Guide to Information Sources in the Botanical Sciences

by Elisabeth B. Davis, Diane Schmidt

Overview

Works cited in this useful survey are appropriate for students, librarians, and amateur and professional botanists. These encompass the plant kingdom in all its divisions and aspects, except those of agriculture, horticulture, and gardening. The majority of the annotations are for currently available in-print or electronic reference works. A comprehensive author/title and a separate subject index make locating specific entries simple. With materials ranging from those selected for the informed layperson to those for the specialist, this new edition reflects the momentous transition from print to electronic information resources. It is an appropriate purchase for public, college, university, and professional libraries.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781563080753
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	12/15/1995
Series:	Reference Sources in Science and Technology
Edition description:	2nd ed
Pages:	275
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.69(d)

About the Author

ELISABETH B. DAVIS, retired, was Biology Librarian and Professor of Library Administration, Biology Library, University of Illinois, Urbana.

DIANE SCHMIDT is Biology Librarian and Associate Professor of Library Administration, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Editorial Reviews

The first edition of this well-written guide was favorably reviewed in "RBB" in 1987. The second edition is also highly recommended. Its focus has remained the same, covering botany in its broadest sense but excluding agriculture, horticulture, and gardening. Little attention is given to materials needed for instructional use, such as films and audiovisual materials. The guide is appropriate for all levels of users, from the layperson to the specialist. Coverage extends through 1994, and entries include prices, when available The introduction has been expanded to include a discussion of computers and the botanical literature as well as the characteristics of botanical literature and the future of botany. The main part of the book is arranged in 11 chapters, including "Abstracts, Indexes, and Databases" ; "Identification Sources" ; "Taxonomy" ; "Biographical and Historical Materials" ; and "Key Publishers, Institutions, Services, and Important Series." This is a welcome change from the first edition, which was in three parts. By using the detailed table of contents the user can easily proceed to the appropriate chapter. The 934 numbered entries (compared with 720 in the first edition) have brief evaluative annotations. Electronic counterparts to print are mentioned when available. While the authors discuss Internet sites, they don't give addresses because they feel these change too frequently. There are no references to book reviews as there were in the first edition. Two indexes are provided: to subject and to author, title, or electronic resource This is an excellent guide that can be used for collection development and reference work. It is also the only guide that laypersons and specialists can consult for sources of information on botanical topics. Public, academic, and special libraries will all benefit from purchase.

Zom Zoms

A bibliographic survey of information services in the botanical sciences, for students, librarians, and botanists. Contains some 900 annotated entries on material for all levels, organized in chapters on bibliographic sources; abstracts, indexes and databases; dictionaries and encyclopedias; handbooks and methods; directories and groups; taxonomy; biographical and historical materials; textbooks; and important series. This second edition reflects the transition from print to electronic resources. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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