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DOCUMENT RESUME ED 377 845 IR 055 272 AUTHOR Nichols, Margaret Irby TITLE Handbook of Reference Sources and Services for Small and Medium-sized Libraries. Second Edition. INSTITUTION Texas State Library, Austin. Dept. of Library Development. PUB DATE 94 NOTE 211p.; For an earlier edition, see ED 293 563. PUB TYPE Guides Non-Classroom Use (055) Reference Materials Bibliographies (131) EDRS PRICE MF01/PC09 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS Annotated Bibliographies; Information Sources; Librarians; *Library Collection Development; Library Material Selection; Library Planning; *Reference Materials; *Reference Services; Resource Materials; *Selection Tools; User Needs (Information) IDENTIFIERS Adult Services (Libraries) ABSTRACT The primary objective of this guide is to help librarians select adult services reference tools which cover many different topics, with special emphasis on recent social and technological changes. Arrangement is topical, with particular attention given to the following topics: AIDS, abortion, the environment, economic problems, the crisis in public education, ethnic minorities, women, and area studies. Databases and CD-ROMs are emphasized; hard copy and electronic versions of reference works are listed, if both formz.ts are available. Section 1, "Reference Sources," is a bibliography that lists 678 annotated items plus 208 additional sources in notes, which appear after relevant entries or subsections. The notes list supplemental titles on subjects in high demand; suggest less expensive titles serving the same purpose; identify works on related topics; or provide additional information about the subject area. A buying guide appears at the end of each chapter, suggesting when and in which order to purchase materials. Section 2, "Reference Services," consists of ten essays that focus on planning and managing reference services, and on situations and problems frequently encountered by reference librarians, each followed by titles for further reading. A subject index for section 2 concludes the guide.(MAS) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. *********************************************** U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (Dike of Educational Rematch and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) 0 Trhs document has been reproduced as reCewed Irom the person or ofgantzehoh ongmattng O Mmor changes have been made to anprove reproduCtion quality Pomts of vtew or optrnonStittOd in thsd0Ou- ment do not necessardy represent °tiros' OF. RI posMon or poltcy "PERMISSION TO REPRODUCETHIS MATERIAL HAS BEENGRANTED BY Jeannette Larsen NV TO THE EDUCATIONALRESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER(ERIC)." rnovAIIAll Al I HANDBOOK OF REFERENCE SOURCES AND SERVICES FOR SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED LIBRARIES 2d edition by Margaret Irby Nichols Texas State Library Library Development Division Austin, Texas 1994 Nichols, Margaret Irby. Handbook of reference sources and services for small and medium-sized libraries / by Margaret Irby Nichols. -- 2nd ed. -- Austin, Tex. :Texas State Library, Library Development Division, 1994. vii, 199 p.; 28 cm. Includes bibliographical references and indexes. 1. Reference books--Bibliography. 2. Reference services (Libraries) I. Texas State Library. Library Development Division. II. Title. 011.02 N517h 1994 @Margaret Irby Nichols 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS Section 1: Reference Sources A. Guides and Bibliographies 1 Guides to Reference Books 1 Bibliographies 2 Suggested Purchase Plan 6 B. General Works 7 Almanacs 7 Directories 7 Encyclopedias 8 Indexes 10 News Digests 12 Suggested Purchase Plan 14 C. Biography and Related Areas 15 Living Persons 15 Deceased Persons 16 Names 18 Genealogy 18 Flags 19 Suggested Purchase Plan 20 D. Philosophy, Religion, and Ethics 21 Philosophy 21 Religion 21 Bible Study 24 Ethics 25 Suggested Purchase Plan 27 E. Language Dictionaries 28 General Language Dictionaries 28 Historical Dictionaries 30 Special Purpose Dictionaries 30 Foreign-Language Dictionaries 33 Suggested Purchase Plan 35 F. Literature 36 Bibliographies 36 Indexes 36 Dictionaries, Encyclopedias, ani Handbooks 37 Criticisms 39 Biographical Sources 40 Directories 41 Quotations and Proverbs 42 Suggested Purchase Plan 43 G. Visual Arts 45 Encyclopedias and Dictionaries. 45 Handbooks 46 Histories 46 Directories 46 Biography 46 Architecture 47 Suggested Purchase Plan 48 H. Applied Arts 49 General Works 49 Antiques 49 Ceramics 50 Costumes and Fashion 50 Furniture and Interior Design 51 Glass 51 Jewelry 52 Photography 52 Rugs 52 Silver 52 Suggested Purchase Plan 53 1. Crafts and Hobbies 54 General 54 Coins and Paper Money 54 Postage Stamps 55 Suggested Purchase Plan 56 J. Performing Arts 57 Dance 57 Film 57 Television 58 Theater 58 Suggested Purchase Plan 60 K. Music 61 Encyclopedias and Dictionaries 61 Direcories 61 DiscognAphies 61 Biography 62 Classical 63 Opera 63 Popular 63 Instruments 64 Songs 64 Suggested Purchase Plan 66 L. Archaeology and 11" .y 67 Archaeology 67 World History 67 United States 69 Texas 71 Suggested Purchase Plan 72 M. Social Sciences 73 General Works 73 Current Events and Issues 74 Parapsychology and the Occult 74 Psychology and Mental Health 75 Statistics 75 Suggested Purchase Plan 78 N. Sociology and Social Issues 79 Social Conditions and Problems 79 Homosexuality ii Minorities 82 Women 85 Suggested Purchase Plan 87 P. Geography and Area Studies 89 Atlases 89 Encyclopedias and Dictionaries 90 Gazetteers 90 Exploration 91 Travel 91 Area Studies 92 Suggested Purchase Plan 95 Q. Education and Career Guidance 96 Education 96 Career Guidance 98 Suggested Purchase Plan 101 R. Political Science and Law 102 Dictionaries 102 Documents 102 Handbooks 103 Biography 103 International Relations 104 Parliamentary Procedure 104 United States 104 TexaS' 106 Suggested Purchase Plan 109 S. Business and Economics 111 General Works 111 Indexes 111 Dictionaries and Handbooks 111 Directories 112 Secretary's Handbooks 113 Accounting 114 Banking and Finance 114 Insurance 114 Investment and Personal Finance 115 Management and Sales 116 Real Estate 116 Small Businesses 116 Taxes 117 Suggested Purchase Plan 118 T. Science 120 General Science 120 Astronomy 122 Biology 122 Botany 123 Chemistry 124 Earth Sciences 125 Mathematics 126 Physics 127 Zoology 127 Suggested Purchase Plan 130 iii U. Applied Sciences 132 General Works 132 Agriculture 132 Aviation and Space 132 Building Construction 133 Computers 1;13 Environment 134 Mechanics 135 Medicine, Health, and Family 135 Veterinary Medicine 139 Suggested Purchase Plan 140 V. Home Life and Social Customs 142 Anniversaries and Holidays 142 Consumerism 142 Etiquette 143 Food and Cookery 143 Gardening 144 Home Maintenance and Repair 145 Pets 145 Suggested Purchase Plan 147 W. Sports and Recreation 148 Sports 148 Recreation 150 Suggested Purchase Plan 152 Section II: Reference Services Planning and Managing Reference Services 153 Reference Services Policy Manual 156 Reference Collection Development 159 Weeding the Reference Collection 161 Levels of Reference Service 164 The Reference Interview 166 Answering Reference Questions 168 Problem Patrons and Special Situations 170 Building Local Information Files 173 Electronic Reference Sources 175 Subject Index - Section 1 177 Subject Index - Section II 185 Title IndexSection I 187 0t. iv PREFACE This handbook continues an effort begun more than sixteen years ago to help Texas libraries to provide better reference service for their patrons. The original work was the Preliminary Edition of Handbook of Reference Services, prepared for use at a Basic Skills Institute held in September 1977 at Texas A&M University. Within four years, the Second (1979) and Third (1981) Editions followed. Since then, I have compiled threesmall guides for the Texas State Library: Current Texas Reference Sources: A Sesquicentennial Guide (1985), Selecting and Using a Core Reference Collection (1986). and its revision Selecting and Using a Core Reference Collection, 2d ed. (1993). The first, which focused on in-print works on the state's history, culture, and geography, attempted to help librarians in meeting demands generated by the 1986 Sesquicentennial celebration. As an additional service to the library community, the Texas State Library sponsored a series of seven workshops on library preparation for the Sesquicentennial year. As the presenter for these workshops, I had an opportunity to talk with numerous librarians from around the state. Many from small libraries expressed a need for guidance in selecting materials which would enable them to provide basic reference services. Others wanted an updated version of the Handbook of Reference Sources, 3d ed., which was beginning to show its age. Selecting and Using a Core Reference Collection was designed to answer the first request. In response to the second request, the Library Development Division of the Texas State Library surveyed the ten systems coordinators to determine the desirability of an updated version of the Handbook, and if a need existed, what changes and additions would enhance its usefulness to small and medium-sized libraries. The coordinators endorsed a revision and made numerous suggestions for its improvement. Handbook of Reference Sources and Services for Small and Medium-Sized Libraries (1988) resulted. Numerous subject areas and essays on providing services were added: thus the change in title. In planning that revision, I again decided to address it to small and medium-sized libraries. Most public libraries, of course, are in cities of

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