A reader would think that a book called Guide to Information Sources in the Physical Sciences would deal broadly with the physical sciences. That is not the case in this book by David Stern, where the focus is entirely on physics. The reader will also find a book that is more than just a guide to information sources, as it is also an excellent collection development and evaluation tool for anyone working with a physics collection.
Most of Stern’s book reads much like many directories of information sources. Descriptive abstracts and citations are provided for both print and online resources. The first chapters of the book deal with different types of information such as bibliographic sources, databases, journals and books. In cases where a specific resource may be available in multiple formats, each is identified. This occurs most often in the descriptions of the databases where both format and vendor may vary. The chapter on online resources consists primarily of Internet resources. The descriptions of these sites vary greatly, although the author does indicate the date the site was accessed. Next, the book provides chapters on patent information resources and on resources to prepare and identify grants. The final chapters deal with collection management tools and other supporting resources. These include descriptions of bibliographic management tools, document delivery services and intellectual property resources. Throughout these chapters Stern provides very well‐written commentary on the nature and importance of different types of physics materials.
Within the volume the author has added value by integrating information that can be used for collection development and evaluation purposes. For both books and journals, a list of key physics publishers, with complete contact information, is provided. The chapter on journals, the longest in the book, not only provides a list of core journals, but also takes a look at ways to evaluate physics journals. Included is a journal study done at the author’s own institution, Yale University, where the reader can see the results of a faculty survey and a breakdown of a cost‐per‐use study. The final chapter of the book is dedicated to the important works in the development of physics.
Although this book does not attempt to be comprehensive, it does an excellent job in identifying the major information resources in physics. For the librarian working with physics information it contains other tools and resources that can be used for reference, collection development and evaluation projects. Although the title may be deceptive, this book is unique in its approach. It is easy to read, and a very useful working tool.
