College and Research Libraries


r 

342 I College & Research Libraries • July 1977 

Doyle, James M., and Grimes, George H. 
Reference Resources: A Systematic Ap-
proach. Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow, 
1976. 293p. $10.00. LC76-7080. ISBN 
0-8108-0928-1. 
The authors intend this as a new ap-

proach to teaching reference bibliography 
courses. Instead of learning individual ti-
tles, students learn a classified system of 
published reference sources and a struc-
tured approach to literature searching. The 
dynamics of communication and the uses 
of resources, as revealed in user studies, are 
also a part of this method. A question nego-
tiation simulation exercise provides practice 
in the technique of the reference interview. 

The printed formats of reference litera-
ture are presented in the "bibliographic 
chain." The "links" of the chain proceed 
from the inception of an idea through print-
ed formats-institutional resources, work-
in-progress, unpublished studies, periodi-
cals, reports and monographs, indexing and 
abstracting services, bibliographic reviews, 
annual reviews and state-of-the-art, and 
books and encyclopedic summaries. This 
bibliographic chain, linked with user needs 
and the searching process, is presented in 
a flow chart which illustrates the informa-
tion searching process. 

The "discipline resource package" is the 
name of the annotated reference book bib-
liography for subjects in the areas of social 
sciences, humanities, science, and technolo-
gy. These "packages" are basic guides to 
subject literature and are organized by 
printed formats. "General works," e.g., al-
manacs, biographical and statistical sources, 
and dictionaries, include those reference 
sources which do not fit into the structure 
of the subject-oriented packages. The au-
thors note that this section is also useful to 
the "average, intelligent adult" who is do-
ing research. The "search procedure form" 
lists the titles from these packages and 
provides space for writing the negotiated 
and redefined search question and for the 
keywords to use in the information search. 

Unfortunately, all subjects do not have 
titles that fit neatly into the formats in the 
bibliographic chain. Rather than acknowl-
edge this by pointing out the lack of pub-
lications and the uneven development in 
various subjects, the authors include titles 

which are usually not associated with these 
formats. The source given for work-in-
progress for all subjects is Contemporary 
Authors. While this title may be "basic" 
for the social sciences and humanities, a 
quick check of scientists' names found more 
omissions than inclusions. Titles listed for 
annual reviews for political science and his-
tory include America Votes, Facts on F'ile, 
and Statistical Yearbook. Encyclopedic 
summaries include biographical directories, 
directories of corporations, and quotation 
books, along with encyclopedias and dic-
tionaries. The content or use of the refer-
ence source is subordinated, and the 
format, broadly interpreted, becomes more 
important. 

Careful editing would have eliminated 
an unevenness of bibliographical detail. 
Older editions are cited rather than more 
recent ones. The dates publications ceased 
are often not given. Changes in publication 
format which occurred several years ago are 
not noted. For many of the serials, the be-
ginning date of publication is omitted, so 
the student or researcher would not know 
the coverage the source provides. 

One would assume library school educa-
tors are aware of reference interviews, 
inter-personal communication dynamics, 
user studies, and patterns of subject litera-
ture organization. If not, sections I and II 
(p.3-71) give a brief introduction. Re-
searchers would find other subject guides 
to the literature more useful than the pack-
ages because of their inconsistencies.-Jean 
Herold, Reference Librarian, The General 
Libraries, The University of Texas at Aus-
tin. 

The Information Age: Its Development, Its 
Impact. Edited by Donald P. Hammer. 
Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow, 1976. 275p. 
$10.00. LC 76-10603. ISBN 0-8108-
0945-1. 
The Information Age is intended, accord-

ing to the preface, to be an "interesting, 
rewarding and informative account of sig-
nificant events and activities" of the period 
1965-75 in information science. One of the 
requirements placed on the twelve contrib-
utors was that the book be readable. The 
intent is only partially fulfilled; the informa-
tion is there all right, but many parts of the