R. Bowker also finds itself immersed in electronic product development: The company's business in electronic products, said Joan Silinsh, is expected to increase significantly in both development and sales over the next five years.
Although public libraries have not yet had as many opportunities to share in the electronic reference revolution as academic libraries, librarians from both types of libraries have something important in common: they expect the percent of their materials budgets now allotted to electronic products to increase. Of the academic librarians who responded to this question, the majority expect an increase. By comparison, public librarians almost unanimously expect an increase in funding for electronic resources, despite the fact that many of them are operating with tight budgets.
While it is too early to predict the respective destinies of print and electronic resources, one thing is certain: The reference librarian of the future might be located anywhere that has a telephone and a computer with a network connection. Publishers need to be preparing for this future now.
By Pat Ensor
Pat Ensor is Acting Assistant Director for Public Services, University of Houston
Biography and Genealogy Master Index CD-ROM 1994. Gale. ISBN 0-8103-6193-0. $1250; updates $350.
This mother lode of information is culled from over 700 biographical dictionaries and who's who the world over to offer citations to more than 3.5 million people. The data (based on the nine cumulative print volumes through the 1980s) are updated annually, adding 450,000 citations each year.
Broadcast News. Research Publications Intl. $595-$6,885, depending on files purchased and number of network users.
An interactive database, this new monthly subscription service offers instant access to media transcripts, commentaries, headlines, and overviews of programs on the ABC, CNN, NPR, and PBS radio and television networks. Over 44,000 fulltext transcripts are added every year from 60 programs.
Film Index International. Chadwyck-Healey. $1,195; $349 annual update.
Based on the extensive library services of the British Film Institute, this dual database provides invaluable information on 90,000 films worldwide with 330,00 periodical articles on films and filmmakers, as well as profiles of 30,000 personalities involved in the business.
Microsoft Encarta. Microsoft Corp. $139.
Based on the 29-volume Funk & Wagnalls Encyclopedia, this multimedia title, first introduced last year (now available in a 1994 edition), includes an additional 1000 articles, eight hours of sound, 60 language samples, 7800 photos and illustrations, 100 animation and video clips, 800 maps, 100 charts, a time line, and an atlas. "Wonderfully accessible" (CD-ROM Review, LJ 3/15/94), this is perfect for public libraries.
MUZE/EBSCO CD-ROM. EBSCO Pub. $495 annual; $695 annual with quarterly updates.
This comprehensive research catalog makes accessible 666,000 songs and musical works, searchable by performer, composer, genre, and instrument on over 80,000 audiocassettes, CDs, and music videos. A more in-depth version of the database available in music information kiosks in Tower Record stores, it is updated quarterly and annually. "Pure gold" (CD-ROM Review, LJ 11/15/93).
Peterson's College Database 1993. SilverPlatter Information. $595.
Over 3400 schools in North America are profiled and updated annually in this CD version of Peterson's printed Guide to Four-Year Colleges and Guide to Two-Year Colleges. It includes information on majors, ethnic and geographic mix, test scores, admission requirements, financial aid, housing, and special programs. (CD-ROM Review, LJ 11/15/93)
Statistical Abstracts from the A Matter of Fact Database. SilverPlatter Information. $525.
This is "a text database of statistical statements" (CD-ROM Review, LJ 12/93) and citations to secondary sources. Approximately 25 percent of the abstracts are derived from Congressional hearings, 15 percent from the Congressional Record, and the remainder from both general-interest and specialized periodicals. It is updated quarterly.
PHOTO: Some of the CD-ROMs reviewed
Cheryl LaGuardia, author of LJ's CD-ROM Review and reference librarian at the University of California-Santa Barbara, has selected her favorite reference sources of 1993.