Designed to deliver high quality, critical reviews of the latest reference materials for libraries on limited budgets, this invaluable book will help collection development librarians in smaller libraries identify the most highly recommended resources from 2011-2012. An indispensable tool for libraries constrained by limited budgets, Recommended Reference Books for Small and Medium-sized Libraries and Media Centers: 2012 Edition, Volume 32 will continue, as previous editions have, to unerringly guide librarians in choosing the best new materials for their collections. An alternative to the more expansive 2012 American Reference Books Annual, from which it draws its high-quality reviews, this volume is specifically designed for reference librarians working in collection development at smaller college libraries, K-12 school libraries, or public libraries. The always-dependable reviews are written by librarians with subject expertise, and both positive and negative comments are retained to enable users to select products that fit their specific needs. Content is divided into four main categories: general reference works, social sciences, humanities, and science and technology. Reviews are broken down into reference type, alphabetically arranged within subject headings. Reviews labeled "C" (college), "S" (school libraries), or "P" (public libraries), indicating which library will most benefit from its purchase Reviews by 150 subject specialists, each of whom is a librarian trained in review writing and collection development An author/title index and a subject index

Essential for collection development specialists in small and medium-sized libraries, RRB will help users quickly identify the best, most affordable, and most appropriate new reference materials in any field. Based on the highly acclaimed reviews of American Reference Books Annual, RRB features only those resources that have been recommended for purchase by small and medium-sized academic, public, or school libraries. Written by over 200 subject specialists, the 500-plus reviews will help librarians quickly identify the best, most affordable, and most appropriate new reference materials in any given field. All reviewer comments-both positive and negative-have been retained, since even recommended works may be weak in one respect or another. If your budget precludes ARBA, this tool will provide you with the necessary information needed for your collection development needs.

As it does each year, this invaluable, eagerly awaited guide will light the way for collection development specialists in smaller public, college, and school libraries, enabling them to easily identify the best, most affordable, and most appropriate new reference materials in any field. Featuring 550 titles chosen from the 2013 edition of the larger American Reference Books Annual, this volume caters to smaller libraries that must ensure every dollar of their often-limited budget is wisely invested. To help them do that, the editor has selected only titles that are highly reviewed, have a low price point, and will appeal to a broad audience. The book presents high-quality, critical reviews of 2012 reference products, both print and online, suitable for small college libraries, medium-sized and small public libraries, and school libraries. Chapters are arranged in four major subdivisions: General Reference, Social Sciences, Humanities, and Science and Technology. Within each, reviews are further divided by form: bibliography, biography, handbooks and yearbooks, and so on. Each review is written by a librarian working in the field and can be trusted to be accurate and fair. Each indicates the type of library or libraries for which the work is appropriate. Features 550 reviews chosen from American Reference Books Annual, a comprehensive and respected reviewing source for reference materials Offers unexcelled reliability, as all reviews are written by subject experts working in the library profession Retains any critical comments to ensure balance and aid in the selection process Considers affordability and broad appeal as criteria for inclusion

An essential resource for collection development specialists in small and medium-sized libraries, this guide identifies the highest quality, most affordable, and most appropriate new reference materials in any field. Culling the top reviews from the latest edition of American Reference Books Annual (ARBA), all of the titles in Recommended Reference Books for Small and Medium-sized Libraries and Media Centers are well reviewed and have price points that will appeal to libraries with tight budgets. This invaluable guidebook gives collection development librarians working in small to medium-sized libraries the best information for choosing new titles for their libraries from the thouands of new reference products (both print and online) that became available in 2014. As with previous editions, readers are assured fair and accurate assessments because all of the reviews are written by experts in the library field and present both positive and negative aspects of the product. Each critical review is coded to clearly indicate which type of library the publication is appropriate for-C for college, P for public, and/or S for school. Comprises the top 550 reviews-all written by subject experts working in the library profession-selected from ARBA, a comprehensive and well-respected reviewing source for reference materials Retains any critical comments made by the reviewer about a recommended title to aid readers in their selection process Recommends titles not only on the basis of their positive reviews but also their affordability and broad appeal, helping reference departments under tight budget constraints to maximize their libraries' funds

An essential resource for collection development specialists in small and medium-sized libraries, this guide identifies the highest quality, most affordable, and most appropriate new reference materials in any field. This volume presents the top 550 reviews from the latest edition of American Reference Books Annual (ARBA) to give collection development librarians working in small to medium-sized libraries the best information for choosing new titles for their libraries. Overviewing the breadth of reference products (both print and online) that became available in 2013, all of the titles in Recommended Reference Books for Small and Medium-sized Libraries and Media Centers are well reviewed and have price points that will appeal to libraries on a budget. Readers can count on fair and accurate assessments because all of the reviews are written by experts in the library field and present both positive and negative aspects of the product. Each critical review is coded to clearly indicate which type of library the publication is appropriate for-C for college, P for public, and/or S for school. Comprises the top 550 reviews-all written by subject experts working in the library profession-selected from ARBA, a comprehensive and well-respected reviewing source for reference materials Retains any critical comments made by the reviewer about a recommended title to aid readers in their selection process Recommends titles not only on the basis of their positive reviews but also their affordability and broad appeal, helping reference departments under tight budget constraints to maximize their libraries' funds

This new addition to the "ARBA In-depth" series provides focused help in building children's and young adult collections. More than 300 critical reviews of quality reference titles by subject experts cover reference titles for this audience; all of which have appeared in the last six editions of "American Reference Books Annual," the long-trusted source of reliable reviews of recent reference publications. Author, title, and subject indexes, as well as a contributor list, are provided.

The fourth in this series of companion volumes to "ARBA," this work is designed to assist academic, public, and school libraries in the systematic selection of suitable reference materials for their collections. Its purpose is to aid in the evaluation process by presenting more than 300 critical and evaluative reviews in all areas of children's and young adult resources.

Providing focused help as you build and maintain your philosophy and religion collections and field patron's requests, this new addition to the "ARBA In-depth" series contains over 300 critical reviews of quality reference titles by subject experts. These reviews - all of which have appeared in the last six editions of "American Reference Books Annual," the long-trusted source of reliable reviews of recent reference publications - cover both general and specialized reference titles in the fields of philosophy and religion. Author, title, and subject indexes, as well as a contributor list, are provided.

Based on the highly acclaimed reviews of American Reference Books Annual, RRB features only those resources that have been recommended for purchase by small and medium-sized academic, public, or school libraries. Written by over 200 subject specialists, the reviews will help librarians quickly identify the best, most affordable, and most appropriate new reference materials in any given field. All reviewer comments-both positive and negative-have been retained, since even recommended works may be weak in one respect or another. If your budget precludes ARBA, this tool will provide you with the necessary information needed for your collection development needs.

Features 530 critical reviews of reference books, CD-ROMs, and websites from the years 2006-2009 written by academic, public, and school librarians or professionals in the field. The reviews are selected based on their appropriateness for school libraries, small college libraries, or small public libraries (i.e., lower priced, highest quality, etc.), and feature a coded letter (i.e., C, P, S) indicating which type of library it is recommended for. The reviews are pulled from "ARBA" 2009.

This resource helps collection development specialists in small and medium-sized libraries to quickly identify the best, most affordable, and most appropriate new reference materials in any field. Based on the highly acclaimed reviews of American Reference Books Annual, RRB includes only those resources that have been recommended for purchase by small and medium-sized academic, public, or school libraries. Written by 150 subject specialists, the reviews will help librarians to choose the right new reference materials for their facility in any given field. Every reviewer comment-whether positive and negative-has been retained, since even recommended works may be weak in one respect or another. If your budget precludes purchasing ARBA, this tool will provide you with the necessary information needed for your collection development needs. RRB features 500 critical reviews of reference books, digital resources, and websites from the years 2009 and 2010, written by academic, public, and school librarians or professionals in the field. The contents are organized into four general subject areas-General Reference, Social Science, Humanities, and Science and Technology-as well as specific topics, such as Education and Music. All selected titles are based on their quality, their affordability, and their usefulness in smaller libraries. 150 contributors comprising librarians with relevant subject area expertise A contributor list provides reviewers' titles and affiliations An author/title index and a subject index