Reference Materials

• Recommended Reference Books for Small and Medium-Sized Libraries and Media Centers. 2007 ed.  Edited by Sharon Graff Hysell (Libraries Unlimited, 2007, 355p. $_____. ISBN: 1591585260) Is the printed reference book dead? If not, it is certainly in transition to digital – certainly toward a much more available resource that chained to a reference shelf for the hours the library is open. Yet with all the digital resources available, there are hundreds an hundreds of reference titles published every year. Libraries Unlimited has the most extensive review and listing of this literature with its publication of the American Reerence Books Annual (ARBA). Each year, the editor selects from the larger tool, a select reviewed list of title more appropriate for smaller public libraries and larger school library collections. This volume is a valuable selection list and can be used to fill in areas where digital resources have yet to make an impact. Because of its cost, we recommend that a school district might buy a single copy and then circulate it to the various high schools and perhaps the jr. high schools as a selection tool. Each book has been reviewed by a library professional for its value and quality. Recommended to those who are still purchasing print reference books.