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What we think of as “reference” has steadily evolved with technology. Now “reference” is more likely than not to be synonymous with “database.” Most of the publishers in this month’s Reference section offer digital databases alongside—or in lieu of—traditional printed reference materials like books and periodicals.
Salem Press, 75 years old this year, offers multivolume resources that meet the needs of many readers. LJ talked to Leslie Mackenzie, Salem’s president and publisher, about Salem’s vision for reference and its approach to making its materials accessible to all.
Coherent Digital provides students, educators, policymakers, and librarians with wide-ranging resources for research, learning, and discussion. LJ talked with Eileen Lawrence, Coherent’s cofounder and senior adviser, to discuss Coherent’s materials, selection process, and commitment to finding, preserving, and making endangered content accessible.
Bibliodiversity, state-of-the-art content, and hand-picked works supporting curricula make academic ebook platforms key parts of the collection development ecosystem.
From the research services of a presidential center to a large public library system and an academic music archive, explore three libraries around the country and the resources they rely upon.
When the journey is the point, the mode of travel is as important as the destination. Moving from here to there—whether via quiet footfalls or the whisper of wings or sailing with a neatly trimmed spinnaker—fascinates readers and makes them wonder if there are ways to do it more efficiently, more economically, or with more zest and flair. The books on this list answer with a resounding “yes.”
Searching to update collections and fill information gaps? Consider these 580+ new and forthcoming print titles. Also included are updated lists of reference fun reads.
Scheduled to be updated in late 2024/through 2025, consider these 140+ databases and online products. Arranged by category, these resources range from titles on the arts to those addressing technology.
Part two of Gale's Refugees, Relief, and Resettlement archive excels as a resource supporting research in history, political science, sociology, diaspora studies, and migration and refugee studies.
BBC Monitoring provides exceptional primary documents about political, social, military, cultural events, and intelligence gathering from the start of World War II to the early 21st century.
LJ interviews the editors of The Oxford Dictionary of African American English. This first-of-its-kind resource of 1,000 words (planned for publication in 2025) aims to record the most comprehensive, accurate, and up-to-date picture of African American English yet.
This compelling reference work is a valuable resource about a potentially dangerous contemporary subject. Give to readers seeking to understand the roots and repercussions of conspiracy thinking.
An excellent resource for those beginning their journey in education or users conducting upper-level searches, this database is highly recommended for any institution with undergraduate or graduate education programs.
As with the previous modules in the series, this collection of primary resources is exceptional, with unique content and user-friendly features. It is an excellent resource for researchers of gender and women’s studies, LGBTQIA+ studies, cultural studies, and social history. Moreover, it expertly expands upon the five earlier collections of the archives and pairs well with other Gale primary resources.
This reference guide is an accessible addition to any undergraduate reading list, but it will be particularly useful for social sciences students. It is well-written, clearly structured, and easy to read and use.
An invaluable purchase for libraries of all kinds and sizes. Tuccillo’s advice is practical and timely, allowing libraries to foster vibrant, inclusive, and productive library support groups.
The Exact Editions Literature Collection is an attractive option for users who want easy and mobile access to a curated collection of popular literary journals and magazines.
The Gale Peterson’s Test and Career Prep database is an outstanding resource that provides a plethora of tools and tests to help learners prepare for exams and career challenges.
As evidenced by the popularity of New York Times–bestselling books such as Angie Thomas’s The Hate U Give, street lit continues to be a reflection of readers’ realities, making this readers’ advisory guide a must-purchase for library professionals.
A serious book for serious sailors. But rookie sailors and fans of the sport might enjoy learning the fine points of sail racing and getting a sense of how intense and thrilling it can be.
This charming little book is more like a tray of aperitifs than a full meal, but it will appeal to readers with an interest in words and a sense of humor.
The inclusion of real-life examples, reflective prompts, and an appendix that includes further reading recommendations and partnering ideas makes this book a true hands-on resource for library leaders seeking to create resilient, proactive teams capable of navigating the complexities of intellectual freedom challenges.
This concise guide will help readers who suffer from RLS, as well as their partners, family, and friends. Spector takes RLS seriously and shows why he believes that it is treatable.
The Asian American Experience database is an illuminating resource that offers unprecedented access to a range of materials centered on Asian American politics, arts and entertainment, literature, science, and more.
A delightful, entertaining, and fun book about one of baseball’s most valuable franchises. Baseball fans will enjoy this title even if they aren’t devotees of the Mets.
Designed for general readers, this ready reference about mental health will benefit readers who are considering therapy or preparing for their first appointment. Similar titles focus on one or two specific issues, but this book provides a concise but broad overview and guidance for getting help for more than 20 mental health conditions.
Offers an extraordinary look inside the world’s premier producer of Shakespeare plays and other renowned theater productions outside of the Shakespearean canon.
This well-designed, stimulating resource offers robust content for students, instructors, and researchers of dress history and design, including film and theater costuming.
Bloomsbury Visual Arts hub is a comprehensive resource covering all aspects of the visual arts, from the art to the artist to the industry. It is an essential, top-tier resource for the study and practice of the visual arts across all areas.
This archive is a dynamic resource for faculty, students, and researchers interested in the economic, historical, and sociological challenges of the Caribbean in the late 19th century.
A solid addition to help new and seasoned library professionals conduct their own original research projects. Recommended for any professional literature collection, especially those supporting MLIS programs.
This recommended, engaging, visual reference fosters a distinctive way to learn more about the world of insects. The book’s color photographs enrich the reading experience.
This well-researched, well-written reference is packed with information on one of the world’s foremost intellectual, moral, philosophical, and social systems. It’s an indispensable resource for high school and undergraduate students doing term papers, reports, and projects.
This responsive digital resource provides up-to-date, highly searchable information for students seeking to cite sources and engage in the research process, from formatting to documenting to using inclusive language. Highly recommended for any undergraduate or graduate institution.
Librari facilitates inquiry for students and other patrons curious about AI, offering opportunities to integrate AI into curricula in thoughtful and structured ways.
Recommended for readers wanting to review reliable data of Canadian cities in an easy-to-use format. It’s a great selection for students and researchers of all levels, general readers, and business owners who are considering new locations.
This resource offers nuanced insights and facilitates engagement with the complexities of power and corruption in literature. A worthy addition to the series and a valuable tool for researchers and academics on this subject.
A recommended ready reference for hikers, especially for readers planning a trek along the Appalachian Trail. Some plant descriptions, especially toward the beginning of the book, seem to be written for an academic audience, while others are more informal, especially once readers get to the slime molds.
Though it’s geared toward youth services librarians, librarians at every level will find this a user-friendly and galvanizing guide to building balanced, inclusive collections that reflect the wide range of cultures, ethnicities, races, genders, and experiences within their communities.
A definitive, comprehensive ready reference guide that addresses both personal assessment and practical steps to make a successful entry into the freelance gig industry.
This superbly executed open-access database offers an unprecedented gateway to different versions of Shakespeare’s First Folios. AM’s powerful search tools and thoughtfully selected tips and pointers allow for exciting research opportunities.
Stephen A. Marshall’s latest book, Hymenoptera: The Natural History and Diversity of Wasps, Bees and Ants, was one of LJ’s Best Print Reference picks for 2023 and also won the prestigious Dartmouth Medal. LJ invited Marshall to reflect upon the definition of reference, his approach to writing and research, and his fieldwork.
This extensive database of previously unaggregated primary-source documents provides a view of the United States government’s documentation of a crucial period in U.S. and Indigenous history. A valuable resource for researchers seeking firsthand reports in U.S. political and military history.
This fascinating book expertly weaves together a formidable mass of scholarship into an accessible, inviting summary that contextualizes an extensive history of religious encounters within a relatively brief work. It also sheds light on the long and global interconnections of religious ideas and highlights the often ridiculous ways that people have misunderstood and misrepresented one another throughout time.
This user-friendly Gale database contains primary sources from the 19th to 21st centuries that are sure to appeal to people interested in modern counterculture and social histories, along with progressive political and societal movements.
Databases foster deep research, expansive reading, and a myriad of inquiry avenues. These 10 tools, covering food, Shakespeare, study skills, and much more, are our selections for the best databases of 2023.
Reference works contain entire worlds, arranged, indexed, and designed to support research and exploration. These aids—hefty both in physical form and in depth and resonance—provide new interpretations, offer access into decades of academic work, and foster fresh ways of thinking.
This excellent guide, featuring a mix of hands-on information, time-tested advice, and insight into the hows and whys of creating inclusive collections, is an indispensable resource. Perfect for collection development librarians, school librarians and teachers, and seasoned and early-career librarians.
Fascinating reading for comic book fans and newcomers alike. Essential for any librarian or other scholar working with comic books, comic strips, manga, or graphic novels.
This robust collection, originally presented at the 14th Annual Library History Seminar, should appeal to those interested in the history of librarianship and the intersection of social justice and libraries.
A distinctive collection of important primary papers with supporting text that provides historical context, relevance, and significance of those sources. Great for student reports.
HeinOnline’s revamped, improved, and expanded iteration of Congress and the Courts provides a broader contextual foundation to analyze judiciary systems and actions.
A positive, comprehensive, integrative, helpful, and hopeful approach to taming pain. Perfect for people with chronic pain who are eager for feasible solutions.
This title illuminates all that goes into producing and designing a book. A must for authors, editors, designers, and curious readers. Give to those who enjoyed ABC for Book Collectors by John Carter and Nicolas Barker. They’ll love this book too.
The new edition of this essential work has raised the bar on an already excellent text about cataloguing. Recommended for cataloguers at all levels of expertise.
This title is highly recommended for people seeking information on how to address book challenges and increase advocacy efforts, as well as anyone working in libraries facing censorship who needs to know they aren’t alone.
This database project offers free, comprehensive, unprecedented access to three decades of material about Asian Pacific American history, culture, politics, and news, all published in AsianWeek.
This is a recommended purchase for its abundance of knowledge about access services and their history, operations, and management. Best for readers who don’t work directly in access services, including library students and those wanting to learn other librarians’ perspectives on access services.
A helpful overview of information law and issues impacting those working in the field. Perfect for novice librarians or readers seeking an introduction to information law.
A refreshing departure from one-size-fits-all health narratives. This is a valuable reference guide for readers seeking a holistic and personalized approach to well-being.
A solid resource for beginning researchers, appropriate for high schoolers and beyond. Quaratiello’s clear explanations of searching and evaluating should serve students for years to come.
Drawing from multiple disciplines, the Bloomsbury Food Library enables users to explore niche aspects of food history and their wider implications in historical and sociocultural contexts.
Gale Business: Plan Builder effectively helps budding entrepreneurs, experienced business owners, and nonprofits create realistic business plans and analyze their business concepts.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of Gale’s “Eighteenth Century Collections Online” (ECCO), the largest collection—32 million pages—of 18th-century books, pamphlets, periodicals, and other ephemera in the world. ECCO was revolutionary in providing researchers and students a text-searchable corpus at their desktops 24/7.
In a world of continuously proliferating sources of information, finding and recognizing reliable information has become harder than ever before. To that end, the reference publishers featured here go to great lengths to ensure that the titles and databases they offer are accurate, free of bias, and genuine.
Interest in outdoor activities remains high. This book is helpful for readers considering a bike purchase or current cyclists looking to interact more with their bikes.
Delightfully offbeat views of Stars Hollow (The Gilmore Girls), Central Perk (Friends), and the Pie Hole (Pushing Daisies). Consider ordering a couple of copies, as this will likely stay in circulation.
Finding a trusted dentist and preventing and addressing tooth and gum disease add greatly to quality of life, so this is a useful resource for every library.