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Introduction to Reference Work, Volume II, 8th Edition by William A. Katz |
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| About the Book |
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Introduction to Reference Work, Volume II, 8th Edition by William A. Katz |
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| About the Book |
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The goal of Introduction to Reference Work Volume II, Reference Services and Reference Processes, is to give the reader a thorough overview and a broader understanding of the possibilities of reference services than could be encompassed in Volume I, Basic Information Services. This second volume introduces the reader to the sophisticated, imaginative, and, some think, more interesting aspects of the complete reference process. Another purpose is to indicate the ongoing and important changes and developments in information technologies and particularly the role of the Internet in the reference process.
NEW TO THIS EDITION
Almost everything in this edition is new, not simply revised from the seventh edition. The decision was necessary because of new technologies and the evolution in the practice and theory of reference services. In the seventh edition, for example, there was a single chapter on the Internet. In this edition there are four chapters in a section given over to the subject, as well as related chapters on the Internet and on document delivery. A primary problem in any text of this type is the rapid change in information delivery. It is pointless, for example, to explain in detail how to reach point “c” and “d” on the Internet. Tomorrow the points of reference, the methods, will have changed with new networks, new hardware, and new software. Conversely, it is important to recognize the far-reaching implications of networking, if not the specifics of how to find this or that bit of datum. And it is to that purpose the second section was written, as well as most of the remainder of this second volume. The second volume is a pragmatic, practical approach to information sources and theory. Basic developments are covered and explained. The footnotes and “Suggested Reading” sections guide those who wish to explore further. Leaders and followers in research and information science are responsible for much of what is revolutionary in reference services today. There are other courses, other places where information science can be considered in depth; all that can be done here is to hint at the joy of the intellectual fields open to the information scientist and researcher. PLAN OF THE BOOK The text opens with a discussion of traditional and new reference services in the community. Here the word community embraces almost every situation from the typical middle-class public library to the library serving the special needs of equally special groups of users. Problems and possible solutions are considered, especially in terms of limitations of budget and the new technologies. Enough is offered to suggest, if only in the broadest way, the people a librarian serves and hopes to serve. The second chapter, “Information and the Community” explains how information is collected and made available for libraries and individuals. This is followed by related matters from reference telephone services and copyright to information and referral programs. The second part, “The Internet and Reference Services,” begins with a consideration of the Internet in the broadest sense with statistics and comments about what it means to the United States and to the world as well as a section on evaluation Web sites. The next chapter is concerned with the role of commercial and non-profit reference librarians on the present and future role of traditional reference services. In Chapter Five there is a discussion of networks from commercial to regional. The unit concludes with details about availability of full text. The third large section is devoted to chapters on the reference interview and various methods of searching. Here the primary focus is on the role of the librarian as mediator, as the person who filters out the useful information for the hapless or even well informed client. Given this role, the searching process changes. Chapter Seven addresses the problems of the ubiquitous reference interview. Whether the librarian is working with digital databases or retrospective print indexes, the interview itself is much the same. It deals with the human process of communication rather than with the content and form of information sources. Chapter Eight is concerned with the search. The first of from the general search process to sophisticated searches. Attention is given primarily to the search for content rather than technology. It is the author's contention that whether the required data are on a CD-ROM, online, or in print, the important factor is what it contains or does not contain. The technologies, which carry the message, are important and today's reference librarian must be as familiar with computers and software as the databases themselves. The fourth and final section, “Instruction and Policies,” contains two chapters. Beginning with the pros and cons of bibliographical and computer instruction. The Tenth Chapter concludes with a discussion of related distance learning. The final chapter moves on to a consideration of reference service policies and methods of evaluation. Students and teachers alike should be aware that much of the material covered in this book is updated, argued, and dutifully considered in information science related journals. Knowledge of the rapid changes in the field is not easily acquired. One must keep up to survive; a painless method of doing just that is to read current issues of journals as well as consult online listservs, chat rooms, etc. which are involved with reference services. (Many of these are listed throughout this text.) Online version of the text and updates This text, and its companion volume, can be purchased in electronic format. Contact either your McGraw-Hill sales representative or visit www.mhhe.com/primis/online for more information. Updates to the text will be available on an accompanying website: www.mhhe.com/katz. Acknowledgments Thanks are due to the reviewers who critiqued this book: Lesley Farmer, California State University, Long Beach; Judith V. Lechner, Auburn University; Ketty Rodriguez, University of Southern Mississippi; Gail M. Staines, University of Buffalo; Ibrahim M. Stwodah, Longwood College. Thanks are also due to the editors for this volume, Valerie Raymond and Amy Shaffer, as well as thanks also to the indexer, Kelly Lutz. ----William A. KatzIf you have a question or a problem about a specific book or product, please fill out our Product Feedback Form.
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