bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Guides for the Wildflower Pilgrim
Authors: Potts Lesley S.
Published: February 2008

Every April thousands of “pilgrims” from all over the world flock to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park for the annual Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage. This region of the country, lavish with colorful flora, richly rewards the nature lover's devotion. Wildflowers can be found almost anywhere, if one knows what to look for and how to look. Field guides provide the keys the nature lover needs to become acquainted with the flora of a particular region. There are currently well over 100 books in print that offer guidance, through illustrations, descriptions, and various methods of identification, in recognizing the most representative wildflowers of every part of the United States. This review will examine 15 of these guides, chosen to exemplify the books available on the wildflowers of major regions.
Choosing a Place to Live: A Comparison of Information Sources
Authors: Ellen Huls Mary
Published: February 2008

Recent college graduates weighing job opportunities, persons about to retire, and professional people considering relocation are among the library users who seek descriptions of American cities and towns. Information services librarian Mary Ellen Huls evaluates four books intended to aid in the city selection process.
Police Science
Authors: Bailey Bill
Published: February 2008

Since 1960, a considerable amount of research has been done in the fields of police science and corrections. Here, Reference Librarian Bill Bailey evaluates bibliographies, encyclopedias, government documents, directories, and other sources of information on these branches of criminal justice.
Library Orientation and Instruction —1984
Authors: Rader Hannelore B.
Published: February 2008

The following is an annotated list of materials that discuss the ways in which librarians can provide library users with orientation to facilities and services, and instruct them in library information and computer skills. This is RSR's 11th annual review of this literature, and covers publications from 1984. A few items from 1983 have been included because of their significance, and because they were not available for review last year. Several items were not annotated because the compiler was unable to secure them.
Reference Service Policies
Authors: Easley Janet
Published: February 2008

It is the implicit policy of most reference departments to serve the public as fully as time and money permit. Yet, since libraries vary in the quality and number of reference services they provide, patrons and new employees welcome formal statements of departmental priorities and procedures. Janet Easley presents five reasons for developing a reference service policy.
On an Isolated Island
Authors: Hernon Peter
Published: February 2008

Thinking about being stranded on a deserted island conjures up images of solitude, tranquility, and beauty, as well as an opportunity to relax and swim daily. Further, I need not hear the sound of ringing telephones or weed around cactus plants with my bare hands. The best part of daydreaming about life on the island is that I can dictate the terms of my isolation, for example, no pollution, no sharks, plenty to eat, comfortable shelter, and a horse to ride. One other condition is necessary: I can be rescued after three weeks—sooner if my kids have a scheduled soccer game.
An Exchange in England
Authors: Mood Terry Ann
Published: February 2008

Librarians can benefit both personally and professionally from work experience in other countries. Here, Terry Ann Mood describes her experiences in England, and offers advice on planning a job exchange.
Appropriate Settings for Reference Service
Authors: Pierson Robert
Published: February 2008

This issue's Special Feature is a discourse on the factors that influence the design and use of reference service areas. Robert Pierson identifies 13 characteristics every reference service area should have, and proposes specific design techniques by which these desired features can be obtained. The text is augmented by illustrations.
Basic International Reference Sources
Authors: McCulley Lucretia
Published: February 2008

Numerous reference sources are available to help librarians answer questions regarding the geographical and cultural characteristics of nations. In this article, Lucretia McCulley identifies the features that determine the quality of such materials, and explains how each of 13 research aids meets her criteria.
Honoring Martin Luther King, Jr., The Conscience of America: A Select Annotated Review of the Literature
Authors: Meyer Evelyn S.
Published: February 2008

“The issue we confront today is not primarily one concerning a special day for an individual. The issue is in reality whether our nation can summon the will and vision to recognize a great and historic period in its history by designating the birthdate of one who made major contributions to the period a national public holiday.”
Using InfoTrac in an Academic Library
Authors: Walker Mary Ann , Westneat Helen
Published: February 2008

Optical storage media can facilitate the type of research done in academic libraries. This article describes InfoTrac, a database on laserdisc, and reports on its reception at the University of Dayton.
A Primer on Corporate Reports
Authors: Kendrick Aubrey W.
Published: February 2008

Although many library patrons seek information on the activities and earnings of corporations, some librarians have difficulty identifying the documents appropriate for such research. Aubrey W. Kendrick advises on selecting and obtaining corporate reports.
Alzheimer's Disease: Addressing the Information Needs of the Public
Authors: Gerity Louise P.
Published: February 2008

The importance of libraries as centers for the distribution of material dealing with the concerns of the elderly was highlighted recently in an open letter to state library associations from Bessie B. Moore, vice‐chairperson of the National Commission of Libraries and Information Science (NCLIS). She wrote:
The Arms Control Collection at the University of Illinois Library
Authors: Atkins Stephen
Published: February 2008

Arms control, international security, and peace are topics of growing concern among scholars. This concern is a reaction to the heightened international tensions during the past decade. Researchers are aware that their work might contribute to an understanding of the sources of conflict, and to the peaceful resolution of international issues. Interest in the field is rapidly expanding both in the United States and abroad, but there has been little agreement on the direction research should take. Research institutes, think‐tanks, and university programs around the world are devoting an increasing amount of time to the study of arms control, international security, and peace.
Upward Evaluation of Library Middle Managers
Authors: Starratt Joseph A. , Tollman Thomas A.
Published: February 2008

Evaluating the performance of middle managers is a difficult, imprecise, and often‐neglected undertaking. Although library literature abounds with techniques for assessing the value, efficiency, or performance of an uncountable number of services, programs, systems, and procedures, relatively little is written on the matter of evaluating a middle manager's ability to manage. Considering the pivotal role department heads play in an organization's success, it is surprising how seldom they are held accountable for their managerial abilities, as long as they prevent major catastrophes and do not unduly irritate their directors. Or, in a more positive vein, it is surprising how little guidance and useful information managers receive about their management style and its effectiveness. If they wish to improve their performance, they are on their own. One possible way to receive information about one's management techniques is through an evaluation process that allows subordinates to assess their superior's performance.
Library Orientation and Instruction — 1985
Authors: Rader Hannelore B.
Published: February 2008

The following is an annotated list of materials dealing with orientation to library facilities and services, instruction in the use of information resources, and computer skills related to information gathering. This is RSR's twelfth annual review of this literature and lists items published in 1985. A few references are not annotated because the compiler could not obtain copies of them for the review.
March: Red Cross Month
Authors: Hambric Lynne
Published: February 2008

The Red Cross has been actively serving humanity since the 1860s through its various programs, both in the United States and throughout the world. The International Red Cross has chapters worldwide that operate under the provisions of neutrality originally established by the Geneva Treaty of 1864. Its charge, and that of the American Red Cross, is to furnish volunteer aid to the sick and wounded of armies during times of war and to serve as a channel of communication between civilians and military personnel in times of both war and peace. Another charge is to bring relief to those suffering as a result of natural disasters such as floods, fires, and earthquakes.
April: Pets Are Wonderful Month
Authors: Hutchins Geraldine L.
Published: February 2008

In April we celebrate Pets Are Wonderful Month (PAW) to honor the companion animals that bring joy and love to their owners' lives. Humans have lived with animals as companions for thousands of years and during that time our knowledge about the animals we choose as pets has grown enormously. Recent research involving pet therapy indicates that not only do pets give us love and companionship, but they also are beneficial to our physical and mental health. Pets are used in nursing homes, prisons, and mental health institutions, with autistic children, and in many other capacities.
April: Cancer Control Month
Authors: Thomas Willa J.
Published: February 2008

To gain a better understanding of the importance of the control of cancer, one must first know and understand certain basic facts about the disease. Cancer is the uncontrolled growth of malignant cells. Cancer detection tests determine whether neoplasms (new, abnormal cells) are benign (non‐cancerous) units, or malignant, health‐threatening growths. Of the hundreds of known cancers, there are four types principally affecting humans: sarcoma, cancer of connective tissue and muscles; carcinoma, cancer of lining tissues; leukemia, cancer of blood‐forming tissue; and lymphoma, cancer of lymphatic tissue. Detailed scientific and medical information on cancer can be found in texts written by authorities such as Ruddon (1981).
July: National Ice Cream Month
Authors: Moore Anne
Published: February 2008

Since the birth of this country, Americans have had a love affair with ice cream. Statistics show that United States residents consume more ice cream per capita than residents of any other country in the world. In recent years, with the advent of what are called “designer” ice creams such as Haagen Dazs, Bassetts, and Carvel, the population's passion for this dessert has increased even more. However, it is this author's strong belief that we spend much more time eating the stuff than writing about it. Some cookbooks are available, but not one periodical is devoted exclusively to ice cream, and the majority of articles in general interest magazines focus only on the competition for a share of the market among manufacturers of premium ice cream. There are two classic textbooks in the field, and they devote a good deal of print to examining and explaining the composition, butterfat content, percentage of air, and other qualities of ice cream. Obviously, it is much more fun just to sit down and enjoy a big bowl of vanilla, America's favorite flavor, and let someone else write about it.
December: National Closed‐Captioned Television Month
Authors: Gover Harvey
Published: February 2008

With the start of a new decade in 1980, the public witnessed the arrival of a significant new technology, closed‐captioned television. The culmination of nearly a decade of research and development, closed‐captioned television opened up a new world for the hearing‐impaired. Closed captioning provides a line of on‐screen, written messages co‐ordinated with the sound of the television program. These captions are “closed” in that they are visible only to viewers who have specially designed adapters, known as decoders, to make the words appear on the screen. More than just subtitles, captioning transcribes narration and sound effects as well as dialog. At last, over sixteen million hearing‐impaired individuals in the United States can read what they cannot hear on television.
National Transportation Week: Second Week in May
Authors: Abbott Lisa T. , Abbott John P.
Published: February 2008

The topic of transportation incorporates a vast amount of divergent information. The subject matter varies greatly, and includes titles ranging from Camels of the Outback to The Great American Motion Sickness; or Why You Can't Get There from Here. To establish boundaries for this resource guide, the present authors referred to Public Law 87–449, 14 May 1962, which authorized the president to proclaim an annual National Transportation Week. Using this as a basis, they defined transportation As the movement of people or goods from one place to another, and included a little tourism to break up the concrete and steel. While some historical materials are included, this resource guide emphasizes modes of transportation currently used in the United States.
National Animal Health Week: Last Week in May
Authors: Friend Linda
Published: February 2008

National Animal Health Week, usually the last week in May, was instituted by presidential proclamation in 1984. (The related observances Be Kind to Animals Week, sponsored by the American Humane Association, and National Pet Week, sponsored by the Auxiliary to the American Veterinary Medical Association, are usually celebrated during the first full week in May.)
National Theatre Week: First Week in June
Authors: Pitts Roberta , Clark Katie
Published: February 2008

While the terms theatre and drama are often used synonymously, they are marked by distinct differences. Drama is concerned with the literature of the theatre, the written basis for theatrical presentations. Theatre refers to the art of presentation, and includes the creations of the playwright, the designer, the architect, and the actor.
National Space Week: Week of 13 July
Authors: Rholes Julia M. , Kellough Jean
Published: February 2008

On 13 July 1974, President Nixon signed a proclamation declaring the week of 20 July National Space Week, in honor of man's landing on the moon on 20 July 1969. Although the lunar landing was certainly the emotional high point for the American space program, interest in space remains quite high, as evidenced by the tremendous popularity of films and books on the subject. The intention of this article is to provide readers with a guide to materials that serve to focus attention on space exploration, not only during Space Week, but throughout the year.
National Children's Book Week: Last Week of November
Authors: Thurston Charles B.
Published: February 2008

Children's Book Week, which occurs during the last week of November, was first inspired by a speech delivered by E.W. Mumford of the Penn Publishing Company at the American Booksellers Association (ABA) annual convention in 1912. Mumford regarded reading as an act of habituation. He said that a child raised on trashy novels will grow up to read such fare, but that a child instilled with a taste for better books will ultimately develop mature and catholic reading interests.
A Generic Reference Collection
Authors: Childers Thomas
Published: February 2008

If I were stranded on a desert island and had to create a reference or information service with only ten sources, which ten would I choose?
Honoring Emily Dickinson (1830–1886): A Centennial Review of the Literature
Authors: Meyer Evelyn S.
Published: February 2008

When the first edition of Poems by Emily Dickinson was published in 1890, Samuel G. Ward, a writer for the Dial, commented, “I am with all the world intensely interested in Emily Dickinson. She may become world famous or she may never get out of New England” (Sewall 1974, 26). A century after Emily Dickinson's death, all the world is intensely interested in the full nature of her poetic genius and her commanding presence in American literature. Indeed, if fame belonged to her she could not escape it (JL 265). She was concerned about becoming “great.” Fame intrigued her, but it did not consume her. She preferred “To earn it by disdaining it—”(JP 1427). Critics say that she sensed her genius but could never have envisioned the extent to which others would recognize it. She wrote, “Fame is a bee./It has a song—/It has a sting—/Ah, too, it has a wing” (JP 1763). On 7 May 1984 the names of Emily Dickinson and Walt Whitman were inscribed on stone tablets and set into the floor of the newly founded United States Poets' Corner of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City, “the first poets elected to this pantheon of American writers” (New York Times 1985). Celebrations in her honor draw a distinguished assemblage of international scholars, renowned authors and poets, biographers, critics, literary historians, and admirers‐at‐large. In May 1986 devoted followers came from places as distant as Germany, Poland, Scandinavia, and Japan to Washington, DC, to participate in the Folger Shakespeare Library's conference, “Emily Dickinson, Letter to the World.”
Reference Serials
Authors: Gilbert Virginia A. , Jakubs Deborah , Veitch Carol J. , Page Lane , Tibbetts Caroline J. , Carrington Bessie , Childress Boyd
Published: February 2008

South America, Central America and the Caribbean. 1st ed. 1986. $90. London: Europa Publications, Ltd., 1985. Available in North America from Gale Research Co. ISSN 0258‐0661. ISBN 0‐946653‐11‐9. OCLC 12956657. This work is a welcome and overdue companion to the Europa volumes on other regions. It combines statistics, analysis, history, maps, directories, and bibliography in one reference tool.
Select Bibliography of Genealogical Research Aids Published by the National Archives and Records Administration
Authors: Uebrick‐Pacheli Willna
Published: February 2008

The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) has published several books that can be used by the genealogist to locate additional research material. This bibliography does not include the pamphlets or brochures that NARA produces and gives to beginning genealogists. It does include all the major NARA publications. It is divided into three sections: a review of the general guide (the basic source guide to NARA holdings, published in 1983); a discussion of catalogs of microfilmed records, which contain descriptions and roll lists of microfilmed publications by subject, and a review of NARA's two ethnic subject guides (a comprehensive guide to records relating to Native Americans and a guide to civilian records relating to Afro‐Americans).
Library Instruction and Intellectual Stimulation
Authors: Margolis Michael
Published: February 2008

Library instruction classes often fail to give students the intellectual stimulation they need. Ann Irving, in her thought‐provoking article about bibliographic instruction, recognized the problem, noting that library teachers neglect subject content (Irving 1980, 11). Instead, they emphasize the process of obtaining facts and ideas. Too often, librarians get overinvolved in the process, and ignore the substance, of research. They frequently become lost in the retrieval of data and fail to teach students how to interpret the information they find. John Lubans, Jr., in his book Educating the Library User, discusses the obsessive concern with the layout of the library. A boring list of library services and dull tours are often the result of this approach to bibliographic instruction (Lubans 1974, 86). A bland and mechanical approach to the value of the library is far removed from the psychological and intellectual needs of the students. The result is a lack of student enthusiasm about the research project they are about to begin.
To Put It Straight: DARE Is Not a Dictionary of Slang or Americanisms
Authors: Feider Christopher J.
Published: February 2008

It is often helpful to describe something by first stating what it is not. Dictionary of American Regional English (DARE) is not a dictionary of Americanisms, nor is it a dictionary of slang; DARE differs from those reference tools in features and purpose.
The Online Information System at Georgia Tech
Authors: Zimmerman Julia
Published: February 2008

The catalog of a library's collection is the focal point of most major automated systems. It is certainly an essential tool, but it helps the user find monographs and journals only at the most general level. At the Georgia Institute of Technology Library, as at other libraries specializing in science and technology, having access at article level to journal literature is of primary importance. Therefore, when planning a major automated system, the library specified this type of access as a highly desirable component.
ACCESS: A Community Information Service
Authors: Wavada Jim
Published: February 2008

The ACCESS Community Information Service in Spokane, Washington, has been a cooperative project of the Spokane Public Library municipal system and the Spokane County Library District system, which serves the suburban Spokane area and surrounding smaller towns. The Spokane Public Library is a department of government of the city of Spokane. The Spokane County Library District is an independent district with its own tax base.
The Information Access Company's Editorial System
Authors: Meglio Delores
Published: February 2008

With such venerable institutions as Burroughs Corporation, Sperry Corporation, and U.S. Steel disappearing from the world business scene as the result of mergers and name changes, keeping track of information about these companies is becoming increasingly difficult.
Electronic Versus Printed Access to Reference Tools: Two Approaches
Authors: Loomis Rosemary , Jaros Joe , Jackson Kathy , Gilreath Charles
Published: February 2008

Reference tools are prime candidates for replacement with their electronic counterparts, since finding the desired information in the shortest possible time and with the least possible effort is the primary concern of users of reference tools. Electronic versions of reference sources often provide enhanced access, as well as more definitive searching techniques. This article will describe two attempts made by the Evans Library at Texas A&M University to substitute reference tools with their electronic equivalents: one that failed from an economic standpoint and one that succeeded, attaining good user acceptance and reasonable costs.
PC INFO: he Information and Referral Software for Microcomputers
Authors: Ross Linda N.
Published: February 2008

As the cost of powerful microcomputer hardware continues to decrease each year, the demand for sophisticated software designed to take advantage of these low cost machines increases. This inverse relationship is especially true in the human services field where budgets are almost always tight and the need for information continues to increase as the client population grows.
Developing a Human Services Taxonomy: A Case Study
Authors: Sales Georgia
Published: February 2008

As information technology has become increasingly accessible and familiar, and as the benefits have become increasingly well understood, the public's expectations and demands for information have grown. Nowhere is this more true than in the human services. A wide variety of professionals have found a need for systematic access to information about human service organizations in their communities and in response have developed resource files of varying degrees of sophistication. Whether the file is set up on a rolodex, in a printed directory, or in a complicated computerized system, those using it immediately recognize that they have to have a way of indexing and accessing the information that allows them to get to the right organization in a minimum of time.
Building an AIDS Resource File: A Rationale and a Model
Authors: SantaVicca Edmund F.
Published: February 2008

The body of literature on AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) has increased so dramatically over the past six years that it may now easily overwhelm the student or researcher embarking on a search of the literature. The nature and scope of the literature varies, and, due to developments in research, epidemiology, and so on, the literature is being continuously updated and superceded by new discoveries and additional perspectives. Moreover, since AIDS is a multifaceted phenomenon, most of the literature, with the exception of the biomedical literature, tends to treat several facets simultaneously. It is not unusual, for example, to retrieve an article containing information on incidence, demographics, costs, and policy statements; or to find another that addresses public opinion, moral issues, and AIDS education in the schools. The newness of AIDS, coupled with the newness of research and reaction to AIDS, means that a number of facets are often treated in a single article so that as much related information as possible can be passed on to the reader.
William Langer's An Encyclopedia of World History
Authors: Coutts Brian E.
Published: February 2008

Shortly after I arrived in Baton Rouge to begin studies toward a Ph.D. in history in the early 1970s, I was assigned the dubious task of giving lectures and grading examinations in History 1001, the first half of “Western Civilizations.” After attempting to grade the first semester's exams, which always included a section of identifications, I began to look seriously for a standard reference book of people, places, and dates, since the students were much given to inventive imagination. Several fellow graduate students advised me to obtain a copy of “Langer,” which they referred to as the “Historian's Bible.” It was to be one of my wisest purchases, and the book has continued to serve me well over the years. The book to which they referred me was William Langer's An Encyclopedia of World History, which a prominent historian has called the “Diary of Humankind.”
Rankings: A Selected Bibliography
Authors: Ohles Judith K.
Published: February 2008

Bestsellers, the weekly Top 40, Fortune 500, Places Rated Almanac are just a few of the ranked lists available that fascinate and thrill almost every‐one. These lists often contribute to our decision making. A consumer looks for the best car, a college graduate hunts for jobs at the top companies, a student applies to the best law schools. Library patrons often ask for ratings of different items, but rankings, though a valuable source of information on various topics, can be very difficult to locate. This bibliography provides a list of selected sources of rankings covering the following areas: multi‐subject, consumer, education, film and television, geography, and music.
Expanding Networks: Reference Services for MRDF
Authors: Jones Ray , Seale Colleen
Published: February 2008

Machine‐readable data files (MRDF) are now a basic part of the information revolution. Reference librarians can learn to play a major role in disseminating information about MRDF and in helping patrons to use them to retrieve information. A major library may have access to computer tapes or cartridges of numeric and statistical databases. Other MRDF may be available through various online services, electronic bulletin boards, flexible diskettes and optical disks. Since many statistical data are available only in machine‐readable format, reference librarians will need to integrate MRDF into their normal approach to information retrieval. One must concur with Ms. Bliss Beckman Siman who wrote in 1986 that “there is probably too little attention paid either by the literature or the professional organizations to the areas of reference and bibliographic instruction with machine‐readable data files.” Further, she stated “clearly the first necessity is to meet the technical demands of this new media but without more attention to the techniques of public service the expected use of this information resource simply won't develop.” Greater emphasis must be placed on the importance of the reference transaction in expanding the use of MRDF in both teaching and research. This article will discuss some of the major issues concerned with providing reference services for MRDF.
Computer Information Products at NTIS
Authors: Weisman Stuart M.
Published: February 2008

The National Technical Information Service (NTIS), an organizational entity of the U.S. Department of Commerce, is an unusual federal agency. A relatively small government organization with fewer than 350 employees, NTIS is one of the few federal agencies that pays its own way by recovering its costs of operation from the sale of its products and services.
Implementing an Optical Disk System for Adult Education Manuscripts
Authors: Abbott George L.
Published: February 2008

In the fall of 1986, Syracuse University received a 3.7 million dollar grant from the Kellogg Foundation (Battle Creek, Michigan) to further enhance its noted graduate program in Adult Education and to develop a state‐of‐the‐art system for the indexing and dissemination of resources contained in the comprehensive adult education collections held in the Syracuse University Library. These collections consist of 650 linear feet of manuscripts, a pamphlet collection, a microform collection, several hundred audio and video recordings, 200 film segments from Omnibus and the Omnibus Excursion television programs aired on CBS in the early 1950s, and an extensive collection of English‐language monographs and journals.
The Fugitive Literature of Acid Rain: Making Use of Nonconventional Information Sources in a Vertical File
Authors: Lovenburg Susan L. , Stoss Frederick W.
Published: February 2008

Acid rain was a little‐known issue ten to fifteen years ago. Only a relatively small group of scientists seeking an explanation for the changes they observed in the environment were concerned with the problem. Today acid rain is recognized as an environmental problem of global proportions. Governments at all levels are moving to develop policies addressing the issue. As the topic has expanded from the scientific to the political arena, the public has become increasingly involved, and information sources have proliferated.
The Literature of Dance
Authors: Brownmiller Sara N. , Dickinson Donald C.
Published: February 2008

Librarians find the search for information on dance topics time‐consuming and difficult. There are few reference works devoted specifically to dance, and a number of those that do exist are outdated and need revision. Further, because the field is so diverse, a search for dance information will frequently lead the investigator into a variety of related subject areas, each with its own complicated access problems. Reference librarians faced with dance inquiries may in the course of an hour find it necessary to consult sources in music, education, aesthetics, theatre, or physiology. On a more specific level, questions may call for information on such subtopics as ballet, folk dance, dance therapy, choreography, tap dance, and movement technique. College students may need information on famous dancers of the past; theatergoers may want an up‐to‐date evaluation of a performance of a specific ballet company; and dancers may often need information on technique and conditioning.
Electronic and Media Delivery of Information: Matching New Techniques to Products and Markets
Authors: Holmstrom Larry W.
Published: February 2008

This paper discusses the factors that will influence a publisher's choice of cost‐effective electronic and media delivery techniques while allowing growth potential that serves the needs of end‐users. The paper describes the use of diskettes, Bernoulli removable cartridge disks, CD‐ROMs, modems using dial‐up phone lines, leased phone lines, satellites, and FM subcarriers. Sample data sizings evaluated include spreadsheet and word processing application programs, catalog distribution, CAD and accounting data files, online databases, news and financial information, and database updates. The economics of each delivery technique are given as well as the advantages and disadvantages.
LC Science Tracer Bullet: An Index
Authors: Conrad Ellen
Published: February 2008

Published by the Science and Technology Division of the Library of Congress since 1972, the Tracer Bullet series is an underused reference source available in many library and government documents collections. The Tracer Bullets cover a wide variety of subjects in the natural and physical sciences and technology. Each one is devoted to a specific topic and is designed “to help a reader begin to locate published material on a subject about which he or she has only general knowledge.” Developed in the style of a library pathfinder, each explores the resources available, listing texts, handbooks, encyclopedias, dictionaries, bibliographies, government documents, and journal articles. Addresses and telephone numbers of relevant organizations are also included as are appropriate Library of Congress subject headings to use in locating additional material.
Wildlife Legislation before and after the Endangered Species Act of 1973
Authors: Gray Dorothy A.
Published: February 2008

To some persons, private gardens, public parks, and farms appear to offer a safe way to preserve all of the plants and animals the environment needs. To people who ignore the need for conservation, the idea of paving and pruning and artificially laying out our land from coast to coast seems welcome. Wiser persons perceive that the destruction so imposed on nature would ultimately endanger our existence. The wilderness, with its wealth of animals and plants, holds a treasure from which we already extract the chemicals and genes we need for agricultural breeding, for industrial products, and for healing drugs. What to the layman may look like a disorderly swamp, or a dark forest, or an uninteresting prairie, actually encompasses complicated communities of vegetation and animals of all classes, communities that are held together in a stable balance by their interdependent components. Ecologists are identifying the key principles at work in these ecosystems of wetlands and drylands, forests and prairies. In their search for understanding of how life on our planet functions, they have called attention to the overriding need to preserve and protect the biological diversity that characterizes ecosystems. They have found instances in which short‐sighted human tampering has played havoc with subtle ecological balances. Too frequently entire species have vanished under man's onslaught. Sometimes such a disappearance is an indication that an entire ecosystem is out of balance.
Out of the Shoebox: Publishing a Regional Periodical Index Using a Microcomputer
Authors: Schmidt Jean M. , Wilson John S.
Published: February 2008

In the closed stack area of the Louisiana Room of Dupre Library at the University of Southwestern Louisiana, three librarians met in the early spring of 1986. This chance meeting of two public service librarians and a cataloger led to a discussion of the needs of local researchers and the difficulty of locating articles in Louisiana publications. State periodicals contain a rich variety of articles about local customs and cuisine, economic conditions, and politics. Generally, the Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature does not index these periodicals, and this often frustrates patrons who are looking for information on local topics. Many libraries, including the Dupre Library, keep vertical files of pamphlets and newspaper clippings to fill this gap. But such files are time‐consuming to maintain, their contents are too often fragmentary, and each file moreover serves only one institution.
The Dictionary of National Biography and Its Early Editors and Publisher
Authors: Fritze Ronald H.
Published: February 2008

The Dictionary of National Biography (or DNB as it is commonly called and as it will be referred to in this paper) is a classic. Depending on whether a library owns an original edition published by Smith, Elder and Company or a reprint edition published by Oxford University Press, sixty‐three brown volumes or twenty‐two blue volumes and supplements loom bulkily from the shelves. It would be an odd, ill‐trained reference librarian, historian, or scholar of English literature who has never heard of the DNB, let alone used and perused it. But mere bulk does not explain the lasting fame and staying power of this reference work, whose first volume appeared in January 1885 over a century ago.
Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry
Authors: Chadwick Sharon S.
Published: February 2008

Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry is the fifth completely revised edition of Ullmann's Encyklopaedie der Technischen Chemie, the fourth edition of which was completed in 1984. The fifth edition began with volume Al in 1985 and is expected to be completed in thirty‐six volumes by 1996, three or four volumes appearing each year. A cumulative index will be published each year to provide access to published volumes. This reviewer had volumes A1 through A7 (1985–1986) and the Index to Volumes A1 to A4 (Abrasives to Calcium Sulfate) (1986) available for review. The most noticeable difference between the fourth and fifth editions is “publication of the Encyclopedia in the English language rather than in the German of its predecessors.” (editors' preface to vol. A1) Thus, it can now join the ranks of the other prominent encyclopedia of chemical technology and industry: Kirk‐Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology (Wiley‐Interscience, 3d ed., 1978–84, 25 vols.). Another comprehensive chemical engineering encyclopedia, Encyclopedia of Chemical Processing and Design (John J. McKetta, editor; Dekker, 1976) is incomplete, as of this writing, volume 27 (covering through lectone dimethyl) being the latest to have been published. Since the first edition is incomplete and not as well established in the chemical technology community, the Encyclopedia of Chemical Processing and Design will not be discussed here. Anyone interested in a comparative review of all three encyclopedias is referred to the review by Jay Matley entitled “Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry,” which appeared in Chemical Engineering (vol. 93, no. 8 [28 April 1986]: 95–98). This review will compare the fifth edition of Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry with the third edition of Kirk‐Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology (the two works will be referred to as Ullmann and Kirk‐Othmer, respectively).
Numismatics: A Core Collection
Authors: Harnsberger R. Scott
Published: February 2008

Numismatics, the systematic study and collecting of coins and related items such as tokens, medals, and paper money, has been a recognized scholarly discipline since the Middle Ages. Archaeologists, historians, economists, artists, and engravers have found numismatics a valuable adjunct to their respective fields of study. Coins are the official product of an issuing authority, and as such they can provide an important primary historical source of documentation concerning monetary values, patterns of economic exchange, trade routes, colonization, migration, military campaigns, linguistic and epigraphic data, mythology, religion, art, historical portraits, and views of buildings, monuments, and statues that have long since been destroyed. For the researcher in American history, numismatics can provide insights into historical economic trends.
Genealogical Sources for England and Wales
Authors: Wuehler Anne
Published: February 2008

Genealogical research is like solving a mystery: it helps if you are a mystery buff. In doing genealogical research, one recognizes the need to solve a problem, decides what might bring the solution, then follows the clues to the end.
CD‐ROMs: Instructional Methods and User Reactions
Authors: Lynn Patricia , Bacsanyi Karen
Published: February 2008

Information storage and retrieval through CD‐ROM technology has now been available to the library world for over three years. CD‐ROMs, which allow patrons to do their own searching, have become popular library tools among patrons because they are quick, convenient, and can offer a printed record of retrieved citations. However, as many first‐time users learn, despite the power of the search and retrieval methods of CD‐ROM, these systems can appear somewhat complicated to novices. And, if a library subscribes to more than one database, differences in retrieval software hinder the transfer of search methodology between systems.
Current Readings on the Iran‐Iraq Conflict and Its Effects on U.S. Foreign Relations and Policy
Authors: El‐Sherbini Magda
Published: February 2008

The conflict between Iran and Iraq is not new; it dates from long before September 1980. In fact, the origins of the current war can be traced to the battle of Qadisiyah in Southern Iraq in 637 A.D., a battle in which the Arab armies of General Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas decisively defeated the Persian army. In victory, the Arab armies extended Islam east of the Zagros Mountains to Iran. In defeat, the Persian Empire began a steady decline that lasted until the sixteenth century. However, since the beginning of that century, Persia has occupied Iraq three times: 1508–1514, 1529–1543, and 1623–1638. Boundary disputes, specifically over the Shatt al‐Arab Waterway, and old enmities caused the wars. In 1735, belligerent Iranian naval forces entered the Shatt al‐Arab but subsequently withdrew. Twenty years later, Iranians occupied the city of Sulimaniah and threatened to occupy the neighboring countries of Bahrain and Kuwait. In 1847, Iran dominated the eastern bank of the Shatt al‐Arab and occupied Mohamarah in Iraq.
Reference Services Review Columns: An Index
Authors: Berman Joan
Published: February 2008

This index accompanies the index that appeared in Reference Services Review 16:4 (1988). As noted in the introduction to that index, the articles in RSR that deal with specific reference titles can be grouped into two categories: those that review specific titles (to a maximum of three) and those that review titles pertinent to a specific subject or discipline. The index in RSR 16:4 covered the first category; it indexed, by title, all titles that had been reviewed in the “Reference Serials” and the “Landmarks of Reference” columns, as well as selected titles from the “Indexes and Indexers,” “Government Publications,” and “Special Feature” columns of the journal.
Journals Focused on a Single Author: Their Importance in Locating Literary Criticism
Authors: Palmer Pamela
Published: February 2008

In recent years, the number of journals focusing on a single literary figure has increased substantially. No longer are only a few select authors the sole focus of a journal or newsletter. With the proliferation of single‐author periodicals, implications for their use in locating literary criticism increases the importance of identifying such publications and recommending them to users. The importance of the effective use of journals devoted to a single author is highlighted by the fact that many such titles are not indexed in MLA International Bibliography, long deemed the most complete of the traditional sources for locating literary criticism. Perhaps the greatest strength of the relatively recent American Humanities Index lies is its coverage of single‐author titles. Humanities Index and Abstracts for English Studies also provide access to such journals. Arts and Humanities Citation Index does include a number of the titles too, but it is relatively difficult to use because of its subject approach.
Claustrophobia: A Guide to Information Resources
Authors: Ruelle Barbara
Published: February 2008

A phobia is a condition that is caused by fear of a specific object or situation. Phobias constitute the most common form of psychiatric disorder. “People of all ages, at all income levels and in all geographic locations suffer from phobias, according to a study of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Between 5.1 percent and 12.5 percent of Americans suffer from phobias.”
American Social Attitudes and Popular Culture of the 1950s: A Selected Annotated Bibliography
Authors: Beam Joan
Published: February 2008

Recently, American social behavior during the 1980s has been compared, both favorably and unfavorably, with the attitudes and culture of the United States during the years 1950–1959. The past two decades of rebellion, student protest, liberal sexual practices, radical politics, and strong civil and women's rights movements have all passed.
United States Philately: A Core Collection
Authors: Harnsberger R. Scott
Published: February 2008

In 1840 Great Britain became the first government to issue an adhesive stamp for the prepayment of postal fees. The United States issued its first stamps in 1847 and by the mid‐1850s postage stamps were an international phenomenon. The popularity of collecting and studying postage stamps increased accordingly. The term “philatelie” (subsequently anglicized to “philately”) was coined by Frenchman M. Georges Herpin in the 15 November 1864 issue of Collectionneur de Timbres‐Poste, where he combined the Greek words philos (loving, fond) and atelia (free from tax or charge, exempt from payment, franked) and declared “Philately therefore signifies love of everything related to franking.”
The Oxford English Dictionary: A Brief History
Authors: Fritze Ronald H.
Published: February 2008

The Oxford English Dictionary (hereafter referred to as the OED) is one of the most well‐known and respected reference works in the world. Its imposing bulk has even led some people to believe incorrectly that it actually lists every word in the English language. Of course, a good number of words were omitted from the distinguished dictionary because they were considered vulgar or because they were American words, categories that were actually somewhat synonymous to certain less tolerant Englishmen of the late nineteenth century.
Project Jefferson and the Development of Research Skills
Authors: Lynch Anne
Published: February 2008

Project Jefferson, a cooperative effort between the University of Southern California University Library, the Freshman Writing Program, and the School of Industrial and Systems Engineering, is an attempt to encourage the development of research and critical thinking skills among students. The project's aim is to:
Inmates Do Ask Questions: Automation and Reference Service in a Correctional Setting
Authors: Sawyer Michael
Published: February 2008

In January 1987, history was made at the Chillicothe Correctional Institute (CCI) library in Ohio when the prison library automated its catalog and circulation systems. This innovative program, implemented only after two years of planning and developing, and with help from a Library Services and Construction Act (LCSA) grant, was the first of its type in the country.
Public Access Computer‐Assisted Mapping and the Instructional Program
Authors: Hiller Steve , Johnson Jenny Marie
Published: February 2008

The decline in published thematic mapping, especially U.S. government census mapping, the growing availability and affordability of computers, and the rise of geographic information systems have been important catalysts in moving map libraries toward the establishment of public access computer‐assisted mapping programs. Until recently, most computer‐assisted mapping systems were tied to large computers and required a significant degree of technical expertise. A program on computer‐assisted mapping at the Spring 1984 Western Associa‐tion of Map Libraries meeting in Seattle found few examples of microcomputer‐based mapping sys‐tems and none that was really designed for direct public access. However, the past five years have seen the explosive growth of microcomputers and applications software, the rise of desktop publishing (and by extension desktop mapping), the development of large databases on CD‐ROM and their use in libraries, and increasing librarian familiarity with microcomputers. These technical advancements in combination with changes in data distribution have contributed to the recent rise of public access computer‐assisted mapping programs in academic libraries.