The Guide to reference material can be described as an annotated subject bibliography, using UDC. New editions of each volume in a 5-6 year cycle are favoured, rather than overall supplements between editions. The problems of co-operation, collection and sifting material, optimum length of volumes, pointed annotations, indexing of titles, the spate of new material, and the demands for inclusion of new subjects are discussed, as well as future plans for the Guide. There is a continuing place for manual as well as computer searching for information.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Libr. Ass. Rec., 56 (10) October 1954, 394-397.
2.
Op. cit., 397.
3.
Minto, John.Reference books (1929), iii.
4.
Three examples come to mind: John L. Heller's "Notes on Latin dictionaries", Classical jl, January 1961, 171-176; W. Kirsop, on "The bibliography of French literary history", Australian jl of French studies, September/October 1964, 325-364; and R.J. Ardern's "No slick answers—library resources to serve the offshore oil industry", Aslib Proc., 27 (4) April 1975. 573-584. British book news carries monthly surveys of recent literature in particular fields, as also does RSR. At the academic level Choice does something of the same.
5.
Grogan, D.Science and technology (3rd ed. 1976 ), 36
6.
American libraries, 8 (2) March 1977, 130.
7.
Coll. Res. Libr., 25 (I) January 1964, 21-26, 31.
8.
University of Minnesota, I962.
9.
Katz, W.A.Introduction to reference works, v. I: Basic information sources. Ist ed., 1969, 26.
10.
American reference books annual, 1977 (v.8), 9.
11.
Walford, A.J. , with Payne, L.M.Guide to reference material ( Library Association, 1959), v.