Quigley’s Entertainment Industry Reference (1998 CD‐ROM) is an unassuming CD product with no print user’s guide and very short loading instructions on the back of the product. When it is loaded, however, it is immediately accessible and user friendly, and is packed full of information on the motion picture, television, and video industries. The product can only be used on Windows and Windows 95. I highly recommend that the user move immediately to the Help screens, as it is here that the publisher has provided all the necessary instruction and information on the various search capabilities and information contained in the product.
There are eleven categories in which to search the database: All; Year in Entertainment; Biographies; Movies and Television Programs; Motion Picture Companies and Organizations; Television and Video Companies and Organizations; The Exhibition Industry; Broadcast, Cable and Satellite; Production Services; Government Agencies; International Motion Picture Companies; and International Television and Video Companies. When searching these categories, the user can do a keyword search or a full text search. The keyword search can be used for company names, titles of films and television programs, and names of people who have professional biographies. A new feature is the ability to browse through certain categories.
In the Help section, each category is explained thoroughly. For instance, in the Year in Entertainment category, it is explained that this category contains a general overview of the motion picture, television, and video industry for that year, as well as statistics and demographics, and awards and polls. Reference sources available in that category are then described. For the Year in Entertainment category, this includes: Motion Picture Year in Review; Television Year in Review; Motion Picture Statistics; Television Statistics; Nielsen Ratings; Top Grossing Films, 1990‐1997; QP Top Ten Moneymaker’s Poll; Academy Awards 1927‐1940; Academy Awards 1941‐1960; Academy Awards 1961‐1980; Academy Awards 1981‐1996; Other Film Industry Awards; Primetime and Daytime Emmy Awards; and Other Television Industry Awards. After this information, the search strategies available for each category are then described. In this manner, the Help section is an online user’s guide that is of the utmost importance to anyone accessing this database.
I was impressed by the easy accessibility to the broad range of reference sources in this product. This CD would be of use in high school, college, and general public locations for anyone needing information on the motion picture, television, and video industries. I highly recommend this product as a reference tool in libraries from high school on up.
