Evaluation Set #1 Individual Assignment

8/14/2019 Evaluation Set #1 Individual Assignment

1/27

1 T. Wasserman Evaluation 1 Individual Spr09/ILS 504 Okobi

Terry Wasserman

Individual Catalogue Entries

Evaluation Set 1

Spr 09/ILS 504

Prof. Okobi

16 March 2009


2/27


I. Required Five Evaluations

National Union Catalog Pre-1956 Imprints, A Cumulative Author List Representing

Library of Congress Printed Cards and Titles Reported by Other American

Libraries. 754 vols. London: Mansell, 1968-1981.

Purpose: To put these older and rare titles into a book form to make them available to all

via an efficient bibliographic apparatus. This project was part of a larger attempt by

Herbert Putnam, Librarian of Congress in 1909, to compile a complete record of books in

US libraries.

Scope: All works published, or in the case of manuscripts written, before 1956. The

Catalogcontains entries for books, pamphlets, maps, atlases and music. It includes

periodicals and serials but the list is incomplete. It includes some individual manuscripts,

but more are recorded in theNational Union Catalog of Manuscript Collections. The

Catalogdoes not include records of phonorecords, motion pictures, filmstrips and Braille

and only includes those masters theses that had Library of Congress cards.

Authority: This catalog was put together by the Library of Congress staff from the

cataloguing reports of many of the best libraries and librarians in the US and Canada.

This catalog includes all holdings of the Library of Congress from pre-1956, plus all of

the holdings reported by several hundred participating libraries: in the case of University

of Chicago, Harvard, Yale, John Crerar Library and New York Public, it is indeed a full


3/27


accounting of every catalogued item. Other libraries reported items from their collection

based on their guess of whether or not the item was unique or rareso there are

conceivably a number of records that were not deemed rare enough and so not reported

here or all copies are not recorded here.

Format: Print.

Arrangement: The entries are arranged in alphabetical order by author, unless there is no

author (as in the case of the Bible) and then they are alphabetized by title. Each entry or

catalog card reflects the information supplied by the cataloguing librarythus, the entries

run the gamut from full citations with ever detail to cards listing only an authors surname

and an abbreviated title. Subject headings and call numbers were left on the entries, even

if not Library of Congress. The location of every entry is listed at the bottom of the card;

the first location supplied the card catalogue information. Rare books and monograph

entries were left alone, despite potential inaccuracies.

Special Features: The entire enterprise is so unique its hard to discuss special features in

context. The Catalogwas the single largest publication ever and at the time, the photo-

copying techniques used to produce the volumes were cutting-edge. Despite its

monstrous size, the Catalogstill has its uses in verifying or finding copies of long-

forgotten documentsas of just a few years ago, still fully one quarter of what is

recorded in the Cataloghas yet to be listed on WorldCat (L. Smith, personal

communication with reference librarian, 9 March 2009).


4/27


Limitations: Its a print resource, written in tiny type that hasnt been updated. There are

different fonts throughout with little thought given to the ease of use or overall design;

there are hand-written comments and completely illegible entries. Some entries are

incomplete, while even the most complete may no longer still be accurate.

Latest Edition: The first edition, 1968-1981. It can no longer be purchased and has not

been updated.

Books in Print. (2007-2008). New Providence, N.J.: Bowker.

Purpose: The purpose of this source is to provide absolute coverage of every book within

its spectrum that is currently being published or distributed in the United States for

librarians and members of the book trade market.

Scope: Provides entries for all books published after 2000 and active ISBNs. This edition

features 1,854,150 active titles published from 2000 on and 3,107,383 active ISBNs

representing 72,240 publishers. There are over 294,282 new titles and 328,762 new

ISBNs in this edition. The only books not included in this list are books not for sale in

the U.S., books not available to the general public, books without a title for sale, e-books,

unbound materials, on-demand books, periodicals, serials and music librettos. (E-books

and on-demand books can be found in the online version ofBooks in Print). Books in


5/27


Printis similar toForthcoming Books in its scope and differs only in that the latter

includes only books about to be published, whereas the former includes only books that

are published.

Authority: The publisher ofBooks in Print, Bowker, has been at this for over 60 years

and has nearly perfected the system of collecting and disseminating information about

books currently in print. Bowker gives publishers 24/7 online access to submit or update

publication information using either Bowkerlink or EDIpublishers can also call, fax

and write in entries. Bowker relies on the book publishers to provide accurate

information, the book publishers in turn rely on Bowker to get their books out to libraries

and booksellersquid pro quo, the source is as accurate as everyone involved can make

it.

Format: In print and online.

Arrangement: Designed to be easily searchable by both author and title,Books in Printis

a seven volume work. The first through fourth volume are arranged alphabetically by

title, volume five concludes titles and begins the section alphabetically arranged by

authors. Volume six is dedicated solely to authors and volume seven contains the

conclusion of authors and the indicies for publisher and distributor. Each entry contains

as many of the following as available: title, subtitle, contributors, edition number and

information, publication year, pagination, audience code, binding type, price in USD,


6/27


asterisk identifies ISBN new to this edition of BIP, publishers abbrev. name, foreign

publisher ISO code, USA distributors abbrev. name.

Special Features: The most useful feature of this reference work is its online component.

Having the ability to search the print edition via both title and author is convenient,

nothing is easier than doing a keyword search online. In addition, the online version has

a forthcoming books room which lets the user see yet-to-be-published titles, a fiction

connection site that assists in choosing new reading based on old favorites, a user-

friendly website designed for patron use, complimentary online training session, and a

non-fiction connection assisting readers in finding non-fiction based on prior interests.

Latest Edition: The most recent print edition is the 2008-2009.

Limitations: The limits of the print edition are fairly evident: books get published more

than once a year. The online version, however, is updated continuously and so is more

up-to-date. In addition, not having a subject search in the print edition, though space-

saving, is a disadvantage. The online version, again, corrects this problem with the

ability to keyword search.

Cost: $980. If the purchaser enrolls in a standing order, s/he can save 10% on this edition

and 5% on all subsequent editions.


7/27


Frequency of Publication/Update: The print edition is updated annually, the online

version is updated continuously.

Balay, R. (Ed.). (1996). Guide to Reference Books. Chicago: American Library

Association.

Purpose: The Guide is meant to be the first place students look for reference resources. It

is a general resource for college students and non-experts who are looking into a subject

with which they are not familiar.

Scope: The editors of the Guide to Reference Books strive to include only the most useful

reference works based on quality, authority and completeness. Though most sources are

English-language and North American, non-English sources are included if deemed

essential. The 11th edition includes over 14,000 entries ranging from atlases and

encyclopedias to periodical and universal bibliographies. The Guide covers the most

valuable reference works published between the 1700s and the 1990s that are still in use.

The reference books that are included have been evaluated for their use by college

students or non-expert researchers.

Authority: This book can rest on the laurels of the editor himself, Robert Balay: recipient

of RUSAs 2004 Isadore Gilbert Mudge-R.R. Bowker Award, former editor ofChoice

Magazine and former Head of Reference at Yale University Sterling Memorial Library.


8/27


However, he did not edit this book alone; its 15,875 titles were chosen by 50 general-

reference and subject-specialist librarians from major universities across the U.S.

Formats: The copy used for this assignment is print, however the current Guide is now

only available online where the 2008 edition has been published at

www.guidetoreference.org.

Arrangement: The Guide is organized into five sections by subject: 1. General

Reference, 2. Humanities, 3. Social and Behavioral Sciences, 4. History and 5. Science,

Technology and Medicine. Each section is further, and helpfully subdivided. There is a

good, detailed index given by author, title and subject. Entries include complete

bibliographic information (author, title, publisher, publication date, etc), LC

classification and number.

Special Features: The best feature of the print edition of the Guide is the annotations

which are written by academic librarians to be useful. The sources that are included in

the Guide are tried and true, used and acquired by academic librarians for their

serviceability and value. The online edition allows users to browse sources and do

advanced searches, including the ever-practical keyword search. The online version also

allows more reference works to be included without fear of having too much information

for a single volume.
http://www.guidetoreference.org/http://www.guidetoreference.org/


9/27


Latest Edition: The last print edition is the 11th, published in 1996. As of 2008, the

newest Guide, the 12th edition, was published solely online. It is the first Guide to

Reference Books to incorporate online reference materials into its entries.

Limitations: The print edition is out of date and the online edition is not available to all.

The Guide is not exhaustive but rather selective and will not be as useful to an expert in a

field as it will be to a learned novice. Sometimes the Guide does more describing of

sources than actually evaluating of them.

Cost: The printed version is $275 and the online version can be purchased via contacting

the ALA.

Frequency of Publication/Update: The print edition was updated every decade or so with

supplements published in between.

Lester, R. (Ed.). (2005).New WalfordGuide to Reference Resources, vol 1. London:

Facet.

Purpose: The reference is meant as a guide to assisting non-experts who are looking for

further reading on a particular subject, so the scope of the project is very wide. It is an

attempt to adapt to the hybridization of information resources and includes a vast array of

online sources as well as print one in its attempt to modernize.


10/27


Scope: Similar to that ofGuide to Reference Books but on a more international scale,

with special emphasis on British works. The first volume, the only one currently

available in the library, is devoted solely to science, technology and medicine. It covers

the best and most recent scientific enquiry up to the date of publication, 2005

approximately 8,300 sources in all different formats. It incorporates material accessible

via the web as well as print research tools and articles (from digital image collections to

print manuals).

Authority: It was put together by scholars proficient in the subject fieldsthere is a long

list of professionals, from a mechanical engineer to a professor of anatomy, all experts

who edited their mastered subject fields.

Format: Print.

Arrangement: As one might suppose, the volume is split into three main sections:

Science, Technology and Medicine. Each section is further broken down into subject

groupings (twelve of those, six for Science and three each for Technology and Medicine)

and then many subject fieldsthis organizational schema in lieu of the traditional Dewey

Decimal Classification. Each resource falls into one of thirteen resource categories: 1.

subject introductions, 2. dictionaries/thesauri, 3. laws/codes, 4. official bodies, 5. research

centres & institutes, 6. associations & societies, 7. libraries/archives/museums, 8. portal

& task environments, 9. discovering print & electronic resources, 10. digital

data/image/text collections, 11. directories & encyclopedias, 12. handbooks & manuals


11/27


and 13. keeping up-to-date. There are both a Topic index as well as an Author/Title index

and a General Resources section.

Special Features: The Topic index is probably one of the best features of theNew Walford

it is exceedingly easy for a non-specialist to simply check out what materials exist on a

particular topic. And because of the frequent annotations, it is easy to quickly see if this

is really something that would help the researcherand the remarks of one resource in

relation to another (noted in the book) is helpful as well.

Latest Edition: 2005.

Limitations: Though not an exhaustive reference work, this is more a blessing than a

limitation for most non-scientists. This volume contains a vast amount of information

and including more would probably have overwhelmed non-experts. Rather, the

limitation here is that the resource discusses online sources that may or may not continue

to remain online at the URLs listed in the book. It is wonderful to have a book to assist

us to use the web in searching, but unfortunate that there isnt an online component as

well.

Cost: $425.

Frequency of Publication/Update: The 2nd volume on Social Sciences was published in

2008 and the third volume is expected this year. The publisher, Facet, claims it will be


12/27


published in three year cycles, so we can expect the new edition of Science, Technology

and Medicine in 2010.

Entin, P. & Yaakov, J. (Eds.). (1989).Public Library Catalog: guide to reference

books and adult nonfiction. (9th ed.). New York: H.W. Wilson & Co.

Purpose: Meant as a guide to building a well-rounded collection for acquisitions,

reference and cataloguing librarians, the Catalogcan also be used by library patrons

interested in a limited, but authoritative, view of whats out there.

Scope: This Catalogcovers all reference and non-fiction within its self-selected criteria.

It is not an exhaustive catalog, but a listing of books chosen by some of the best-regarded

librarians in public libraries as useful or essential to a basic collection. Older books as

well as contemporary ones are included based on usefulness and others are no longer part

of the catalog because they are out-moded.

Authority: The first Standard Catalogas this publication was once known was published

in 1918, then again in 1923, with supplements in 1928 and 1931 and another edition

coming out in 1934. Initially, the Standard Catalogcontained a fiction section, but by

1942 there was aFiction Catalogexclusive of, but as a companion to, the Standard

Catalog, now known as thePublic Library Catalog. All of this is to say that the Catalog

is based on nearly a century of research and development, and edited by an astonishingly

prolific editor, Juliette Yaakovall of this lends credibility and weight to the already

weighty volume.


13/27


Formats: The 9th edition is a print volume. The most recent edition, the13th, is available in

print as well as online. It seems to be more geared towards non-fiction and less about

reference materials, however.

Arrangement: The Catalogis arranged in three parts: 1. Classified Catalog (Dewey

Classification), 2. Author, Title, Subject and Analytical Index as well as 3. A Directory of

Publishers and Distributors. Complete bibliographical and cataloguing data is given for

each book as well as price, ISBN and LOC number. Descriptive or critical annotations

are also included whenever available. The index is really to be used as the key to the

Classified section.

Special Features: The Catalogis the companion volume to theFiction Catalogand is

similar to it, except in subject mattertogether they contain much of the adult literature

that would be found most public libraries. They are particularly useful when looking to

weed a collection of outdate materials or looking to add newer books. The 9th edition has

a particular focus on reference works and poetry and so is particularly useful to patrons

interested in those fields.

Latest Edition: The most recent edition is thePublic Library Core Collection: Non-

Fiction, 13th ed. The title changed slightly between the 12 th (2004) and 13th (2008)

editions.


14/27


Limitations: It is not an exhaustive listing, rather the selection of certain librarians. At

one point that may have been a serious liability, but now with the web, so much is

available, that having someone of authority weed through the millions of possibilities in

order to create thousands of viable options is less of a blight and more of an asset.

Cost: $410. Online subscription is an additional costif one subscribes to both, they get

the print at half off.

Frequency of Publication/Update: Each edition is updated with annual supplements

which are part of the purchase price.

II. Five Titles Selected within the Group for Evaluation

(Catalogue Entries, Evaluation Group 4, Section 2, ILS504/Spr 09, Terry Wasserman)

Greenfieldt, J. & Yaakov, J. (Eds.). (2006). Fiction Catalog. (15th ed.). New York:

The H.W. Wilson Co.

Purpose: The Catalogis meant to assist both librarians and patrons in choosing

interesting fiction. It assists librarians in choosing which books to acquisition and which

to potentially weed as well as giving patrons a well thought-out list of worthwhile fiction.

It is similar to both thePublic Library Catalog(its reference and non-fiction companion


15/27


volume) as well as the Childrens Catalogin both preciseness of scope and authority of

compilers.

Scope: The 1908 version makes the claim of presenting the best fiction of all time, so the

scope is a bit imprecise, but roughly from early English classics to modern adult fiction.

TheFiction Catalogis a selective list of contemporary and classical adult fiction. The

15th edition includes 8,000 titles, nearly 3,000 more than the previous edition. It also lists

800 analytical entries for novellas and novels contained within other works. Three

annual supplements will be produced covering 2000 additional fictional works. The

books included in the catalog are either written in or translated into English-- only books

published in the U.S., Canada and the U.K. and distributed in the U.S. are included.

Authority: The Catalogwas compiled by seasoned librarians from across the country

who collectively voted on titles creating a very learned and very broad-based consensus.

The names of the key librarians are listed in the acknowledgements.

Format: Print and online versions are available (the online edition is available through

WilsonWeb at an additional cost).

Arrangement: The main part of the catalog lists works alphabetically by author. The

second part of the catalog is a title and subject index. The catalog also includes a list of

publishers. Entries include all of the available bibliographic information: author, title,


16/27


publisher, date of publication, pagination, illustration note, price, out-of-print status,

reprint publication data, ISBN and LOC control number.

Special Features: One of the most important features of the print edition is the access

users gain to materials based on subject, theme or genre via the Subject index. Out-of-

print books are also listed in the catalog, giving it a broader depth than simply

contemporary literature. There is also the companion publication,Public Library

Catalog: Guide to Reference Books and Adult Nonfiction, which readers interested in

biography or literary history might want to examine. The online version offers additional

content, allows for keyword searches and entries can contain links to book reviews, from

WilsonsBook Review Digest Plus, either full text or in abstract. In addition, the online

version allows for simultaneous searching of other WilsonWeb databases and permits one

to check his/her local library for the title via OPAC.


Limitations: This is not an exhaustive list, rather it is a group of books selected by the

editors and the librarians who made up the consulting group that voted on the books to be

included. So, it can be a very useful catalog as it is pre-censored, but it is a list of

suggested works and not a comprehensive list of all adult fiction.

Cost: The print version is $240, including the cost of the annual supplements. With the

purchase of an online subscription, the print edition can be purchased at half price.


17/27


Frequency of Publication/Update: 15 editions have been published since 1908. However,

the online version is updated either daily or weekly, depending on need.

Price, A. & Yaakov, J. (Eds.). (2001). Childrens Catalog. (18th ed.). New York: The

H.W. Wilson Co.

Purpose: To provide teachers and librarians with the a comprehensive list of appropriate

reading for children from pre-school to grade six. There are also professional aids for

childrens librarians and school media specialists.

Scope: The list includes books, magazines and web resources for children aged 3-12.

The Childrens Catalogis a selective list of contemporary and classical adult fiction. The

18th edition includes nearly 7,000 titles. Annual supplements will be produced covering

additional fictional works. The books included in the catalog are either written in or

translated into English-- only books published in the U.S., Canada and the U.K. and

distributed in the U.S. are included.

Authority: The Catalogis prepared with the assistance of an advisory committee of

experts in library service for children and then the list that the committee agrees upon is


18/27


then voted on by a group of experienced librarians consulting on the project. It does this

much in the same vein as theFiction Catalog.

Format: Print and online versions available (the latter through WilsonWeb at an

additional cost).

Arrangement: The catalog is arranged into four parts: 1. The Classified Catalog which is

listed according to Dewey, followed by Fiction, Story Collections, Easy Books and Non-

Fiction Classics. Part 2. is a List of Recommended Web Resources, 3. the Author, Title,

Subject & Analytical Indicies, which serve as comprehensive keys to the classified list,

and part 4. the Directory of Publishers and Distributors. For book or story entries, the

following are included whenever available: author, title, responsibility statement,

publisher, date of publication, pagination, illustration note, series note, price binding and

grade level. Availability of CD-Rom or Audio versions are also indicated. For web

resources the following are included: title, publishers name, telephone, price for

subscription services, grade level and URL.

Special Features: For the first time, a list of web resources is included in this version

(replacing the CD-Rom reference works list). Out-of-print books are also listed in the

catalog, giving it a broader depth than simply contemporary literature. The online

version offers additional content, allows for keyword searches and entries can contain

links to book reviews, from WilsonsBook Review Digest Plus, either full text or in


19/27


abstract. In addition, the online version allows for simultaneous searching of other

WilsonWeb databases and allows the checking of a local library via OPAC.


Limitations: This is not an exhaustive list, rather it is a group of books selected by the

editors and the librarians who made up the consulting group that voted on the books to be

included. So, it can be a very useful catalog as it is pre-censored, but it is a list of

suggested works and not a comprehensive list of all adult fiction.

Cost: The print version is $195, including the cost of the annual supplements. With the

purchase of an online subscription, the print edition can be purchased at half price.

Frequency of Publication/Update: Print versions are published every five years and the

online version is updated continuously.

Forthcoming Books. (Quarterly). New Providence, N.J.: Bowker 1966-

Forthcoming Books. 43 (1). (Spring 2008). New Providence, N.J.: Bowker.


20/27


Purpose: To provide librarians, booksellers and others with the most up-to-date

bibliographic information possible about books being published in the coming quarter.

Scope: This is a list of books being published between March-June of 2008, it includes

34,143 titles from 1,982 publishing houses. The only books not included in this list are

books not for sale in the U.S., books not available to the general public, books without a

title for sale, e-books, unbound materials, on-demand books, periodicals, serials and

music librettos. (E-books and on-demand books can be found in another Bowker title,

Books in Print).

Authority: Bowkers is a highly respected publisher, having publishedBooks in Printfor

over 60 years, and receives bibliographic information about the books from the

publishing houses themselves. In fact, Bowkers Electronic Data Interchange is available

online 24/7, making it quick and easy for publishers to submit or update bibliographic

data on forthcoming books.

Format: In printan online version is also available via the forthcoming books room of

booksinprint.com.

Arrangement: Modeled after the Library of Congress catalogue but with more detailed

subject headings (eg., not just Accounting, but Cost Accounting). However,Forthcoming

Books includes four headings not found in the LOC: Fiction, Geographical, Drama and

Childrens Fiction. The headings are arranged alphabetically. One can look under


21/27


subject, author or title indicies to find a book. Each entry includes all or as many of the

following as possible: author, title, subtitle, edition number, edition information, editors,

LOC control number, series title and number, illustrations, pagination, audience code,

grade range, publication year, type of binding, price, ISBN, publishers order number,

additional binding ype, price information, foreign publication symbol and US distributor.

Special Features: With Bowkers Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), publishers can put

forward bibliographic data on forthcoming books whenever it is convenient for them to

do so. Bowkers then updates its own online database, the forthcoming books room

found via booksinprint.com, continuously. Other useful features for librarians and

booksellers alike are the audience code and grade range that are included in most entries,

making it easier to connect the right type of books with the right people.

Latest Edition: Spring 2009 is the most recent edition, however the online database, as

previously mentioned, is updated continuously.

Limitations:Forthcoming Books is a very thorough reference work and has few

limitationsthe online version is easy to search, via booksinprint.com and has nearly up-

to-the-minute information. The print version does have small type and though the subject

headings are more detailed, a researcher may not be readily able to find the specific

subject s/he is interested in given the limited number of headings.

Cost: $299.95 per annum.


22/27


Frequency of Publication/Update: The print version is printed quarterly and the online

version is update continuously.

Books in Print. (2007-2008). New Providence, N.J.: Bowker.

Purpose: The purpose of this source is to provide absolute coverage of every book within

its spectrum that is currently being published or distributed in the United States for

librarians and members of the book trade market.

Scope: Provides entries for all books published after 2000 and active ISBNs. This edition

features 1,854,150 active titles published from 2000 on and 3,107,383 active ISBNs

representing 72,240 publishers. There are over 294,282 new titles and 328,762 new

ISBNs in this edition. The only books not included in this list are books not for sale in

the U.S., books not available to the general public, books without a title for sale, e-books,

unbound materials, on-demand books, periodicals, serials and music librettos. (E-books

and on-demand books can be found in the online version ofBooks in Print). Books in

Printis similar toForthcoming Books in its scope and differs only in that the latter

includes only books about to be published, whereas the former includes only books that

are published.


23/27


Authority: The publisher ofBooks in Print, Bowker, has been at this for over 60 years

and has nearly perfected the system of collecting and disseminating information about

books currently in print. Bowker gives publishers 24/7 online access to submit or update

publication information using either Bowkerlink or EDIpublishers can also call, fax

and write in entries. Bowker relies on the book publishers to provide accurate

information, the book publishers in turn rely on Bowker to get their books out to libraries

and booksellersquid pro quo, the source is as accurate as everyone involved can make

it.

Format: In print and online.

Arrangement: Designed to be easily searchable by both author and title,Books in Printis

a seven volume work. The first through fourth volume are arranged alphabetically by

title, volume five concludes titles and begins the section alphabetically arranged by

authors. Volume six is dedicated solely to authors and volume seven contains the

conclusion of authors and the indicies for publisher and distributor. Each entry contains

as many of the following as available: title, subtitle, contributors, edition number and

information, publication year, pagination, audience code, binding type, price in USD,

asterisk identifies ISBN new to this edition of BIP, publishers abbrev. name, foreign

publisher ISO code, USA distributors abbrev. name.

Special Features: The most useful feature of this reference work is its online component.

Having the ability to search the print edition via both title and author is convenient,


24/27


nothing is easier than doing a keyword search online. In addition, the online version has

a forthcoming books room which lets the user see yet-to-be-published titles, a fiction

connection site that assists in choosing new reading based on old favorites, a user-

friendly website designed for patron use, complimentary online training session, and a

non-fiction connection assisting readers in finding non-fiction based on prior interests.

Latest Edition: The most recent print edition is the 2008-2009.

Limitations: The limits of the print edition are fairly evident: books get published more

than once a year. The online version, however, is updated continuously and so is more

up-to-date. In addition, not having a subject search in the print edition, though space-

saving, is a disadvantage. The online version, again, corrects this problem with the

ability to keyword search.

Cost:.$980. If the purchaser enrolls in a standing order, s/he can save 10% on this edition

and 5% on all subsequent editions.

Frequency of Publication/Update: The print edition is updated annually, the online

version is updated continuously.

British Books in Print. (Annual). London: Whitaker, 1874-


25/27


Whitakers Books in Print. 2003. Surrey, England: Nielsen Book Data.

Purpose: To provide librarians, researchers and booksellers with a comprehensive list of

British books in print.

.

Scope: Whitakers contains titles that are available to the general public through the book

trade in the U.K. English language titles published in Continental Europe as well as titles

published else-where with English language text and available through a sole

stockholding agent in the UK are also included. Only the more important pamphlets and

books costing less than 15p are recorded.

Authority: Whitakers has been compiling this list for over 120 years, since its founder,

Joseph Whitaker, published The Reference Catalogue of Current Literature in 1874.

Formats: The print format published in five volumes is published regularly. There are

also microfiche editions that are updated every month or week (depending on service

purchased) and Whitakers Bookbank CD-Rom, which is updated monthly or bimonthly

(depending on service purchased). There are a number of CD-Rom and online options

including Whitakers Bookbank Global CD-Rom which includes all English language

publications, Whitakers Bookbank OP CD-Rom which is available quarterly, Book

Datas Bookwise CD-Rom, Book Datas Premier CD, Book Datas Compact World CDE,

Book Datas TES CD-Rom, Online Whitaker LibWeb (especially for libraries), Online


26/27


Whitaker PubWeb (especially for publishers), Book Datas BD connect, Whitaker Web

and Book-find online.

Arrangement: The books are listed in alphabetical sequence of authors, titles and subjects

in this five volume work. All titles can be found under both author and title; the main

entry is the author entry and it is indicated so by being in bold. The editions was printed

in five volumes, the first containing A-C, the second D-H, the third I-N, the fourth O-St

and the fifth Su-Z. A directory of publishers and their ISBN prefix listings is also

included. Each entry includes as much as can be obtained of the following: author, title,

subtitle, volume, pagination, illustrations, edition, series, binding if not hardback, price,

publisher, date of publication, classification and ISBN.

Special Features: There are over 1,110,000 titles covered in the 2003 edition ofBritish

Books in Printfrom 49,856 publishing houses. The myriad different websites and CD-

Roms geared towards the variety of needs of the modern librarian, bookseller and

publisher are astonishing. The book itself supplies all of the basic information about

every book published in the UK that year; though, as was mentioned about the print

edition of Books in Print, the problem there is self-evident, books are not published

annually but rather continuously. However, the websites take are of that.

Latest Edition: Whitaker was bought and swallowed by Nielsen who retained many of the

Whitaker websites but did not continue publishing theBritish Books in Print, rather the

reference behemoth Bowker is now publishing their own version,Bowkers Books in


27/27


Print, and the most recent edition was 2006. A supplement,Bowkers Books in Print

Supplement 2007-2008, was published in 2008.

Limitations: Without a more recent edition, the print version is obsolete. The online

versions, however, are very useful. The time-saving of an online search and the ease of a

keyword search are very helpful.

Cost: $799 for the 2006 edition and $546 for the 2007-2008 supplement.

Frequency of Publication/Update: The online sources are updated continuously, however

the print source seems to be lagging behind. At the moment it appears the print is being

updated bi-annually, but in the book publishing business that is simply not often enough.

Evaluation Set #1 Individual Assignment

Documents

Transcript of Evaluation Set #1 Individual Assignment