Behind the hype, the substance. “Find it fast” screams the title; “how to uncover expert information on any subject” promises the subtitle; a “totally updated fourth edition” shouts the blurb ‐ not just a fourth edition you notice! Part 1 is about “unlocking the information vault” where there are chapters on zeroing in on the best resources (about libraries), the cream of the crop (on “selected supersources”), mining for information nuggets (on the US Government) and the Internet (mercifully no jokey subtitles here!). We are told in the introduction that “facts and information are ‘out there’ ‐ by the truckload” and that “information and expertise are available at no or low cost”. And so the author goes on: “In this book you’ll discover where to go and what to look for in searching for information on any subject.” In fact, behind the grating hype, this low cost pocket book is not half bad.
Each chapter has a common approach which is clearly laid out. Starting with a “quickfinder” ‐ a menu‐type box which lists the topics covered with their page number, each topic is characterised as a “source” with details, and is followed by a “how to find” note giving addresses or publishing details. There are sample pages of some of the sources which illustrate layout and detail. Frequently there are boxes of “tips” of short cuts or other sources to try if stuck. Part One identifies “key resources” where we zero in on libraries, crop supersources, mine for information nuggets, sample business sources, and research the Net. Zeroing in on the quickfinder for libraries we have nine headings covering mostly types of information such as special periodical sources, people information, and “insider directories” with listings of titles and annotation. The first lists the H.W. Wilson subject indexes, Engineering Index and Public Affairs Information Services Bulletin (PAIS). So what we are zeroing in on is not really libraries at all, but what is in them. There is, it is true, a small section on selecting a library, and a concluding piece “CD‐ROMs in libraries” with advice on using CD‐ROMs (“practice, practice, practice ... these amazing devices are free, so search to your heart’s content.”) and an annotated list of several.
“Selected supersources ‐ the cream of the crop” continues with the basic BI (bibliographic instruction) approach with entries on such items as associations, conventions, national technical information service and specialized bookstores. Confusingly, two libraries are listed here (New York Public Library and Library of Congress) and not in the libraries section! The chapters on US Government and business information continue the mix of titles and organisations to consult for information. The chapter on the Internet would have been better if it continued with highlighting good Websites and search engines. Instead we go into a more general introduction to the Internet: a quick preview, an Internet Q&A, sections on why use the Internet for research?, news on the Net, databases on the Web, the search engines, Web search tips, reviewers and summarizers, drawbacks and problems in doing research on the Net (flea market browsing and decontextualization were two drawbacks that caught my eye), and so on. All excellent stuff, and timely, but it destroys the pattern established by the earlier chapters and fails to intregrate the Net into mainstream information searching.
Behind the gimmicks and the jokey “have a nice day” school of infobabble, there is much useful and imaginative information here. Beyond the tried and trusted favourites we have advertisements, museums, bookstores, and college and university faculty experts. All are good sources to try, but they rarely feature in sources .
Part Two is entitled “Experts are everywhere”. We are told who they are, where to find them, and about making contact. There is a section on information quality, one on wrapping it up, and Part Two concludes with a researcher’s road map. This part makes clear what was already becoming apparent in Part Two, and that is that this is not so much a book for librarians providing a service or exploiting their stocks or learning about reference books, but a guide for people doing research. Indeed, the author tells us he was once a researcher for McGraw‐Hill seeking information and writing reports on a wide range of technical subjects. No surprise then that we have advice on locating experts, planning to interview experts, note taking vs. tape‐recording, whether to phone, write letters or e‐mail experts, “presenting yourself to the expert”, and on to writing up. There is sound advice here for the individual researcher. The chapter on information quality is particularly good and could be read with profit by library staff. It covers such neglected topics as partisan sponsoring, biased sources, out‐of‐date sources, and even has a section on critical thinking. Armed with such knowledge as this book can give them, the student will come to us, the experts on information, suitably prepared with a plan, and will not be put off by evasive, biased, weary, patronising or ignorant library staff ‐ perish the thought! The book has an index of subjects and sources cited. A North American background is assumed.
The book is inspirational and is recommended for freelance researchers. It will be of some value to library staff, both as the experts approached, and as people who do research for our users. I weary of the zany prose, but maybe this is a generation thing. A book, perhaps, for the younger seekers of wisdom and knowledge rather than for those of us who have it and give it!
