Many factors combine to make the selection of information resources more complex than in the past. This practical guide assists professionals in deciding what is the "best buy" for their particular service. It clarifies the issues involved in the selection of information resources in both print and electronic format, and suggests practical criteria to be applied to the evaluation of material.

Patrons are looking to libraries for high-quality information in CDs, but how to choose from well over 10,000 CD-ROMs on the market when budgets allow for only a few? Librarian and software expert Patrick Dewey lends guidance with succinct descriptions of 263 CD-ROM packages and series, along with references to dozens of others, all especially suitable for libraries. Each package has been tested by the author. Organised by subject for easy access, the listings include the vendor price (when available), platform and hardware requirements, availability of network versions, details about the content, searching features and capabilities, and the level of user sophistication required. For those who want more information, there is a bibliography and an appendix with address and phone number of all vendors. Though descriptions are nontechnical, a glossary provides relief for anybody confused by the technical jargon. The CD-ROM recommendations cover diverse subjects, including: art and music; business and industry; careers; education; health, medicine and nutrition; literature; maps; newspaper and periodical indexes; and US Government information and statistical data.

This guide introduces elementary and secondary school librarians to the wealth of information available from the US government and affordable to librarians on a budget. Federal government documents on history, government and politics, art, health, criminal justice and science are routinely available, at prices ranging from "free" to $10. The formats vary, and include monographs, posters, charts, maps, software, and multimedia. The manual includes samples of government selection tools, discusses commercial vendors of government documents, and review sourcees for new documents. Appendices list the GPO Book Stores and Federal Depository Libraries.

This manual is designed to help library managers keep ahead of readers in their purchasing decisions. Since the second edition appeared in 1990, many new authors have written fiction serials and more established writers have added to existing series. This third edition features 33 per cent more series than the previous edition and adds dozens of new authors. Updating all book annotations and including publications through the end of 1995, this easy-to-use guide is organized by author, with a revised summary for each writer. It includes all titles that medium to large public libraries should possess and eliminates obscure, esoteric works that acquisitions librarians can't find and most patrons won't want. With expanded coverage of sci-fi and fantasy genres, this text includes entries on: Anne Rice; Clive Barker; CS Lewis; Honore de Balzac; William Faulkner; Thomas Wolfe; Herman Wouk; Gore Vidal; William F. Buckley Jr.; Isaac Asimov; Douglas Adams; Arthur C. Clarke; Michael Crichton; Tom Clancy; Agatha Christie; and Amanda Cross.