Best Reference 2002: Print

Although print reference was hit hard by 2002 library budget cuts, many librarians, along with reference publishers, still hold that online resources will continue to complement print rather than replace it entirely.

"While electronic references allow for convenient access outside of the library, they work best as supplements," says Greg Doyle, electronic resources librarian at Multnomah County Library, Portland, OR, which currently subscribes to about 150 databases. "Electronic resources are not permanent replacements because there is no guarantee that the companies providing them will be around forever." Doyle adds that his library, although heavy on online subscriptions since 1997, also owns print versions of most of these online databases.

Despite the proliferation of online resources, print reference shows little abatement. Reference publishers continue to produce top-notch works. The 30 print titles on this year's list, from 21 different publishers, including five university presses, cost $11,173, down $2,001 from 2001. However, when we exclude the three titles costing over $1000, the price drops to $6,974, or an average of $258 a title, up $10.70 from 2001.

This year's print favorites differ greatly in both design and topic, covering a wide range of such current matters as terrorism, space exploration, and the ins and outs of the airline industry. In the arts, three wide-ranging resources on musical influences in America fill a void while a study of Shakespeare's physical world offers a fresh perspective. For visual pleasure but also quick information, there is a dazzling visual dictionary and a fashion encyclopedia to help us sort our Joe Boxers from Calvin Klein.

All in all, 2002 was a strong year for print reference, as it was for electronic, too. For the best in free web sites and commercial databases and CD-ROM s, see the sidebars on p. 42 and p. 44.

American Musical Traditions. 5 vols. Schirmer. 1064p. ed. by Jeff Todd Titon & Bob Carlin. illus. maps. bibliog. index. ISBN 0-02-864624-X. $460.
Using the term traditional in lieu of folk to avoid the cultural baggage associated with the latter, this collection of 100 essays explores how American traditional music has arisen from ethnic or regional identity and culture to connect to regions abroad. Written by folklorists and ethnomusicologists in collaboration with the Smithsonian Folkways Archives, the essays examine the music of a representative sampling of the most important musical traditions and are complemented by interviews or artist profiles.

Avakian, Monique. Atlas of Asian-American History. Facts On File. 214p. illus. maps. bibliog. index. ISBN 0-8160-3699-3. $85.
This attractive overview of the political, social, and cultural history of Asian Americans opens with a discussion of the Asian heritage and ends with comments on Asian America today. Personal anecdotes throughout range from the Chinese miners in 19th-century California to modern day healthcare workers from India. Sixty full-color maps, 100 historical photos, and 34 line drawings and graphs lead the reader through discussions of the people of China, Japan, Korea, India, the Philippines, and Southeast Asia.

Canon, David T. & others. Committees in the U.S. Congress 1789–1946. 4 vols. CQ Pr. 2988p. bibliog. index. ISBN 1-56802-171-2. $840.
This magnum opus took three decades to complete. Documenting the approximately 100,000 appointments made over the last 150 years, this outstanding reference chronicles the history of the U.S. Congressional Committee from 1789 until the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946. The four volumes cover, respectively, House Standing Committees, Senate Standing Committees, member assignments by name and majority or minority ranking on committees; and House and Senate Select Committees. Order as a supplement to an earlier two-volume CQ set that covered 1947 to 1992.

Carlin, Richard. Country Music: A Biographical Dictionary. Routledge. 497p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 0-415-93802-3. $95.
Be still my "achy breaky heart": an illustrated reference that is both informative and a hoot to read. Carlin, a prolific chronicler of American music, presents an authoritative and acerbically opinionated A–Z guide to 700 country western solo artists and groups. Each article consists of a brief biography, career highs and lows, and select discographies. Carlin separates the rhinestone cowboys from the real thing, and his judgments are spot on. (LJ 2/1/03)

Cold War America: 1946 to 1990. Facts On File. 670p. ed. by Ross Gregory & others. illus. maps. bibliog. index. ISBN 0-8160-3868-6. $105.
Edited by prize–winning historian Gregory, the work chronicles the transformation of America during the Cold War through hundreds of historical tables, charts, photographs, and illustrations. The trends described include the rush to the sunbelt states and the franchising of America to the expansion of Japanese car production in the states. Also covered are the escalation in the divorce rate, the tremendous increase in the cost of healthcare, and the enormous increase in weapons technology and nuclear power plants. This latest addition to Facts On File's "Almanacs of American Life" series is possibly the best one-volume statistical companion on the subject.

The Companion to Southern Literature: Themes, Genres, Places, People, Movements, and Motifs. Louisiana State Univ. 1054p. ed. by Joseph M. Flora & others. index. ISBN 0-8071-2692-6. $69.95.
Promoted as the first of its kind, this first-rate compilation brings together explorations of the myriad elements that make Southern literature distinctive. The 500-plus articles, ranging in length from one paragraph to five pages, are written by scholars and reflect generally accepted views. Covering such terms as faithful retainer, state literatures, Uncle Tom, and Rebel Yell, the alphabetically arranged articles with cross references and suggestions for further reading. Although not intended to duplicate biographical references, the book does include individuals, places, and subjects in the excellent index. Essential. (LJ 11/15/01)

Corbeil, Jean-Claude & Ariane Archambault. The Firefly Visual Dictionary. Firefly. 952p. illus. index. ISBN 1-55297-585-1. $49.95.
This hefty update to The Macmillan Visual Dictionary contains an impressive inventory of 35,000 terms and 6000 illustrations. Organized into 17 color-coded chapters and according to 94 broad themes, this wonderful resource will help the terminology-challenged, especially since today's gadgets and gizmos are included. The concept of pictures defining words is more fully realized here than in other dictionaries of its type. The clarity, schematic detail, and contrast of the computer-generated art are stunning, superior even to photographs. (LJ 9/1/02)

Davidson, Linda Kay & David M. Gitlitz. Pilgrimage from the Ganges to Graceland: An Encyclopedia. 2 vols. ABC-CLIO. 769p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 1-57607-004-2. $185.
Defining a pilgrimage site by "its ability to attract a transient population of devotees," this one-of-a-kind encyclopedia surveys the world's major destinations, from Delphi to Stonewall Inn. Entries are alphabetical and in addition to the sites also profile prominent figures, belief systems, activities, and institutions. The information is current enough to include the World Trade Center and Althorp Estate. (LJ 2/1/03)

Dirr, Michael A. Dirr's Trees and Shrubs for Warm Climates: An Illustrated Encyclopedia. Timber Pr. 446p. illus. index. ISBN 0-88192-525-X. $69.95.
A respected garden authority, Dirr has garnered international acclaim for his works on and with "woodies." This volume, in conjunction with Dirr's Hardy Trees and Shurbs (1997), completes his coverage of the woody ornamentals cultivated in North America. In a witty and informative style, Dirr presents botanic, cultural, and landscaping details on over 400 species. Entries are accompanied by magnificent color photos. (LJ 2/15/02)

Encyclopedia of Aging. 4 vols. Macmillan. 1591p. ed. by David J. Ekerdt. illus. index. ISBN 0-02-865472-2. $495.
Aimed at the educated lay reader, this comprehensive work presents the most recent findings in all areas of gerontology. The signed articles cover the scientific, social, and psychological issues associated with the aging process. Extensive see also references and bibliographies will prove extremely useful to researchers. No other source covers this field with such scope or authority. (LJ 11/1/02)

Encyclopedia of Atmospheric Sciences. 6 vols. Academic Pr. 2780p. ed. by James R. Holton & others. illus. index. ISBN 0-12-227090-8. $1199.
Fifty years ago, the state of knowledge of the atmosphere could adequately be summarized in a single-volume reference. Today, it easily consumes six volumes and includes the work of 400 scientists worldwide. The 330 authoritative and concise articles review such complex subjects as weather prediction, climate change and variability, and atmospheric chemistry. Beautifully illustrated with maps, charts, photos and illustrations.

Encyclopedia of Crime and Punishment. 4 vols. Sage. 1876p. ed. by David Levinson. illus. ISBN 0-7619-2258-X. $600.
At a time when terms like forensic and criminal profiling have entered the vernacular, this excellent encyclopedia of criminal justice is providential. The 425 signed articles cover a wide variety of subjects according to 13 major themes (among them, law and justice, corrections, victimology, concepts and theories, research methods) and are followed by suggestions for further reading and plentiful see also references. The publisher promises a future online version, but with its accessible writing style, extensive citations, and timely appeal, the print version should be purchased by most libraries. (LJ 5/15/02)

Encyclopedia of Evolution. 2 vols. Oxford Univ. 1205p. ed. by Mark Pagel. illus. index. ISBN 0-19-512200-3. $325.
No recent reference on evolution offers as much inclusive scope and impeccable authority as this one. The nine "Overview Essays" by such authors as Jane Goodall and Stephen Jay Gould and alphabetically arranged and signed articles discuss such complex concepts as "Codon Usage Bias" as well as theories of evolution, developmental biology, bioinformatics and genomics, and much more in unintimidating detail. The articles are followed by citations to publications from as recently as 2001. (LJ 8/02)

Encyclopedia of Information Systems. 4 vols. Academic Pr. 2969p. ed. by Hossein Bidgoli. illus. index. ISBN 0-12-227240-4. $1200.
In order to compile this unique resource—the first to examine comprehensively the core topics in the field—the editors reviewed current academic research in management information systems (MIS) and computer information systems (CIS) as recommended by their scholarly associations. They combined this with current practices in the MIS field carried out by leading IT corporations. The result is ten major topic areas, among them, hardware and software, AI, etc.

Encyclopedia of Literature in Canada. Univ. of Toronto. 1347p. ed. by William H. New. index. ISBN 0-8020-0761-9. $75.
This outstanding and all-encompassing guide to the national literature of our neighbor to the north contains 1350 double-column pages' worth of entries—2500 in total—contributed by 300 scholars. The entries, which cover literature in English and French as well as other languages, provide information about the authors and their works, literary and social issues, professional institutions, and cultural events that have shaped Canada. Eight years in the making.

Encyclopedia of Modern Asia. 6 vols. Scribner. 3266p. ed. by David Levinson & Karen Christensen. illus. maps. index. ISBN 0-684-31245-X. $695.
This extraordinarily rich reference profiling 33 Asian nations took more than four years to complete and involved more than 900 editors and authors from 60 countries. Coverage ranges from Japan in the east to Turkey in the west and from Kazakhstan in the north to Indonesia in the south. Comprehensive and easily perusable, the set aims to give an Asian perspective to Asian topics. Thus, the American view of human rights in China with its emphasis on political and civil rights is contrasted with the Chinese view, which emphasizes subsistence and shelter.

Encyclopedia of Urban Cultures: Cities and Cultures Around the World. 4 vols. Grolier. 2073p. ed. by Melvin & Carol R. Ember. illus. maps. index. ISBN 0-7172-5698-7. $399.
This is one of the first comprehensive references to provide a broad range of cultural and historical information on cities in all regions of the world. Contributed primarily by social scientists, it is published under the auspices of the Human Relations Area Files at Yale University and provides a unique cultural perspective. Sixteen thematic essays deal with issues ranging from the origin of cities to urbanization and migration. With more than half of the world's population now living in cities, this is very timely.

Handbook of Psychology. 12 vols. Wiley. 7897p. ed. by Irving B. Weiner. bibliog. index. ISBN 0-471-17669-9. $1800.
This exhaustively researched work fills a visible gap in the literature of psychology by providing a cross-disciplined approach that allows scholars and practitioners to keep abreast of the state of scholarship. Volume 1 offers a history of the field while Volume 2 covers research methods. The remaining volumes are divided into five areas of study (3–7) and applications (8–12). Of interest to professionals and also adjunct fields like medicine and sociology.

Huddleston, Rodney & Geoffrey K. Pullum. The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language. Cambridge Univ. 1842p. index. ISBN 0-521-43146-8. $150.
The most comprehensive study of English grammar in the past 15 years, this reference is written for users with some linguistic background and aims at upgrading the rules of the English language grammar last treated in the 1950s. The emphasis is on the evolution of rather than the rules for English-language usage. The guide is divided into 20 chapters according to parts of speech, "nouns and noun phrases," and phrase constructions, and specific information is best found using lexical and conceptual indexes. (LJ 9/1/02)

Kellogg, Ann T. & others. In An Influential Fashion: An Encyclopedia of the Nineteenth- and Twentieth-Century Fashion Designers and Retailers Who Transformed Dress. Greenwood. 371p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 0-313-31220-6. $49.95.
Anyone seeking information on the designers and retailers most responsible for the "American look" would do well to start here. The 164 alphabetically arranged listings include names like Geoffrey Beene, G.H. Bass, Estee Lauder, and Joe Boxer Corp. Entries include history/biography, awards, dates and reasons for inclusion, as well as web sites. Moderately priced and factual, a great addition to all libraries.

Kushner, Harvey W. Encyclopedia of Terrorism. Sage. 523p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 0-7619-2408-6. $99.95.
This reference reminds us that terrorist acts committed in the United States or against U.S. interests have been with us throughout history and across a wide variety of political ideologies. Kushner, one of the nation's leading experts on the subject, provides more than 300 in-depth articles about terrorist groups, key events, people, terms, and statistics. After a historical commentary in which the author traces terrorism from first-century Judea to the 20th-century followers of Osama bin Laden, alphabetically arranged articles describe key events and groups.

The Louisiana Purchase: A Historical and Geographical Encyclopedia. ABC-CLIO. 513p. ed. by Junius P. Rodriguez. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 1-57607-188-X. $95.
Published to coincide with the bicentennial of the purchase, this volume offers a much needed perspective. The reasons for as well as the immediate and historical repercussions of the purchase are explored in nearly 300 articles written by 85 distinguished scholars. Coverage includes native peoples, noteworthy personalities, and geographical areas associated with a land acquisition that nearly doubled the size of our nation. An extensive bibliography, 49 pertinent documents, a chronology, and an index round out this excellent volume. (LJ 9/15/02)

Naval Warfare: An International Encyclopedia. 3 vols. ABC-CLIO. 1231p. ed. by Spencer C. Tucker & others. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 1-57607-219-3. $295.
Tucker, a scholar of history, along with a cast of international specialists, explores the history of combat at sea, from ancient Greek galleys to the sophisticated ships of the U.S. Sixth Fleet. More than 1500 signed entries, from ABCD Warships to Admiral Zumwalt, describe the three key eras: Age of Galley Warfare, Age of Sail, and Age of Steam or Modern Era. From the rams and infantrymen of ancient galleys to guided missiles, each new development is examined in painstaking detail. Unlike other works that focus on battles and commanders, this one considers treaties, strategies and tactics, and more.

The New Encyclopedia of Judaism. NYU. 856p. ed. by Geoffrey Wigoder & others. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 0-8147-9388-6. $99.95.
The original 1989 edition of this scholarly but highly accessible reference was named an Outstanding Reference Book by the American Library Association. Broad, objective, and meticulous, this update includes 250 new entries and over 1200 extensively revised ones. Special features include maps, charts, excerpts of Jewish writing, and illustrations, along with an annotated bibliography of current works that are widely available.

Norton, O. Richard. The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Meteorites. Cambridge Univ. 354p. illus. index. ISBN 0-521-62143-7. $50.
Anyone wishing to know what meteorites are, where they come from, and what they reveal about the history of the universe need look no further. This thorough and accessible compilation covers all facets of the field. The 150 stunning photographs reveal the beauty and complexity of not only full-size meteorites but also the tiniest speck of space dust. Includes a detailed table of contents, a general as well as a meteorite index, eight appendixes, and a glossary. Essential.

Olsen, Kirstin. All Things Shakespeare: An Encyclopedia of Shakespeare's World. 2 vols. Greenwood. 804p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 0-313-31503-5. $150.
While many reference works cover "all things Shakespeare," none really focuses exclusively on the physical surroundings of Shakespeare's world. Some 200 descriptive entries illuminate such diverse subjects as coins, food, drink, hygiene, animals, occupations, and agriculture. Numerous charts and tables explain the symbolism of birds and animals and the derivation of Shakespeare's insults. Interesting and intriguing trivia abound. A combination of accessible writing and entertaining content.

Smith, Myron J., Jr. The Airline Encyclopedia: 1909–2000. 3 vols. Scarecrow. 3305p. index. ISBN 0-8108-3790-0. $695.
What began as an experimental dream almost a century ago has blossomed into one of the dominant industries of our time. This superior reference source provides operational and statistical profiles of more than 6000 commercial air transport companies that flourished in the 20th century. Fascinating facts combine with profiles that include aircraft, routes, services, personnel, alliances, accidents and incidents, terrorism and in-flight crime, government service in war and peace, natural disasters, literary or film references, and unusual anecdotes. A labor of love.

Space Sciences. 4 vols. Thomson/Gale. 1057p. ed. by Pat Dasch & others. illus. index. ISBN 0-02-865546-X. $395.
A comprehensive and usable survey of space exploration, this marvelous encyclopedia works equally well as a multivolume set and as four standalone volumes on, respectively, "Space Business," "Planetary Science and Astronomy," "Humans in Space," and "Our Future in Space." Signed articles by 183 contributors are arranged alphabetically and include suggestions for further reading. The photographs are excellent.

St. James Guide to Hispanic Artists: Profiles of Latino and Latin American Artists. St. James. 681p. ed. by Thomas Riggs. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 1-55826-470-8. $195.
The fascination with the life of Mexican painter Frida Kahlo (a major motion picture in 2002, the November 2002 Smithsonian front cover, and a U.S. postage stamp in 2001) has greatly enhanced the interest in Hispanic artists, here defined as those whose heritage is connected to Latin America. Published in conjunction with the Association of Latino and Latin American Artists, this timely and original guide profiles some 375 of the most prominent Hispanic artists of the past century. The entries include basic biographical information, critical commentary, and lists of exhibitions, publications, and collections holding their works.

Women and Music in America Since 1900. 2 vols. Greenwood. 747p. ed. by Kristine H. Burns. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 1-57356-267-X. $150.
While many books and articles explore the major role of women in American music, this is the first reference on the subject. Encompassing a wide range of artists and influences, it includes entries on gender issues, education, genres, honors and awards, organizations, individuals, and professions. American refers to those born in the United States or those who made most of their contributions in this country. The entries are organized alphabetically, to broad topic areas (e.g., blues, classical, country, folk). A great starting point for research.